defm14a06113_12222008.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed by
the Registrant
x
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the
appropriate box:
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o
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o
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Confidential,
For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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New Century Equity
Holdings Corp. |
(Name of Registrant
as Specified in Its Charter) |
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(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if Other Than the
Registrant) |
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 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies: common stock of New Century Equity Holdings Corp., par
value $0.01 per share
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies: 62,550,606
shares of common stock of New Century Equity Holdings
Corp.
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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):
Filing
fee of $910.00 based on (i) $8,131,579 (the value of 62,550,606 shares of
common stock of New Century Equity Holdings Corp. at the average of the
bid and ask prices reported as of October 7, 2008 ($0.13)); and (ii)
$15,000,000 in cash.
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: $30,000,000
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(5)
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Total
fee paid: $910.00
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x Fee paid
previously with preliminary materials:
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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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December 22,
2008
Dear
Stockholder:
You are
cordially invited to attend the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual
Meeting”) of New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (the “Company”). The
Annual Meeting will be held on February 5, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. local time, at
the Company’s offices located at 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas
75201, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Please
take note that the purpose of this year’s Annual Meeting is not only to elect
directors and ratify the appointment of auditors as in prior annual
meetings but to also allow our stockholders to consider and approve our
proposed acquisition of Wilhelmina International, Ltd. and its affiliated
entities and various amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
We therefore urge you to carefully consider the information contained in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement and vote your shares
at the Annual Meeting.
Whether
or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please mark, sign, date and
promptly return the enclosed proxy card in the prepaid envelope
provided. Returning the proxy card will not deprive you of your right
to attend the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you
may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares in person at the Annual
Meeting.
On behalf
of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation for your
continued interest in our Company. We look forward to seeing you at
the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
Mark E.
Schwarz
Chairman of the
Board
This
Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is dated December
22,
2008
and
is being distributed to New Century stockholders on or about December
29,
2008.
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
(214)
661-7488
NOTICE OF
2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
AND PROXY
STATEMENT
TO THE
STOCKHOLDERS OF NEW CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.:
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of New Century Equity
Holdings Corp. (“New Century”, the “Company”, “us”, “we” or “our”), a Delaware
corporation, will be held at 11:00 a.m. local time, on February 5, 2009, at the
Company’s offices located at 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas
75201, or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual
Meeting”). You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting,
which will be held for the following purposes:
(1) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve our acquisition of Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. and its affiliated entities (the “Acquisition
Proposal”);
(2) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of
Incorporation”) to change our name from “New Century Equity Holdings Corp.” to
“Wilhelmina International, Inc.” (the “Name Change Proposal”);
(3) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our
common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000 (the “Capitalization Proposal”);
(4) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to grant authority to our Board of Directors
(the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) to effect at any time prior to December
31, 2009 a reverse stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio within the range
from one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole
number within this range to be determined by our Board of Directors in its
discretion (the “Reverse Stock Split Proposal”);
(5) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) to provide for the
annual election of directors (the “Declassification Proposal”);
(6) to
elect the following number of directors to our Board of Directors (the “Director
Proposal”):
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(a)
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seven
directors in the event that both the Acquisition Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal are
approved;
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(b)
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three
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is not approved and
the Declassification Proposal is
approved;
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(c)
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five
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the
Declassification Proposal is not approved;
or
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(d)
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one
director in the event that neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the
Declassification Proposal is
approved;
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(7) to
ratify the appointment of Burton McCumber & Cortez, L.L.P. as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008 (the “Auditor Proposal”);
(8) to
consider and vote upon a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date
or dates, if necessary, to permit the further solicitation and voting of proxies
if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Annual Meeting, any of the
foregoing proposals have not been approved (the “Adjournment Proposal”);
and
(9) to
consider such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual
Meeting.
These
items of business are described in this proxy statement, which we encourage you
to read in its entirety before voting. Only holders of record of our
Common Stock at the close of business on December 19, 2008 (the “Record Date”)
are entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote and have their votes
counted at the Annual Meeting.
Both the
Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal must be approved by the
holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon. Each of the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal must be approved by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled
to vote thereon. The Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal
must be approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon and represented at the
Annual Meeting. With respect to the Director Proposal, those director
nominees who receive a plurality of votes cast will be elected. Approval of the Name Change Proposal,
the Capitalization Proposal and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal are conditioned
upon the approval of the Acquisition Proposal.
Your
broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares on any proposal unless you
provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and
procedures provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee. If you
hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with
voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker
non-votes.” Abstentions and broker non-votes, though considered
present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will have the same effect as
a vote “AGAINST” each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal. Abstentions (or withhold votes in the case
of the Director Proposal) and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
Director Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal.
After
careful consideration, a majority of our Board has determined that each of the
Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification Proposal, the Director
Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is fair to and in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
A
majority of our Board recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR”
the approval of each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification
Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and “FOR” the
election of each of the director nominees as set forth in the Director
Proposal.
All our
stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in
person. To ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, however,
you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon
as possible. If you are a stockholder of record of our Common Stock,
you may also cast your vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your
shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct
your broker or bank on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the
meeting and vote in person, obtain a proxy from your broker or
bank. If you do not vote or do not instruct your broker or bank how
to vote, it will have the same effect as voting against each of the
abovementioned proposals other than the Director Proposal, the Auditor Proposal
and the Adjournment Proposal.
A
complete list of our stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting will be available for 10 days before the Annual Meeting at our principal
executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours
for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting.
Your vote
is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether you
plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not, please sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided.
Thank you
for your participation. We look forward to your continued
support.
By Order of the Board
of Directors
Mark E.
Schwarz
Chairman of the
Board
NEITHER
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS
DETERMINED IF THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
SEE
“RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 28 OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT FOR A DISCUSSION OF
VARIOUS FACTORS THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
PROPOSALS.
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FS-1
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Annex
A – Acquisition Agreement
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A-1
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Annex
B – Registration Rights Agreement
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B-1
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Annex
C – Purchase Agreement
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C-1
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Annex
D – Mutual Support Agreement
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D-1
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Annex
E – Form of Escrow Agreement
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E-1
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Annex
F – Forms of Certificates of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation
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F-1
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Annex
G – Form of Amendment to Bylaws
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G-1
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Annex
H – Audit Committee Charter
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H-1
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SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION
This
Summary of the Material Terms of the Acquisition, together with the section
entitled “Questions and Answers About the Proposals,” summarizes certain
material information contained in this proxy statement. You should
carefully read this entire proxy statement for a more complete understanding of
the matters to be considered at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
Parties
to the Acquisition
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·
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The
parties to the Acquisition Agreement (as defined below) are New Century,
Wilhelmina Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
(“Wilhelmina Acquisition” or “Merger Sub”), Dieter Esch (“Esch”), Lorex
Investments AG (“Lorex”), Brad Krassner (“Krassner”), Krassner Family
Investments Limited Partnership (“Krassner L.P.” and together
with Esch, Lorex and Krassner, the “Control Sellers”), Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. (“Wilhelmina International”), Wilhelmina – Miami, Inc.
(“Wilhelmina Miami”), Wilhelmina Artist Management LLC (“WAM”), Wilhelmina
Licensing LLC (“Wilhelmina Licensing”), Wilhelmina Film & TV
Productions LLC (“Wilhelmina TV” and together with Wilhelmina
International, Wilhelmina Miami, WAM and Wilhelmina Licensing, the
“Wilhelmina Companies”) Sean Patterson (“Patterson”), and the stockholders
of Wilhelmina Miami (the “Miami Holders” and together with the Control
Sellers and Patterson, the
“Sellers”).
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·
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The
Control Sellers own all of the equity interests in Wilhelmina
International, Wilhelmina Licensing and WAM, and a majority of the equity
interests in Wilhelmina TV and Wilhelmina Miami. Patterson owns
a minority equity interest in Wilhelmina
TV.
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·
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New
Century, formerly known as Billing Concepts Corp., was incorporated in the
State of Delaware in 1996 and for the past few years has been seeking to
redeploy its assets to enhance stockholder value and has been analyzing
and evaluating potential acquisition and merger candidates. New
Century currently has an investment in ACP Investments L.P. (d/b/a
Ascendant Capital Partners), an alternative asset management
company. This investment currently represents the Company’s
sole operating business.
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·
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The
Wilhelmina Companies provide modeling and talent management services,
specializing in the representation and placement of models, entertainers,
artists, athletes and other “talent” and celebrities, to various customers
and clientele including retailers, designers, advertising agencies and
catalog companies.
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See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Description of New Century” beginning on page 57 and “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Description of the Wilhelmina Companies” beginning on page
65.
Structure
of the Merger
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·
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Pursuant
to the terms of an agreement entered into by the abovementioned parties
(the “Acquisition Agreement”), Wilhelmina Acquisition will merge with and
into Wilhelmina International in a stock-for-stock transaction, as a
result of which Wilhelmina International will become a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, and the Company will purchase the outstanding
equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina Companies for cash (the
“Acquisition”). See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – General” beginning on
page 84.
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Acquisition
Consideration
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·
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At
the closing of the Acquisition Agreement (the “Closing”), the Company will
pay an aggregate purchase price of $30,000,000 in connection with the
Acquisition, of which $24,000,000 will be paid for the outstanding equity
interests of the Wilhelmina Companies and $6,000,000 in cash will repay
the outstanding balance of a note held by a Control Seller. The
purchase price includes $15,000,000 of Common Stock of New Century, valued
at book value as of July 31, 2008 (which the parties agreed is $0.247 per
share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment) to be issued in connection
with the merger of Wilhelmina Acquisition with and into Wilhelmina
International. The remaining $9,000,000 of cash will be paid to
acquire the equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina
Companies.
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·
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The
purchase price is subject to certain post-closing adjustments, which will
be effected against a total of $4,600,000 of Common Stock that will be
held in escrow pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement (the “Seller
Restricted Shares”). The $30,000,000 to be paid at Closing,
less $4,500,000 of Common Stock to be held in escrow in respect of the
“core business” purchase price adjustment, provides for a floor purchase
price of $25,500,000 (which amount may be further reduced in connection
with certain indemnification matters). The shares of Common
Stock held in escrow may be repurchased by the Company for a nominal
amount, subject to certain earnouts and offsets. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – Acquisition
Consideration” beginning on page
85.
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·
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The
shares held in escrow support earnout offsets and indemnification
obligations of the Sellers. The Sellers will be required to
leave in escrow, through 2011, any stock “earned” following resolution of
“core” adjustment, up to a total value of $1,000,000. Losses at
WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, respectively, can be offset against any positive
earnout with respect to the other Wilhelmina Company. Losses in
excess of earnout amounts could also result in the repurchase of the
remaining shares of Common Stock held in escrow for a nominal
amount. Working capital deficiencies may also reduce
positive earnout amounts. The earnouts are payable in
2011. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – Acquisition
Consideration” beginning on page
85.
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Conditions
to Closing of the Acquisition Agreement
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·
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The
parties plan to consummate the Acquisition and effect the Closing provided
that:
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o
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New
Century’s stockholders approve the Acquisition Proposal and the
Capitalization Proposal;
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o
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there
are not any legal restraints preventing, prohibiting or rendering illegal
the consummation of the
Acquisition;
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o
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there
are not any legal proceedings or orders seeking to restrain or to
invalidate the Acquisition or otherwise questioning the validity of the
Acquisition Agreement or any of the related documents, which could
reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the
Wilhelmina Companies or New Century;
and
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o
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the
other conditions precedent to the Closing specified in the Acquisition
Agreement have been satisfied or waived. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – Closing Conditions”
beginning on page 97.
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Indemnification
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·
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Subject
to certain limitations and in varying amounts, Esch, Krassner and each
other Seller will indemnify, defend and hold harmless New Century,
Wilhelmina Acquisition and their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, attorneys and stockholders (collectively, the
“Purchaser Group”) in respect of claims or losses incurred by the
Purchaser Group, in connection with any breach or non-fulfillment of any
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation by or of the
Wilhelmina Companies, the Control Sellers or the other Sellers in the
Acquisition Agreement or any related
document.
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·
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Additionally,
subject to certain limitations, New Century will indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the Sellers and their respective directors, officers,
employees, agents, attorneys and stockholders (collectively, the “Seller
Group”) in respect of any and all claims or losses incurred by the Seller
Group, in connection with any breach or non-fulfillment of any
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation by or of New
Century or Wilhelmina Acquisition in the Acquisition Agreement or any
related document.
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See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – Indemnification” beginning on page
100.
Termination
of the Acquisition Agreement
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·
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The
Acquisition Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as
follows:
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o
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by
mutual written consent of the Wilhelmina Companies and the Control Sellers
on the one hand and New Century on the other
hand;
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o
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if the Closing has not
occurred on or before February 15, 2009; provided that this right to
terminate will not be available if the terminating party’s actions or
failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of
the Closing to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to
act constitutes a breach of the Acquisition
Agreement;
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o
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if the Acquisition
Proposal and the Capitalization Proposal have not been approved at the
stockholder meeting of New Century at which such proposals are voted
on;
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o
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at
the election of the Control Sellers if the Board of New Century has
changed its recommendation with respect to the requisite proposals to be
submitted at a stockholder meeting of New Century in a manner adverse to
the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Companies;
or
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o
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in
certain other events at the election of one of or either the Control
Sellers or New Century, as specified in the Acquisition
Agreement.
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·
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In
the event that (i) either New Century or the Control Sellers validly
terminates the Acquisition Agreement as a result of the failure of New
Century to obtain the requisite approvals at a stockholder meeting held
for that purpose, or (ii) the Control Sellers validly terminate the
Acquisition Agreement as a result of the Board of New Century changing its
recommendations with respect to the requisite proposals to be submitted at
the stockholder meeting of New Century in a manner adverse to the Sellers
and the Wilhelmina Companies, New Century will pay to the Control Sellers
their expenses incurred in connection with the Acquisition up to a maximum
of $150,000.
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See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement – Termination” beginning on page
101.
Registration
Rights Agreement
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·
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In
connection with the Acquisition Agreement, the Company entered into a
registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with
the Control Sellers and Patterson (collectively, the “Registration Rights
Holders”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
effective upon the Closing, the Registration Rights Holders will obtain
certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the
Common Stock to be issued to the Registration Rights Holders under the
Acquisition Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement
contains certain indemnification provisions for the benefit of the Company
and the Registration Rights Holders, as well as certain other customary
provisions. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Other Transaction Documents – Registration Rights
Agreement” beginning on page
102.
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Equity
Financing Agreement
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·
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Concurrently
with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the Company entered into
a purchase agreement (the “Equity Financing Agreement”) with Newcastle
Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Newcastle”), which currently
owns 19,380,768 shares or approximately 36% of the outstanding Common
Stock, for the purpose of obtaining financing to complete the transactions
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement. Pursuant to the
Equity Financing Agreement, subject to and conditioned upon the closing of
the Acquisition Agreement, the Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000
of shares of Common Stock at $0.247 per share, or approximately (but
slightly higher than) the per share price applicable to the Common Stock
issuable under the Acquisition Agreement (the “Financing
Transaction”). In addition, under the Equity Financing
Agreement, Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at
any time or times prior to six months following the Closing, up to an
additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock on the same terms. The
Equity Financing Agreement is subject to certain other conditions,
including the parties’ entry into a registration rights agreement upon the
closing of the Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Newcastle will be
granted certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to
the Common Stock it holds, including the Common Stock issuable under the
Equity Financing Agreement. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Other Transaction Documents – Equity Financing
Agreement” beginning on page
104.
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Mutual
Support Agreement
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·
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Concurrently
with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, Newcastle and the Control
Sellers entered into a mutual support agreement (the “Mutual Support
Agreement”), pursuant to which Newcastle agreed to vote its shares of
Common Stock in favor of the Acquisition Agreement and related proposals
at a meeting of the Company’s stockholders to be held for the purpose of
approving the transactions contemplated under the Acquisition
Agreement. The parties to the Mutual Support Agreement agreed,
effective upon the Closing, (i) to use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause their representatives serving on the Board to vote to
nominate and recommend the election of individuals designated by such
parties (three designees of Newcastle, one designee of Esch and one
designee of Krassner (collectively, the “Designees”)) and, in the event
the Board appoints directors without stockholder approval, to use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives on the
Board to appoint the Designees to the Board, (ii) to vote their shares of
Common Stock to elect the Designees at any meeting of the Company’s
stockholders or pursuant to any action by written consent in lieu of a
meeting pursuant to which directors are to be elected to the Board, and
(iii) not to propose, and to vote their Common Stock against, any
amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or the
adoption of any other corporate measure, that frustrates or circumvents
the provisions of the Mutual Support Agreement with respect to the
election of the Designees. The parties to the Mutual Support
Agreement also agreed, effective upon the Closing, that for a period of
three years thereafter the parties will use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause their representatives on the Board to vote to maintain
the size of the Board at no more than nine persons, unless otherwise
agreed to by the Designees. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Other Transaction Documents – Mutual Support
Agreement” beginning on page
105.
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The
Escrow Agreement
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·
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Pursuant
to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, the Control Sellers will enter
into escrow agreements prior to the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement
(one agreement for Esch and Lorex, and another separate agreement for
Krassner and Krassner L.P.), a form of which is attached hereto as Annex E
(the “Escrow Agreement” and once executed, each an “Escrow Agreement”)
with respect to the Seller Restricted Shares. While the Escrow
Agreements remain effective, the Seller Restricted Shares may not be sold,
exchanged, assigned, gifted, encumbered, pledged, mortgaged, set over,
hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, or by operation of law by any of the Control Sellers,
except with the express written consent of the Company. The
property required to be deposited with the escrow agent under the Escrow
Agreements may be subject to repurchase by the Company in accordance with
the terms of the Escrow Agreements based on certain adjustments with
respect to the aggregate purchase price in connection with the
Acquisition, indemnification obligations of the Control Sellers and loss
offset provisions with respect to WAM and Wilhelmina Miami under the
Acquisition Agreement. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Other Transaction Documents – Escrow Agreement”
beginning on page 106.
|
Post-Acquisition
Board of Directors and Management
|
·
|
Upon
the consummation of the Acquisition, Wilhelmina International will be a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and will be the Company’s primary
operating subsidiary. The current executive management of the
Company will not change as a result of the Acquisition. The
executive management of the Company will oversee the operations of the
Wilhelmina International subsidiary along with Sean Patterson, the current
President of Wilhelmina International, who will serve as the President of
the subsidiary after the consummation of the Acquisition. The
Wilhelmina International subsidiary will also have other officers
appointed in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, however, these
officers will not have any policy-making functions. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Post-Acquisition Management and Ownership”
beginning on page 115.
|
|
·
|
In
the event that each of the Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification
Proposal are approved, the following persons will stand for election to
the Board: Mark E. Schwarz, Jonathan Bren, James Risher, John
Murray, Evan Stone, Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk and Derek Fromm. In
the event that the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the
Declassification Proposal is not approved, the following persons will
stand for election to the Board: James Risher, John Murray,
Evan Stone, Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk and Derek Fromm. See “Proposal No. 6 – Election of
Director Nominees” beginning on page
132.
|
|
·
|
Pursuant
to the Acquisition Agreement, the effectiveness of the election of John
Murray, Evan Stone, Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk and Derek Fromm to the Board is
conditioned on the consummation of the Acquisition. See “Proposal No. 6 – Election of
Director Nominees” beginning on page
132.
|
Post-Acquisition
Ownership
|
·
|
It
is anticipated that, immediately following the consummation of the
Acquisition, there will be 128,580,227 shares of Common Stock
outstanding.
|
|
·
|
It
is anticipated that, immediately following the consummation of the
Acquisition, Newcastle, Esch and his affiliates, and Krassner and his
affiliates, will own approximately 24.5%, 23.6% and 23.6% of the Common
Stock outstanding, respectively.
|
See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Post-Acquisition Management and Ownership” beginning on
page 115.
Other
Proposals to be Acted Upon at the Annual Meeting
|
·
|
In
addition to considering and voting upon a proposal to approve our
acquisition of Wilhelmina International and its affiliated entities, the
Company’s stockholders will be asked to do the
following:
|
|
o
|
consider
and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation to change our name from “New Century Equity
Holdings Corp.” to “Wilhelmina International,
Inc.”;
|
|
o
|
consider
and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares
of Common Stock from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000;
|
|
o
|
consider
and vote upon a proposal to grant authority to our Board of Directors to
effect at any time prior to December 31, 2009 a reverse stock split of our
Common Stock at a ratio within the range from one-for-ten to
one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within
this range to be determined by our Board in its
discretion;
|
|
o
|
consider
and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for the annual election
of directors;
|
|
o
|
to
elect the following number of directors to our Board of
Directors:
|
|
§
|
seven
directors in the event that both the Acquisition Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal are
approved;
|
|
§
|
three
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is not approved and
the Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
|
§
|
five
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the
Declassification Proposal is not approved;
or
|
|
§
|
one
director in the event that neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the
Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
|
o
|
to
ratify the appointment of Burton McCumber & Cortez, L.L.P. as our
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008; and
|
|
o
|
to
consider and vote upon a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later
date or dates.
|
See
“Proposal No. 2 – Change of
Name to ‘Wilhelmina International, Inc.’” beginning on page 122, “Proposal No. 3 – Increase in Number
of Shares of Common Stock Authorized” beginning on page 123, “Proposal No. 4 – Authority to Effect
Reverse Stock Split” beginning on page 125, “Proposal No. 5 – Provide For the
Annual Election of Directors” beginning on page 131, “Proposal No. 6 – Election of
Director Nominees” beginning on page 132, “Proposal No. 7 – Ratification of
Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” beginning
on page 142 and “Proposal No.
8 – Adjournment of the Annual Meeting if Necessary” beginning on page
144.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROPOSALS
Q:
|
Why
did I receive this proxy statement?
|
|
A:
|
You
are being asked to consider and vote upon the Acquisition Proposal, which,
among other things, will result in Wilhelmina Acquisition merging with and
into Wilhelmina International in a stock-for-stock transaction resulting
in Wilhelmina International becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, and the Company purchasing the outstanding equity interests of
the remaining Wilhelmina Companies for cash and possible earnout
amounts. You are also being asked to consider and vote upon the
Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split
Proposal, the Declassification Proposal, the Director Proposal, the
Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal.
|
A copy of
the Acquisition Agreement is attached hereto as Annex A. Copies of
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Equity Financing Agreement, the Mutual
Support Agreement and the Escrow Agreement are attached hereto as Annexes B, C,
D and E, respectively. The forms of Certificates of Amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation relating to the Name Change Proposal,
Capitalization Proposal, Reverse Stock Split Proposal and Declassification
Proposal are attached hereto as Annex F. The form of Amendment to the
Bylaws relating to the Declassification Proposal is attached hereto as Annex
G.
Approval
of the Capitalization Proposal, the Name Change Proposal and the Reverse Stock
Split Proposal are conditioned upon the approval of the Acquisition
Proposal.
The Board
is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting because you were a
stockholder at the close of business on December 19, 2008, the Record Date, and
are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
This
proxy statement, along with either a proxy card or a voting instruction card, is
being mailed to the Company’s stockholders beginning on or around December 29,
2008. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to
know to vote at the Annual Meeting. You do not need to attend the
Annual Meeting to vote your shares.
Q:
|
Why
is the Company proposing the Acquisition
Proposal?
|
|
A:
|
New
Century is a company in transition. The Company has been
seeking to redeploy its assets to enhance stockholder value and has been
seeking, analyzing and evaluating potential acquisition and merger
candidates. Based upon its evaluation, the Board, at a special
meeting held on August 20, 2008 at which all of the directors were
present, resolved by a vote of 3 directors in favor and 1 against to
approve the Acquisition Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby and to recommend to our stockholders that they vote in favor of
the Acquisition.
|
In the
course of reaching its recommendation, the Board consulted with management and
outside legal counsel and considered a wide variety of factors it deemed
relevant in connection with its evaluation of the Acquisition. In
reaching its determination that approving the Acquisition is in the best
interests of the Company’s stockholders, a majority of the Board considered,
among other things, the nature of the business of the Wilhelmina Companies,
their operating results, the extent of due diligence conducted by the Company’s
management team, the various risks discussed in “Risk Factors” beginning on
page 28 and the following factors (although not weighted or in any order of
significance):
|
·
|
the
Wilhelmina Companies’ financial results, including their consistent
historical revenue, margin and cash flow
characteristics;
|
|
·
|
the
Wilhelmina Companies’ leading competitive position in the modeling
business;
|
|
·
|
the
Wilhelmina Companies’ forty year history and strong
reputation;
|
|
·
|
the
Wilhelmina Companies’ extensive, diverse and quality roster of talent and
clients, including their lack of reliance on particular “supermodels” or
significant large clients;
|
|
·
|
the
Wilhelmina Companies’ growth prospects, including in talent management and
brand licensing;
|
|
·
|
acquisition
opportunities within the modeling and talent management industries
worldwide;
|
|
·
|
the
relative size and consideration mix of the Acquisition, including the
ability of the Company and its management team to execute the Acquisition
without significant additional
financing;
|
|
·
|
the
opportunity for the Company – which has been searching extensively for an
appropriate acquisition candidate since June 2004 – to execute
and complete a transaction of a high quality business at a price that the
management team considered
attractive;
|
|
·
|
the
willingness and desire of the principal owners of the Wilhelmina Companies
to receive a meaningful portion of the sale consideration in Company
equity and structured earnouts, whose value in each case would be
dependent on the future operating success of the Company and the
Wilhelmina Companies;
|
|
·
|
the
experience, ability and relationships of the Wilhelmina Companies’
executives and their principal owners in the modeling and talent
management businesses;
|
|
·
|
the
experience and ability of the Company’s management in analyzing, investing
in, acquiring and building businesses in the U.S. and
abroad;
|
|
·
|
the
relative simplicity and attractiveness of the Wilhelmina Companies’
existing business model;
|
|
·
|
the
limited capital requirements associated with the Wilhelmina Companies’
business;
|
|
·
|
the
possible excitement and interest generated for a small public company
through the ownership of a “high profile” modeling
business;
|
|
·
|
strong
indemnification and set-off provisions in the Acquisition
Agreement to cover any pre-existing problems and certain future operating
losses, including security in the form of shares of Company stock;
and
|
|
·
|
strong
noncompetition covenants applying to the Control
Sellers.
|
The Board
members who voted in favor of the Acquisition concluded that the potentially
negative factors associated with the Acquisition were substantially outweighed
by the positive factors identified above and the opportunity and potential to
enhance stockholder value through the Acquisition.
Q:
|
When
does the Company expect the Acquisition to be
completed?
|
A:
|
The
Closing of the Acquisition Agreement is expected to occur in the first
quarter of 2009.
|
Q:
|
What
is required to complete the
Acquisition?
|
A:
|
To
complete the Acquisition, the stockholders of the Company must approve the
Acquisition Proposal and the Capitalization Proposal. In
addition to obtaining stockholder approval for the abovementioned
proposals, the Company and the Control Sellers (on behalf of the
Wilhelmina Companies and the Sellers) must satisfy or waive all other
closing conditions set forth in the Acquisition Agreement. For
a more complete discussion of the conditions to the closing, see “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement — Closing Conditions”
beginning on page 97.
|
Q:
|
What
do I need to do now?
|
A.
|
The
Company urges you to read carefully and consider the information contained
in this proxy statement, including the annexes hereto, and to consider how
the Acquisition will affect you as a stockholder of the
Company. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance
with the instructions provided in this proxy statement and on the enclosed
proxy card or a voting instruction
card.
|
Q:
|
Are
there any risks that I should be aware of before I
vote?
|
A.
|
Yes. Before
you vote, you should be aware that the occurrence of certain events
described in “Risk
Factors” beginning on page 28, and elsewhere in this proxy
statement could have a material adverse effect on the results of
operations and business of the Company and the Wilhelmina
Companies.
|
Q:
|
Upon
completion of the Acquisition, will current holders of Common Stock be
subject to a dilution of their equity interest in and voting power with
respect to the Company?
|
A.
|
Current
holders of Common Stock will experience some dilution of their equity and
voting power. Immediately after completion of the Acquisition, the Control
Sellers are expected to own approximately 47% of the Common Stock
outstanding, on a fully diluted
basis.
|
Q:
|
Do
I have appraisal rights if I object to the Acquisition
Proposal?
|
A:
|
No. Stockholders
do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Acquisition Proposal
under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“DGCL”).
|
A:
|
You
are voting on the following
matters:
|
·
|
the
Acquisition Proposal – a proposal to approve our acquisition of Wilhelmina
International and its affiliated
entities;
|
·
|
the
Name Change Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to our
Certificate of Incorporation to change our name from “New Century Equity
Holdings Corp.” to “Wilhelmina International,
Inc.”;
|
·
|
the
Capitalization Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to
our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of our Common Stock from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000;
|
·
|
the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal – a proposal to grant authority to our Board
of Directors to effect at any time prior to December 31, 2009 a reverse
stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio within the range from
one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole
number within this range to be determined by our Board in its
discretion;
|
·
|
the
Declassification Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment
to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for the annual
election of directors;
|
·
|
the
Director Proposal – to elect the following number of directors to our
Board of Directors:
|
|
o
|
seven
directors in the event that both the Acquisition Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal are
approved;
|
|
o
|
three
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is not approved and
the Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
|
o
|
five
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the
Declassification Proposal is not approved;
or
|
|
o
|
one
director in the event that neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the
Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
·
|
the
Auditor Proposal – a proposal to ratify the appointment of Burton McCumber
& Cortez, L.L.P. as our independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008;
and
|
·
|
the
Adjournment Proposal – a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit the further solicitation and voting
of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Annual
Meeting, any of the foregoing proposals have not been
approved.
|
A
majority of our Board recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR”
the approval of each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification
Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and “FOR” the
election of each of the director nominees as set forth in the Director
Proposal.
Q:
|
What
are the voting requirements to approve each of the
proposals?
|
A:
|
Both
the Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal must be
approved by the holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares
of our Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon.
|
Newcastle,
which currently owns 19,380,768 shares or approximately 36% of our outstanding
Common Stock, has, pursuant to the Mutual Support Agreement more fully described
beginning on page 105, agreed to vote in favor of the Acquisition Proposal, the
Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal and the Declassification
Proposal.
Each of
the Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal and the Reverse Stock
Split Proposal must be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote thereon. The Auditor
Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal must be approved by a majority of the
votes cast thereon and represented at the Annual Meeting. With
respect to the Director Proposals, those director nominees who receive a
plurality of votes cast will be elected.
Approval
of the Capitalization Proposal, the Name Change Proposal and the Reverse Stock
Split Proposal are conditioned upon the approval of the Acquisition
Proposal.
Your
broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares on any proposal unless you
provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and
procedures provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee. If you
hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with
voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker
non-votes”. Abstentions and broker non-votes, though considered
present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will have the same effect as
a vote “AGAINST” each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal. Abstentions (and withhold votes in the
case of the Director Proposal) and broker non-votes will have no effect on the
Director Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal.
Q:
|
How
many votes do I have?
|
A:
|
You
are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock that you
hold. As of the Record Date, there were 53,883,872 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.
|
A:
|
You
may vote using any of the following
methods:
|
|
·
|
Proxy card or voting
instruction card. Be sure to complete, sign and date the
card and return it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a
stockholder of record and you return your signed proxy card but do not
indicate your voting preferences, the persons named in the proxy card will
vote “FOR” the approval of each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name
Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split
Proposal, the Declassification Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the
Adjournment Proposal, “FOR” the election of each of the director nominees
as set forth in the Director Proposal and in the discretion of the proxy
holders on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the
Annual Meeting.
|
|
·
|
In person at the Annual
Meeting. All stockholders may vote in person at the
Annual Meeting. You may also be represented by another person
at the Annual Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that
person. If you are a beneficial owner of shares, you must
obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or nominee and present it to
the inspectors of election with your ballot when you vote at the Annual
Meeting.
|
Q:
|
What
can I do if I change my mind after I vote my
shares?
|
A:
|
If
you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time
before it is voted at the Annual Meeting
by:
|
|
·
|
sending
written notice of revocation to the Company’s
Secretary;
|
|
·
|
submitting
a new, proper proxy after the date of the revoked proxy;
or
|
|
·
|
attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in
person.
|
If you
are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by
contacting your broker, bank or nominee. You may also vote in person
at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy as described in the answer to
the previous question. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by
itself, revoke a proxy.
Q:
|
What
happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual
Meeting?
|
A:
|
Other
than the eight items of business described in this proxy statement, the
Company is not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual
Meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy
holders, Mark E. Schwarz and John P. Murray, will have the discretion to
vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote
at the Annual Meeting.
|
Q:
|
How
many shares must be present or represented to conduct business at the
Annual Meeting?
|
A:
|
A
quorum will be present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares of
our Common Stock entitled to vote is represented at the Annual Meeting,
either in person or by proxy.
|
Both
abstentions and broker non-votes (described in more detail above) are counted
for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
Q:
|
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as
a beneficial owner?
|
A:
|
If
your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent,
Securities Transfer Corporation, you are considered, with respect to those
shares, the “stockholder of record.” In that event, this proxy
statement and proxy card have been sent directly to you by the
Company.
|
If your
shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you
are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in street
name. In that event, this proxy statement has been forwarded to you
by your broker, bank or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares,
the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the
right to direct your broker, bank or nominee how to vote your shares by using
the voting instruction card included in the mailing or by following their
instructions for voting by telephone or the Internet, if they offer that
alternative. Since a beneficial owner is not the stockholder of
record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you
obtain a legal proxy from the broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares,
giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting.
Q:
|
How
can I attend and vote my shares in person at the Annual
Meeting?
|
A:
|
You
are entitled to attend the Annual Meeting only if you were a Company
stockholder or joint holder as of the close of business on December
19, 2008, the Record Date, or you hold a valid proxy for the Annual
Meeting. You should be prepared to present photo identification
for admittance. In addition, if you are a stockholder of
record, your name will be verified against the list of stockholders of
record on the record date prior to your being admitted to the Annual
Meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares
through a broker, trustee or nominee (i.e., in street name), and you plan
to attend the Annual Meeting, please send written notification to New
Century Equity Holdings Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas,
Texas 75201, Attn: Corporate Secretary, and enclose evidence of
your ownership (such as your most recent account statement prior to the
Record Date, a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your
broker, trustee or nominee, or other similar evidence of
ownership). If you do not provide photo identification or
comply with the other procedures outlined above, you will not be admitted
to the Annual Meeting.
|
The
Annual Meeting will begin promptly on February 5, 2009, at 11:00
a.m. local time. You should allow adequate time for the check-in
procedures.
Shares
held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted in person at the
Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted
in person at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the
broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote
the shares. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we
recommend that you also submit your proxy card or voting instruction card as
described herein so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to
attend the Annual Meeting.
Q:
|
What
is the deadline for voting my
shares?
|
A:
|
If
you hold shares as the stockholder of record, your vote by proxy must be
received before the polls close at the Annual
Meeting.
|
If you
hold shares beneficially in street name with a broker, trustee or nominee,
please follow the voting instructions provided by your broker, trustee or
nominee. You may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting
only if at the Annual Meeting you provide a legal proxy obtained from your
broker, trustee or nominee.
Q:
|
How
are votes counted?
|
A:
|
For
all items of business other than the election of directors, you may vote
“FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” Abstentions will have the same
effect as a vote “AGAINST” each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name
Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split
Proposal and the Declassification Proposal, but will have no effect on the
Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. For the election
of directors, you may vote “FOR” or
“WITHHOLD.”
|
If you
provide specific instructions with regard to certain items, your shares will be
voted as you instruct on such items. If you sign your proxy card or
voting instruction card without giving specific instructions, your shares will
be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board “FOR” the approval
of each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification
Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal, “FOR” the election
of each of the director nominees as set forth in the Director Proposal and in
the discretion of the proxy holders, Mark E. Schwarz and John P. Murray, on any
other matters that properly come before the Annual Meeting.
Q:
|
Where
can I find the voting results of the Annual
Meeting?
|
A:
|
We
intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Annual
Meeting. The final voting results will be published as soon as
practicable thereafter.
|
Q:
|
What
should I do if I receive more than one set of voting
materials?
|
A:
|
You
may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple
copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting
instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more
than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction
card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If
you are a stockholder of record and your shares are registered in more
than one name, you will receive more than one proxy
card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card
and voting instruction card that you
receive.
|
Q:
|
How
may I obtain an additional set of proxy materials, the Company’s 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K or other financial
information?
|
A:
|
A
copy of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, is
being sent to stockholders along with this proxy
statement. Stockholders may request an additional free copy of
all of the proxy materials, the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
as amended, and other financial information
from:
|
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
Attention: Corporate
Secretary
We will
also furnish copies of any exhibit to the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form
10-K, as amended, if specifically requested. Our SEC filings are also
available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
Q:
|
Who
can help answer my questions?
|
A:
|
If
you have any questions about the abovementioned proposals, the Annual
Meeting or how to vote or revoke your proxy, you should contact us
at:
|
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
Attention: Corporate
Secretary
INFORMATION
OF THE WILHELMINA COMPANIES
New
Century is providing the following financial information to assist you in the
analysis of the financial aspects of the Acquisition. The selected
combined historical financial information of the Wilhelmina Companies includes
all divisions of the Wilhelmina Companies including the core modeling business
(“Core”) which is being acquired under the Acquisition Agreement and includes
all divisions of the business except for the Wilhelmina Miami division and the
WAM division. The Wilhelmina Miami division is being acquired through
the Miami Earnout (defined below) and the WAM business is being acquired through
the WAM Earnout (defined below).
We
derived the Wilhelmina Companies historical financial information from the
audited combined financial statements of the Wilhelmina Companies as of and for
each of the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 and
from unaudited financial statements as of and for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007. The unaudited combined
financial information included in this proxy statement includes, in the opinion
of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the results of
operations and financial condition of the Wilhelmina Companies at the dates and
periods presented. The information is only a summary and should be
read in conjunction with the historical combined financial statements and
related notes contained elsewhere herein. The historical results included below
and elsewhere in this document are not indicative of the future performance of
the Wilhelmina Companies.
SELECTED
COMBINED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMBINED WILHELMINA
COMPANIES
|
|
|
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
8,155 |
|
|
$ |
899 |
|
|
$ |
835 |
|
|
$ |
9,889 |
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
4,218 |
|
|
|
999 |
|
|
|
463 |
|
|
|
5,680 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
1,677 |
|
|
|
285 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
|
|
2,165 |
|
Owner’s
compensation and fees
|
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
731 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
1,529 |
|
|
|
(385 |
) |
|
|
169 |
|
|
|
1,313 |
|
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
774 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
764 |
|
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
13 |
|
Income
(loss) before income tax
|
|
|
768 |
|
|
|
(385 |
) |
|
|
179 |
|
|
|
562 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
188 |
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
580 |
|
|
$ |
(385 |
) |
|
$ |
179 |
|
|
$ |
374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(at
period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$ |
11,147 |
|
|
$ |
1,664 |
|
|
$ |
1,268 |
|
|
$ |
14,079 |
|
Long
term obligations and capital leases
|
|
$ |
174 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
billings (unaudited) (2)
|
|
$ |
27,359 |
|
|
$ |
3,988 |
|
|
$ |
2,627 |
|
|
$ |
33,974 |
|
Less:
Client cost and expenses (6)
|
|
|
19,855 |
|
|
|
3,125 |
|
|
|
1,797 |
|
|
|
24,777 |
|
Revenues
from commissions, residuals and service charges
|
|
$ |
7,504 |
|
|
$ |
863 |
|
|
$ |
830 |
|
|
$ |
9,197 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
580 |
|
|
$ |
(385 |
) |
|
$ |
179 |
|
|
$ |
374 |
|
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
774 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
764 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
188 |
|
EBITDA
(1)
|
|
$ |
1,596 |
|
|
$ |
(385 |
) |
|
$ |
182 |
|
|
$ |
1,393 |
|
SELECTED
COMBINED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMBINED WILHELMINA
COMPANIES
|
|
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
6,910 |
|
|
$ |
163 |
|
|
$ |
616 |
|
|
$ |
7,689 |
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
3,973 |
|
|
|
482 |
|
|
|
523 |
|
|
|
4,978 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
1,518 |
|
|
|
206 |
|
|
|
461 |
|
|
|
2,185 |
|
Owner’s
compensation and fees
|
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
731 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
688 |
|
|
|
(525 |
) |
|
|
(368 |
) |
|
|
(205 |
) |
Interest
expense-net(3)
|
|
|
690 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
746 |
|
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Income
(loss) before income tax
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(525 |
) |
|
|
(424 |
) |
|
|
(939 |
) |
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
339 |
|
|
$ |
(525 |
) |
|
$ |
(424 |
) |
|
$ |
(610 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(at
period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$ |
11,053 |
|
|
$ |
480 |
|
|
$ |
338 |
|
|
$ |
11,871 |
|
Long
term obligations and capital leases
|
|
$ |
6,482 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
6,482 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
billings (unaudited)(2)
|
|
$ |
23,995 |
|
|
$ |
1,812 |
|
|
$ |
1,442 |
|
|
$ |
27,249 |
|
Less:
Client Cost and expenses (6)
|
|
|
17,455 |
|
|
|
1,657 |
|
|
|
819 |
|
|
|
19,931 |
|
Revenues
from commissions, residuals and service charges
|
|
$ |
6,540 |
|
|
$ |
155 |
|
|
$ |
623 |
|
|
$ |
7,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
339 |
|
|
$ |
(525 |
) |
|
$ |
(424 |
) |
|
$ |
(610 |
) |
Interest
expense-net(3)
|
|
|
690 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
746 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
EBITDA(1)
|
|
$ |
748 |
|
|
$ |
(525 |
) |
|
$ |
(365 |
) |
|
$ |
(142 |
) |
SELECTED
COMBINED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMBINED WILHELMINA
COMPANIES
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
9,978 |
|
|
$ |
483 |
|
|
$ |
1,029 |
|
|
$ |
11,490 |
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
5,351 |
|
|
|
692 |
|
|
|
701 |
|
|
|
6,744 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
2,139 |
|
|
|
314 |
|
|
|
546 |
|
|
|
2,999 |
|
Owner’s
compensation and fees
|
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
975 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
1,513 |
|
|
|
(523 |
) |
|
|
(218 |
) |
|
|
772 |
|
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
924 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
979 |
|
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Income
(loss) before income tax
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
(523 |
) |
|
|
(273 |
) |
|
|
(189 |
) |
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
630 |
|
|
$ |
(523 |
) |
|
$ |
(273 |
) |
|
$ |
(166 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(at
period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$ |
11,839 |
|
|
$ |
749 |
|
|
$ |
1,490 |
|
|
$ |
14,078 |
|
Long
term obligations and
|
|
$ |
6,437 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
6,437 |
|
Capital
leases
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
billings (unaudited) (2)
|
|
$ |
33,224 |
|
|
$ |
1,999 |
|
|
$ |
2,341 |
|
|
$ |
37,564 |
|
Less:
Client Cost and expenses (6)
|
|
|
24,126 |
|
|
|
1,806 |
|
|
|
1,391 |
|
|
|
27,323 |
|
Revenues
from commissions, residuals and service charges
|
|
$ |
9,098 |
|
|
$ |
193 |
|
|
$ |
950 |
|
|
$ |
10,241 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
630 |
|
|
$ |
(523 |
) |
|
$ |
(273 |
) |
|
$ |
(166 |
) |
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
924 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
979 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
EBITDA
(1)
|
|
$ |
1,600 |
|
|
$ |
(523 |
) |
|
$ |
(216 |
) |
|
$ |
861 |
|
SELECTED
COMBINED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMBINED WILHELMINA
COMPANIES
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
9,194 |
|
|
$ |
679 |
|
|
$ |
866 |
|
|
$ |
10,739 |
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
4,653 |
|
|
|
474 |
|
|
|
640 |
|
|
|
5,766 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
1,754 |
|
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
664 |
|
|
|
2,629 |
|
Owner’s
compensation and fees
|
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
975 |
|
Income
(loss) from operations
|
|
|
1,812 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(438 |
) |
|
|
1,369 |
|
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
946 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(86 |
) |
|
|
860 |
|
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
(22 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(22 |
) |
Income
(loss) before income tax
|
|
|
844 |
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(352 |
) |
|
|
487 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
21 |
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
823 |
|
|
$ |
(5 |
) |
|
$ |
(352 |
) |
|
$ |
466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(at
period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$ |
9,418 |
|
|
$ |
931 |
|
|
$ |
1,065 |
|
|
$ |
11,414 |
|
Long
term obligations and
|
|
$ |
6,608 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
6,608 |
|
Capital
leases
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selected
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
billings (unaudited) (2)
|
|
$ |
29,003 |
|
|
$ |
1,055 |
|
|
$ |
1,929 |
|
|
$ |
31,987 |
|
Less:
Client Cost and expenses (6)
|
|
|
20,883 |
|
|
|
779 |
|
|
|
1,069 |
|
|
|
22,731 |
|
Revenues
from commissions, residuals and service charges
|
|
$ |
8,120 |
|
|
$ |
276 |
|
|
$ |
860 |
|
|
$ |
9,256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
823 |
|
|
$ |
(5 |
) |
|
$ |
(352 |
) |
|
$ |
466 |
|
Interest
expense-net (3)
|
|
|
946 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(86 |
) |
|
|
860 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
78 |
|
Income
tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
21 |
|
EBITDA
(1)
|
|
$ |
1,862 |
|
|
$ |
(5 |
) |
|
$ |
(432 |
) |
|
$ |
1,425 |
|
(1)
|
Represents
net income (loss) before deductions for interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization. We believe that EBITDA is useful to
stockholders as a measure of comparative operating performance, as it is
less susceptible to variances in actual performance resulting from
depreciation and amortization and more reflective of changes in pricing
decisions, cost controls and other factors that affect operating
performance. EBITDA is not intended as a measure of the Wilhelmina
Companies’ operating performance, as an alternative to net income (loss)
or as an alternative to any other performance measure in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
|
(2)
|
Gross
billings are an unaudited non-GAAP financial measure estimated by
management that includes the gross amount billed by the agent (the
Wilhelmina Companies) to customers on behalf of its clients (models,
artists and talent) for services performed. Gross billings are
not reflected in the financial statements of the Wilhelmina Companies
included in this proxy statement. The Wilhelmina Companies use
gross billings information internally in connection with planning and
budgeting analyses. The Wilhelmina Companies believe gross
billings information is useful in assessing different divisions of the
business and facilitates an understanding of financial performance as the
Wilhelmina Companies retain a percentage of the gross billings to its
customers for services performed by their models, artists and talent on
behalf of the Wilhelmina Companies'
customers.
|
(3)
|
Interest
expense includes $750,000 paid to a stockholder of the Wilhelmina
Companies for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and $563,000 for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The note
payable to a Control Seller is for $6,000,000 with a stated interest rate
of 12.5% per annum.
|
(4)
|
The
WAM Earnout: Not later than thirty (30) days following the
third anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company will inform the Control
Sellers of its calculation of the WAM Earnout. In the event
that the Company receives an objection notice relating to such
calculations from the Control Sellers in accordance with the Acquisition
Agreement, such dispute as to the calculation will be resolved pursuant to
the Acquisition Agreement. Subject to the paragraph entitled
“Payment
Reduction” discussed on page 92 (the “Payment
Reduction”), and the resolution of any objection appropriately raised, the
Company will pay to the Control Sellers, pro rata in accordance with their
pre-closing ownership of WAM, an amount (if positive) in cash in
immediately available funds equal to (a) five (5) multiplied by
(b) the three (3) year average of audited WAM EBITDA for the twelve
(12) month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of
the Closing Date and the second anniversary of the Closing Date,
respectively; provided that aggregate payments (determined prior to any
adjustment pursuant to the Payment Reduction) described in this paragraph
will not exceed $10,000,000; and provided further that revenue associated
with any cash included in the calculation of the Closing Net Asset
Adjustment described above will be excluded from WAM EBITDA for purposes
of the foregoing calculation. The Earn-Out Payment described in
this paragraph, subject to the Payment Reduction, is referred to as the
“WAM Earnout.” Any positive WAM Earnout payment owed by the
Company will be paid by the Company within the later of (a) thirty (30)
calendar days following the Company’s delivery of the calculation of the
WAM Earnout or (b) ten (10) days following the resolution, in accordance
with the Acquisition Agreement, or any related objections properly
raised.
|
(5)
|
The
Miami Earnout: Not later than thirty (30) days following the
third anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company will inform the Control
Sellers of its calculation of the Miami Earnout. In the event
that the Company receives an objection notice relating to such
calculations from the Control Sellers in accordance with the Acquisition
Agreement, such dispute as to the calculation will be resolved pursuant to
the Acquisition Agreement. Subject to the Payment Reduction,
and the resolution of any objection validly raised, the Company will pay
to the Control Sellers, pro rata in accordance with their pre-closing
ownership of Wilhelmina Miami, an amount (if positive) in cash in
immediately available funds equal to (a) 7.5 multiplied by (b) the three
(3) year average of audited Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for the twelve (12)
month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of the
Closing Date and the second anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively;
provided that revenue associated with any cash included in the calculation
of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment described above will be excluded from
Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for purposes of the foregoing calculation. The
Earn-Out Payment described in this paragraph, subject to the Payment
Reduction is referred to as the “Miami Earnout.” Any positive
Miami Earnout payment owed by the Company will be paid by the Company
within the later of (a) thirty (30) calendar days following the Company’s
delivery of the calculation of the Miami Earnout or (b) ten (10) days
following the resolution, in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, of
any related objections properly raised.
|
|
|
(6) |
Client
cost and expenses include all amounts paid by the Wilhelmina Companies to
their models, artists and talent for services performed on behalf of the
Wilhelmina Companies'
customers.
|
At the
Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century will pay an aggregate purchase
price (before estimated transaction fees of $1,200,000 and $450,000 in shares of
Common Stock that are anticipated to be issued to Sean Patterson, the President
of Wilhelmina International) of $30,000,000 in connection with the Acquisition,
of which $24,000,000 will be paid for the outstanding equity interests of the
Wilhelmina Companies and $6,000,000 in cash will repay the outstanding balance
of a note held by a Control Seller. The purchase price includes
$15,000,000 of Common Stock of New Century, valued at book value as of July 31,
2008 (which the parties agreed is $0.247 per share of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment) to be issued in connection with the merger of Wilhelmina Acquisition
with and into Wilhelmina International. The remaining $9,000,000 of
cash will be paid to acquire the equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina
Companies. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing
adjustments, which will be effected against a total of $4,600,000 of Common
Stock that will be held in escrow pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement. The $30,000,000 to be paid at Closing, less $4,500,000 of
Common Stock to be held in escrow in respect of the “core business” purchase
price adjustment, provides for a floor purchase price of $25,500,000 (which
amount may be further reduced in connection with certain indemnification
matters). The shares of Common Stock held in escrow may be
repurchased by New Century for a nominal amount, subject to certain earnouts and
offsets.
Equity
Financing Agreement
Concurrently
with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century entered into the
Equity Financing Agreement with Newcastle, which currently owns 19,380,768
shares or approximately 36% of the outstanding Common Stock, for the purpose of
obtaining financing to complete the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition
Agreement. Pursuant to the Equity Financing Agreement, subject to and
conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century will sell
to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common Stock at $0.247 per share, or
approximately (but slightly higher than) the per share price applicable to the
Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition Agreement. In addition,
under the Equity Financing Agreement, Newcastle committed to purchase, at New
Century’s election at any time or times prior to six months following the
Closing, up to an additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock on the same
terms. The Equity Financing Agreement is subject to certain other
conditions, including the parties’ entry into a registration rights agreement
upon the Closing, pursuant to which Newcastle will be granted certain demand and
piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Stock it holds,
including the Common Stock issuable under the Equity Financing
Agreement.
The
unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements combine (i) the
historical balance sheets of New Century and the Wilhelmina Companies as of
September 30, 2008, giving pro forma effect to the Acquisition as if it had
occurred on September 30, 2008, (ii) the historical statements of operations of
New Century and the Wilhelmina Companies for the year ended December 31, 2007,
giving pro forma effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1,
2007, and (iii) the historical statements of operations of New Century and the
Wilhelmina Companies for the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, giving
pro forma effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1,
2008.
New
Century is providing this information to aid you in your analysis of the
financial aspects of the Acquisition. The unaudited pro forma condensed
consolidated financial statements are based on the estimates and assumptions set
forth in the notes to such statements, which are preliminary and have been made
solely for purposes of developing such pro forma information. The unaudited pro
forma condensed financial statements described above should be read in
conjunction with the historical financial statements of the Wilhelmina Companies
and New Century and the related notes thereto. The unaudited pro forma
information is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results
of operations that may have actually occurred had the Acquisition taken place on
the dates noted, or the future financial position or operating results of the
consolidated company.
Under the
purchase method of accounting, the total preliminary purchase price has been
allocated to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities
assumed, based on various preliminary estimates, which assume that historical
cost approximates fair value of the assets and liabilities of the Wilhelmina
Companies. The intangible assets acquired will include intangible
assets with indefinite lives, such as the Wilhelmina brand/trademarks and
customer relationships and intangible assets with finite lives, such as model
contracts, talent contracts, property leases, noncompetition agreements and
license agreements, and the remainder of any intangible assets not meeting the
above criteria will be allocated to goodwill. Some of these assets,
such as goodwill and the Wilhelmina brand/trademarks will be
non-amortizable. Other assets, such as model contracts, talent
contracts, property leases, noncompetition agreements and license agreements
will be amortized on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives
which range from 3-10 years. New Century is in the process of
completing its assessment of the estimated fair value of the Wilhelmina
Companies net assets acquired (which will include an assessment of the
noncompetition agreements) and plans to engage a third-party valuation firm to
assist in this process after the closing of the Acquisition. At this
time, all excess purchase price over the historical net book value of the
Wilhelmina Companies net assets acquired has been allocated to trademarks and
intangible assets with indefinite lives, other intangible assets with finite
lives and other goodwill until such analysis is complete. These
estimates are subject to change upon the finalization of the valuation of
certain assets and liabilities and may be adjusted in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 141, Business
Combinations.
Management
currently estimates the fair value of the stock to be issued to the Wilhelmina
Companies stockholders and members at Closing will approximate New Century’s
book value (which the parties agreed is $0.247 per share of Common Stock,
subject to adjustment) at Closing. If the fair value of New Century’s
Common Stock (which is the closing price of New Century’s Common Stock on the
Closing date) is higher or lower than the agreed book value per share then the
corresponding estimated purchase price will be higher or lower resulting in a
different purchase price allocation than management has estimated in the
unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information. For example,
if the closing price of New Century’s Common Stock on the Closing date is $0.17
(which was the closing price of New Century’s Common Stock on August 25, 2008,
the day before the Acquisition Agreement was announced) the stock portion of the
total estimated purchase price would be $10,633,603. This amount is
significantly lower than the amount of $15,450,000 that New Century has
estimated in the table below as the value of the stock to be issued to the
Wilhelmina Companies stockholders and members at Closing. In
addition, if the closing price of New Century’s Common Stock on the
Closing date is $0.37 (which was the highest price at which New
Century’s Common Stock traded on August 26, 2008, the day the Acquisition
Agreement was announced) the stock portion of the total estimated purchase price
would be $23,143,724. This amount is significantly higher than the
amount of $15,450,000 that New Century has estimated in the table below as the
value of the stock to be issued to the Wilhelmina Companies stockholders and
members at Closing. The fair value of New Century’s Common Stock at
Closing will not affect the number of shares issued to the Wilhelmina Companies
stockholders and members and the number of shares issued to Newcastle under the
Equity Financing Agreement.
The
estimated total purchase price (assuming the closing price of New
Century’s Common Stock at the Closing date is $0.247) is summarized as
follows:
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid to the Wilhelmina Companies stockholders and members:
|
|
$ |
9,000,000 |
|
Stock
issued to the Wilhelmina Companies stockholders and members:(1)
|
|
|
15,450,000 |
|
Transaction
expenses:
|
|
|
1,200,000 |
|
Total
estimated purchase price: (2)
|
|
$ |
25,650,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
estimated shares of Common Stock outstanding post-Closing:
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock of New Century outstanding pre-Closing:
|
|
|
53,883,872 |
|
$3,000,000
of Common Stock issued to Newcastle at Closing:
|
|
|
12,145,748 |
|
$15,450,000
of Common Stock issued to the Wilhelmina Companies
|
|
|
|
|
stockholders
and members:(1)
|
|
|
62,550,607 |
|
Total
Common Stock outstanding post-Closing:
|
|
|
128,580,227 |
|
(1)
|
Includes
$450,000 in shares of Common Stock that are anticipated to be issued to
Sean Patterson, the President of Wilhelmina International, in connection
with Mr. Patterson’s current employment agreement. This amount
represents a portion of bonus consideration payable in connection with the
Acquisition under Mr. Patterson’s existing employment agreement, which
portion New Century has agreed to bear in the form of stock payable to Mr.
Patterson at Closing.
|
(2)
|
Does
not include the $6,000,000 in cash which will repay the outstanding
balance of a note held by a Control Seller at
Closing.
|
The
Acquisition Agreement is subject to the approval of New Century’s stockholders,
as well as certain other closing conditions set forth in the Acquisition
Agreement. In addition to the Acquisition Agreement itself, New
Century will also submit for the approval of its stockholders certain amendments
to its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws designed to, among other things,
facilitate the Closing and consummation of the transactions contemplated under
the Acquisition Agreement, including but not limited to (i) an increase in the
number of shares of Common Stock authorized, (ii) the declassification of New
Century’s Board of Directors and (iii) a change in the corporate name of New
Century (new name expected to be “Wilhelmina International, Inc.”).
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30,
2008
|
|
New
Century
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
Companies
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjusted
|
|
Assets
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
12,088 |
|
|
$ |
680 |
|
|
$ |
(12,277 |
) |
(a)
|
|
$ |
491 |
|
Other
current assets
|
|
|
815 |
|
|
|
12,395 |
|
|
|
(1,053 |
) |
(b)
|
|
|
12,157 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
12,903 |
|
|
|
13,075 |
|
|
|
(13,330 |
) |
|
|
|
12,648 |
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
373 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
373 |
|
Goodwill
& other intangible assets
|
|
|
803 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
|
|
30,580 |
|
(c)
|
|
|
31,545 |
|
Other
long-term assets
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
469 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
469 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
13,706 |
|
|
$ |
14,079 |
|
|
$ |
17,250 |
|
|
|
$ |
45,035 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
Liabilities
and stockholders equity (deficit)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
$ |
366 |
|
|
$ |
12,835 |
|
|
$ |
(131 |
) |
(i)
|
|
$ |
13,070 |
|
Current
portion note payable to stockholder
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
(6,000 |
) |
(d)
|
|
|
- |
|
Other
long-term liabilities
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
174 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
174 |
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
366 |
|
|
|
19,009 |
|
|
|
(6,131 |
) |
|
|
|
13,244 |
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
(deficit)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock
|
|
|
539 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
712 |
|
(e)
|
|
|
1,286 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
75,357 |
|
|
|
1,499 |
|
|
|
16,205 |
|
(f)
|
|
|
93,061 |
|
Members’
deficit
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,612 |
) |
|
|
1,612 |
|
(g)
|
|
|
- |
|
Accumulated
equity (deficit)
|
|
|
(62,556 |
) |
|
|
(4,852 |
) |
|
|
4,852 |
|
(h)
|
|
|
(62,556 |
) |
Total
equity (deficit)
|
|
|
13,340 |
|
|
|
(4,930 |
) |
|
|
23,381 |
|
|
|
|
31,791 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders equity (deficit)
|
|
$ |
13,706 |
|
|
$ |
14,079 |
|
|
$ |
17,250 |
|
|
|
$ |
45,035 |
|
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
for Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
New
Century
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
Companies
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjusted
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions
and residuals
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,367 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
$ |
4,367 |
|
Service
charges
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,831 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
4,831 |
|
Management
fees, license fees and other income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
691 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
691 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
9,889 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
9,889 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,680 |
|
|
|
150 |
|
(p)
|
|
|
5,830 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
271 |
|
|
|
2,165 |
|
|
|
2,348 |
|
(t)
|
|
|
4,784 |
|
Stockholder’s
compensation and consulting fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
(731 |
) |
(o)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
271 |
|
|
|
8,576 |
|
|
|
1,767 |
|
|
|
|
10,614 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
(271 |
) |
|
|
1,313 |
|
|
|
(1,767 |
) |
|
|
|
(725 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
(223 |
) |
(l)
|
|
|
20 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(784 |
) |
|
|
563 |
|
(m)
|
|
|
(221 |
) |
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
(751 |
) |
|
|
340 |
|
|
|
|
(188 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss)
income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(48 |
) |
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
(1,427 |
) |
|
|
|
(913 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
175 |
|
|
|
(175 |
) |
(n)
|
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
(13 |
) |
(n)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
(188 |
) |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
(loss) income
|
|
$ |
(48 |
) |
|
$ |
374 |
|
|
$ |
(1,239 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(913 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,580,227 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,820,227 |
|
Earnings
per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
for
Year Ended December 31, 2007
|
|
New
Century
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
Companies
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjustments
|
|
|
|
Pro
Forma Adjusted
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions
and residuals
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
4,914 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
$ |
4,194 |
|
Service
charges
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,327 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
5,327 |
|
Consulting
income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
226 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
226 |
|
Management
fees, license fees and other income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,023 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
1,023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,490 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
11,490 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,744 |
|
|
|
200 |
|
(q)
|
|
|
6,944 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
552 |
|
|
|
2,999 |
|
|
|
3,131 |
|
(s)
|
|
|
6,682 |
|
Stockholder’s
compensation and consulting fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
(975 |
) |
(r)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
552 |
|
|
|
10,718 |
|
|
|
2,356 |
|
|
|
|
13,626 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
(552 |
) |
|
|
772 |
|
|
|
(2,356 |
) |
|
|
|
(2,136 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
(607 |
) |
(j)
|
|
|
12 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(992 |
) |
|
|
750 |
|
(k)
|
|
|
(242 |
) |
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
(962 |
) |
|
|
143 |
|
|
|
|
(212 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss)
income before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
(190 |
) |
|
|
(2,213 |
) |
|
|
|
(2,348 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
212 |
|
|
|
(212 |
) |
(n)
|
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(235 |
) |
|
|
235 |
|
(n)
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
(loss) income
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
(167 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,236 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(2,348 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,580,227 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
128,820,227 |
|
Earnings
per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
Notes
to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Description
of Transaction and Basis for Presentation
In
connection with the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century will pay
an aggregate purchase price of $30,000,000 in connection with the Acquisition,
of which $24,000,000 will be paid for the outstanding equity interests of the
Wilhelmina Companies and $6,000,000 in cash will repay the outstanding balance
of a note held by a Control Seller. The purchase price includes
$15,000,000 of Common Stock of New Century, valued at book value as of July 31,
2008 (which the parties agreed is $0.247 per share of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment) is to be issued in connection with the merger of Wilhelmina
Acquisition with and into Wilhelmina International. The remaining
$9,000,000 of cash will be paid to acquire the equity interests of the remaining
Wilhelmina Companies.
Preliminary
Purchase Price and Allocation
The
preliminary allocation of the purchase price used in the unaudited pro forma
condensed consolidated financial statements is based upon management’s
preliminary estimates of the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets of
the Wilhelmina Companies as of the assumed date of completion of the
Acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the net tangible
and identifiable intangible assets after considering the impact of deferred
taxes is recorded as goodwill. The final determination of the
allocation of the purchase price will be based on the fair value of such assets
as of the actual date of completion of the Acquisition, and such values may be
significantly different than those used in these pro forma financial
statements.
New Century is in the
process of obtaining third-party valuations of certain intangible assets; thus,
the allocation of the purchase price is subject to
refinement. FASB 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” requires
the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the tax effects of
differences between the assigned values in the purchase price allocation and the
tax basis of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a purchase business
combination. As New Century has not completed its assessment of the
estimated fair value of the Wilhelmina Companies’ net assets acquired, no
adjustment has been or will be made to deferred income taxes until such analysis
is complete.
The
following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed at the date of completion of the
Acquisition. Included in the purchase price is an estimate of
Acquisition related transaction costs of $1,200,000, legal and accounting fees
of approximately $1,000,000 and other external costs directly related to the
Acquisition of approximately $200,000. The table below assumes the
$6,000,000 note payable to a Control Seller will be paid at
Closing:
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
$ |
13,075 |
|
Property,
plant and equipment
|
|
|
373 |
|
Intangible
assets
|
|
|
162 |
|
Trademarks
and intangibles with indefinite lives
|
|
|
10,300 |
|
Other
intangible assets with finite lives
|
|
|
18,600 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
1,680 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
469 |
|
Total
assets acquired
|
|
|
44,659 |
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
(12,835 |
) |
Note
payable to Control Seller
|
|
|
(6,000 |
) |
Long-term
debt
|
|
|
(174 |
) |
Total
liabilities assumed
|
|
|
(19,009 |
) |
Net
assets acquired
|
|
$ |
25,650 |
|
Pro Forma
adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial
statements are as follows (in thousands):
a. |
|
Adjustments
to cash and cash equivalents:
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record proceeds from the private placement transaction
|
|
$ |
3,000 |
|
|
|
To
record payment to Wilhelmina stockholders
|
|
|
(8,809 |
) |
|
|
To
record payment of note payable to a Control Seller
|
|
|
(6,000 |
) |
|
|
To
record payment of remaining transaction expenses
|
|
|
(660 |
) |
|
|
To
record payment to LLC member for interest in Wilhelmina Film & TV,
LLC
|
|
|
(93 |
) |
|
|
To
record proceeds from repayment of advances to officers
|
|
|
285 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(12,277 |
) |
b. |
|
Adjustments
to other current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record repayment of due from officer
|
|
$ |
(285 |
) |
|
|
To
reclass New Century prepaid transaction fees to capitalized cost of the
Acquisition
|
|
|
(768 |
) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1,053 |
) |
c. |
|
Adjustment
to goodwill & other intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record goodwill adjustment for purchase accounting
|
|
$ |
30,580 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
d. |
|
Adjustment
to note payable to a Control Seller:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record payment of note payment of a Control Seller
|
|
$ |
6,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
e. |
|
Adjustments
to Common Stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record Common Stock related to private placement
transaction
|
|
$ |
121 |
|
|
|
To
record issuance of shares to Wilhelmina selling
stockholders
|
|
|
608 |
|
|
|
To
record issuance of shares to Sean Patterson
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
To
record elimination of Wilhelmina International Group
|
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
712 |
|
f. |
|
Adjustments
to paid in capital:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record proceeds from private placement transaction
|
|
$ |
2,879 |
|
|
|
To
record issuance of shares to Wilhelmina selling
shareholders
|
|
|
14,392 |
|
|
|
To
record issuance of shares to Sean Patterson
|
|
|
433 |
|
|
|
To
record elimination entry of subsidiary shares in
Wilhelmina
|
|
|
(1,499 |
) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
16,205 |
|
g. |
|
Adjustments
to accumulated members’ deficit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination entry of subsidiary shares in
Wilhelmina
|
|
$ |
1,612 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
h. |
|
Adjustments
to accumulated deficit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination entry of Wilhelmina Companies accumulated
deficit
|
|
$ |
4,852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
i. |
|
Adjustment
to accrued expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record Designated Matter Cash Deduction, as defined in the Acquisition
Agreement
|
|
$ |
95 |
|
|
|
To
record payment of accrued transaction expenses on New Century balance
sheet as of 09/30/08
|
|
|
(226 |
) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(131 |
) |
j. |
|
Adjustment
to interest income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination of interest income earned by New Century on cash
balances
|
|
$ |
(607 |
) |
k. |
|
Adjustment
to interest expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination of interest expenses on note payable to a Control
Seller
|
|
$ |
(750 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
l. |
|
Adjustment
to interest income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination of interest income earned by New Century on cash
balances
|
|
$ |
(223 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
m. |
|
Adjustment
to interest expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
record elimination of interest expense on note payable to a Control
Seller
|
|
$ |
(563 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n. |
|
As
of December 31, 2007, New Century had a federal income tax loss
carryforward of approximately $13,400,000, which begins expiring in
2019. In addition, New Century had a federal capital loss
carryforward of approximately $70,300,000 which expires in
2009. Realization of New Century’s carryforwards is dependent
on future taxable income and capital gains. At this time, New
Century cannot assess whether or not the carryforward will be realized;
therefore, a valuation allowance in the amount of $29,319,000 has
been recorded for the entire value of the deferred tax asset related to
these carryforwards. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ownership
changes, as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”), may have limited the amount of net operating loss
carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable
income.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Century’s ability to utilize its U.S. federal tax net operating loss
carryforwards will become subject to annual limitations if it undergoes an
ownership change as defined under Section 382 of the Code, which may
jeopardize New Century’s ability to use some or all of its U.S. federal
tax net operating loss carryforwards following the Closing of the
Acquisition. New Century does not believe that the current
structure of the Acquisition Agreement will cause an ownership change as
defined in Section 382 of the Code. Therefore, an adjustment
has been recorded to eliminate federal income taxes recorded by Wilhelmina
during the pro forma periods presented as the Company believes its NOLs
would have been available to offset Wilhelmina taxable income during those
periods.
|
|
|
|
o.
|
|
Adjustment
to stockholders compensation and consulting fees:
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
eliminate stockholders compensation and consulting fees paid to certain
owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
as
post acquisition the Wilhelmina Companies will have no contractual
obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
to
continue these payments
|
|
$ |
(731 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
p.
|
|
Adjustment
to salaries and service costs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
increase salaries for new members of executive management which will
be
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
responsible
for certain roles previously performed by the Control Sellers and
new
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
roles
required as a public company
|
|
$ |
150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
q.
|
|
Adjustment
to salaries and service costs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
increase salaries for new members of executive management which will
be
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
responsible
for certain roles previously performed by the Control Sellers and
new
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
roles
required as a public company
|
|
$ |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
r.
|
|
Adjustment
to stockholders compensation and consulting fees:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To
eliminate stockholders compensation and consulting fees paid to certain
owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as
post acquisition the Wilhelmina Companies will have no contractual
obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
to
continue these payments
|
|
$ |
(975 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
s. |
|
Adjustment
to office and general expenses:
To
record amortization expense associated with finite lived intangible
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
acquired
in the Acquisition
|
|
$ |
3,131 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
t. |
|
Adjustment
to office and general expenses:
To
record amortization expense associated with finite lived intangible
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
acquired
in the Acquisition
|
|
$ |
2,348 |
|
You
should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the
other information included in this proxy statement, before you decide whether to
vote or instruct your vote to be cast to approve the Acquisition Proposal and
the other proposals to be presented for consideration at the Annual
Meeting. As New Century’s operations will include those of the
Wilhelmina Companies if the Acquisition is consummated, a number of the
following risk factors relate to the business and operations of the Wilhelmina
Companies. If any of these factors actually occur, the business,
financial condition or results of operations of New Century could be materially
and adversely affected, the value of the Common Stock could decline and
stockholders could lose all or part of their investment.
Risks
Related to the Acquisition
A
substantial number of shares of our Common Stock will be issued in connection
with the Acquisition and the transactions contemplated thereby, which will
result in substantial dilution of the ownership interest of current
stockholders.
A
substantial number of shares of our Common Stock will be issued in connection
with the Acquisition and the transactions contemplated thereby, which will
result in substantial dilution of the ownership interest of current
stockholders. Based upon the book value of the Common Stock on July
31, 2008, approximately 74,696,354 shares of Common Stock are expected to be
issued upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement (in connection with the
Acquisition Agreement and the Equity Financing Agreement). As a
result, immediately after the Acquisition, the Control Sellers are expected to
own approximately 47.2% of the outstanding Common Stock, Newcastle Partners, our
largest stockholder, is expected to own approximately 24.5% of the outstanding
Common Stock, and our remaining stockholders are expected to own approximately
28.3% of the outstanding Common Stock.
The
pro forma financial statements are not an indicator of New Century’s financial
condition or results of operations following the Acquisition.
The pro
forma financial statements contained in this proxy statement are not an
indicator of New Century’s financial condition or results of operations
following the Acquisition. The pro forma financial statements have been derived
from the historical financial statements of the Wilhelmina Companies and New
Century and many adjustments and assumptions have been made regarding the
Wilhelmina Companies after giving effect to the Acquisition. The information
upon which these adjustments and assumptions have been made is preliminary, and
these kinds of adjustments and assumptions are difficult to make with complete
accuracy. As a result, the actual financial condition and results of operations
of New Century following the Acquisition may not be consistent with, or evident
from, these pro forma financial statements.
New
Century currently does not have substantial operations and the Wilhelmina
Companies have never operated in a public company regulatory
environment. Fulfilling New Century’s obligations as a public company
after the Acquisition will be expensive and time consuming.
The
Wilhelmina Companies have not been required to prepare or file periodic and
other reports with the SEC under applicable federal securities laws or to comply
with the requirements of the federal securities laws applicable to public
companies, including the documentation and assessment of the effectiveness of
their internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Although New Century has
maintained disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over
financial reporting as required under the federal securities laws with respect
to its activities, New Century has not had substantial
operations. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related
rules and regulations of the SEC, New Century will be required to implement
additional corporate governance practices and adhere to a variety of reporting
requirements and accounting rules. Compliance with these obligations will
require significant time and resources from New Century’s management and finance
and accounting staff and will significantly increase New Century’s legal,
insurance and financial compliance costs. As a result of the increased costs
associated with being a public company after the Acquisition, New Century’s
operating income as a percentage of revenue will likely be lower.
New
Century and the
Wilhelmina Companies expect to incur significant costs associated with the
Acquisition, whether or not the Acquisition is completed, which will reduce the
amount of cash otherwise available for other corporate
purposes.
New
Century and the Wilhelmina Companies expect to incur significant costs
associated with the Acquisition, whether or not the Acquisition is
completed. These costs will reduce the amount of cash otherwise
available for other corporate purposes. We estimate that the
aggregate costs associated with the Acquisition will be approximately
$1,200,000. There is no assurance that the actual costs may not
exceed New Century’s estimates. New Century and/or the Wilhelmina Companies may
incur additional material charges reflecting additional costs associated with
the Acquisition in fiscal quarters subsequent to the quarter in which the
Acquisition is consummated. There is no assurance that the significant costs
associated with the Acquisition will prove to be justified in light of the
benefit ultimately realized.
Failure
to consummate the Acquisition could negatively impact the market price of our
Common Stock and may make it more difficult for us to attract another
acquisition candidate, potentially causing investors to experience a loss on
their investment.
If the
Acquisition is not completed for any reason, New Century may be subject to a
number of material risks, including:
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the
market price of the Common Stock may decline to the extent that the
current market price of the Common Stock reflects a market assumption that
the Acquisition will be
consummated;
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costs
related to the Acquisition, such as legal and accounting fees, must be
paid even if the Acquisition is not completed;
and
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charges
will be made against earnings for transaction-related expenses, which
could be higher than expected.
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Such
decreased market price and added costs and charges of the failed Acquisition,
together with the challenges in identifying suitable acquisition candidates, may
make it more difficult for New Century to attract another target business,
potentially causing investors to experience a loss on their
investment.
Newcastle
might not be able to meet its commitments under the Financing Transaction, which
could significantly impact our ability to consummate the Acquisition and operate
our business thereafter.
In order
to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement,
Newcastle intends to provide equity financing to us under the Equity Financing
Agreement by (i) purchasing $3,000,000 of Common Stock at approximately the same
per share price at which the Common Stock will be issued in connection with the
Acquisition and (ii) committing to purchase, at our election at any time or
times prior to six months following the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, up
to an additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock at approximately the same per share
price applicable to the Common Stock issuable in the Acquisition. The
sale of additional equity securities in connection with the Financing
Transaction may cause the market price of our common stock to
decline. In addition, there is no guarantee that Newcastle will be
able to meet these obligations, which could significantly impact our ability to
consummate the Acquisition or operate our business
thereafter.
The
price of the Common Stock after the Acquisition may be volatile and less than
what you originally paid for your shares of Common Stock prior to the
Acquisition.
The price
of our Common Stock after the Acquisition may be volatile, and may fluctuate due
to factors such as:
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the
actual operating results of the Wilhelmina Companies as a result of the
Acquisition;
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earnings
estimates and actual or anticipated fluctuations in quarterly and annual
results;
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mergers,
consolidations and strategic alliances in our
industry;
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market
conditions in our industry; and
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the
general state of the stock markets.
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Our
Common Stock after the Acquisition may trade at prices lower than what you
originally paid for your shares of Common Stock prior to the
Acquisition.
If
the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, and an insufficient number of votes
have been obtained to authorize the consummation of the Acquisition and the
increase of our authorized capital stock, the Board will not have the ability to
adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date in order to solicit further votes,
and, therefore, the Acquisition will not be approved.
The Board
is seeking approval to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates if,
at the Annual Meeting, based upon the tabulated votes, there are insufficient
votes to approve the consummation of the Acquisition and the increase of our
authorized capital stock. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, the Board
may not have the ability to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date and,
therefore, will not have more time to solicit votes to approve the Acquisition
Proposal and the Capitalization Proposal. In such event, the Acquisition would
not be completed.
Risks
Related to the Business of the Wilhelmina Companies
Competition
in the fashion model industry could result in the Wilhelmina Companies losing
market share and charging lower prices for services, which could reduce their
revenue.
The
Wilhelmina Companies compete in the fashion model management industry with
numerous competitors. Approximately half of the industry is relatively
concentrated while the other half is fragmented: the top five
companies represent approximately 50% of the billings in the industry, while
hundreds of companies represent the balance. The concentrated half of the
industry is comprised of the Wilhelmina Companies and their principal
competitors, which are: DNA Model Management, Elite Model Management, Ford
Models, Inc., IMG Models, Marilyn Model Agency, NEXT Model Management and Women
Model Management.
The
Wilhelmina Companies also compete in the general talent management industry,
“talent” meaning any model, entertainer, artist, athlete or other talent or
celebrity (“Talent”), and, through WAM, endeavor to secure product endorsement
contracts from branded consumer products companies for their
Talent.
In each
of the Wilhelmina Companies’ markets, their competitors may possess greater
resources, greater name recognition and longer operating histories than the
Wilhelmina Companies, which may give them an advantage in obtaining future
clients and attracting qualified models and other Talent in such
markets. Increased competition may lead to pricing pressures that
could negatively impact the Wilhelmina Companies’ business.
If
the Wilhelmina Companies fail to attract and retain qualified and experienced
agents, their revenue could decline and their business could be
harmed.
The
Wilhelmina Companies compete with other fashion model management businesses for
qualified agents or “bookers”. Attracting and retaining qualified bookers in the
fashion model industry is particularly important because, generally, a small
number of bookers have primary responsibility for a Talent relationship. Because
Talent responsibility is so concentrated, the loss of key bookers may lead to
the loss of Talent relationships. Any decrease in the quality of the Wilhelmina
Companies’ reputation, reduction in their bookers’ compensation levels or
restructuring of their compensation program, whether as a result of insufficient
revenue or for any other reason, could impair their ability to retain existing
bookers or attract additional qualified bookers with the requisite experience,
skills and established Talent relationships. The Wilhelmina Companies’ failure
to retain their most productive bookers or maintain the quality of service to
which their clients are accustomed could result in a loss of clients, which
could in turn cause their revenue to decline and their business to be
harmed.
If
the Wilhelmina Companies are unable to retain their President and other key
management personnel, they may not be able to successfully manage their business
in the future.
The
President and other key management personnel of the Wilhelmina Companies and
their skills and relationships with clients are among the Wilhelmina Companies’
most important assets. An important aspect of the Wilhelmina
Companies’ competitiveness is their ability to attract and retain their
President and other key management personnel. The Wilhelmina
Companies’ future success depends upon the continued service or involvement of
their President and other key management personnel. If the Wilhelmina
Companies lose the services of their President or one or more of their other key
management personnel, or if one or more of them decides to join a competitor or
otherwise compete directly or indirectly with the Wilhelmina Companies, the
Wilhelmina Companies may not be able to successfully manage their business or
achieve their business objectives.
If
the Wilhelmina Companies are unable to maintain their professional reputation
and brand name, the Wilhelmina Companies’ business will be harmed.
The
Wilhelmina Companies depend on their overall reputation and brand name
recognition to secure new engagements and to sign qualified Talent. The
Wilhelmina Companies’ success also depends on the individual reputations of the
Talent they represent. In addition, any adverse effect on the Wilhelmina
Companies’ reputation might negatively impact the Wilhelmina Companies’
licensing business, which is driven largely by the value of the Wilhelmina
brand. If any client is dissatisfied with the Wilhelmina Companies’ services,
this may adversely affect the Wilhelmina Companies’ ability to secure new
engagements.
If any
factor, including poor performance, hurts the Wilhelmina Companies’ reputation,
the Wilhelmina Companies may experience difficulties in competing successfully
for both new client engagements and qualified Talent. Failing to maintain the
Wilhelmina Companies’ professional reputation and the goodwill associated with
their brand name could seriously harm the Wilhelmina Companies’
business.
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ operations are headquartered in and largely concentrated
on New York City, which is generally recognized as the center of the global
fashion industry. This lack of geographic diversification increases
their risk profile.
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ operations are headquartered in New York City, which is
generally recognized as the global center of the fashion industry. As
a result of this geographic concentration, the Wilhelmina Companies’ business,
results of operations or financial condition depend largely upon the state of
the New York City-based fashion industry and advertising
market. Deterioration in economic and business conditions in these
sectors and the economic and business conditions in New York City could have a
material adverse impact on the demand for the Wilhelmina Companies’ and their
advertising sector clients’ services, which in turn may have a material adverse
effect on the Wilhelmina Companies’ results of operations and overall
profitability.
A major
disaster in New York City could result in material loss to the Wilhelmina
Companies. New York City, as a major urban area, is at risk from
terrorist attack. Many of the Wilhelmina Companies’ clients could
experience interruption of their business or financial distress, file for
bankruptcy protection or go out of business after a major disaster, including a
terrorist attack. Most of the Wilhelmina Companies’ talent resides in New
York City and may also be severely affected in the event of such a
disaster. If there are terrorist attacks in New York City or within
close proximity, the Wilhelmina Companies may experience a decrease in the
demand for their talent management services, which may have a material adverse
effect on their results of operations and overall
profitability.
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ revenue and net income may be affected by adverse economic
conditions.
Recessions
may impact gross billings for modeling services. An important segment of the
modeling industry is advertising, with advertising assignments typically
generating amongst the highest daily fees in the business. Because advertising
expenditures are viewed by companies as discretionary and are curtailed during
economic downturns, agency gross billings may also decline over recessionary
periods. There can be no assurance that economic conditions will improve or even
remain stable. Although we believe that larger agencies, such as the Wilhelmina
Companies, are less affected by negative economic fluctuations than local
agencies (as advertisers frequently cut spending with smaller modeling agencies
first) the Wilhelmina Companies’ business, financial condition and results of
operations could suffer if economic conditions weaken.
If
some of the Wilhelmina Companies’ clients experience financial distress, their
weakened financial position could negatively affect the Wilhelmina Companies’
financial position and results.
The
Wilhelmina Companies have a large and diverse client base, and at any given
time, one or more of their clients may experience financial distress, file for
bankruptcy protection or go out of business. If any client with whom the
Wilhelmina Companies have a substantial amount of business experiences financial
difficulty, it could delay or jeopardize the collection of accounts receivable,
may result in significant reductions in services provided by the Wilhelmina
Companies and may have a material adverse effect on the Wilhelmina Companies’
financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
Terms
of the settlement of a class action lawsuit may adversely impact the Wilhelmina
Companies’ ability to sign models on favorable terms.
In 2002,
a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of some 10,000 current and former
models against 13 of the leading modeling agencies, including Wilhelmina
International, alleging price collusion beginning 30 years ago. The lawsuit was
settled in June 2004 pursuant to a settlement agreement by which the Wilhelmina
Companies and other modeling agencies are bound. The terms of the settlement
agreement include, among others, that the Wilhelmina Companies
will:
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refrain
from entering into any agreement or understanding with any other agency
regarding models’ commissions or communicate pricing with any other agency
(except under limited
circumstances);
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disclose
to the settling defendant models all compensation received by the
Wilhelmina Companies on all bookings for that model;
and
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enter
into contracts that (i) provide in clear language the contract’s term and
duration, (ii) include full disclosure of all relevant compensation terms
and practices; (iii) include a description of the management services that
are available to the model pursuant to the contract and (iv) do not
automatically renew for the full contract
term.
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The
restrictions imposed upon the Wilhelmina Companies pursuant to the settlement
agreement may have an adverse effect on the Wilhelmina Companies’ ability to
remain competitive in the industry. Furthermore, no assurance can be
given that the Wilhelmina Companies will not in the future be subject to similar
or other class action lawsuits that could have a material adverse effect on
their business practices.
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ prospects and financial results may be adversely affected
if they fail to identify, sign and retain quality Talent.
The
Wilhelmina Companies are dependent on identifying, signing and retaining models
and other Talent who are well received by clients and are likely to generate
repeat business. The Wilhelmina Companies’ competitive position is dependent on
their continuing ability to attract and develop Talent whose work can achieve a
high degree of client acceptance. The Wilhelmina Companies’ financial results
may be adversely affected if they are unable to identify, sign and retain such
Talent under terms that are economically attractive to the Wilhelmina Companies.
The Wilhelmina Companies’ financial results may also be affected by the ability
to sign and retain “supermodels” who are well known in the industry and by the
public. The Wilhelmina Companies’ business would be adversely affected by any of
the following:
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inability
to recruit new models;
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the
loss of popularity of models among
clients;
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increased
competition to maintain existing relationships with
models;
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non-renewals
of current agreements with models;
and
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poor
performance or negative publicity of
models.
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Most of
the Wilhelmina Companies’ current model contracts have a term of two years. Upon
expiration, models may not renew these contracts on reasonable terms, if at all.
If models decide to re-locate to another agency when their agreements terminate,
the Wilhelmina Companies may be unable to recoup their costs expended to develop
and promote such models, or to find a quality replacement that is satisfactory
to the Wilhelmina Companies’ clients.
The
Wilhelmina Companies have relied upon their ability to enforce contracts entered
into by models and other Talent they represent. If the Wilhelmina
Companies are unable to protect and enforce their contractual rights, the
Wilhelmina Companies may suffer a loss of revenue.
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ success depends, to a large degree, on their current
Talent under management and, in the future, scouting new Talent and entering
into new contracts. To protect their contractual rights, the
Wilhelmina Companies have traditionally vigorously defended their contractual
rights vis-à-vis models and other Talent, as well as other agencies and
companies, for both financial reasons and to encourage ongoing strict adherence
to contracts by all models and other Talent. Such strict enforcement
through litigation and other legal means could result in substantial costs and
diversion of resources and the potential loss of contractual rights, which could
impair the Wilhelmina Companies’ financial and business condition.
The
Wilhelmina Companies may undertake acquisitions to expand their business, which
may pose risks to their business and dilute the ownership of existing
stockholders.
As
the Wilhelmina Companies pursue their business plans, they may pursue
acquisitions of businesses, both domestic and
international. Integrating newly acquired businesses or services is
likely to be expensive and time consuming. To finance any
acquisitions, it may be necessary for the Wilhelmina Companies to raise
additional funds through public or private financings. Additional
funds may not be available on favorable terms and, in the case of equity
financings, would result in additional dilution to existing stockholders of New
Century. If the Wilhelmina Companies do acquire any businesses and
are unable to integrate any newly acquired entities effectively, their business
and results of operations may suffer. The time and expense associated
with finding suitable and compatible businesses or services could also disrupt
the Wilhelmina Companies’ ongoing business and divert management’s
attention. Future acquisitions by the Wilhelmina Companies could
result in large and immediate write-offs or assumptions of debt and contingent
liabilities, any of which could substantially harm their business and results of
operations.
The
Wilhelmina Companies might not be successful in positioning the “Wilhelmina”
brand for future consumer product initiatives.
The
Wilhelmina Companies have taken steps to position the “Wilhelmina” brand for
several future consumer product initiatives, including fashion apparel (such as
lingerie and sportswear), cosmetics and beauty, and health and lifestyle
products. If consumer response to the “Wilhelmina” brand is not as favorable as
management anticipates, or if the Wilhelmina Companies’ reputation is adversely
affected, these consumer product initiatives might not be successful and the
Wilhelmina Companies would incur substantial expense that could have a material
adverse effect on the Wilhelmina Companies’ results of operations.
The
Wilhelmina Companies may need additional debt or equity to sustain their growth,
but they do not have commitments for such funds beyond financing commitments
related to the Acquisition Proposal.
The
Wilhelmina Companies finance their growth through a combination of borrowings,
cash flow from operations, and equity financing. The Wilhelmina Companies’
ability to continue growing at the pace they have historically grown will depend
in part on their ability to obtain either additional debt or equity financing.
The terms on which debt and equity financing is available to the Wilhelmina
Companies varies from time to time and is influenced by their performance and by
external factors, such as the economy generally and developments in the market,
that are beyond their control. If the Wilhelmina Companies are unable to obtain
additional debt or equity financing beyond financing commitments related to the
Acquisition Proposal on acceptable terms, they may have to curtail their growth
by delaying new initiatives.
If
the Wilhelmina Companies are unable to adequately protect the “Wilhelmina” brand
name, their business could suffer significant harm.
The
Wilhelmina Companies have invested significant resources in the “Wilhelmina”
brands in order to obtain the public recognition that these brands currently
have. The Wilhelmina brand is essential to their success and
competitive position. If the Wilhelmina Companies fail to protect
their intellectual property rights adequately, they may lose an important
advantage in the markets in which they compete. Third parties have in
the past and may continue to misappropriate or infringe on their
brand. If third parties misappropriate or infringe the Wilhelmina
Companies’ intellectual property, their image, brand and the goodwill associated
therewith may be harmed, their brand may fail to achieve and maintain market
recognition, and their competitive position may be harmed, any of which could
have a material adverse effect on their business.
The
protection of the “Wilhelmina” brand name requires substantial
resources.
The
Wilhelmina Companies rely upon trademark laws, license agreements and
nondisclosure agreements to protect the “Wilhelmina” brand name used in their
business. The steps the Wilhelmina Companies have taken to protect
and enforce their proprietary rights to their brand name may not be
adequate. For instance, the Wilhelmina Companies may not be able to
secure trademark or service mark registrations for marks in the U.S. or in
foreign countries. Third parties may infringe upon or misappropriate
their trademarks, service marks and similar proprietary rights, which could have
an adverse effect on their business, financial condition and results of
operations. If the Wilhelmina Companies believe a third-party has
misappropriated their intellectual property, litigation may be necessary to
enforce and protect those rights, which would divert management resources, would
be expensive and may not effectively protect their intellectual property.
Third
parties may claim that the Wilhelmina Companies are infringing their
intellectual property, and the Wilhelmina Companies could suffer significant
litigation or licensing expenses or be prevented from selling products or
services as a result.
The
Wilhelmina Companies are not aware of any claims of infringement or challenges
to their right to use any of their trademarks in the
U.S. Nevertheless, the Wilhelmina Companies could be subject to
claims that they are misappropriating or infringing intellectual property or
other proprietary rights of others. These claims, even if not
meritorious, could be expensive to defend and divert management’s attention from
their operations. If the Wilhelmina Companies become liable to third
parties for infringing these rights, they could be required to pay a substantial
damage award and cease selling the products or services that use or contain the
infringing intellectual property. The Wilhelmina Companies may be
unable to develop non-infringing products or services or obtain a license on
commercially reasonable terms. The Wilhelmina Companies may also be
required to indemnify their licensees and customers if they become subject to
third-party claims relating to intellectual property that they license or
otherwise provide to them, which could be costly.
Risks
Relating to the Business and Securities of New Century
Our
results of operations could be harmed as a result of certain issues relating to
the settlement of the Davis litigation.
On August
11, 2004, Craig Davis, allegedly a stockholder of New Century, filed a lawsuit
in the Chancery Court of New Castle County, Delaware. The lawsuit
asserted direct claims, and also derivative claims on the Company’s behalf,
against five former and three current directors of the Company. On
April 13, 2006, we announced that we reached an agreement with all of the
parties to the lawsuit to settle all claims relating thereto. On July
25, 2006, the settlement became final and non-appealable.
The
settlement provides that, if the Company has not acquired a business that
generates revenues by March 1, 2007, the plaintiff maintains the right to pursue
a claim to liquidate the Company. If the Company’s previous
investments (particularly its investment in ACP Investments L.P. (d/b/a
Ascendant Capital Partners) (“Ascendant”)) are not held to meet the foregoing
requirement to acquire a business, and the Acquisition is not consummated, the
Company may be vulnerable to claims under the settlement. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Description of New Century – Derivative Lawsuit”
beginning on page 58.
The
SEC or a court may take the position that the Company was previously in
violation of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Among the
claims filed by Mr. Davis was a claim that the Company operated as an illegal
investment company in violation of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
“Investment Company Act”). Although we do not believe that we have
violated the Investment Company Act in the past, or at present, there can be no
assurance that we have not, or are not, in violation of, the Investment Company
Act. In the event the SEC or a court were to take the position that
we were an investment company, our failure to register as an investment company
would not only raise the possibility of an enforcement or other legal action by
the SEC and potential fines and penalties, but also could threaten the validity
of corporate actions and contracts entered into by us during the period we were
deemed to be an unregistered investment company, among other
remedies. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of
the Acquisition – Description of New Century – Legal Proceedings”
beginning on page 60.
We
may be unable to redeploy our assets successfully.
As part
of our strategy to limit operating losses and enable us to redeploy our assets
and use our cash and short-term investment assets to enhance stockholder value,
we have been pursuing a strategy of identifying suitable acquisition candidates,
merger partners or otherwise developing new business
operations. Should the proposed acquisition of the Wilhelmina
Companies fail, we may not be successful in acquiring such a business or in
operating any business that we acquire, merge with or
develop. Failure to redeploy our assets successfully will prevent us
from becoming profitable. Future cash expenditures are expected to
consist of funding corporate expenses, the cost associated with maintaining a
public company and expenses incurred in pursuing and operating new business
activities, during which time operating losses are likely to be
generated.
Any
acquisitions that we attempt or complete could prove difficult to integrate or
require a substantial commitment of management time and other
resources.
Our
strategy of acquiring other businesses involves a number of unique risks
including: (i) completing due diligence successfully, (ii) exposure
to unforeseen liabilities of acquired companies and (iii) increased risk of
costly and time-consuming litigation, including stockholder
lawsuits. We may be unable to address these problems
successfully. Moreover, our future operating results will depend to a
significant degree on our ability to integrate acquisitions (if any)
successfully and manage operations while also controlling our
expenses. We may be unable to select, manage or absorb or integrate
any future acquisitions successfully, particularly acquisitions of large
companies. Any acquisition, even if effectively integrated, may not
benefit our stockholders.
We
may be unable to realize the benefits of our net operating losses (“NOLs”) and
capital loss carryforwards.
NOLs
and capital losses may be carried forward to offset federal and state taxable
income and capital gains, respectively, in future years and eliminate income
taxes otherwise payable on such taxable income and capital gains, subject to
certain adjustments. Based on current federal corporate income tax
rates, our NOLs and capital loss carryforwards, if fully utilized, could provide
a benefit to us of future tax savings. However, our ability to use these tax
benefits in future years will depend upon the amount of our otherwise taxable
income and capital gains. If we do not have sufficient taxable income
and capital gains in future years to use the tax benefits before they expire, we
will lose the benefit of these NOLs and capital loss carryforwards,
permanently. Consequently, our ability to use the tax benefits
associated with our NOLs and capital loss carryforwards will depend largely on
our success in identifying suitable merger partners and/or acquisition
candidates, and once identified, consummating a merger with and/or acquisition
of these candidates.
Additionally,
if we underwent an ownership change within the meaning of Sections 382 and 383
of the Code, the NOLs and capital loss carryforward limitations would impose an
annual limit on the amount of the taxable income and capital gain that may be
offset by our NOLs and capital loss generated prior to the ownership
change. If an ownership change were to occur, we may be unable to use
a significant portion of our NOLs and capital loss carryforwards to offset
taxable income and capital gains. In general, an ownership change
occurs when, as of any testing date, the aggregate of the increase in percentage
points of the total amount of a corporation’s stock owned by “5-percent
shareholders” (within the meaning of Section 382 and 383 of the Code) whose
percentage ownership of the stock has increased as of such date over the lowest
percentage of the stock owned by each such “5-percent shareholder” at any time
during the three-year period preceding such date, is more than 50 percentage
points. In general, persons who own 5% or more of a corporation’s
stock are “5-percent shareholders,” and all other persons who own less than 5%
of a corporation’s stock are treated, together as a single, public group
“5-percent shareholder,” regardless of whether they own an aggregate of 5% of a
corporation’s stock. We do not believe the current structure of the Acquisition
Agreement will cause a change in ownership as defined above.
The
amount of NOLs and capital loss carryforwards that we have claimed have not been
audited or otherwise validated by the United States Internal Revenue Service
(the “IRS”). The IRS could challenge our calculation of the amount of
our NOLs and capital
loss or our determinations as to when a prior change in ownership occurred and
other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code may limit our ability to carry
forward our NOLs and capital loss to offset taxable income and capital gains in
future years. If the IRS were successful with respect to any such
challenge, the potential tax benefit of the NOLs and capital loss carryforwards
to us could be substantially reduced.
Any
transfer restrictions implemented by us to preserve our NOLs may not be
effective or may have some unintended negative effects.
The Board
previously adopted an amendment to our former stockholder rights plan (the
“Original Rights Plan”) that reduced the triggering of the Original Rights Plan
from 15% of the Common Stock to 5% of the Common Stock. On July 10, 2006, the
Board replaced the Original Rights Plan with a new rights plan (the “Rights
Plan”) with the same lowered 5% threshold. This 5% threshold was adopted to help
preserve our NOLs and capital loss carryforwards. The Rights Plan was
subsequently amended on August 25, 2008 so that the Acquisition Agreement and
any subsequent acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement does not affect any rights under the Rights Plan. Nonetheless, there
is no guarantee that the Rights Plan will prevent a stockholder from acquiring
more than 5% of the Common Stock.
Any
transfer restrictions will require any person attempting to acquire a
significant interest in the Company to seek the approval of our
Board. This may have an “anti-takeover” effect because our Board may
be able to prevent any future takeover. Similarly, any limits on the
amount of capital stock that a stockholder may own could have the effect of
making it more difficult for stockholders to replace current
management. Additionally, because transfer restrictions will have the
effect of restricting a stockholder’s ability to dispose of or acquire our
Common Stock, the liquidity and market value of our Common Stock might
suffer.
Our
success is dependent on our key personnel whom we may not be able to retain, and
we may not be able to hire enough additional qualified personnel to meet our
growing needs.
Our
performance is substantially dependent on the services and on the performance of
our officers and directors. Our performance also depends on our
ability to attract, hire, retain, and motivate our officers and key
employees. The loss of the services of any of the executive officers
or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business,
prospects, financial condition, and results of operations. We have
not entered into employment agreements with any of our key personnel and
currently have no “Key Man” life insurance policies. Our future
success may also depend on our ability to identify, attract, hire, train,
retain, and motivate other highly skilled technical, managerial, marketing and
customer service personnel. Competition for such personnel is
intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully
attract, assimilate or retain sufficiently qualified personnel. The
failure to attract and retain the necessary technical, managerial, marketing and
customer service personnel could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
The assets on our
balance sheet include a revenue interest in Ascendant, and any impairment of the
revenue interest could adversely affect our results of operations and financial
position.
As of
September 30, 2008, our total assets were approximately $13,706,000 of which
approximately $803,000 were intangible assets relating to the revenue interest
in Ascendant. We cannot be certain that we will ever realize the
value of such intangible assets. If we were to record an impairment
charge for the intangible asset, our results of operations could be adversely
affected.
The
application of the purchase method of accounting will result in additional
goodwill on our balance sheet, which could become impaired and adversely affect
our net worth and the market value of our Common Stock.
Under the
purchase method of accounting, the Wilhelmina Companies’ assets and liabilities
will be recorded, as of completion of the Acquisition, at their respective fair
values. The purchase price will be allocated to the Wilhelmina Companies’
tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets, if any are
identified, based on their fair values as of the date of completion of the
Acquisition. The excess of such price over those fair values will be recorded as
goodwill. Goodwill and other acquired intangibles expected to contribute
indefinitely to New Century’s cash flows are not amortized, but must be
evaluated by management at least annually for impairment. To the extent the
value of goodwill or intangibles becomes impaired, New Century may be required
to incur material charges relating to such impairment. Such a potential
impairment charge could have a material impact on the combined company’s
operating results.
Our
securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, which may limit the liquidity
and price of our securities more than if our securities were quoted or listed on
The NASDAQ Stock Market or a national exchange.
Our
Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”), and has
traded as low as $0.18 per share during 2007 and $0.02 per share during
2008. Since our Common Stock was delisted from a national exchange
and is trading at a price below $5.00 per share, it is subject to certain other
rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such
rules require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any
trades involving a stock defined as a “penny stock”. “Penny stock” is
defined as any non-NASDAQ equity security that has a market price of less than
$5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Such rules require
the delivery of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the
risks associated with that market before entering into any penny stock
transaction. Disclosure is also required to be made about
compensation payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative
and current quotations for the securities. The rules also impose
various sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell penny stocks to
persons other than established customers and accredited
investors. For these types of transactions, the broker-dealer must
make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must receive the
purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. Finally,
monthly statements are required to be sent disclosing recent price information
for the penny stocks. The additional burdens imposed upon
broker-dealers by such requirements could discourage broker-dealers from
effecting transactions in our Common Stock. This could severely limit
the market liquidity of our Common Stock and the ability of a stockholder to
sell the Common Stock.
We
do not foresee paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future and, as a result,
our investors’ sole source of gain, if any, will depend on capital appreciation,
if any.
We do not
plan to declare or pay any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock in the
foreseeable future and currently intend to retain any future earnings for
funding growth. As a result, investors should not rely on an investment in our
securities if they require the investment to produce dividend income. Capital
appreciation, if any, of our Common Stock may be investors’ sole source of gain
for the foreseeable future. Moreover, investors may not be able to resell their
shares of Common Stock at or above the price they paid for them.
We
believe that some of the information in this proxy statement constitutes
forward-looking statements within the definition of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. However, the safe-harbor provisions of
that act do not apply to statements made in this proxy statement. You
can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intends,” and “continue” or
similar words. You should read statements that contain these words
carefully because they:
|
·
|
discuss
future expectations;
|
|
·
|
contain
projections of future results of operations or financial condition;
or
|
|
·
|
state
other “forward-looking”
information.
|
We
believe it is important to communicate our expectations to our
stockholders. However, there may be events in the future that we are
not able to predict accurately or over which we have no control. The
risk factors and cautionary language used in this proxy statement provide
examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause actual results to
differ materially from the expectations described by us or the Wilhelmina
Companies in their forward-looking statements.
You are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this proxy statement.
All
forward-looking statements included herein attributable to any of New Century,
the Wilhelmina Companies or any person acting on either party’s behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or
referred to in this section. Except to the extent required by
applicable laws and regulations, New Century and the Wilhelmina Companies
undertake no obligations to update these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this proxy statement or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
Before
you grant your proxy or instruct how your vote should be cast or vote on the
approval of the Acquisition Agreement or any of the other proposals, you should
be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the “Risk Factors”
section beginning on page 28 and elsewhere in this proxy statement could
have a material adverse effect on New Century and/or the Wilhelmina
Companies.
ANNUAL MEETING OF NEW CENTURY STOCKHOLDERS
The
Company is furnishing this proxy statement to you as part of the solicitation of
proxies by the Board for use at the Annual Meeting, to be held on February 5,
2009, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy
statement is first being furnished to the Company’s stockholders on or about
December 29, 2008. This proxy statement provides you with information
you need to know to be able to vote or instruct your vote to be cast at the
Annual Meeting.
Date,
Time and Place
The
Annual Meeting will be held on February 5, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. local
time, at the Company’s offices located at 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400,
Dallas, Texas 75201, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Purpose
At the
Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to vote on the following
matters:
|
·
|
the
Acquisition Proposal – a proposal to approve our acquisition of Wilhelmina
International and its affiliated
entities;
|
|
·
|
the
Name Change Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to our
Certificate of Incorporation to change our name from “New Century Equity
Holdings Corp.” to “Wilhelmina International,
Inc.”;
|
|
·
|
the
Capitalization Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to
our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of our Common Stock from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000;
|
|
·
|
the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal – a proposal to grant authority to our Board
of Directors to effect at any time prior to December 31, 2009 a reverse
stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio within the range from
one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole
number within this range to be determined by our Board in its
discretion;
|
|
·
|
the
Declassification Proposal – a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment
to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to provide for the annual
election of directors;
|
|
·
|
the
Director Proposal – to elect the following number of directors to our
Board of Directors:
|
|
o
|
seven
directors in the event that both the Acquisition Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal are
approved;
|
|
o
|
three
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is not approved and
the Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
|
o
|
five
directors in the event that the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the
Declassification Proposal is not approved;
or
|
|
o
|
one
director in the event that neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the
Declassification Proposal is
approved;
|
|
·
|
the
Auditor Proposal – a proposal to ratify the appointment of Burton McCumber
& Cortez, L.L.P. as our independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008;
and
|
|
·
|
the
Adjournment Proposal – a proposal to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later
date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of
proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at the time of the Annual
Meeting, any of the foregoing proposals have not been
approved.
|
Recommendation
of the Board
After
careful consideration, a majority of the Board has determined that each of the
Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification Proposal, the Director
Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal is fair to and in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Steven J.
Pully was the sole director to vote against all of the foregoing
proposals.
A
majority of our Board recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote as
follows:
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Acquisition
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Name Change
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Capitalization
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Reverse Stock Split
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Declassification
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the election of each of the director nominees as set forth in the Director
Proposal;
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Auditor Proposal;
and
|
|
·
|
“FOR”
the approval of the Adjournment
Proposal.
|
Record
Date and Voting Securities
The Board
has fixed the close of business on December 19, 2008 as the Record Date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at
the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. On
the Record Date, there were 53,883,872 shares of Common Stock outstanding and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is
entitled to one vote per share on each proposal on which such shares are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Quorum
and Voting Requirements
A quorum
will be present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common
Stock entitled to vote is represented at the Annual Meeting, either in person or
by proxy, totaling 26,941,937 shares. Your shares will be
counted as present at the Annual Meeting if you are present and vote in person
at the Annual Meeting or if you have properly submitted a proxy
card. Both abstentions (and withhold votes in the case of the
Director Proposal) and broker non-votes (described in more detail below) are
counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
Abstentions
and Broker Non-Votes
For all
items of business other than the election of directors, you may vote “FOR,”
“AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.” Abstentions will have the same effect as a
vote “AGAINST” each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal, but will have no effect on the Auditor Proposal and
the Adjournment Proposal.
Your
broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares on any proposal unless you
provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and
procedures provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee. If you
hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with
voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker
non-votes.” Broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote
“AGAINST” each of the Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on
the Director Proposal, the Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment
Proposal.
Vote
Required
Both the
Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal must be approved by the
holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon. Each of the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal must be approved by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled
to vote thereon. The Auditor Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal
must be approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon and represented at the
Annual Meeting. With respect to the Director Proposal, those director
nominees who receive a plurality of votes cast, meaning that the individuals who
receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR”, will be elected as
directors.
Newcastle,
which currently owns 19,380,768 shares or approximately 36% of our outstanding
Common Stock, has, pursuant to the Mutual Support Agreement more fully described
beginning on page 104, agreed to vote in favor of the Acquisition Proposal, the
Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal and the Declassification
Proposal.
Approval
of the Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal and the Reverse Stock
Split Proposal are conditioned upon the approval of the Acquisition
Proposal.
Voting
Your Shares
Holders
of Common Stock as of the Record Date will be entitled to one vote per share and
may vote using any of the following methods:
Proxy card or voting instruction
card. Be sure to complete, sign and date the card and return
it in the prepaid envelope. If you are a stockholder of record and
you return your signed proxy card but do not indicate your voting preferences,
the persons named in the proxy card will vote “FOR” the approval of each of
Acquisition Proposal, the Name Change Proposal, the Capitalization Proposal, the
Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Declassification Proposal, the Auditor
Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal, “FOR” the election of each of the
director nominees as set forth in the Director Proposal and in the discretion of
the proxy holders on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the
Annual Meeting.
In person at the Annual
Meeting. All stockholders may vote in person at the Annual
Meeting. You may also be represented by another person at the Annual
Meeting by executing a proper proxy designating that person. If you
are a beneficial owner of shares, you must obtain a legal proxy from your
broker, bank or nominee and present it to the inspectors of election with your
ballot when you vote at the Annual Meeting.
Revoking
Your Proxy
If you
are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is
voted at the Annual Meeting by:
|
·
|
sending
written notice of revocation to the Company’s
Secretary;
|
|
·
|
submitting
a new, properly executed proxy after the date of the revoked proxy;
or
|
|
·
|
attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in
person.
|
If you
are a beneficial owner of shares, you may submit new voting instructions by
contacting your broker, bank or nominee. You may also vote in person
at the Annual Meeting if you obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or
nominee and present it to the inspectors of election with your ballot when you
vote at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will
not, by itself, revoke a proxy.
Attendance
at the Annual Meeting
You are
entitled to attend the Annual Meeting only if you were a Company stockholder or
joint holder as of the close of business on the Record Date, or you hold a valid
proxy for the Annual Meeting. You should be prepared to present photo
identification for admittance. In addition, if you are a stockholder
of record, your name will be verified against the list of stockholders of record
on the Record Date prior to your being admitted to the Annual
Meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record but hold shares
through a broker, trustee or nominee (i.e., in street name), and you plan to
attend the Annual Meeting, please send written notification to New Century
Equity Holdings Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201,
Attn: Corporate Secretary, and enclose evidence of your ownership
(such as your most recent account statement prior to the Record Date, a copy of
the voting instruction card provided by your broker, trustee or nominee, or
other similar evidence of ownership). If you do not provide photo
identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above, you will not
be admitted to the Annual Meeting.
The
Annual Meeting will begin promptly on February 5, 2009, at 11:00
a.m. local time. You should allow adequate time for the check-in
procedures.
Shares
held in your name as the stockholder of record may be voted in person at the
Annual Meeting. Shares held beneficially in street name may be voted
in person at the Annual Meeting only if you obtain a legal proxy from the
broker, trustee or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote
the shares. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we
recommend that you also submit your proxy card or voting instruction card as
described herein so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to
attend the Annual Meeting.
Additional
Information
If you
would like to request an additional free copy of all of the proxy materials, the
Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, or other financial
information, or if you have any questions about the abovementioned proposals,
the Annual Meeting or how to vote or revoke your proxy, you should contact us
at:
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
Attention: Corporate
Secretary
Other
Items of Business
As of the
date of this proxy statement, management does not intend to present any other
items of business and is not aware of any matters to be presented for action at
the Annual Meeting other than those described above. However, if any
other matters should come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the
persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy card, Mark E. Schwarz and
John P. Murray, to vote in accordance with their best judgment on such
matters.
Appraisal
Rights
The
Company’s stockholders will not have appraisal rights in connection with the
Acquisition Proposal or any of the other proposals under the DGCL.
Proxies
and Proxy Solicitation Costs
The
Company is soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board. In addition to
solicitation by mail, the Company’s directors, officers and employees may
solicit proxies by telephone or other means of
communication. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage firms
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries that hold the voting securities
of record for the forwarding of solicitation materials to the beneficial owners
thereof. The Company will reimburse such brokers, custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them
in connection therewith.
The
Company has hired MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist in the proxy solicitation
process. The Company will pay MacKenzie Partners, Inc. a fee not to
exceed $25,000, together with reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses, for such service.
The
Company will bear the entire cost of this proxy solicitation.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information regarding the number of shares of our
Common Stock beneficially owned as of December 19, 2008 and anticipated to be
beneficially owned after the consummation of the Acquisition by:
|
(i)
|
each
person who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our Common
Stock;
|
|
(ii)
|
each
person who is anticipated to own 5% or more of our Common Stock as a
result of the Acquisition;
|
|
(iii)
|
each
of our directors and our director
nominees;
|
|
(iv)
|
each
of our Named Executive Officers;
and
|
|
(v)
|
all
of our directors and executive officers as a
group.
|
As of
December 19, 2008, 53,883,872 shares of the Common Stock were
outstanding. Unless otherwise indicated, the Common Stock
beneficially owned by a holder includes shares owned by a spouse, minor children
and relatives sharing the same home, as well as entities owned or controlled by
the named person, and also includes options to purchase shares of our Common
Stock exercisable within 60 days of December 19, 2008. Except as
otherwise set forth below, the address of each of the persons or entities listed
in the table is c/o New Century Equity Holdings Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite
1400, Dallas, Texas 75201.
|
|
Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
Before the Acquisition
|
|
|
Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
After the Acquisition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
or Greater Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Newcastle
Partners, L.P.
|
|
|
19,380,768(3) |
|
|
|
36.0% |
|
|
|
31,526,516 |
|
|
|
24.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brad
Krassner and Krassner
Family Investments
Limited Partnership
1521
Alton Road
Suite
824
Miami
Beach, FL 33139
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
30,364,372(4) |
|
|
|
23.6% |
|
|
|
Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
Before the Acquisition
|
|
|
Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
After the Acquisition
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate
Percentage
of
Outstanding(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dieter
Esch and Lorex Investments AG
Treuhand
und Revisionsgesellschaft
Mattig-Suter
und Partner
Bahnhofstrasse
28
Postfach
556
CH-6431
Schwyz
Switzerland
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
30,364,372(5) |
|
|
|
23.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors,
Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
|
19,480,768(6) |
|
|
|
36.1% |
|
|
|
31,626,516 |
|
|
|
24.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Murray
|
|
|
50,000(7) |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Risher
|
|
|
90,000(8) |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evan
Stone(9)
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derek
Fromm
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
(10) |
|
|
|
(10) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (five persons)
|
|
|
19,620,768 |
|
|
|
36.3% |
|
|
|
31,766,516 |
|
|
|
24.7% |
|
_________________________
* Less
than 1%
(1)
|
Based
on 53,883,872 shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of December 19, 2008. With the exception of shares
that may be acquired by employees pursuant to the Company’s 401(k)
retirement plan, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of Common
Stock that can be acquired within 60 days after December 19, 2008 upon
exercise of options. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership of
Common Stock is determined by assuming that options that are held by such
person, but not those held by any other person, and that are exercisable
within 60 days of the Record Date have been
exercised.
|
(2)
|
Solely
for illustrative purposes, these columns are designed to set forth
information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of each
person who is anticipated to own greater than 5% of the outstanding Common
Stock and each person who will be an executive officer or director of the
Company following the approval of the Acquisition Proposal and Closing of
the Acquisition Agreement, based on the following
assumptions:
|
|
·
|
the
current ownership of the entities and individuals identified above remains
unchanged;
|
|
·
|
the
capital structure of the Company remains as prior to the Acquisition such
that only the pre-Acquisition number of shares remains 53,883,872 shares
of Common Stock; and
|
|
·
|
immediately
following the consummation of the Acquisition, there will be 128,580,227
shares of Common Stock outstanding.
|
The
columns reflect the beneficial ownership after consummation of the Acquisition
and the issuance of (i) 60,728,744 shares of Common Stock, including shares to
be held in escrow, to the Control Sellers, (ii) 12,145,748 shares of Common
Stock to Newcastle pursuant to the Equity Financing Agreement and (iii)
1,821,862 shares of Common Stock to Sean Patterson.
(3)
|
Represents
securities held by Newcastle, as disclosed in a Schedule 13D/A filed by
Newcastle with the SEC on August 27, 2008, including 19,230,768 shares of
Common Stock issued by the Company upon the conversion of 4,807,692 shares
of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock on July 3,
2006. Newcastle Capital Management, L.P. (“NCM”), as the
general partner of Newcastle, may be deemed to beneficially own the
securities beneficially owned by Newcastle. Newcastle Capital
Group, L.L.C. (“NCG”), as the general partner of NCM, which in turn is the
general partner of Newcastle, may be deemed to beneficially own the
securities beneficially owned by Newcastle. Mark E. Schwarz, as
the managing member of NCG, the general partner of NCM, which in turn is
the general partner of Newcastle, may also be deemed to beneficially own
the securities beneficially owned by Newcastle. Each of NCM,
NCG and Mr. Schwarz disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities
beneficially owned by Newcastle except to the extent of their pecuniary
interest therein.
|
(4)
|
Shares
of Common Stock to be issued to Krassner L.P. in connection with the
Acquisition (including shares that are and/or may be transferable to
Derek Fromm at or immediately after the Closing of the Acquisition
Agreement, as discussed in footnote 10 to this table). Brad
Krassner is the president of the general partner of Krassner
L.P. By virtue of his position with Krassner L.P., Mr. Krassner
will have the power to vote and dispose of the shares of the Common Stock
to be owned by Krassner L.P.
|
(5)
|
Shares
of Common Stock to be issued to Lorex (including shares that may be
transferable to Derek Fromm at or immediately after the Closing of
the Acquisition Agreement, as discussed in footnote 10 to this
table). Dieter Esch is the sole shareholder of Lorex. By virtue
of his position with Lorex, Mr. Esch will have the power to vote and
dispose of the shares of the Common Stock to be owned by
Lorex.
|
(6)
|
Consists
of 100,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options
held by Mr. Schwarz individually and 19,380,768 shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by Newcastle and of which Mr. Schwarz may also be
deemed to beneficially own by virtue of his power to vote and dispose of
such shares. Mr. Schwarz disclaims beneficial ownership of
the 19,380,768 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Newcastle
except to the extent of his pecuniary interest
therein.
|
(7)
|
Consists
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
options. Mr. Murray is the Chief Financial Officer of
NCM. Mr. Murray disclaims beneficial ownership of the
19,380,768 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
Newcastle.
|
(8)
|
Consists
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
options.
|
(9)
|
Mr.
Stone is the Vice President and General Counsel of NCM. Mr.
Stone disclaims beneficial ownership of the 19,380,768 shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by
Newcastle.
|
(10)
|
In
connection with the transactions more fully discussed in “Proposal No. 6 – Election of
Director Nominees – Transactions with Related Persons”
beginning on page 137, Krassner L.P. will transfer to Mr. Fromm 404,858
shares of Common Stock and both Krassner L.P. and Lorex may transfer to
Mr. Fromm up to an additional 1,776,316 shares of Common Stock at or
immediately after the Closing of the Acquisition
Agreement.
|
General
The
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company is authorized to issue up
to 85,000,000 shares of all classes of the Company’s stock, including 75,000,000
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 1,000,000 are designated
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A
Stock”). As of the Record Date, 53,883,872 shares of Common
Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of Series A Stock were issued
and outstanding.
The
following description of our securities is intended as a summary only and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation,
Certificate of Designation of our Series A Stock and the applicable provisions
of the DGCL.
Common
Stock
Holders
of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all
matters to be voted on by stockholders.
Currently,
our Board is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for
a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each
year. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for
cumulative voting.
Holders
of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may
be declared by the Board out of legally available funds. However, the
Company may not pay dividends on its Common Stock unless all declared and unpaid
dividends of the Company’s preferred stock have been paid, and the current
policy of the Board is to retain earnings, if any, for the operation and
expansion of the Company. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
of the Company, holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all
assets of the Company that are legally available for distribution, after payment
of or provision for all liabilities and the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred stock. Holders of Common Stock have no
preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights and there are no
sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock.
Preferred
Stock
The
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company is authorized to issue up
to 10,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock with such designations,
rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the
Board. Accordingly, the Board is empowered, without stockholder
approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion,
voting or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other
rights of the holders of Common Stock.
The
Company may issue some or all of the preferred stock to effect a business
combination. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized as a
method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of the
Company. There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding and the
Company does not currently intend to issue any preferred stock.
One
thousand shares of the Company’s preferred stock are designated shares of Series
A Stock. Currently, there are no shares of Series A Stock issued and
outstanding. Shares of Series A Stock may be issued in accordance
with the Rights Plan.
Rights
to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
On July
10, 2006, the Company entered into the Rights Plan that replaced the Original
Rights Plan dated July 10, 1996 that expired according to its terms on July 10,
2006. The Rights Plan provides for a dividend distribution of one
preferred share purchase right (each a “Right”) for each outstanding share of
Common Stock. The dividend was payable on July 10, 2006 to the
Company’s stockholders of record at the close of business on that
date. The terms of the Rights and the Rights Plan are set forth in a
Rights Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2006, by and between the Company and The
Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., now known as The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”), as
amended. The Board adopted the Rights Plan to protect stockholder
value by protecting the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of its net
operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) and capital loss
carryforwards.
In general terms, the
Rights Plan imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires
5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock without the prior approval of the
Board. Stockholders that own 5% or more of the outstanding Common
Stock as of the close of business on July 10, 2006 may acquire up to an
additional 1% of the outstanding Common Stock without penalty so long as they
maintain their ownership above the 5% level (such increase subject to downward
adjustment by the Board if it determines that such increase will endanger the
availability of the Company’s NOLs and/or its capital loss
carryforwards). In addition, the Board has exempted Newcastle, the
Company’s largest stockholder, as well as others in connection with the
Acquisition (as discussed below), and may exempt any person or group that owns
5% or more if the Board determines that the person or group’s ownership will not
endanger the availability of the Company’s NOLs and/or its capital loss
carryforwards. A person or group that acquires a percentage of the
Common Stock in excess of the applicable threshold is called an “Acquiring
Person.” Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not
be exercised.
On August
25, 2008, in connection with the Acquisition, the Company entered into an
amendment (the “Rights Agreement Amendment”) to the Rights
Agreement. The Rights Agreement Amendment, among other things, (i)
provides that the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the acquisition of
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the consummation
of the other transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and the
issuance of stock options to the Sellers or the exercise thereof, will not be
deemed to be events that cause the Rights to become exercisable, (ii) amends the
definition of Acquiring Person to provide that the Sellers and their existing or
future Affiliates and Associates (each as defined in the Rights Agreement) will
not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person solely by virtue of the execution of the
Acquisition Agreement, the acquisition of Common Stock pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement, the consummation of the other transactions contemplated
by the Acquisition Agreement or the issuance of stock options to the Sellers or
the exercise thereof and (iii) amends the Rights Agreement to provide that a
Distribution Date (as defined below) shall not be deemed to have occurred solely
by virtue of the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the acquisition of
Common Stock pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the consummation of the
other transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement or the issuance of
stock options to the Sellers or the exercise thereof. The Rights
Agreement Amendment also provides for certain other conforming amendments to the
terms and provisions of the Rights Agreement.
The Board
authorized the issuance of one Right per share of Common Stock outstanding on
July 10, 2006. If the Rights become exercisable, each Right would allow its
holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A
Stock for a purchase price of $10.00. Each fractional share of Series
A Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and
liquidation rights as does one share of Common Stock. Prior to
exercise, however, a Right does not give its holder any dividend, voting or
liquidation rights.
The
Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of: (i) 10 days
after a public announcement by the Company that a person or group has become an
Acquiring Person; and (ii) 10 business days (or a later date determined by the
Board) after a person or group begins a tender or exchange offer that, if
completed, would result in that person or group becoming an Acquiring
Person.
The date
that the Rights become exercisable is known as the “Distribution
Date.” Until the Distribution Date, the Common Stock certificates
will also evidence the Rights and will contain a notation to that
effect. Any transfer of shares of Common Stock prior to the
Distribution Date will constitute a transfer of the associated
Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Rights will separate from
the Common Stock and be evidenced by Rights certificates, which the Company will
mail to all holders of Rights that have not become void.
Flip-in
Event. After the Distribution Date, all holders of Rights,
except the Acquiring Person, may exercise their Rights upon payment of the
purchase price to purchase shares of Common Stock (or other securities or assets
as determined by the Board) with a market value of two times the purchase price
(a “Flip-In Event”).
Flip-over
Event. After the Distribution Date, if a Flip-In Event has
already occurred and the Company is acquired in a merger or similar transaction,
all holders of Rights except the Acquiring Person may exercise their Rights upon
payment of the purchase price, to purchase shares of the acquiring corporation
with a market value of two times the purchase price of the Rights (a “Flip-Over
Event”).
The
Rights will expire on July 10, 2016 unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged.
The Board
may redeem all (but not less than all) of the Rights for a redemption price of
$0.01 per Right at any time before the later of the Distribution Date and the
date of the first public announcement or disclosure by the Company that a person
or group has become an Acquiring Person. Once the Rights are
redeemed, the right to exercise Rights will terminate, and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price. The
redemption price will be adjusted if the Company declares a stock split or
issues a stock dividend on its Common Stock.
After the
later of the Distribution Date and the date of the first public announcement by
the Company that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, but before an
Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of the Common Stock, the Board may exchange
each Right (other than Rights that have become void) for one share of Common
Stock or an equivalent security.
The Board
may adjust the purchase price of the Series A Stock, the number of shares of
Series A Stock issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution
that may occur as a result of certain events, including among others, a stock
dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Series A Stock or Common
Stock. No adjustments to the purchase price of less than 1% will be
made.
Before
the time the Rights cease to be redeemable, the Board may amend or supplement
the Rights Plan without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that no
amendment may decrease the redemption price below $0.01 per Right. At
any time thereafter, the Board may amend or supplement the Rights Plan only to
cure an ambiguity, to alter time period provisions, to correct inconsistent
provisions or to make any additional changes to the Rights Plan, but only to the
extent that those changes do not impair or adversely affect any Rights holder
and do not result in the Rights again becoming redeemable.
Transfer
Agent
The
transfer agent for the Common Stock is Securities Transfer Corporation, 2591
Dallas Parkway, Suite 102, Frisco, Texas 75034, phone (469)
633-0101.
Certain
Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws
The
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include a number of provisions that may
have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from
acquiring control of the Company and encouraging persons considering unsolicited
tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with the Board
rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions
include the items described below.
|
·
|
Classified
Board. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
provide that the Company’s directors, other than those who may be elected
by the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over
the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, are classified, with
respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three
classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered
three-year terms. If the Declassification Proposal is approved
by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws will be amended to provide for the annual
election of all directors of the
Company.
|
|
·
|
Removal of Directors and
Filling Vacancies. The Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of any class or series of stock
having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon
liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances, directors
may be removed from office by stockholders with or without cause, upon the
affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of all then outstanding shares of the
Company’s voting stock, voting together as a single class. The
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that any vacancy on
the Board, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from a removal
for cause or from an increase in the size of the Board, shall be filled by
a majority of our directors then in office, even if less than a
quorum.
|
|
·
|
Limitation on Stockholder
Action by Written Consent. The Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws provide that except with respect to changing the
name of the Company, stockholders may only take actions at a duly called
and held stockholder meeting.
|
|
·
|
Approval of Certain
Transactions. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that any
proposal of the Company to reorganize, merge, or consolidate with any
other corporation, or sell, lease, or exchange all of its assets or
business requires the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of all then
outstanding shares entitled to
vote.
|
|
·
|
Heightened Vote Requirement
for Amending or Repealing Certain Provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws. The Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws provide that altering, amending, or adopting any
provisions inconsistent with or repealing specified provisions, including
those relating to (i) the structure of the Board, (ii) the threshold for
stockholder approval of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Company, or the sale, lease or exchange of substantially all of its assets
or business and (iii) the limitation on stockholder action outside of a
duly called stockholder meeting, requires the affirmative vote of at least
66-2/3% of all then outstanding shares of the Company’s voting stock,
voting together as a single class.
|
|
·
|
Undesignated Preferred
Stock. The Certificate of Incorporation provides for
10,000,000 authorized shares of blank check preferred stock, 1,000,000 of
which are designated as Series A Stock, and all of which are currently
available for issuance. The existence of authorized but
unissued shares of preferred stock, including certain unissued shares of
blank check preferred stock, may enable the Board to render more difficult
or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a
merger, tender offer, proxy contest or
otherwise.
|
|
·
|
Advance Notice
Requirements. The Bylaws establish advance notice
procedures with regard to the submission by stockholders of director
nominations and other business proposals to be brought before meetings of
stockholders. These procedures provide that notice of
stockholder nominations and other business proposals must be timely given
in writing to the Company’s Secretary prior to the meeting at which the
action is to be taken. The notice must contain information
specified in the Bylaws.
|
APPROVAL
OF THE ACQUISITION
The
discussion in this proxy statement of the Acquisition Proposal and the principal
terms of the Acquisition Agreement and the associated ancillary agreements are
subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the Acquisition
Agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement and is
incorporated herein by reference.
On August
20, 2008, a majority of the Board approved and deemed advisable that the Company
enter into the Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Wilhelmina Acquisition
will merge with and into Wilhelmina International in a stock-for-stock
transaction, as a result of which Wilhelmina International will become a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Company will purchase the outstanding
equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina Companies for cash and possible
earnout amounts.
The
parties to the Acquisition Agreement are New Century, Wilhelmina Acquisition (a
wholly owned subsidiary of New Century); Esch, Lorex, Krassner, Krassner L.P.
(collectively referred to herein as the “Control Sellers”); Wilhelmina
International, Wilhelmina Miami, WAM, Wilhelmina Licensing, Wilhelmina TV
(collectively referred to herein as the “Wilhelmina Companies”); Patterson, and
the stockholders of Wilhelmina Miami (the stockholders of Wilhelmina Miami,
together with the Control Sellers and Patterson, collectively referred to herein
as the “Sellers”). The Control Sellers own all of the equity
interests in Wilhelmina International, Wilhelmina Licensing and WAM, and a
majority of the equity interests in Wilhelmina TV and Wilhelmina
Miami. Patterson owns a minority equity interest in Wilhelmina
TV.
The
mailing address and telephone number of the principal executive offices of New
Century and Wilhelmina Acquisition are 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas,
Texas 75201 and (214) 661-7488. The mailing address and telephone
number of the
principal executive offices of the Wilhelmina Companies and the Sellers are 300
Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10010 and (212)
473-0700.
At the
Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the Company will issue $15,000,000 of
Common Stock of New Century, valued at book value as of July 31, 2008 (which the
parties agreed is $0.247 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment) in
connection with the merger of Wilhelmina Acquisition with and into Wilhelmina
International. The Company will pay an aggregate of $9,000,000 in
cash to acquire the outstanding equity interests of the Wilhelmina Companies and
will repay $6,000,000 in cash to repay the outstanding balance of a note of
Wilhelmina International held by a Control Seller. The purchase price
is subject to certain post-closing adjustments, which will be affected against a
total of $4,600,000 of Common Stock that will be held in escrow pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement. The aggregate stock, cash and debt repayment
of $30,000,000 to be paid at Closing, less $4,500,000 of Common Stock to be held
in escrow in respect of the “core business” purchase price adjustment, provides
for a floor purchase price of $25,500,000 (which amount may be further reduced
in connection with certain indemnification matters). The shares of
Common Stock held in escrow may be repurchased by the Company for a nominal
amount, subject to certain earnouts and offsets. The issuance of the
$15,000,000 of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition will be made in
reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
The
aggregate amount of stock and cash payable in the transaction, and the timing
thereof, was determined through extensive negotiation between New Century and
the principal owners of the Wilhelmina Companies. Through such
negotiations, the parties determined that the principal purchase price payable
in the transaction (in respect of equity in the Wilhelmina Companies and debt
repayment to a Control Seller) would be the average of the Wilhelmina Companies’
actual 2007 and 2008 “core business” EBITDA multiplied by a 7.5 EBITDA multiple,
subject to an overall $25,500,000 “floor” price. New Century
nevertheless agreed to issue at Closing cash and stock in an amount which,
together with $6,000,000 in respect of debt to be repaid to a Control Seller, is
approximately equivalent to the upper end of New Century management’s good faith
estimate of 2008 “core business” EBITDA, multiplied by a relevant
multiple. The general “floor” purchase price of $25,500,000 is
approximately equivalent to the lower end of New Century management’s good faith
estimate of 2008 “core business” EBITDA, multiplied by a relevant
multiple. It was agreed by the parties that the difference between
$30,000,000 and $25,500,000, or $4,500,000, would be held in escrow pending
final determination of 2008 “core business” EBITDA and certain other
adjustments.
The shares held in
escrow support indemnification obligations of the Control Sellers and
loss offsets for WAM and Wilhelmina Miami. The Sellers will be
required to leave in escrow, through 2011, any stock “earned” following
resolution of “core” adjustment, up to a total value of
$1,000,000. Losses at WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, respectively, can be
offset against any positive earnout with respect to the other Wilhelmina
Company. Losses in excess of earnout amounts could also result in the
repurchase of the remaining shares of Common Stock held in escrow for a nominal
amount. Working capital deficiencies may also reduce positive earnout
amounts. The earnouts are payable in 2011. Included in the
purchase price is $100,000 in Common Stock to be held in escrow pending
resolution of a designated due diligence matter and an amount (expected to be
approximately $400,000) to be paid to Patterson, in the form of Common Stock
and/or cash, in connection with the change of control of Wilhelmina
International.
Introduction
New
Century is a company in transition. The Company has been seeking to
redeploy its assets to enhance stockholder value and has been seeking, analyzing
and evaluating potential acquisition and merger candidates. On
October 5, 2005, the Company made an investment in ACP Investments L.P. (d/b/a
Ascendant Capital Partners) (“Ascendant”). Ascendant is a Berwyn,
Pennsylvania based alternative asset management company whose funds have
investments in long/short equity funds and which distributes its registered
funds primarily through various financial intermediaries and related
channels. The Company’s interest in Ascendant currently represents
the Company’s sole operating business.
Historical
Overview
The
Company, which was formerly known as Billing Concepts Corp. (“BCC”), was
incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1996. BCC was previously a
wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Long Distance Corp. (“USLD”) and principally
provided third-party billing clearinghouse and information management services
to the telecommunications industry (the “Transaction Processing and Software
Business”). Upon its spin-off from USLD, BCC became an independent,
publicly-held company. In October 2000, the Company completed the
sale of several wholly-owned subsidiaries that comprised the Transaction
Processing and Software Business to Platinum Holdings (“Platinum”) for
consideration of $49,700,000 (the “Platinum Transaction”). The
Company also received payments totaling $7,500,000 for consulting services
provided to Platinum over the twenty-four month period subsequent to the
Platinum Transaction.
Beginning
in 1998, the Company made multiple investments in Princeton eCom Corporation
(“Princeton”) totaling approximately $77,300,000 before selling all of its
interest for $10,000,000 in June 2004. The Company’s strategy,
beginning with its investment in Princeton, of making investments in high-growth
companies was also facilitated through several other investments.
In early
2004, the Company announced that it would seek stockholder approval to liquidate
the Company. In June of 2004, the Board of the Company determined
that it would be in the best interest of the Company to accept an investment
from Newcastle, an investment fund with a long track record of investing in
public and private companies. On June 18, 2004, the Company sold
4,807,692 newly issued shares of its Series A 4% Convertible Preferred Stock
(the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”) to Newcastle for $5,000,000 (the
“Newcastle Transaction”). The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
was convertible into approximately thirty-five percent of the Company’s Common
Stock, at any time after the expiration of twelve months from the date of its
issuance at a conversion price of $0.26 per share of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment for dilution. The holders of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock were entitled to a four percent annual cash dividend (the
“Preferred Dividends”). Following the investment by Newcastle, the
management team resigned and new executives and board members were
appointed. On July 3, 2006, Newcastle converted its Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock into 19,230,768 shares of Common Stock.
During
May 2005, the Company sold its equity interest in Sharps Compliance Corp.
(“Sharps”) for approximately $334,000. Following the sale of its
interest in Sharps, the Company no longer holds any investments made by former
management and which reflected former management’s strategy of investing in
high-growth companies.
On August
25, 2008, the Company entered into the Acquisition Agreement, pursuant which
Wilhelmina Acquisition will merge with and into Wilhelmina International in a
stock-for-stock transaction, as a result of which Wilhelmina International will
become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Company will purchase
the outstanding equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina Companies for
cash. Upon the consummation of the Acquisition, Wilhelmina
International will be the Company’s primary operating business.
Derivative
Lawsuit
On August
11, 2004, Craig Davis, allegedly a stockholder of the Company, filed a lawsuit
in the Chancery Court of New Castle County, Delaware (the
“Lawsuit”). The Lawsuit asserted direct claims, and also derivative
claims on the Company’s behalf, against five former and three current directors
of the Company. On April 13, 2006, the Company announced that it
reached an agreement with all of the parties to the Lawsuit to settle all claims
relating thereto (the “Settlement”). On June 23, 2006, the Chancery
Court approved the Settlement, and on July 25, 2006, the Settlement became final
and non-appealable. As part of the Settlement, the Company set up a
fund (the “Settlement Fund”), which was distributed to stockholders of record as
of July 28, 2006, with a payment date of August 11, 2006. The portion
of the Settlement Fund distributed to stockholders pursuant to the Settlement
was $2,270,017 or approximately $.04 per common share on a fully diluted basis,
provided that any Common Stock held by defendants in the Lawsuit who were
formerly directors of the Company would not be entitled to any distribution from
the Settlement Fund. The total Settlement proceeds of $3,200,000 were
funded by the Company’s insurance carrier and by Parris H. Holmes, Jr., the
Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who contributed
$150,000. Also included in the total Settlement proceeds is $600,000
of reimbursement for legal and professional fees paid to the Company by its
insurance carrier and subsequently contributed by the Company to the Settlement
Fund. Therefore, the Company recognized a loss of $600,000 related to
the Lawsuit for the year ended December 31, 2006. As part of the
Settlement, the Company and the other defendants in the Lawsuit agreed not to
oppose the request for fees and expenses by counsel to the plaintiff of
$929,813. Under the Settlement, the plaintiff, the Company and the
other defendants (including Mr. Holmes) also agreed to certain mutual
releases.
The
Settlement provided that, if the Company had not acquired a business that
generated revenues by March 1, 2007, the plaintiff maintained the right to
pursue a claim to liquidate the Company. This custodian claim was one of several
claims asserted in the Lawsuit. Even if such a claim is elected to be
pursued, there is no assurance that it will be successful. In
addition, the Company believes that it has preserved its right to assert that
the Ascendant investment meets the foregoing requirement to acquire a
business.
In
connection with the resolution of the Lawsuit, the Company has ceased funding of
legal and professional fees of the current and former director
defendants. The funding of legal and professional fees was made
pursuant to indemnification arrangements that were in place during the
respective terms of each of the defendants. The Company has met the
$500,000 retention as stipulated in the Company’s directors’ and officers’
liability insurance policy. The directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance policy carries a maximum coverage limit of
$5,000,000. During October 2007, the Company and the insurance
carrier agreed to settle all claims for reimbursement of legal and professional
fees associated with the Lawsuit for $240,000.
Alternative
Asset Management Operations
On
October 5, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Ascendant
Agreement”) with Ascendant to acquire an interest in the revenues generated by
Ascendant. Pursuant to the Ascendant Agreement, the Company is
entitled to a 50% interest, subject to certain adjustments, in the revenues of
Ascendant, which interest declines if the assets under management of Ascendant
reach certain levels. Revenues generated by Ascendant include
revenues from assets under management or any other sources or investments, net
of any agreed commissions. On November 5, 2007, John Murray, Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, was appointed to the Investment Advisory
Committee of Ascendant to serve in the place of the Company’s former
CEO. The total potential purchase price under the terms of the
Ascendant Agreement is $1,550,000, payable in four equal installments of
$387,500. The first installment was paid at the closing and the
second installment was paid on January 5, 2006. Subject to the
provisions of the Ascendant Agreement, including Ascendant’s compliance with the
terms thereof, the third installment was payable on April 5, 2006 and the fourth
installment was payable on July 5, 2006. On April 5, 2006, the
Company elected not to make the April installment payment and subsequently
determined not to make the installment payment due July 5, 2006. The
Company believed that it was not required to make the payments because Ascendant
did not satisfy all of the conditions in the Ascendant Agreement.
Subject
to the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, if the Company does not make an
installment payment and Ascendant is not in breach of the Ascendant Agreement,
Ascendant has the right (which is its only remedy in the event of a payment breach by the
Company) to acquire the Company’s revenue interest at a price which would yield
a 10% annualized return to the Company. The Company has been notified
by Ascendant that Ascendant is exercising this right as a result of the
Company’s election not to make its third and fourth installment
payments. The Company believes that Ascendant has not satisfied the
requisite conditions to repurchase the Company’s revenue
interest.
Ascendant
had assets under management of approximately $40,800,000 and $37,500,000 as of
September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Under the
Ascendant Agreement, revenues earned by the Company from the Ascendant revenue
interest (as determined in accordance with the terms of the Ascendant Agreement)
are payable in cash within 30 days after the end of each
quarter. Under the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, Ascendant has 45
days following notice by the Company to cure any material breach by Ascendant of
the Ascendant Agreement, including with respect to payment
obligations. Ascendant failed to make the required revenue sharing
payments for the calendar quarters including June 30, 2006 through June 30, 2008
in a timely manner and did not cure such failures within the required 45-day
period. In addition, Ascendant has not made the payment for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008. Under the terms of the Ascendant
Agreement, upon notice of an uncured material breach, Ascendant is required to
fully refund all amounts paid by New Century, and New Century’s revenue interest
remains outstanding. New Century has provided notice to Ascendant
that Ascendant has materially breached the Ascendant Agreement, that such
material breaches are not curable and, accordingly, that Ascendant is required
to fully refund amounts paid by New Century. Ascendant and New
Century disagree as to which party remains in breach of the Ascendant Agreement
and have held discussions with respect to the matter and possible resolutions
thereof. While the parties have not resolved the matter, New Century
anticipates that discussions will continue to be held by the parties in an
effort to resolve the matter. New Century does not believe the
consummation of the Acquisition will have any effect on the Ascendant Agreement
or the discussions between the parties on a resolution of this
matter.
The
Company has not recorded any revenue or received any revenue sharing payments
for the period from July 1, 2006 through September 30,
2008. According to the Ascendant Agreement, if Ascendant acquires the
revenue interest from the Company, Ascendant must pay the Company a return on
the capital that it invested. Pursuant to the Ascendant Agreement,
the required return on the Company’s invested capital will not be impacted by
any revenue sharing payments made or not made by Ascendant.
In
connection with the Ascendant Agreement, the Company also entered into the
Principals Agreement with Ascendant and certain limited partners and key
employees of Ascendant (the “Principals Agreement”) pursuant to which, among
other things, the Company has the option to purchase limited partnership
interests of Ascendant under certain circumstances. Effective March
14, 2006, in accordance with the terms of the Principals Agreement, the Company
acquired a 7% limited partnership interest from a limited partner of Ascendant
for nominal consideration. The Principals Agreement contains certain
noncompete and nonsolicitation obligations of the partners of Ascendant that
apply during their employment and the twelve month period following the
termination thereof.
Since the
Ascendant revenue interest meets the indefinite life criteria outlined in
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets,” the Company does not amortize this intangible asset, but
instead reviews this asset quarterly for impairment. Each reporting
period, the Company assesses whether events or circumstances have occurred which
indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its fair
value. If the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its
fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized in an amount equal to that
excess. After an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying
amount of the intangible asset shall be its new accounting
basis. Subsequent reversal of a previously recognized impairment loss
is prohibited.
The
Company assesses whether the entity in which the acquired revenue interest
exists meets the indefinite life criteria based on a number of factors
including: the historical and potential future operating performance;
the historical and potential future rates of attrition among existing clients;
the stability and longevity of existing client relationships; the recent, as
well as long-term, investment performance; the characteristics of the entities’
products and investment styles; the stability and depth of the
management team and the history and perceived franchise or brand
value.
Employees
As of
December 22, 2008, the Company had one employee. The Company’s
employee is not represented by a union. The Company believes that its
employee relations are good.
Properties
The
Company’s corporate headquarters are currently located at 200 Crescent Court,
Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201, which are also the offices of
NCM. NCM is the general partner of Newcastle. The Company
occupies a portion of NCM’s office space on a month-to-month basis at $2,500 per
month, pursuant to a services agreement entered into between the parties on
October 1, 2006.
Legal
Proceedings
On
December 12, 2005, the Company received a letter from the SEC, based on a review
of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2004,
requesting that the Company provide a written explanation as to whether the
Company is an “investment company” (as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940). The Company provided a written response to the
SEC, dated January 12, 2006, stating the reasons why it believes it is not an
investment company. The Company has provided certain confirmatory
information requested by the SEC. In the event the SEC or a court
took the position that the Company is an investment company, the Company’s
failure to register as an investment company would not only raise the
possibility of an enforcement or other legal action by the SEC and potential
fines and penalties, but also could threaten the validity of corporate actions
and contracts entered into by the Company during the period it was deemed to be
an unregistered investment company, among other remedies.
In a
letter to the Company dated October 16, 2007, a lawyer representing Steven J.
Pully (a director who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from June
18, 2004 to October 15, 2007) alleged that the Company filed false and
misleading disclosure with the SEC with respect to the elimination of Mr.
Pully’s compensation (see the Company’s Forms 8-K filed on September 5, 2007 and
October 17, 2007). No specifics were provided as to such
allegations. The Company believes such allegations are unfounded and,
if a claim is made, the Company intends to vigorously defend
itself.
Market
Price of and Dividends on New Century’s Common Stock
The
Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol
“NCEH.OB”. The table below sets forth the high and low bid prices for
the Common Stock for the periods indicated. These price quotations
reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission,
and may not necessarily represent actual transactions:
|
|
|
|
Year
Ending December 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter
|
$
0.20
|
|
$
0.13
|
2nd
Quarter
|
$
0.22
|
|
$
0.05
|
3rd
Quarter |
$
0.37 |
|
$
0.16 |
4th Quarter
(through December 18,
2008)
|
$
0.18
|
|
$
0.02
|
|
|
|
|
Year
Ended December 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter
|
$
0.31
|
|
$
0.22
|
2nd
Quarter
|
$
0.29
|
|
$
0.22
|
3rd
Quarter
|
$
0.26
|
|
$
0.21
|
4th
Quarter
|
$
0.23
|
|
$
0.18
|
|
|
|
|
Year
Ended December 31, 2006:
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter
|
$
0.23
|
|
$
0.15
|
2nd
Quarter
|
$
0.25
|
|
$
0.19
|
3rd
Quarter
|
$
0.26
|
|
$
0.18
|
4th
Quarter
|
$
0.23
|
|
$
0.20
|
As of
December 19, 2008, there were 53,883,872 shares of Common Stock outstanding,
held by 499 holders of record as of the Record Date. The last
reported sales price of the Common Stock on August 25, 2008, the date
immediately prior to the public announcement of the Acquisition, was
$0.17. The last reported sales price of the Common Stock on December
19, 2008 was $0.13.
The
Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on the Common
Stock. Approximately $2,270,017 was distributed to certain
stockholders pursuant to the Settlement in August 2006. On June 30,
2006, Newcastle elected to receive dividends on its Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock in cash for the period from June 19, 2005 through June 30,
2006. On July 3, 2006, Newcastle elected to convert all of its Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock into 19,230,768 shares of Common
Stock. The Company may not pay dividends on its Common Stock unless
all declared and unpaid dividends on preferred stock have been
paid. In addition, whenever the Company shall declare or pay any
dividend on its Common Stock, the holders of Series A Stock are entitled to
receive such Common Stock dividends on a ratably as-converted
basis.
The
following is a discussion of New Century’s financial condition and results of
operations comparing the calendar years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, as
well as the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
2007. You should read this section in conjunction with New Century’s
Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto that are incorporated
herein by reference and the other financial information included elsewhere in
this proxy statement and the notes thereto.
New
Century Overview
New
Century is a company in transition. New Century has been seeking to
redeploy its assets to enhance stockholder value and has been seeking, analyzing
and evaluating potential acquisition and merger candidates. On August
25, 2008, New Century entered into the Acquisition Agreement pursuant to which
it will acquire the Wilhelmina Companies as discussed in further detail in this
proxy statement. Upon consummation of the Acquisition, the business
of the Wilhelmina Companies will constitute New Century’s primary
business.
On
October 5, 2005, New Century made an investment in
Ascendant. Ascendant is a Berwyn, Pennsylvania based alternative
asset management company whose funds have investments in long/short equity funds
and which distributes its registered funds primarily through various financial
intermediaries and related channels. New Century’s interest in
Ascendant currently represents New Century’s sole operating
business.
Ascendant
and Operating Revenues
Pursuant
to the Ascendant Agreement, New Century is entitled to a 50% interest, subject
to certain adjustments, in the revenues of Ascendant, which interest declines if
the assets under management of Ascendant reach certain
levels. Revenues generated by Ascendant include revenues from assets
under management or any other sources or investments, net of any agreed
commissions. New Century also agreed to provide various marketing
services to Ascendant. On November 5, 2007, John Murray, Chief
Financial Officer of New Century, was appointed to the Investment Advisory
Committee of Ascendant to replace New Century’s former CEO. The total
potential purchase price under the terms of the Ascendant Agreement was
$1,550,000, payable in four equal installments of $387,500. The first
installment was paid at the closing and the second installment was paid on
January 5, 2006. Subject to the provisions of the Ascendant
Agreement, including Ascendant’s compliance with the terms thereof, the third
installment was payable on April 5, 2006 and the fourth installment was payable
on July 5, 2006. On April 5, 2006, New Century elected not to make
the April installment payment and subsequently determined not to make the
installment payment due July 5, 2006. New Century believed that it
was not required to make the payments because Ascendant did not satisfy all of
the conditions in the Ascendant Agreement.
Subject
to the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, if New Century does not make an
installment payment and Ascendant is not in breach of the Ascendant Agreement,
Ascendant has the right to acquire New Century’s revenue interest at a price
which would yield a 10% annualized return to New Century. New Century
has been notified by Ascendant that Ascendant is exercising this right as a
result of New Century’s election not to make its third and fourth installment
payments. New Century believes that Ascendant has not satisfied the
requisite conditions to repurchase New Century’s revenue interest.
Ascendant
had assets under management of approximately $40,800,000 and $37,500,000 as of
September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Under the
Ascendant Agreement, revenues earned by New Century from the Ascendant revenue
interest (as determined in accordance with the terms of the Ascendant Agreement)
are payable in cash within 30 days after the end of each
quarter. Under the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, Ascendant has 45
days following notice by New Century to cure any material breach by Ascendant of
the Ascendant Agreement, including with respect to payment
obligations. Ascendant failed to make the required revenue sharing
payments for all calendar quarters including June 30, 2006 through June 30,
2008, in a timely manner and did not cure such failures within the required 45
day period. In addition, Ascendant has not made the payment for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008. Under the terms of the Ascendant
Agreement, upon notice of an uncured material breach, Ascendant is required to
fully refund all amounts paid by New Century, and New Century’s revenue interest
remains outstanding.
New
Century has not recorded any revenue or received any revenue sharing payments
for the period from July 1, 2006 through September 30,
2008. According to the Ascendant Agreement, if Ascendant acquires the
revenue interest from New Century, Ascendant must pay New Century a return on
the capital that it invested. Pursuant to the Ascendant Agreement,
the required return on New Century’s invested capital will not be impacted by
any revenue sharing payments made or not made by Ascendant.
Results
of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 compared to
the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative (“G&A”) expenses are comprised of all costs incurred in
direct support of the business operations of New Century. G&A
expenses decreased by $40,000, or 33%, and $177,000, or 40%, to $81,000 and
$271,000, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal
year. This decrease is primarily attributable to the absence of legal
and professional fees associated with the Lawsuit, officers’ compensation and
stock based compensation during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008.
Interest
Income
Interest
income decreased by $95,000, or 61%, and $243,000, or 52%, to $60,000 and
$223,000, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal
year. This decrease is attributable to a decrease in yields on cash
balances available for short term
investment.
Results
of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2007 compared to the Year Ended
December 31, 2006
General
and Administrative Expenses
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, G&A expenses totaled $552,000 compared to
$642,000 during the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in G&A for
the year ended December 31, 2007, when compared to the year ended December 31,
2006, is primarily attributable to a decrease in legal and professional fees and
officer compensation expense.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation
and amortization expense is incurred with respect to certain assets, including
computer hardware, software, office equipment, furniture, goodwill and other
intangibles. During each of the years ended December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006, depreciation and amortization expense totaled
$0. The decrease in depreciation and amortization from prior periods
is principally the result of fixed asset sales. New Century made no
fixed asset purchases during the year ended December 31, 2007.
Interest
Income
Interest
income totaled $607,000 during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to
$582,000 during the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in
interest income for the year ended December 31, 2007, as compared to the year
ended December 31, 2006, was attributable to higher average cash
balances.
Derivative
Settlement Costs
On April
13, 2006, New Century announced that it reached an agreement with all of the
parties to the Lawsuit to settle all claims relating thereto. The
total Settlement proceeds of $3,200,000 were funded by New Century’s insurance
carrier and by Parris H. Holmes, Jr., New Century’s former Chief Executive
Officer, who contributed $150,000. Also included in the total
Settlement proceeds is $600,000 of reimbursement for legal and professional fees
paid to New Century by its insurance carrier and subsequently contributed by New
Century to the Settlement Fund. New Century has recognized a net loss
of $600,000 related to the Lawsuit for the year ended December 31,
2006. See “Proposal No.
1
– Approval of the
Acquisition – Description of New Century – Derivative
Lawsuit” beginning on page 58.
Income
Taxes
As a
result of the operating losses incurred for the year ended December 31, 2006 and
the utilization of prior year net operating losses to offset income for the year
ended December 31, 2007, no provision or benefit for income taxes was recorded
for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
New
Century’s cash balance decreased to $12,088,000 at September 30, 2008, from
$12,679,000 at December 31, 2007. The decrease resulted from cash
funding of general and administrative expenses and expenses associated with the
Acquisition offset by interest income of approximately $223,000 during the nine
months ended September 30, 2008.
During
the next 12 months, New Century’s operating cash requirements are expected to
consist principally of funding corporate expenses, the costs associated with
maintaining a public company and expenses incurred in pursuing New Century’s
business plan. New Century expects to incur operating losses through
fiscal 2008 which will continue to have a negative impact on liquidity and
capital resources.
Assuming
the Acquisition Agreement is approved by the stockholders of New Century, New
Century will be obligated to fund $15,000,000 at closing of the Acquisition,
subject to the conditions set forth in the Acquisition Agreement. New
Century expects to fund the cash closing obligations with cash on hand and funds
from the Equity Financing
Agreement.
Lease
Guarantees
In
October 2000, New Century completed the Platinum Transaction. Under
the terms of the Platinum Transaction, all leases and corresponding obligations
associated with the Transaction Processing and Software Business were assumed by
Platinum. Prior to the Platinum Transaction, New Century guaranteed
two operating leases for office space of the divested companies. The
first lease is related to office space located in San Antonio, Texas, and
expired in 2006. The second lease is related to office space located
in Austin, Texas, and expires in 2010. Under the original terms of
the second lease, the remaining minimum undiscounted rent payments total
approximately $1,773,000 at September 30, 2008. In conjunction with
the Platinum Transaction, Platinum agreed to indemnify New Century should the
underlying operating companies not perform under the terms of the office
leases. New Century can provide no assurance as to Platinum’s
ability, or willingness, to perform its obligations under the
indemnification. New Century does not believe it is probable that it
will be required to perform under the remaining lease guarantee and, therefore,
no liability has been accrued in New Century’s financial
statements.
Off-Balance-Sheet
Arrangements
New
Century guaranteed two operating leases for office space for certain of its
wholly-owned subsidiaries prior to the Platinum Transaction (see Liquidity and
Capital Resources – Lease Guarantees above). One such lease expired in
2006.
Seasonality
New
Century’s current operations are not significantly affected by
seasonality.
Effect
of Inflation
Inflation
has not been a material factor affecting New Century’s
business. General operating expenses, such as salaries, employee
benefits, insurance and occupancy costs, are subject to normal inflationary
pressures.
New
Accounting Standards
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which establishes a
framework for reporting fair value and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS 157 was effective for New Century on January 1, 2008, with
the exception that the applicability of SFAS 157’s fair value measurement
requirements to nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not required or
permitted to be recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis has
been delayed by the FASB for one year. New Century does not believe that the
requirements of SFAS 157, which were effective for New Century on January 1,
2008, will have a material impact on New Century’s consolidated financial
statements. New Century is currently evaluating the impact of the SFAS 157
requirements, which will be effective for New Century on January 1, 2009, on New
Century’s financial position and results of operations.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Impairment
of Investments
New
Century evaluates its investments in affiliates when events or changes in
circumstances, such as a significant economic slowdown, indicate that the
carrying value of the investments may not be recoverable. Reviews are
performed to determine whether the carrying value is impaired and if the
comparison indicates that impairment exists, the investment is written down to
fair value. Significant management judgment based on estimates is
required to determine whether and how much an investment is
impaired.
Overview
The
Wilhelmina Companies (also referred to in this description as Wilhelmina)
provide traditional, full-service fashion model and talent management services,
specializing in the representation and management of models, entertainers,
artists, athletes and other talent to various customers and clients, including
retailers, designers, advertising agencies and catalog companies.
Wilhelmina’s
primary business is fashion model management, which activity is headquartered in
New York City. Wilhelmina is one of the oldest and largest fashion
model management companies in the world. Since it was founded in 1967
by Wilhelmina Cooper, a renowned fashion model, Wilhelmina has been a privately
held company and has grown to include operations located in Los Angeles, as well
as a growing network of licensees comprising leading modeling agencies in
various local markets across the U.S as well as in Panama.
The
Wilhelmina Companies also include New York City-based entities focused on
business areas complimentary to Wilhelmina’s fashion model and talent management
business. Wilhelmina Artist Management LLC (“WAM”), a New York
corporation founded in 1998, is a talent management company that seeks to secure
endorsement and spokesperson work for various high-profile talent from the
worlds of sports, music and entertainment. Wilhelmina Licensing LLC
(“Wilhelmina Licensing”), a Delaware company founded in 1999, oversees the
licensing of the “Wilhelmina” name, mainly to local modeling agencies across the
U.S. Wilhelmina Film & TV Production, LLC (“Wilhelmina TV”), a
Delaware company founded in 2004, holds certain rights to and managed aspects of
the production of certain reality television shows such as “The Agency” (2007)
and “She’s Got the Looks” (2008) that seek to capitalize on the “Wilhelmina”
brand.
Organizational
Structure
Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. (“Wilhelmina International”) has three wholly-owned
subsidiaries: Wilhelmina West, Inc. (“Wilhelmina West”), LW1, Inc.
(“LW1”) and Wilhelmina Models, Inc. (“Wilhelmina Models”). Wilhelmina
West is a full-service fashion model agency based in Los
Angeles. LW1, also based in Los Angeles, offers some models the
opportunity to be showcased on TV and film through its membership in the Screen
Actors Guild. Wilhelmina Models, based in New York City, holds
certain contractual rights related to the business of Wilhelmina
International. Wilhelmina International also owns a non-consolidated
50% interest in Wilhelmina Kids & Creative Management LLC, a New York
City-based modeling agency that specializes in representing child models, from
newborns to children 14 years of age. Wilhelmina-Miami, Inc.
(“Wilhelmina Miami”) is an independent fashion model agency affiliated with
Wilhelmina International that is located in Miami and operates as a licensee of
the “Wilhelmina” name. Collectively, these businesses represent the
Wilhelmina Companies’ model management business. Operating on the same entity
level as Wilhelmina International are WAM, Wilhelmina TV and Wilhelmina
Licensing, which represent the Wilhelmina Companies’ other business ventures
complimentary to Wilhelmina’s fashion model management business.
Industry
Overview
The
fashion model management industry is highly fragmented, with smaller, local
talent management firms frequently competing with a small group of
internationally operating talent management firms for client
assignments. New York City, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Paris,
Milan and London are considered the most important markets for the fashion
talent management industry; most of the leading international firms are
headquartered in New York City, which is considered to be the “capital” of the
global fashion industry. Apart from Paris-based and publicly-listed
Elite SA, all fashion talent management firms are privately-held.
The
fashion model management industry can be divided into many subcategories,
including advertising campaigns as well as catalog, runway and editorial
work. Advertising work involves modeling for advertisements featuring
consumer products such as cosmetics, clothing and other items, to be placed in
magazines, in newspapers, on billboards and with other types of
media. Catalog work involves modeling for promotional catalogs that
are produced throughout the year. Runway work involves modeling at
fashion shows, which primarily take place in Paris, Milan, London and New York
City. Editorial work involves modeling for the cover and editorial
section of magazines.
Economic
Environment
The
business of talent management firms such as Wilhelmina is related to the state
of the advertising industry, as demand for talent is driven by print and TV
advertising campaigns for consumer goods and retail
clients. Nevertheless, reductions in overall advertising expenditures
typically impact talent management firms less due to the fact that photo shoots
will be required irrespective of any reduction in size of traditional print
media editions, or of the frequency with which ads containing pictures of
fashion talent are shown.
With
total advertising expenditures on major media (newspapers, magazines,
television, cinema, outdoor and internet) amounting to approximately $179
billion in 2007, the U.S. is by far the world’s largest advertising
market. Recent forecasts by ZenithOptimedia(1),
a recognized media services group, predict that year-on-year growth in the U.S.
will amount to 3.4% (2008 versus 2007), 2.6% (2009 versus 2008) and 3.6% (2010
versus 2009), for total ad expenditures of $197 billion forecast for
2010. According to ZenithOptimedia(1), in
2007 global ad expenditures were split among the following
media: Television (37.3%), Newspapers (27.2%), Magazines (12.1%),
internet (8.6%), Radio (8%), Outdoor (6.2%), and Cinema (0.5%). For
the fashion talent management industry, including Wilhelmina, advertising
expenditures on magazines, television and outdoor are of particular relevance,
with internet advertising becoming increasingly important.
Talent
Management Business
The
talent management industry is focused on providing fashion modeling and
celebrity product-endorsement services to clients such as ad agencies, branded
consumer goods companies, fashion designers, magazines, retailers and department
stores, product catalogs and internet sites.
Clients
pay talent for their appearance in photo shoots for magazine features, print
advertising, direct mail marketing, product catalogs and internet sites, as well
as for their appearance in runway shows to present new designer collections, fit
modeling, and on-location presentations and event appearances. In addition,
talent may also appear in film and TV commercials.
Talent
management firms develop and diversify their talent portfolio through a
combination of ongoing local, regional or international scouting and
talent-search efforts to source new talent, and cooperate with other agencies
that represent talent, but lack specific booking opportunities for such
talent. Depending on the individual talent agency, talent may either
be represented by the firm or a specialized “board” within the firm, or by
individual talent managers or bookers. Depending on the breadth of
their service, talent management firms may in effect manage the entire modeling
career of the individual talent they represent. Talent management
firms typically represent talent on an exclusive basis for periods of up to
three years, subject to renewals. Similarly, employment agreements
with individual booking agents typically include non-compete
clauses.
When
seeking to hire talent services, clients will typically directly contact
individual talent managers at a select number of talent management firms
(pre-selected on the basis of specific talent represented by the firms or the
firms’ reputation and depth of its talent portfolio), describe the client’s
specific requirements and invite the talent management firm to make a certain
talent available for an “audition” for a photo shoot or
appearance. The booking agent will negotiate pricing for the talent
and will prepare the talent for the audition. If the talent succeeds
at the audition and is selected for the project, the booker will handle and
coordinate all scheduling and client requirements, and invoice the client on the
basis of the agreed fees specified in the voucher the talent returns to the firm
upon completion of the project.
_______________________
1 Source: “Western ad markets continue to slow,
but surging developing markets propel healthy world growth in ad expenditure”
Press Release, June 30, 2008, ZenithOptimedia Group
Limited.
In
exchange for their services, talent management firms charge their talent a
commission, representing a percentage of the amount billed to the
client. The amount talent firms can charge clients for the talent’s
services depends on the talent’s reputation and success in the marketplace, and
his or her corresponding negotiating position with the firm. In
addition, the talent management firms charge a service charge to the
clients. This charge is typically negotiated and amounts to a
percentage of the talent’s services and is paid by the client in addition to the
amount paid for the talent’s services.
Competition
Wilhelmina’s
principal competitors in the U.S. include DNA Model Management, Elite Model
Management, Ford Models, Inc., IMG Models, Marilyn Model Agency, NEXT Model
Management and Women Model Management. Smaller agencies typically
tend to cater primarily to local market needs, such as local magazine and
television advertising. Several of the larger fashion talent firms
operate offices in multiple cities and countries, or alternatively have chosen
to partner with local or foreign agencies to attempt to harness synergies
without increasing overhead. In Europe, clients typically look to
local firms as well as leading international firms for talent, or will seek
models from talent management firms with a presence on location for the shoot,
such as Miami, which has a strong, seasonal demand for several international
catalog clients.
In recent
years, several of the leading agencies have experienced structural changes, such
as the establishment of Elite SA as a standalone and publicly-listed European
entity and the formal separation from its former U.S.-based affiliate, as well
as the ownership change and recapitalization of Ford Models. Other
firms, such as IMG, have changed their business strategy from full-service
agency to a narrowly-focused female-only supermodel talent
segment. Other firms, including Wilhelmina, are expanding into
related talent management areas, such as sports representation.
Several
of the leading talent management firms, whether through modeling contests or
reality TV shows and contests, are actively seeking to develop brand-awareness
for their status within the fashion talent management industry for product
licensing and related purposes.
Wilhelmina’s
Business Model
Fashion
Model Management Business
Within
its fashion model management business, Wilhelmina has two primary sources of
revenue: commissions paid by models as a percentage of their gross
earnings and a separate service charge, paid by clients in addition to the
booking fees, calculated as a percentage of the models’ booking
fees. Wilhelmina believes that its commission rates and service
charge are comparable to those of its principal competitors.
Wilhelmina’s
fashion model management operations are organized into divisions called
“boards,” each of which specializes by the type of models it
represents. Wilhelmina’s boards are generally described in the table
below.
|
|
|
|
|
Women
|
|
LA,
NYC
|
|
High-end
female fashion models
|
Men
|
|
LA,
NYC
|
|
High-end
male fashion models
|
Wilhelmina
Women
|
|
NYC
|
|
Established
female fashion models (ages 18-29)
|
Wilhelmina
Men
|
|
NYC
|
|
Established
male fashion models (ages 18+)
|
Sophisticated
Women
|
|
NYC
|
|
Established
female fashion models (ages 30+)
|
Ten-20
|
|
NYC
|
|
Full-figured
female fashion models
|
Runway
|
|
LA,
NYC
|
|
Catwalk
and designer client services
|
Lifestyle
|
|
LA,
NYC
|
|
Commercial
print bookings
|
Kids*
|
|
NYC
|
|
Child
models (age 14 and under)
|
___________________________
*Through
partial ownership of Wilhelmina Kids & Creative Management
LLC
|
Each
board is headed by a director who is in charge of the agents assigned to such
board. The agents of each board act both as bookers (includes
promoting models, negotiating fees and contracting work) and as talent
scouts/managers (includes providing models with career guidance and helping them
better market themselves). Although agents individually develop
professional relationships with models, models are represented by a board
collectively, and not by a specific agent. Also, in contrast to the
industry norm, Wilhelmina’s agents typically work on one board throughout their
tenure with Wilhelmina and rarely change agencies. Wilhelmina’s
organization into boards thereby enables Wilhelmina to provide clients with
services tailored to their particular needs, to allow models to benefit from
agents’ specialized experience in their particular markets, and to limit
Wilhelmina’s dependency on any specialty market or agent.
Once the
agents become proven, Wilhelmina pursues employment contracts with agents that
include noncompetition provisions such as a prohibition from working with
Wilhelmina’s models and clients for a certain period of time after the end of
the agent’s employment with Wilhelmina. These terms are now
considered standard practice throughout the industry.
Wilhelmina
typically signs its models to two-year exclusive contracts, which it actively
enforces. Models typically do not switch from one agency to another,
since they develop relationships with agents and become well known by certain of
Wilhelmina’s clients. The average model remains with Wilhelmina for
eight to ten years and often progresses through a number of Wilhelmina’s boards
as his or her career matures.
Talent
Management Business
WAM has
two primary sources of revenue: commissions paid by talent as a
percentage of their gross earnings and royalties (WAM may occasionally obtain an
equity interest in a product line or company in consideration for its
services). WAM currently represents superstars such as Fergie,
Natasha Bedingfield, Ciara, Estelle and Isabella Rossellini and many others for
whom Wilhelmina seeks to secure fashion campaigns, endorsements and marketing
opportunities. In addition, the sports roster of WAM represents golf teaching
legend David Leadbetter in selected markets, including the U.S., and the
recently created “Wilhelmina 7” or “W7” referring to group of seven leading
women professional golfers represented as WAM talent. WAM has secured
commercial endorsements, fashion campaigns and sponsorships for its talent with
clients such as Avon, Brown Shoe, Coca-Cola, Cover Girl, Dessert Beauty, Donna
Karan, Hershey’s, Hugo Boss, L’Oreal, Mattel, Nautica, Nestle, Nike and Pizza
Hut. Additionally, WAM is engaged in cooperation agreements with
certain artist management companies and music labels, such as Atlantic
Group.
Although
Wilhelmina’s fashion model management business remains its primary business, WAM
plays an increasingly important role at Wilhelmina. The visibility of
WAM’s talent and clients help enhance the profile and penetration of the
“Wilhelmina” brand with prospective models, other talent and clients, in turn
providing Wilhelmina’s fashion model management business and other complimentary
businesses with significant new opportunities.
Licensing
Business
Wilhelmina Licensing
collects third-party licensing fees in connection with the licensing of the
“Wilhelmina” name and then pays a royalty fee to Wilhelmina
International. Third-party licensees include Wilhelmina Miami, an
independent entity controlled by the owners of Wilhelmina International, as well
as numerous leading fashion model agencies in local markets across the U.S. and
Panama. The acquisition of Wilhelmina Miami is part of the
Acquisition.
Film
and Television Production Business
The film
and television production business consists of television syndication royalties
and a production series contract. In 2005, the Wilhelmina Companies
produced the television show “The Agency” for the VH1 television
network. In 2007, the Wilhelmina Companies entered into an agreement
with the TV Land television network to develop a television series entitled
“She’s Got the Look”.
Clients
and Customers
As of
September 30, 2008, Wilhelmina had a roster of over 1,800 models under
management contract, of which some 950 are active
models. Wilhelmina’s active models include Mark Vanderloo, Gabriel
Aubry, Alex Lundqvist, Enrique Palacios, Andreas Segura, Nicolas Malleville,
Noah Mills, Josh Wald, Tyson Ballou, RJ Rogenski, Alexandra Richards, Rebecca
Romijn, Manon Von Gerkan, Line Goost, Esther Canadas, Ingrid Vandebosch, Camila
Alves, Kate Dillon, Beverly Johnson and Roshumba.
Wilhelmina
serves approximately 1,200 external clients. Wilhelmina’s customer
base is highly diversified, with no customer accounting for more than 5% of
overall gross revenues. The top 100 customers of Wilhelmina together
account for no more than approximately 60% of overall gross revenues; the top-10
customers of Wilhelmina’s New York City operations historically generate
approximately 20% of annual gross revenues; the top-10 customers of Wilhelmina’s
California operations typically account for approximately 30% of annual gross
revenues. Both of Wilhelmina’s New York City and Los Angeles
operations enjoy significant year-on-year repeat business from Wilhelmina’s
stable of key accounts. Each entity’s customer mix reflects the
difference between the New York City and Los Angeles markets.
Competitive
Attributes
Wilhelmina
has created a diversified portfolio of talent under management, clients and
business activities, which provides exposure to diverse markets and
demographics, while serving as a platform for various growth
opportunities.
The
following are among Wilhelmina’s competitive attributes:
|
·
|
Strong brand recognition and
high-end image. Wilhelmina has achieved recognition in
key fashion markets across the U.S. and
internationally. Wilhelmina’s favorable and high-end image
enables it to attract and retain top talent to service a broad universe of
quality media and retail clients.
|
|
·
|
Extensive, diverse and
high-quality roster of talent. Since its formation in
1967, Wilhelmina has rapidly evolved into a leading, full-service fashion
model management company. As a result, Wilhelmina has attracted and is
able to retain a strong supply of agents and has built a deep pool of
fashion models under management.
|
|
·
|
Strong relationships with
retailing companies and media buyers. Wilhelmina has
worked as partner with its retailing and media clients since its formation
and has developed long-standing relationships with many leading buyers of
fashion modeling services. These relationships have been
solidified through Wilhelmina’s ability to provide reliable high-quality
models on a consistent basis.
|
|
·
|
Professional and developed
workforce. Highly credentialed professionals with years
of talent management experience lead Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina’s leadership
effectively combines entrepreneurial talent management experience with
demonstrated management
capabilities.
|
|
·
|
Strong platform for expansion
and profit enhancement. Wilhelmina believes its
leadership position in the fashion model management industry and brand
recognition provide an excellent platform for organic growth, business
line extension and branded consumer goods opportunities, as well as
acquisitive growth.
|
Business
Focus and Strategy
Wilhelmina’s
operational strategy has been to limit its risk profile by ensuring that it
remains diversified and it enjoys a limited dependence on any particular fashion
model, client or line of business. In that interest, management has
pursued various initiatives, including those set out below:
|
·
|
a
shift in Wilhelmina’s focus from the high-end segment of the fashion model
market to the much larger and more stable, although lower-profile
“catalog” segment of the market;
|
|
·
|
the
formation of WAM to handle endorsements and licensing for entertainers,
artists, athletes and other talent;
|
|
·
|
licensing
the “Wilhelmina” name to leading, local model management agencies, rather
than acquiring and operating a wide network of local
agencies;
|
|
·
|
exploring
the use of the “Wilhelmina” brand in connection with consumer products,
including fashion apparel (such as lingerie and sportswear), cosmetics and
other beauty products, and health and lifestyle products;
and
|
|
·
|
producing
television shows and promoting model search
contests.
|
Management’s
current strategic plans include the following initiatives:
|
·
|
organic
growth through optimization of existing pool of modeling
talent;
|
|
·
|
expansion
of talent pool through domestic and international scouting
activities;
|
|
·
|
engaging
in additional licensing arrangements with local model management
firms;
|
|
·
|
development
of product licensing and merchandizing opportunities;
and
|
|
·
|
growth
through acquisitions, with an international
focus.
|
Management
and Employees
The
executive management of Wilhelmina is carried out from Wilhelmina’s corporate
headquarters located in New York City, where the majority of Wilhelmina’s
employees are located. Wilhelmina’s management structure is flat, with several
relatively independent boards and a small, central administrative
infrastructure. The directors of the various boards are significantly
involved in all key decisions regarding model acquisition, and matters affecting
clients, which are frequently shared across several
boards. Wilhelmina International’s New York City operations also
carry out the administrative support for Wilhelmina Kids & Creative LLC, in
which Wilhelmina International holds a 50% interest, as well as for Wilhelmina
Miami. As of September 30, 2008, Wilhelmina had 70 employees, 55 of whom were
located at Wilhelmina’s corporate headquarters in New York City, 9 of whom were
located at Wilhelmina’s Miami office in Florida and the remaining 6 of whom were
located at Wilhelmina’s California office in Los Angeles.
Securities
Messrs.
Esch and Krassner and their affiliates own all of the equity interests in
Wilhelmina International, Wilhelmina Licensing and WAM, and a majority of the
equity interests in Wilhelmina TV and Wilhelmina Miami. There is no
established trading market for any of the securities of any of the Wilhelmina
Companies.
Properties
The
following table summarizes information with respect to the material facilities
of the Wilhelmina Companies, all of which are leased office space:
|
|
|
|
Month
of Lease Expiration
|
office
for New York-based operations – New York, NY
|
|
|
11,400
|
|
December
31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
office
for California-based operations – Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
June
30, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
office
for Wilhelmina Miami – Miami Beach, FL
|
|
|
2,100
|
|
October
15, 2009
|
The
Wilhelmina Companies also lease three apartments in New York City, one apartment
in Los Angeles and one apartment in Miami for use by models in connection with
the business.
Legal
Proceedings
On
February 1, 2006, Wilhelmina Models and Tony Dias commenced an action against
PUIG Beauty and Fashion Group, S.L. (“PUIG”), a corporation with offices in
Spain, for breach of PUIG’s contract relating to modeling services provided by
Mr. Dias. The action, entitled Wilhelmina Models, Inc., et al. v.
PUIG Beauty and Fashion Group, S.L., Index No. 600312/06 (Sup. Ct., N.Y.
County), asserts claims for breach of contract and quantum meruit. On
the breach of contract claim, the plaintiffs seek recovery of the contractual
fees owed to Mr. Dias for use of his likeness in the total amount of
$165,657.50, plus Wilhelmina’s agency fee. On the quantum meruit
claim, the plaintiffs seek an amount to be determined at trial, but not less
than $200,000 plus interest. The parties’ attempts to mediate this
case have not been successful. The plaintiffs filed a motion for
summary judgment on June 12, 2008 and defendant cross-moved for summary judgment
on July 21, 2008. The parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment
were orally argued on November 8, 2008 and are fully submitted.
On
October 3, 2007, Elite Model Management Corp. (“Elite”) commenced an action in
the Florida Circuit Court, 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, entitled
Elite Models Management Corp. v. Lisa Cortes & Wilhelmina - Miami, Inc.,
Case No.: 07-32723 (CA 09), in which Elite alleges that
Wilhelmina-Miami tortiously interfered with a contract between Elite and Ms.
Cortes by inducing her to terminate their relationship. Elite is
seeking damages in an unspecified amount to be determined at
trial. On July 30, 2008, in an action filed in New York State Supreme
Court, New York County, Wilhelmina Models served Elite with a complaint
asserting that Elite tortiously interfered with Wilhelmina Models’ contract with
Ms. Cortes and claiming damages in an unspecified amount to be determined at
trial. On October 17, 2008, in lieu of answering Wilhelmina’s
complaint, Elite moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to N.Y. CPLR
3211(a)(4), based on the pendency of the Florida action referred to
above.
On August
13, 2008, Wilhelmina entered into a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the New
York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (“OUF”), pursuant to which,
among other things, Wilhelmina will submit to the OUF an analysis of amounts
owed by Wilhelmina with respect to unclaimed property. No interest or penalties
are expected to be imposed on Wilhelmina under the terms of any resulting
settlement agreement.
The
following is a discussion of the financial condition and results of operations
of the Wilhelmina Companies and their subsidiaries (also referred to in this
description as Wilhelmina), comparing the calendar years ended December 31, 2007
and December 31, 2006, as well as the nine months ended September 30, 2008
and September 30, 2007. You should read this section together with
the Wilhelmina Companies’ combined financial statements including the notes to
those financial
statements for the periods mentioned above included in this proxy
statement.
Wilhelmina
Companies Overview
Wilhelmina’s
primary business is fashion model management, which activity is headquartered in
New York City. Wilhelmina is one of the oldest and largest fashion
model management companies in the world. Since it was founded in 1967
by Wilhelmina Cooper, a renowned fashion model, Wilhelmina has been a privately
held company and has grown to include operations located in Los Angeles, as well
as a growing network of licensees comprising leading modeling agencies in
various local markets across the U.S. as well as in Panama. The Wilhelmina
Companies also include New York City-based entities such as WAM and Wilhelmina
Licensing, which focus on business areas complimentary to Wilhelmina’s fashion
model and talent management business.
Since
1999, when the most recent ownership change relating to Wilhelmina International
occurred, several new entities were incorporated to become part of
Wilhelmina. Each of these entities was created to pursue a specific
line of business. Several of these entities were organized as limited
liability companies and are owned directly or indirectly by Krassner and
Esch. In addition, the entity now known as Wilhelmina-Miami was
acquired from its founder in 1990 and became majority-owned by Krassner and Esch
in 1999, with certain private individuals becoming minority investors.
Organizational
Structure
Wilhelmina
International has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Wilhelmina West,
LW1 and Wilhelmina Models. Wilhelmina West is a full-service fashion
model agency based in Los Angeles. LW1, also based in Los Angeles,
offers some models the opportunity to be showcased on TV and film through its
membership in the Screen Actors Guild. Wilhelmina Models, based in
New York City, holds certain contractual rights related to the business of
Wilhelmina International. Wilhelmina International also owns a
non-consolidated 50% interest in Wilhelmina Kids & Creative Management LLC,
a New York City-based modeling agency that specializes in representing child
models, from newborns to children 14 years of age. Wilhelmina Miami
is an independent fashion model agency affiliated with Wilhelmina International
that is located in Miami and operates as a licensee of the “Wilhelmina”
name. Collectively, these businesses represent the Wilhelmina
Companies’ model management business. Operating on the same entity level as
Wilhelmina International are WAM, Wilhelmina TV and Wilhelmina Licensing, which
represent the Wilhelmina Companies’ other business ventures complimentary to
Wilhelmina’s fashion model management business. These ventures
include, but are not limited to, the licensing of the “Wilhelmina” name and the
holding of rights to, and certain management responsibility in connection with,
the production of certain reality television shows such as “The Agency” (2007)
and “She’s Got the Looks” (2008) that seek to capitalize on the “Wilhelmina”
brand.
The
Wilhelmina Companies provide traditional, full-service fashion model and talent
services, specializing in the representation and management of models,
entertainers, artists, athletes and other talent to various customers and
clients, including retailers, designers, advertising agencies and catalog
companies. Since its foundation in 1967, the Wilhelmina Companies
have grown largely organically to their current size, and have developed into a
broadly diversified full service agency with offices in New York City, Los
Angeles and Miami. In addition to their traditional fashion model
management activities, the Wilhelmina Companies have also expanded into music
and sports talent endorsement, television show production, licensing
opportunities for the Wilhelmina brand name and also entered into arrangements
with licensees across the U.S. as well as in Panama, who serve as the Wilhelmina
Companies’ local representatives.
The
Wilhelmina Companies contract with fashion models, artists and celebrities to
perform modeling and endorsement services for their clients. The
standard Wilhelmina contract is an exclusive contract between the two parties
for a term and requires the model, artist or celebrity to pay the Wilhelmina
Companies a commission on all gross billings the model receives for performing
modeling services during the term of the agreement. For the
consideration paid, the Wilhelmina Companies manage the booking, scheduling and
invoicing and collections process on behalf of the model. All models
under contract are classified as contractors to the Wilhelmina Companies, not
employees. In addition, the Wilhelmina Companies charge the clients a
service charge for brokering and managing the relationship between the client
and the model, artist or celebrity.
The
Wilhelmina Companies act as an agent and record revenue equal to the net amount
retained when the commission and service charge is earned. The
Wilhelmina Companies recognize services provided as revenue upon the rendering
of services to their clients. Commissions and residual income
represents a percentage charged to the models upon the completion of their
services to the clients. While gross billings are not formally
recorded as a line item in the combined financial statements of the Wilhelmina
Companies, it remains an important business metric that ultimately drives
revenues and profits.
Trends
and Opportunities
The
business of talent management firms such as Wilhelmina is related to the state
of the advertising industry, as demand for talent is driven by print and TV
advertising campaigns for consumer goods and retail
clients. Nevertheless, reductions in overall advertising expenditures
typically impact talent management firms less due to the fact that photo shoots
will be required irrespective of any reduction in size of traditional print
media editions, or of the frequency with which ads containing pictures of
fashion talent are shown.
Wilhelmina’s
management expects that the combination of Wilhelmina’s main operating base in
New York as the industry’s capital, with the depth and breadth of its talent
pool and client roster and its diversification across various talent management
segments, together with its geographical reach should make Wilhelmina’s
operations more resilient to industry changes and economic swings than those of
many of the smaller firms operating in the industry. Similarly, in
the segments where Wilhelmina competes with other leading full service agencies,
Wilhelmina continues to compete successfully. Accordingly,
Wilhelmina’s management believes that the current economic climate will create
new growth opportunities for strong industry leaders such as Wilhelmina.
In light
of the growing importance of advertising markets in developing countries,
including China, Wilhelmina is actively looking at such markets from a talent
management agency licensing perspective to explore new revenue opportunities,
while limiting any financial risk to or requirement for operational resources
from Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina’s management anticipates that
Wilhelmina’s model for expansion into developing markets, such as China, will
help offset any potential decline in gross billing volume from U.S. domestic or
European markets resulting from the current weak economic climate.
With
total advertising expenditures on major media (newspapers, magazines,
television, cinema, outdoor and internet) amounting to approximately $179
billion in 2007, the U.S. is by far the world’s largest advertising
market. For the fashion talent management industry, including
Wilhelmina, advertising expenditures on magazines, television and outdoor are of
particular relevance, with internet advertising becoming increasingly important.
Due to
the increasing ubiquity of the internet as a standard business tool, the
Wilhelmina Companies have increasingly sought to harness the opportunities of
the internet and other digital media to improve their communications with
clients and to facilitate the effective exchange of fashion model and talent
information. The Wilhelmina Companies have also continued their
efforts to expand the geographical reach of the Wilhelmina Companies through
this medium in order to both support revenue growth and to reduce operating
expenses.
Expense
Trends
Since
1999, Krassner and Esch, the principal owners of the Wilhelmina Companies, have
received salary, bonus and consulting fee payments in an amount of approximately
$975,000 annually. This expense is recorded under “Stockholder’s
compensation and consulting fees” in the Financial Statements of Wilhelmina
International Group as provided herein. Upon the closing of the
Acquisition Agreement, neither Krassner nor Esch will be officers or directors
of the Wilhelmina Companies, and accordingly, these payments will no longer be
made. Similarly, upon the closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the
$6,000,000 promissory note, carrying an interest rate of 12.5% for an annual
interest payment of $750,000, in favor Krassner L.P., a Control Seller, will be
repaid. Taken together, following the closing of the Acquisition
Agreement, annual operating expenses and interest expense will decrease by a
combined total of $1,725,000.
As
described in greater detail in the sections entitled “Revenues” and “Operating
Expenses”, gross billings as well as total revenues and operating expenses,
particularly salary and service costs and advertising and promotion expenditure,
have increased significantly on a year-on-year basis and again during the first
nine months of 2008 relative to 2007 and 2006. In addition, during
2007, Wilhelmina Miami, which during the last six months of 2007 had been
reorganized to better capture strong seasonal, local client demand for its
talent, was for the first time included in the combined accounts of Wilhelmina
International.
Management
does not have any current plans to significantly increase corporate overhead
following closing of the Acquisition Agreement in the absence of any major
corporate transaction. No such transaction is currently under
consideration.
Competition
and Risks
Wilhelmina’s
principal competitors in the U.S. include DNA Model Management, Elite Model
Management, Ford Models, Inc., IMG Models, Marilyn Model Agency, NEXT Model
Management and Women Model Management. Smaller agencies typically
tend to cater primarily to local market needs, such as local magazine and
television advertising. Several of the larger fashion talent firms
operate offices in multiple cities and countries, or alternatively have chosen
to partner with local or foreign agencies to attempt to harness synergies
without increasing overhead. In Europe, clients typically look to
local firms as well as leading international firms for talent, or will seek
models from talent management firms with a presence on location for the shoot,
such as Miami, which has a strong, seasonal demand for several international
catalog clients.
Several
of the leading talent management firms, whether through modeling contests or
reality TV shows and contests, are actively seeking to develop brand-awareness
for their status within the fashion talent management industry for product
licensing and related purposes.
Since
2007, Wilhelmina has seen an increasingly strong influx of talent, at both the
new and seasoned talent levels and it believes it is increasingly attractive as
an employer for successful agents across the industry as evidenced by the
quality of agents expressing an interest in joining
Wilhelmina. Similarly, Wilhelmina’s reputation and operational and
financial stability make it increasingly attractive as an acquirer or business
partner and new business and branding opportunities directly or indirectly
relating to the fashion industry are being brought to Wilhelmina’s attention
with increasing frequency. In order to take advantage of these
opportunities and support its continued growth, Wilhelmina will need to continue
to successfully allocate resources and staffing in a way that enhances its
ability to respond to these new opportunities.
Results
of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 compared to the Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2007
Revenues
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, gross billings increased $6,725,000,
or 24.7%, to $33,974,000 compared to $27,249,000 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2007. The Wilhelmina Companies saw increases in gross
billings across the various divisions of the business, including artist
management, the Miami division, licensing and the core modeling
business. The increases are primarily attributable to a renewed focus
on customers, additional marketing and hiring of key personnel.
Commissions
and Residuals
Commissions
and residual income represents a percentage charged to the models upon the
completion of their services to the clients. During the nine months
ended September 30, 2008, commissions and residuals increased $794,288, or
22.2%, to $4,367,201 compared to $3,572,913 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2007. The increase is primarily attributable to an
increase in gross billings.
Service
Charges
Service
charges represent amounts charged to the client for brokering and managing the
relationship between the client and the model. During the nine months
ended September 30, 2008, service charges increased $1,085,927, or 29.0%, to
$4,830,588 compared to $3,744,661 during the nine months ended September 30,
2007. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in gross
billings.
Management
Fees, License Fees and Other Income
Wilhelmina
has entered into agreements with both affiliated and non-affiliated entities to
provide management and administrative services, as well as sharing of space
where applicable. Compensation under these agreements may be either a fixed
amount or contingent upon the other parties’ commission
income. Management fee income under these agreements totaled
approximately $51,000 and $113,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008
and the nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. The
portion of management fee income from an unconsolidated affiliate amounted to
$51,000 and $83,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the nine
months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
License
fees consist primarily of franchise revenues from independently owned model
agencies that use the Wilhelmina trademark name and various services provided to
them by the Wilhelmina Companies. License fees totaled approximately
$221,000 and $178,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the nine
months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
Other
income consists of mother agency fees which are paid to the Wilhelmina Companies
by another agency when the other agency books a Wilhelmina contracted model for
a client engagement. Other income also consists of fees derived from
participants in the Wilhelmina model search contest. Search fees
totaled approximately $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the
nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Other
income also consists of television syndication royalties and a production series
contract. In 2005, the Wilhelmina Companies produced the television
show “The Agency” and in 2007, the Wilhelmina Companies entered into an
agreement with a television network to develop a television series called “She’s
Got the Looks”. The television series documents the lives of women
competing in a modeling competition. The Wilhelmina Companies will
provide to the television series the talent, together with the brand image of
Wilhelmina and agrees to a modeling contract with the winner of the competition,
in consideration of a fee per episode produced, plus 15% of Modified Gross
Adjusted Receipts by the television network for the series, as
defined. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007
includes $124,000 from this production series.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses consist of costs that support the operations of the Wilhelmina
Companies, including, payroll, rent, overhead, insurance, travel and
professional fees. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008,
total operating expenses increased $681,675, or 8.6%, to $8,576,109 compared to
$7,894,434 during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Because
the Wilhelmina Companies provide professional services to the models, artists
and celebrities, salary and service costs represent the largest part of the
Wilhelmina Companies’ operating expenses. Salary and service costs are comprised
of payroll and related costs and travel costs required to deliver the Wilhelmina
Companies’ services and to allow them to pursue new business. During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Wilhelmina Companies continued to
invest in professional personnel and pursue new business. Salary and
service costs as a percentage of total operating expenses were 66.2% and 63.1%
for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the nine months ended September
30, 2007, respectively. The increase in total operating expenses
resulted mostly from increases in salary and service costs. This
increase was attributable to the increase in revenues for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008, which drove necessary increases in the direct costs required
for the Wilhelmina Companies to deliver their services, including travel related
costs.
Office
and general expenses are comprised of office and equipment rents, advertising
and promotion, overhead expenses, insurance expenses, professional fees,
technology cost and depreciation. These costs are less directly
linked to changes in the Wilhelmina Companies’ revenues than the salary and
service costs. Office and general expenses as a percentage of total
operating expenses were 25.2% and 27.7% for the nine months ended September 30,
2008 and the nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
9,889 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,689 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
and services costs
|
|
|
5,680 |
|
|
|
57.4 |
% |
|
|
66.2 |
% |
|
|
4,978 |
|
|
|
64.7 |
% |
|
|
63.1 |
% |
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
2,165 |
|
|
|
21.9 |
% |
|
|
25.2 |
% |
|
|
2,185 |
|
|
|
28.4 |
% |
|
|
27.7 |
% |
Owner’s
compensation
|
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
7.4 |
% |
|
|
8.5 |
% |
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
9.5 |
% |
|
|
9.3 |
% |
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
8,576 |
|
|
|
86.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,894 |
|
|
|
102.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Income
|
|
$ |
1,313 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(205 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense increased $26,714, or 3.5%, to $784,333 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2008, compared to $757,619 during the nine months ended September
30, 2007. The Wilhelmina Companies are obligated under a
note payable to a Control Seller for $6,000,000 that matures on June 3,
2009. The note bears a stated rate of interest of 12.5% per
annum. Interest is paid monthly and aggregated $563,000 in each nine
months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
The
Wilhelmina Companies account for their investment in their 50% owned affiliate
using the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Wilhelmina
Companies recognize their pro-rata share of the affiliate’s income or loss in
earnings. Distributions from the affiliate are reflected as a
reduction of the investment. Equity in income of affiliate totaled
$13,658 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared
to $12,304 during the nine months ended September 30,
2007. The increase in equity income of affiliate for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2007, was attributable to an increase in the net income of the
affiliate.
Net
income (loss)
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Wilhelmina Companies recorded net
income of $374,039 compared to a net loss of $609,575 during the nine months
ended September 30, 2007. The increase in profits and resulting
income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the loss for
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily attributable to
significant increases in gross billings by the WAM and Wilhelmina Miami
businesses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the nine
months ended September 30, 2007. The increase was also attributable
to a 14% increase in gross billings for the Core business for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 when compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2007.
Results
of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2007 compared to the Year Ended
December 31, 2006
Revenues
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, gross billings increased approximately
$5,577,000, or 17.4%, to $37,564,000 compared to $31,987,000 during the year
ended December 31, 2006. The Wilhelmina Companies saw increases in
gross billings across the various divisions of the business, including artist
management, the Miami division, licensing and the core modeling business. The
increases are primarily attributable to changes in key personnel and
marketing.
Commissions
and Residuals
Commissions
and residual income represents a percentage charged to the models upon the
completion of their services to the clients. During the year ended
December 31, 2007, commissions and residuals increased $212,651, or 4.5%, to
$4,914,400 compared to $4,701,749 during the year ended December 31, 2006. The
increase is primarily attributable to an increase in gross
billings.
Service
Charges
Service
charges represent amounts charged to the client for brokering and managing the
relationship between the client and the model. During the year ended
December 31, 2007, service charges increased $772,204, or 16.9%, to $5,326,951
compared to $4,554,747 during the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase is
primarily attributable to an increase in gross billings.
Management
Fees, License Fees and Other Income
Wilhelmina
has entered into agreements with both affiliated and non-affiliated entities to
provide management and administrative services, as well as sharing of space
where applicable. Compensation under these agreements may be either a fixed
amount or contingent upon the other parties’ commission
income. Management fee income under these agreements totaled
approximately $160,000 and $328,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the
year ended December 31, 2006, respectively. The portion of management
fee income from an unconsolidated affiliate amounted to $110,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2007 and the year ended December 31, 2006.
License
fees consist primarily of franchise revenues from independently owned model
agencies that use the Wilhelmina trademark name and various services provided to
them by the Wilhelmina Companies. License fees totaled approximately $295,000
and $170,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the year ended December
31, 2006, respectively.
Other
income consists of mother agency fees which are paid to the Wilhelmina Companies
by another agency when the other agency books a Wilhelmina contracted model for
a client engagement. Other income also consists of fees derived from
participants in the Wilhelmina model search contest. Search fees
totaled approximately $298,000 and $389,000 for the year ended December 31, 2007
and the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively.
Other
income also consists of television syndication royalties and a production series
contract. In 2005, the Wilhelmina Companies produced the television
show “The Agency” and in 2007, the Wilhelmina Companies entered into an
agreement with a television network to develop a television series called “She’s
Got the Looks”. The television series documents the lives of women
competing in a modeling competition. The Wilhelmina Companies will
provide to the television series the talent, together with the brand image of
Wilhelmina and agrees to a modeling contract with the winner of the competition,
in consideration of a fee per episode produced, plus 15% of Modified Gross
Adjusted Receipts by the television network for the series, as
defined. Other income for the year ended December 31, 2007 includes
$120,000 from this production series.
Operating
Expenses
Operating
expenses consist of costs which support the operations of the Wilhelmina
Companies, including, payroll, rent, overhead, insurance, travel and
professional fees. During the year ended December 31, 2007, operating
expenses increased $1,347,402, or 14.4%, to $10,717,575 compared to $9,370,173
during the year ended December 31, 2006.
Because
the Wilhelmina Companies provide professional services to the models, artists
and celebrities, salary and service costs represent the largest part of the
Wilhelmina Companies’ operating expenses. Salary and service costs are comprised
of payroll and related costs and travel costs required to deliver the Wilhelmina
Companies’ services and to allow them to pursue new business. During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Wilhelmina Companies continued to invest
in professional personnel and pursue new business. Salary and service
costs as a percentage of total operating expenses were 62.9% and 61.5% for the
year ended December 31, 2007 and the year ended December 31, 2006,
respectively. Approximately $978,000, or 72.6%, of the approximately
$1,348,000 increase in total operating expenses in 2007 resulted from increases
in salary and service costs. This increase was attributable to the increase in
revenues in 2007, which drove necessary increases in the direct costs required
to deliver the Wilhelmina Companies’ services, including travel related
cost.
Office
and general expenses are comprised of office and equipment rents, advertising
and promotion, overhead expenses, insurance expenses, professional fees,
technology cost and depreciation. These costs are less directly
linked to changes in the Wilhelmina Companies’ revenues than their salary and
service costs. As a percentage of total operating expenses, office
and general expenses were 28.0% for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 28.1%
for the year ended December 31, 2006. The majority of the increase in
office and general expenses in 2007 of approximately $370,000 relates to
additional advertising and promotion cost.
|
|
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
of Revenue
|
|
|
%
of Operating Expenses
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
of Revenue
|
|
|
%
of Operating Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
11,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,739 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
and service costs
|
|
|
6,744 |
|
|
|
58.6 |
% |
|
|
62.9 |
% |
|
|
5,766 |
|
|
|
53.7 |
% |
|
|
61.5 |
% |
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
2,999 |
|
|
|
26.0 |
% |
|
|
28.0 |
% |
|
|
2,629 |
|
|
|
24.5 |
% |
|
|
28.1 |
% |
Owner’s
compensation
|
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
% |
|
|
9.1 |
% |
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
% |
|
|
10.4 |
% |
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
10,718 |
|
|
|
93.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,370 |
|
|
|
87.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Income
|
|
$ |
773 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,369 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Income
Interest
income totaled $12,591 during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to
$139,448 during the year ended December 31, 2006. For the year ended December
31, 2006, interest income includes $131,732 attributable to a court settlement
from litigation with a client.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense totaled $992,011 during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to
$999,105 during the year ended December 31, 2006. The Wilhelmina
Companies are obligated under a note payable to a Control Seller for $6,000,000
which matures on June 3, 2009. The note bears a stated rate of
interest of 12.5% per annum. Interest is paid monthly and aggregated
$750,000 in each year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
The
Wilhelmina Companies account for its investment in its 50% owned affiliate using
the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, the Wilhelmina
Companies recognize their pro-rata share of the affiliate’s income or loss in
earnings. Distributions from the affiliate are reflected as a
reduction of the investment. Equity in income of affiliate totaled
$17,650 during the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to equity in loss of
affiliate of $21,684 during the year ended December 31,
2006. The increase in equity income of affiliate for the year ended
December 31, 2007, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2006, was
attributable to an increase in the net income of the
affiliate.
Net
income (loss)
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Wilhelmina Companies recorded a net loss
of $166,098 compared to a net income of $466,061 during the year ended December
31, 2006. The decrease in profits and resulting loss for the year
ended December 31, 2007 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2006 was
primarily attributable to the loss by WAM of approximately $523,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2007 compared to a net loss of approximately $5,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2006. The significant increase in the loss by
WAM was primarily attributable to the
increase in payment of salaries as a result of the addition of a member to the
senior management team and additional promotion and advertising
costs.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ primary liquidity needs are for financing working capital
associated with the expenses they incur in performing services under their
client contracts. The Wilhelmina Companies have in place a credit
facility that includes a term loan and a revolving line of credit that allows
them to manage their cash flows. The Wilhelmina Companies’ ability to make
payments on the credit facility, to replace their indebtedness, and to fund
working capital and planned capital expenditures will depend on their ability to
generate cash in the future, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general
economic, financial, competitive and other factors that are beyond their
control. The Wilhelmina Companies have historically secured their
working capital facility through account receivable balances and therefore, the
Wilhelmina Companies ability to continue servicing debt is dependant upon the
timely collection of those receivables.
The
Wilhelmina Companies made capital expenditures of approximately $20,171, $44,803
and $89,371 in 2006, 2007 and the nine month period ended September 30, 2008,
respectively.
On August
25, 2008, New Century entered into the Acquisition Agreement pursuant to which
it will acquire the Wilhelmina Companies as discussed in further detail in this
proxy statement. Upon consummation of the Acquisition, the business
of the Wilhelmina Companies will constitute New Century’s primary
business. Concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition
Agreement, New Century entered into the Equity Financing Agreement with
Newcastle whereby Newcastle committed to purchase, at New Century’s election at
any time or times prior to six months following the Closing, up to an additional
$2,000,000 of Common Stock. In the event that a Core Decrease is
determined as part of the Aggregate Purchase Price, the Control Sellers will
have the option to pay to New Century in cash, such amount of the Core Decrease,
not to exceed $4,500,000.
Working
Capital and Term Loan Facilities
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ revolving line of credit has a borrowing capacity up to
$2,000,000, with availability subject to a borrowing base computation. The
revolving line of credit matures on January 31, 2009. Interest on the
revolving credit note is payable monthly at an annual rate of prime plus 0.5%
equal to 5.5% at September 30, 2008.
In
December 2005, the Wilhelmina Companies entered into a $1,000,000 term note with
a bank. The term note is payable in monthly installments of $23,784
including principal and interest calculated at a fixed rate of 6.65% per annum
and matures in December 2009.
The line
of credit and term note are collateralized by all of the assets of the
Wilhelmina Companies, cross collateralized by the combined and consolidated
companies herein and are guaranteed by a stockholder of the Wilhelmina
Companies.
Contingent
Liabilities
In
February 2006, the Wilhelmina Companies filed a claim against PUIG Beauty and
Fashion Group, S.L., a former international client for breach of contract and
quantum meruit. The attempts to mediate have been
unsuccessful. See “Proposal No. 1 –
Approval of the Acquisition – Description of the Wilhelmina
Companies – Legal Proceedings” beginning on page 72.
In the
normal course of business, the Wilhelmina Companies are subject to various legal
proceedings, the resolution of which, in management’s opinion, will not have a
material adverse effect on the financial position or the results of operations
of the Wilhelmina Companies.
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
The
Wilhelmina Companies do not have any off balance sheet
arrangements.
Related
Party Transactions
Note
Payable To A Control Seller
The
Wilhelmina Companies are obligated on a note payable to a Control Seller –
Krassner L.P. – for $6,000,000 which matures on June 3, 2009. The
note bears a stated rate of interest of 12.5% per annum. Interest is
paid quarterly and aggregates $563,000 for each of the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 and 2007 and $750,000 in each of the years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006.
Consulting
Fees Paid
The
Wilhelmina Companies paid consulting fees to a 50% stockholder of the Wilhelmina
Companies in the amount of $93,750 for each of the nine months ended September
30, 2008 and 2007 and $125,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2006.
Management
Fees Income
The
Wilhelmina Companies provided management services to an unconsolidated affiliate
in the amount of $51,000 for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2008
and 2007 and $110,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2006.
Due
From Officer
Advances
to officers are non-interest bearing and are due on demand.
Seasonality
The
Wilhelmina Companies’ current operations are not significantly affected by
seasonality.
New
Accounting Standards
In
December 2007, the FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
141(R), Business Combinations (revised 2007) (“SFAS 141(R)”), which changes many
well-established business combination accounting practices and significantly
affects how acquisition transactions are reflected in the financial statements.
Additionally, SFAS 141(R) will affect how companies negotiate and structure
transactions, model financial projections of acquisitions and communicate to
stakeholders. SFAS 141(R) must be applied prospectively to business combinations
for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual
reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Wilhelmina
Companies are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this statement
could have on their financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
In
December 2007, the FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements an amendment
of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”), which establishes accounting and reporting standards
for the noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of
a subsidiary. SFAS 160 requires consolidated net income to be reported at
amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the
noncontrolling interests and requires disclosure, on the face of the
consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income
attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling
interest. Previously, net income attributable to the noncontrolling
interest was reported as an expense or other deduction in arriving at
consolidated net income. SFAS 160 is effective for financial statements issued
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Wilhelmina
Companies are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this statement
could have on its financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Basis
of Combination
The
accompanying financial statements include the consolidated accounts of
Wilhelmina International and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Wilhelmina West,
Wilhelmina Models, and LW1, Wilhelmina Miami, WAM, Wilhelmina Licensing, and
Wilhelmina TV, which are wholly or majority owned by the stockholders and
officers of the consolidated companies, are combined with the consolidated group
of companies. The collective group is referred to as the Wilhelmina
Companies. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions
have been eliminated in the combination.
Revenue
Recognition
The Wilhelmina Companies
act as an agent and records revenue equal to the net amount retained,
when the fee or commission is earned. The Wilhelmina Companies
recognize services provided as revenue upon the rendering of modeling services
to their clients. Commission income represents a percentage charged
to the models upon the completion of their services to the
clients. The Wilhelmina Companies also recognize management fees as
revenues for providing services to other modeling agencies as well as consulting
income in connection with services provided to a television production network
according to the terms of the contract.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable consist of trade receivables recorded at original invoice amounts,
net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, and are subject to credit
risk. Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis; thus,
trade receivables do not bear interest. Trade receivables are
periodically evaluated for collectibility based on past credit histories with
customers and their current financial conditions. Changes in the
estimated collectibility of trade receivables are recorded in the results of
operations for the periods in which the estimates are revised.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist primarily of goodwill and buyer relationships resulting from a
business acquisition. According to Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” (“SFAS 142”) goodwill and intangible
assets with indefinite lives are no longer subject to amortization, but rather
to an annual assessment of impairment by applying a fair-value based
test. The Wilhelmina Companies adopted SFAS 142 as of January 1, 2002
and ceased amortizing goodwill and intangible assets.
Income
Taxes
The
Wilhelmina Companies follow Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109,
“Accounting for Income
Taxes,” which requires the asset and liability method of accounting for
income taxes. Under that method, deferred tax assets and liabilities
are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences
between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit
carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed
using enacted tax rates, expected to apply to taxable income in the years in
which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely
than not that future benefits associated with a deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
The
following summary describes the material provisions of the Acquisition
Agreement. This summary may not contain all of the information about
the Acquisition Agreement that is important to you and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the Acquisition Agreement, which is
included as Annex A to this proxy statement. We urge you to read the
entire Acquisition Agreement and the other annexes to this proxy statement
carefully and in their entirety.
General
On August
25, 2008, the Company entered into the Acquisition Agreement with Wilhelmina
Acquisition, the Wilhelmina Companies (for the purposes of this summary, the
Wilhelmina Companies include Wilhelmina International, Wilhelmina Miami, WAM,
Wilhelmina Licensing and Wilhelmina TV, and in some instances, their
subsidiaries), the Control Sellers (which include Esch, Lorex, Krassner and
Krassner L.P.), Patterson and the stockholders of Wilhelmina Miami (the Control
Sellers, Patterson and the stockholders of Wilhelmina Miami referred to in this
summary as the Sellers). Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, on
the Closing date, which will be no later than the fifth business day following
the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in the
Acquisition Agreement, Wilhelmina Acquisition will merge with and into
Wilhelmina International (the “Merger”) and each of the Sellers will sell,
assign, convey and deliver to the Company (or Wilhelmina Acquisition, as
applicable) good and marketable title to all outstanding equity interests in the
Wilhelmina Companies (other than the equity interests in Wilhelmina
International, which will be transferred by the Merger). As a result
of the Merger and the acquisition of the outstanding equity interests of the
remaining Wilhelmina Companies, the Wilhelmina Companies will become either
direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company.
The
Merger
On the
date of the Closing, the Company and Wilhelmina Acquisition will cause a
certificate of merger to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of
New York, at which point the Merger will become effective. At the
effective time of the Merger, the separate existence of Wilhelmina Acquisition
will cease and Wilhelmina Acquisition will be merged with and into Wilhelmina
International, the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”) becoming
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The certificate of
incorporation and bylaws of Wilhelmina Acquisition in effect immediately prior
to the Merger will be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation. All property owned by each of Wilhelmina
Acquisition and Wilhelmina International will vest in the Surviving Corporation
without reversion or impairment, and the Surviving Corporation will
automatically assume all of the liabilities of each of Wilhelmina Acquisition
and Wilhelmina International.
By virtue
of the Merger, (a) each issued and outstanding share of the common stock of
Wilhelmina International will automatically be converted into the right to
receive a pro-rata portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration (as defined
below) upon the appropriate surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such
shares, (b) all shares of the common stock of Wilhelmina International, when so
converted, will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled and
retired and cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate representing such
shares will cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except for the right
to receive a portion of the consideration therefore and (c) each issued and
outstanding share of common stock of Wilhelmina Acquisition will automatically,
and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into one
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
No
fractional shares will be issued by virtue of the Merger. In lieu of
receiving a fraction of a share, each person entitled to receive a fraction of a
share, after aggregating all fractional shares that otherwise would be received
by such holder and such holder’s appropriate surrender of his equity interests
in the Wilhelmina Companies, will receive one share of Common
Stock.
The
Merger is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Sections
368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code. Each party will treat the
Merger consistent with such characterization, including complying with the
reporting and record keeping requirements of Treasury Regulation Section
1.368-3.
Upon the
consummation of the Acquisition, Wilhelmina International will be a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company and will be the Company’s primary operating
subsidiary. The current executive management of the Company will not
change as a result of the Acquisition. The executive management of
the Company will oversee the operations of the Wilhelmina International
subsidiary along with Sean Patterson, the current President of Wilhelmina
International, who will serve as the President of the subsidiary after the
consummation of the Acquisition. The Wilhelmina International
subsidiary will also have other officers appointed in accordance with the
Acquisition Agreement, however, these officers will not have any policy-making
functions. See “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Post-Acquisition Management and Ownership” beginning on
page 115.
Acquisition
Consideration
Merger
Consideration
The
aggregate merger consideration will be $15,000,000 of shares of Common Stock
calculated based on the NCEH Book Value Per Share of newly issued shares of
Common Stock (the “Aggregate Merger Consideration”), subject to the deposit of
the Seller Restricted Shares into escrow and as adjusted pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement.
“NCEH
Book Value Per Share” means (a) the net book value per share of Common Stock as
of the month end prior to the date of the Acquisition Agreement (which the
parties have agreed is $0.247) minus (b) an amount equal to
(i) Ratable Purchaser Transaction Expenses divided by (ii) the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding as of the date of the Acquisition
Agreement.
“Ratable
Purchaser Transaction Expenses” means (a) the Company’s transaction expenses
(including expenses in connection with this proxy statement and the stockholders
meeting in connection therewith) incurred as of the date that is five business
days prior to the Closing multiplied by (b) the Pro Forma Seller
Percentage.
“Pro
Forma Seller Percentage” means the sum of the “Pro Forma” percentages applicable
to Esch, Krassner and their respective affiliates, which the parties have agreed
is approximately 48.0%.
Escrow
Concurrently
with the Closing, a number of shares issuable as part of the Aggregate Merger
Consideration and equal to (a) the Maximum Share Offset plus (b) the Designated
Matter Holdback Shares (such total, the “Restricted Share Amount”) will be
deposited in escrow (the “Escrow”) to be held in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement (collectively, the “Seller Restricted Shares”). The Seller
Restricted Shares will be subject to repurchase by the Company pursuant to the
provisions of the Escrow Agreement and as further described in the Acquisition
Agreement. The Seller Restricted Shares constitute a portion of the
shares issuable to the Sellers at the Closing pursuant to the
Merger.
A total
of $4,600,000 of Common Stock - the Seller Restricted Shares - will be delivered
into Escrow upon the consummation of the Acquisition.
“Maximum
Share Offset” means a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) (i)
$4,500,000 divided by (ii) the NCEH Book Value Per Share and (b) after
completion of the Company’s fiscal year 2008 audit and the full satisfaction of
any required Core Decrease or Core Increase (such terms are defined in the
paragraph below entitled “Core
Adjustment”) (by way of a cash payment or the repurchase of Seller
Restricted Shares, in either case actually effected in accordance therewith),
(i) $1,000,000 divided by (ii) the greater of (1) the NCEH Book Value Per Share
and (2) the Market Value of the Common Stock as of the applicable
date.
“Designated
Matter Holdback Shares” means a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a)
$100,000 divided by (b) the greater of the NCEH Book Value Per Share or the
Market Value on the Closing Date.
“Market
Value” of the Common Stock means the trailing 30 trading day average closing
price of the Common Stock (which will include the reference date, if the U.S.
financial markets have closed) on the market on which such security is
listed. If the Common Stock is not listed on a stock exchange, but is
quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or on the Pink Sheets, the Market Value of such
security will be the average of the mean of the closing bid and asked prices per
share of such security for the 30 trading days preceding such date.
Aggregate
Purchase Consideration
The
aggregate consideration (the “Aggregate Purchase Consideration”) payable by the
Company in respect of the purchase of all outstanding Wilhelmina Equity
Interests (other than the shares of Wilhelmina International or Wilhelmina
Miami) will be (a) $9,000,000 minus (b) the Designated Matter Cash Deduction, in
cash, as adjusted pursuant to certain provisions of the Acquisition Agreement,
and reduced by any applicable withholding tax; plus, as part of the
consideration for the units or membership interests of WAM, the WAM Earnout (as
defined in the paragraph below entitled “WAM Earnout”) and as
consideration for the shares of Wilhelmina Miami, the Miami Earnout (as defined
in the paragraph below entitled “Miami Earnout”).
“Designated
Matter Cash Deduction” means the lesser of (a) $95,000 or (b) the amount, if
any, agreed to by the Wilhelmina Companies prior to the Closing in settlement of
a designated due diligence matter.
“Wilhelmina
Equity Interests” means (a) the shares of Wilhelmina International and the
shares of Wilhelmina Miami and (b) the units or membership interests of WAM,
Wilhelmina Licensing and Wilhelmina TV.
Acquisition
Consideration Adjustments and Earnouts
Core
Adjustment
As soon
as reasonably practicable but not later than thirty (30) days following
completion of the Company’s fiscal year 2008 audit, the Company will inform the
Control Sellers of its calculation of the Core Increase or the Core Decrease, as
applicable. In the event the Company receives an objection notice
relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers within such thirty (30)
day period, the dispute as to the calculation will be resolved pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement.
The
Aggregate Purchase Price will be adjusted either (a) upwards, in the amount of
the Core Increase or (b) downwards, in the amount of the Core
Decrease. The “Core Increase” means: if the Base Price is
higher than $30,000,000, the excess of (i) the Base Price over (ii)
$30,000,000. The “Core Decrease” means: if the Base Price
is lower than $30,000,000, the excess of (a) $30,000,000 over (b) the Base
Price. The “Base Price” means a number equal to (a) the product
of (i) 7.5 times (ii) Average Core EBITDA, plus (b) Closing Net Asset
Adjustment plus (c) the Wilhelmina Expense Amount plus (d) the Designated Matter
True-Up (if applicable). In the event that a Core Increase is
determined, the Company will pay the Control Sellers in cash in immediately
available funds (subject to the last sentence of this paragraph), pro-rata for
their equity ownership in the Company prior to Closing, the amount of such Core
Increase within the later of (a) thirty (30) calendar days following the
Company’s delivery of the calculation of such Core Increase or (b) ten (10) days
following the resolution, in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, of any
related objections properly raised. In the event that a Core Decrease
is determined, Esch and Krassner will each pay (or cause to be paid by Lorex and
Krassner L.P., respectively) the Company in cash in immediately available funds,
50% of the amount of such Core Decrease within the later of (a) thirty (30)
calendar days following the Company’s delivery of the calculation of such Core
Decrease or (b) ten (10) days following the resolution, in accordance with the
Acquisition Agreement, of any related objections properly raised, not to exceed
$2,250,000 in each case ($4,500,000 in the aggregate); provided that if either
Esch or Krassner fails to timely make (or caused to be made) its required cash
payment pursuant to the foregoing (or if either otherwise elects), the Company
will have the right to promptly repurchase for $0.0001 per share such number of
Seller Restricted Shares equal to (a) 50% (with respect to each of Esch and
Krassner, for a total of 100% in the case of default and/or election by both) of
the amount of the Core Decrease divided by (b) the lesser of (i) the Market
Value of the Common Stock as of the date of repurchase and (ii) the NCEH Book
Value Per Share; provided that in no event will the Company be permitted to
purchase an amount of shares greater than the Maximum Share Offset pursuant to
the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (a) the Base Price
is less than $25,500,000 and (b) the sum of (i) Closing Net Asset Adjustment
plus (ii) Wilhelmina Expense Amount yields a negative number, the Company will
be permitted to offset against payments described in the section entitled “Earn-Out Payments; Off-Set”
an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,500,000 minus the Base Price or (b)
absolute value of the sum of (i) the Closing Net Asset Adjustment plus (ii) the
Wilhelmina Expense Amount. In the event of any adjustments described
above, the parties will use good faith efforts to reach agreement on the
allocation of any such adjustments between the Aggregate Merger Consideration
and the Aggregate Purchase Consideration; provided, however, that in the event
that a Core Increase is determined, any additional consideration that is
allocable, by virtue of this provision, to Aggregate Merger Consideration will
be paid in Common Stock (valued at Market Value as of the date of required
payment) to the extent the payment of such additional consideration would cause
more than 20 percent of the Aggregate Merger Consideration (based on the fair
market value of the capital stock and other consideration that would otherwise
constitute Aggregate Merger Consideration (i.e., without giving effect to the
proviso)) to be paid in other than voting stock of the Company in violation of
Section 368(a)(2)(E)(ii) of the Code.
“Closing
Net Asset Adjustment” means a number (which may be positive or negative) equal
to (a) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (which will exclude security
deposits) of the Wilhelmina Companies as of 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date plus
(b) Excess Receivables plus (c) the Revolver Reduction Amount minus (d) the
Minimum Liquidity Requirement minus (e) the Term Loan Amount.
“Average
Core EBITDA” means the average of audited 2007 Core EBITDA and audited 2008 Core
EBITDA.
“Excess
Receivables” means a number (which may be positive or negative) equal to (a)
accounts receivable minus (b) accounts payable minus (c) Gross Amounts Due to
Models.
“Revolver
Reduction Amount” means a number (which may be positive or negative) equal to
(a) $1,500,000 minus (b) all outstanding principal amounts and accrued interest
owing to Signature Bank under Wilhelmina International’s revolving line of
credit as of the close of business on the Closing Date.
“Minimum
Liquidity Requirement” means a number equal to (a) $1,000,000 minus
(b) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (which will exclude security
deposits) of the Wilhelmina Companies as of the close of business on the Closing
Date minus (c) the Revolver Reduction Amount; provided that, if the foregoing
calculation yields a negative number, the “Minimum Liquidity Requirement”
will be $0.
“Term
Loan Amount” means the amount of all outstanding principal and accrued interest
under Wilhelmina International’s term loan owing to Signature Bank and any other
borrowings of the Wilhelmina Companies (other than any amounts under or in
connection with: (a) Wilhelmina International’s revolver with
Signature Bank (b) the Krassner Note (as such loan is defined in the section
entitled “Krassner
Note”) and (c) intercompany debt between or among the Wilhelmina
Companies and their wholly owned subsidiaries) as of the close of business on
the Closing Date.
“Gross
Amounts Due to Models” means the gross amounts due to models (as a reflected as
a line item on a balance sheet of the Wilhelmina Companies subject to the next
sentence). For the avoidance of doubt, the Gross Amounts Due to
Models is a gross number and will exclude any advances to models (which is used
to arrive at a net mount due to models).
“Designated
Matter True-Up” means the excess, if any, of the Designated Matter Cash
Deduction over the Designated Matter Post-Closing Amount; provided that if a
settlement with respect to a designated due diligence matter has not been agreed
to by the time of completion of the Company’s fiscal year 2008 audit, then the
Designated Matter True-Up will be $0.
“Designated
Matter Post-Closing Amount” means (a) the amount, if any, agreed to by the
Wilhelmina Companies following the Closing in settlement with respect to a
designated due diligence matter plus (b) any other losses or claims covered by
the provisions of the Acquisition Agreement with respect to a designated due
diligence matter.
“Core
EBITDA” means for any period and without duplication, (a) the EBITDA
attributable to the core business of the Wilhelmina Companies plus (b) certain
mutually agreed addbacks.
Earn-Out
Payments; Off-Sets
The
purchase price payable by the Company for WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, as
applicable, will be the right of the applicable Sellers to receive the following
cash payments, or the “Earn-Out Payments,” as follows:
WAM
Earnout
Not later
than thirty (30) days following the third anniversary of the Closing Date, the
Company will inform the Control Sellers of its calculation of the WAM
Earnout. In the event that the Company receives an objection notice
relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers in accordance with the
Acquisition Agreement, such dispute as to the calculation will be resolved
pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement. Subject to the paragraph below
entitled “Payment
Reduction” (the “Payment Reduction”), and the resolution of any objection
appropriately raised, the Company will pay to the Control Sellers, pro rata in
accordance with their pre-closing ownership of WAM, an amount (if positive) in
cash in immediately available funds equal to (a) five (5) multiplied by
(b) the three (3) year average of audited WAM EBITDA for the twelve (12)
month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of the
Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively; provided
that aggregate payments (determined prior to any adjustment pursuant to the
Payment Reduction) described in this paragraph will not exceed $10,000,000; and
provided further that revenue associated with any cash included in the
calculation of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment described above will be excluded
from WAM EBITDA for purposes of the foregoing calculation. The
Earn-Out Payment described in this paragraph, subject to the Payment Reduction,
is referred to as the “WAM Earnout.” Any positive WAM Earnout payment
owed by the Company will be paid by the Company within the later of (a) thirty
(30) calendar days following the Company’s delivery of the calculation of the
WAM Earnout or (b) ten (10) days following the resolution, in accordance with
the Acquisition Agreement, of any related objections properly
raised.
“WAM
EBITDA” means, for any period and without duplication, (a) the EBITDA of WAM
related to the WAM Business, plus (b) the addbacks and, minus (c) certain
specified deductions.
“WAM
Business” means the artist or talent management business, including but not
limited to celebrity or talent endorsements, sponsorships, appearances,
licensing and product lines, and campaigns (but excluding in all cases the core
model management booking business).
Miami
Earnout
Not later
than thirty (30) days following the third anniversary of the Closing Date, the
Company will inform the Control Sellers of its calculation of the Miami
Earnout. In the event that the Company receives an objection notice
relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers in accordance with the
Acquisition Agreement, such dispute as to the calculation will be resolved
pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement. Subject to the Payment
Reduction, and the resolution of any objection validly raised, the Company will
pay to the Control Sellers, pro rata in accordance with their pre-closing
ownership of Wilhelmina Miami, an amount (if positive) in cash in immediately
available funds equal to (a) 7.5 multiplied by (b) the three (3) year average of
audited Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for the twelve (12) month periods beginning on
the Closing Date, the first anniversary of the Closing and the second
anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively; provided that revenue associated
with any cash included in the calculation of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment
described above will be excluded from Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for purposes of
the foregoing calculation. The Earn-Out Payment described in this paragraph,
subject to the Payment Reduction is referred to as the “Miami
Earnout.” Any positive Miami Earnout payment owed by the Company will
be paid by the Company within the later of (a) thirty (30) calendar days
following the Company’s delivery of the calculation of the Miami Earnout or (b)
ten (10) days following the resolution, in accordance with the Acquisition
Agreement, of any related objections properly raised.
“Wilhelmina
Miami EBITDA” means, for any period and without duplication, (a) the EBITDA
of Wilhelmina Miami, plus (b) the addbacks and minus (c) certain specified
deductions. Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA excludes all EBITDA (including
any Core EBITDA) not directly generated by Wilhelmina Miami.
Payment
Reduction
The
Company has the right, prior to making any WAM Earnout or Miami Earnout payment,
and in addition to any other set off rights specifically provided for in the
Acquisition Agreement, to reduce the amount of WAM Earnout or Miami Earnout
payment by (a) the absolute value of any Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Loss and
(b) if in connection with the Company’s payment of shares of Common Stock in the
Merger, described above, (i) the Base Price was less than $25,500,000 and (ii) the sum of
(1) Closing Net Asset Adjustment plus (2) the Wilhelmina Expense Amount yields a
negative number, an amount equal to the lesser of (1) $25,500,000 minus the Base
Price or (2) the absolute value of the sum of (A) Closing Net Asset Adjustment
plus (B) Wilhelmina Expense Amount. An “Aggregate Divisional
EBITDA Loss” means: (a) an aggregate WAM EBITDA loss for the twelve
(12) month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of the
Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively, if any,
and/or (b) an aggregate Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA loss for the twelve
(12) month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of
the Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively, if any
(it being understood that an aggregate loss in each case will be determined by
summing EBITDA, including negative EBITDA, for all three
periods). After giving effect to any reduction(s) of Earnout Payments
described in this paragraph, the Company will pay any positive WAM Earnout
and/or the Miami Earnout to the applicable Sellers, pro rata for their
pre-closing ownership interests in WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, respectively,
within the later of (a) thirty (30) calendar days following the Company’s
delivery of the calculations with respect to the WAM Earnout and the Miami
Earnout (whichever is delivered later) or (b) ten (10) days following the
resolution, in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement, of any related
objections properly raised.
In the
event that either (a) Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Losses exist for both WAM and
Wilhelmina Miami (the sum of such Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Losses, the “Total
Divisional Loss”) or (b) the amount an Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Loss exceeds
the amount of any Earnout Payment (prior to any adjustment made as described in
the prior paragraph) (an “Excess Divisional Loss”), then the Company will have
the right to repurchase for $0.0001 per share a number of Seller Restricted
Shares (valued at the greater of (a) the prevailing Market Value as of the date
of repurchase and (b) the NCEH Book Value Per Share) equal to the Total
Divisional Loss or the Excess Divisional Loss, as applicable; provided that in
no event will the Company be permitted to repurchase shares, as described in
this paragraph, having a value greater than the lesser of (a) $1,000,000 and, if
a repurchase of Seller Restricted Shares by the Company occurred as described in
the above paragraph entitled “Core Adjustment,” (b) the
value (measured at the greater of (i) the Market Value of the Common Stock as of
the date of such repurchase and (ii) the NCEH Book Value Per Share) of the
number of Seller Restricted Shares that were required to remain in escrow
following such repurchase, as described in the above paragraph entitled “Core Adjustment,” in respect
of any Core Decrease. Any such repurchase will be effected on a 50/50
proportionate basis between shares issued to Lorex and shares issued to Krassner
L.P. Each of Lorex or Krassner L.P. will have the right to cover
their respective ½ portions of any Total Divisional Loss or Excess Divisional
Loss by a cash payment to the Company made within the time period required by
the Acquisition Agreement (in which case the Company will not repurchase Seller
Restricted Shares pursuant to the foregoing and will release such shares to
Lorex or Krassner L.P., as the case may be).
Subject
to certain conditions, the Earnout Payments may be payable in whole or in part
in Common Stock (valued at then prevailing Market Value), at the election of the
Control Sellers. In the event that the Control Sellers fail to deliver the
required notice, then the Earnout Payments will be payable in cash or Common
Stock, or any combination of cash and Common Stock, at the sole discretion of
the Company. Earnout Payments will be considered an adjustment to the
Aggregate Purchase Price. The net amount, if any, payable with
respect to the WAM Earnout will be allocable to the WAM Units, and the net
amount, if any, payable with respect to the Miami Earnout will be allocable to
the Miami Shares.
“Wilhelmina
Expense Amount” means a number (which number may be positive or negative) equal
to (a) $35,000, minus (b) certain expenses related to transactions contemplated
under the Acquisition Agreement incurred by or otherwise to be paid by the
Wilhelmina Companies that remain unpaid prior to Closing.
Resolution
of Calculation Objections
In the
event of objections in connection with the Core Adjustment or Payment Reduction
that cannot be resolved by the parties, RSM McGladrey, an independent public
accounting firm, will make an independent determination of the calculation that
will be final and binding on the parties.
Krassner
Note
At the
Closing, the outstanding $6,000,000 principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid
interest, under a promissory note dated June 3, 1999 issued by Wilhelmina
International and held by Krassner L.P. (the “Krassner Note”) will be
paid in its entirety to Krassner L.P. by the Company or by Wilhelmina
Acquisition (or the Surviving Corporation with funds contributed by the
Company).
Set
Offs
The
Company is permitted to adjust amounts owed to any affiliate of Esch or Krassner
with amounts owed or payable by Esch or Krassner under the Acquisition
Agreement, and vice versa.
Aggregate
Purchase Consideration Allocation
The
Aggregate Purchase Consideration with respect to each of WAM, Wilhelmina
Licensing and Wilhelmina TV (collectively, the “LLCs”) (including any contingent
portion of the Aggregate Purchase Consideration) and the liabilities of such LLC
immediately before the Closing, to the extent not required to be treated as
interest under Section 1274 of the Code, will be allocated among the assets of
such LLC as (a) to each asset of the LLC (other than Section 197 intangibles,
within the meaning of Section 197 of the Code), there will be allocated an
amount equal to the book value of such asset net of the book value of any contra
account with respect thereto, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP as
reflected on the LLC’s books and records immediately prior to the Closing, and
(b) the balance, including all contingent payments with respect to such LLC
(except to the extent required to be treated as interest) will be allocated to
Section 197 intangibles within the meaning of Section 197 of the Code, including
goodwill.
Patterson
Payments
An amount
in cash (a) equal to one-half of the Patterson Payment Amount and (b) otherwise
payable to the Control Sellers as cash consideration at Closing, will be
directed and paid to Patterson to satisfy, together with the issuance of Common
Stock (including shares to be held in escrow pending the resolution of the core
adjustment calculations (the “Restricted Patterson Shares”)), Wilhelmina
International’s obligations in respect of any change in control or related
payment under Patterson’s August 1, 2003 employment agreement with Wilhelmina
International. The “Patterson Payment Amount” means the amount (if
any) jointly determined by the Control Sellers and the Company to be owed at
Closing to Patterson in respect of any change in control or related payment
under Patterson’s August 1, 2003 employment agreement in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement. The total
foregoing cash payment will be an adjustment to the Aggregate Purchase
Price. The Company will calculate the number of shares of Common
Stock constituting the stock portion of the Patterson Payment Amount by using
the NCEH Book Value Per Share. Such share payment (including any
Restricted Patterson Shares) will also be equal to one-half of the Patterson
Payment Amount.
Designation
Matter Repurchase
If, as a
result of the settlement with respect to a designated due diligence matter, the
Designated Matter Post-Closing Amount exceeds the Designated Matter Cash
Deduction, then the Company will have the right to repurchase for $0.0001 per
share a number of Designated Matter Holdback Shares having a value equal to the
Designated Matter Repurchase Share Amount. Any repurchase of
Designated Matter Holdback Shares will occur no later than 90 days following the
later of (a) final settlement with respect to a designated due diligence matter
and (b) full satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core
Increase.
“Designated
Matter Repurchase Share Amount” means (a) the excess, if any, of the Designated
Matter Post Closing Amount over the Designated Matter Cash Deduction divided by
(b) the greater of the NCEH Book Value Per Share or the Market Value of the
Common Stock on the Closing Date; provided that the Designated Matter Repurchase
Share Amount will in no event exceed the Designated Matter Holdback
Shares.
Representations
and Warranties
The
Acquisition Agreement contains representations and warranties made by the
Wilhelmina Companies and the Control Sellers, severally, by each Seller,
severally and not jointly, and by the Company and Wilhelmina Acquisition,
relating to the following matters, among others (in some cases, the
representations are made by only one or two of the three groups of parties, and
in some cases the representations are also made with respect to their respective
subsidiaries):
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corporate
organization, existence, good standing, power and
authority;
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corporate
authorization to enter into and carry out the obligations contained in the
Acquisition Agreement and the valid and binding nature of such
obligations;
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absence
of any conflict or violation of the organizational documents, any
applicable legal requirements, or any agreements with third parties, as a
result of entering into and carrying out the obligations contained in the
Acquisition Agreement;
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capital
structure and the absence of restrictions or encumbrances with respect to
capital stock;
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corporate
organization, qualifications to do business and corporate standing of
subsidiaries;
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ownership
of, and absence of restrictions or encumbrances with respect to, the
capital stock of subsidiaries;
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title
to assets and personal properties;
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leases
of intangible or personal property;
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owned
and leased real property;
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absence
of undisclosed liabilities;
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compliance
with applicable laws;
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material
contracts and the absence of breaches of material
contracts;
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customers,
client accounts and models;
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transactions
with affiliates;
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employee
and labor matters;
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employee
benefit plans;
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maintenance
of books and records;
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entitlements
to any broker’s, finder’s, or other similar fees, commissions or expenses
in connection with the Acquisition;
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purchasing
entirely for own account and for
investment;
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access
to information and investment experience;
and
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The
representations and warranties contained in the Acquisition Agreement were made
for purposes of the Acquisition Agreement and are subject to qualifications and
limitations agreed to by the respective parties in connection with negotiating
the terms of the Acquisition Agreement. In addition, certain
representations and warranties were made as of a specific date, may be subject
to a contractual standard of materiality different from what might be viewed as
material to stockholders, or may have been used for purposes of allocating risk
between the respective parties rather than establishing matters as
facts.
Covenants
Restrictions
on Certain Discussions and Actions
Under the
Acquisition Agreement, until the Closing or earlier termination of the
Acquisition Agreement, each of the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Companies will
refrain, and will cause their respective affiliates, managers, members,
officers, directors, stockholders, employees, attorneys, accountants and other
agents and representatives to refrain, from taking any action, directly or
indirectly, to (a) solicit, encourage, initiate or participate in any way in
discussions or negotiations with, or furnish any information with respect to the
Wilhelmina Companies to any person or entity (other than New Century and its
representatives) in connection with any possible or proposed sale of the
Wilhelmina Companies, a substantial portion of their assets or an equity
interest therein, or any merger or other business combination involving the
Wilhelmina Companies or any other similar transaction (including any
recapitalization, refinancing or reorganization or any extraordinary licensing
transaction involving the “Wilhelmina” name) that could reasonably be expected
to impair the consummation of the Acquisition, or (b) except as required by law
after not less than five (5) days notice to New Century, disclose any
non-published information concerning the Wilhelmina Companies, their property or
their business.
Conduct
of Business of the Wilhelmina Companies
Additionally,
until the Closing or the earlier termination of the Acquisition Agreement, each
of the Control Sellers and the Wilhelmina Companies agrees (a) to cause the
business of the Wilhelmina Companies and their subsidiaries to be conducted in
the ordinary course consistent with past practices and (b) to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) preserve the business organizations of
each of the Wilhelmina Companies, (ii) keep available to the Wilhelmina
Companies the services of each employee and model having an employment or
contractor relationship with the Wilhelmina Companies, (iii) preserve the
goodwill of the clients, customers and others having business relations with any
of the Wilhelmina Companies and (iv) maintain the legal existence of the
Wilhelmina Companies.
Further,
except as expressly permitted under the Acquisition Agreement and related
documents, the Wilhelmina Companies will not, without the prior written consent
of the Company, other than in connection with the negotiation and completion of
the Acquisition or as required by contract or by law:
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issue,
transfer, sell, encumber or pledge any shares of their capital stock or
other securities;
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split,
combine or reclassify any shares of their capital stock or other
securities;
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pay
any dividends or make distributions, whether in cash, stock or property,
to any equity holder or other owner or any other person, or redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of their capital stock or other
securities;
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amend
any of their organizational
documents;
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acquire
(a) a substantial equity interest in or a substantial portion of the
assets of any business or business organization, or (b) any assets that
are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Wilhelmina
Companies;
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sell,
lease, license or otherwise dispose or, or incur, suffer or permit to
exist any encumbrances on any material assets, properties or rights of the
Wilhelmina Companies other than pursuant to material contracts already in
existence;
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permit
the use of the “Wilhelmina” name or mark by any other person, other than
pursuant to license agreements already in place or with specified modeling
agencies;
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make
any capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 individually or in the
aggregate;
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(a)
enter into any new business line or business area, (b) relocate any of
their facilities, or (c) terminate, discontinue, close or dispose of
any facility or business operation;
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(a)
incur any new indebtedness for borrowed money, including but not limited
to (i) guaranteeing any indebtedness of another person or entity or (ii)
issuing or selling any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Wilhelmina Companies, or (b) make
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
person; provided that Wilhelmina International may utilize its existing
bank line of credit with Signature Bank in the ordinary course of business
in a manner consistent with past practice or in amounts such that there is
more than $2,500,000 (inclusive of any term loan and revolver) outstanding
under such bank line at any one
time;
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enter
into, amend or voluntarily terminate any material contract to which any of
the Wilhelmina Companies is a party, except that Wilhelmina International
may in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (a)
enter into material contracts, provided that such contracts are terminable
on 60 days notice without cost or penalty and (b) make technical or
immaterial amendments to material
contracts;
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agree
to any non-compete restriction or similar prohibition on their business or
future business;
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enter
into or amend (a) any employment agreements or any other type of
employment arrangement, which in either case provides (i) compensation
greater than $100,000 per annum, (ii) equity compensation of any kind
(whether upfront or contingent), (iii) guaranteed compensation of any
amount for a period longer than six months, (iv) any bonus or similar
compensation based on a percentage of profits or EBITDA, or (v) change of
control or severance compensation or (b) any severance or change of
control agreements or arrangements or deferred compensation agreements or
arrangements;
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(a)
enter into any new, or amend or otherwise alter any existing, employee
benefit plan; (b) adopt, amend, terminate or change an interpretation of
any employee benefit plan or the participation or coverage under any
employee benefit plan, (c) accelerate the payment or vesting of any
material benefits or amounts payable under any employee benefit plan, (d)
cause, suffer or permit the termination of any employee benefit plan, (e)
permit any prohibited transaction (according to ERISA and the Code)
involving any employee benefit plan or fail to pay to any employee benefit
plan contribution which they are obligated to pay under the terms of such
employee benefit plan, whether or not such failure to pay would result in
an accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in ERISA), or (f) allow or
suffer to exist any occurrence of a reportable event (as defined in ERISA)
or any other event or condition, which presents a material risk of
termination of any employee benefit
plan;
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implement
or effect any lay off, early retirement program, severance program or
other program concerning the termination of employment of employees or
contractors of the Wilhelmina
Companies;
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except
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (a)
remove any fixtures, equipment or personal property from any of their
leased real property, (b) sell, discount, factor or otherwise dispose of
any accounts receivable or (c) cancel or compromise any indebtedness or
claim or (d) waive or release any rights of material
value;
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settle
or compromise any legal proceeding or enter into any consent decree,
injunction or similar restraint or form of equitable relief in settlement
of any proceeding;
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change
any accounting principle, practice or
method;
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(a)
fail to pay when due all taxes lawfully levied or assessed against the
Wilhelmina Companies before any penalty or interest accrues on any unpaid
portion thereof and file all tax returns when due (including applicable
extensions); or, with respect to payroll or withholding taxes, fail to
make any such payments or deposits as such payments or deposits when due
by law; and (b) make or change any tax elections or settle any audit or
examination relating to taxes, except those being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings;
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fail
to use reasonable commercial efforts to maintain in full force and effect
insurance coverage of the types and in the amounts in place at the time of
the execution of the Acquisition
Agreement;
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modify
their cash management practices, including but not limited to (a)
accelerating the collection of accounts receivable and/or (b) delaying
payment of accounts payable or similar
obligations;
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take,
suffer or permit any action, or omit to take any action, that would render
untrue any of the representations or warranties of the Wilhelmina
Companies and the Control Sellers under the Acquisition Agreement;
or
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enter
into any commitment or agreement to take any of the foregoing
actions.
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Conduct
of Business of New Century
Except as
expressly permitted under the Acquisition Agreement and related documents, until
the Closing or earlier termination of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century
will not agree or commit to take, any action that would reasonably be expected
to prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Acquisition, and will not
without the prior written consent of Wilhelmina International and the Control
Sellers:
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issue,
transfer, sell, encumber or pledge any shares of its capital stock or
other securities, other than in respect of any equity financing raised in
connection with the consummation of the Acquisition (which equity
financing shall not be priced more favorably to the financing source than
the NCEH Book Value Per Share without the consent of the Control
Sellers);
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split,
combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or other
securities;
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pay
any dividends or make distributions, whether in cash, stock or property,
to any equity holder or other owner or any other person, or redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or other
securities;
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amend
any of its organizational
documents;
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acquire
(a) by any manner any business or any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association or other business organization or division thereof,
or (b) any assets in an amount greater than $50,000, individually or in
the aggregate;
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make
any capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 individually or in the
aggregate;
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(a)
incur any new indebtedness for borrowed money, including but not limited
to (i) guaranteeing any indebtedness of another person or entity or (ii)
issuing or selling any debt securities or warrants or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Wilhelmina Companies, or (b) make any
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other
person or entity; provided that the Company may incur indebtedness in
connection with the consummation of the
Acquisition;
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pay
to any person for services rendered an amount in excess of $50,000, other
than reasonable compensation on market terms to employees of New
Century;
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(a)
fail to pay when due all taxes lawfully levied or assessed against the
Company or Wilhelmina Acquisition before any penalty or interest accrues
on any unpaid portion thereof and file all tax returns when due (including
applicable extensions); or, with respect to payroll or withholding taxes,
fail to make any such payments or deposits as such payments or deposits
when due by law; and (b) make or change any tax elections or settle any
audit or examination relating to taxes, except those being contested in
good faith by appropriate
proceedings;
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settle
or compromise any material legal proceeding or enter into any consent
decree, injunction or similar restraint or form of equitable relief in
settlement of any proceeding that would reasonably impact the conduct of
the Wilhelmina Companies following the
Closing;
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take,
suffer or permit any action, or omit to take any action, that would render
untrue any of the representations or warranties of New Century under the
Acquisition Agreement; or
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enter
into any commitment or agreement to take any of the foregoing
actions.
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Access
to Information
Each of
the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Companies will use reasonable commercial efforts
to cooperate with New Century and Wilhelmina Acquisition in connection with the
Acquisition, and will afford them, their agents, attorneys, accountants,
financing sources (whether debt or equity) and other authorized representatives,
including engineers, financial advisers, current and prospective lenders and
debt underwriters, reasonable access to all of the properties, assets, financial
information, operations, books, records, files, correspondence, computer output,
data, files, log books, technical and operating manuals and other materials, as
the case may be, for the purpose of permitting New Century to make such
investigation and examination of the business, assets, properties and books and
records of the Wilhelmina Companies as are reasonably necessary or
appropriate.
Preparation
of Proxy Statement; Stockholder Meeting of New Century
Following
the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, New Century must prepare and file
with the SEC a proxy statement with respect to a stockholder meeting, and then,
after resolving all comments from the SEC, call, give notice of, convene and
hold such a meeting for the purpose of obtaining stockholder approval of (a) the
Acquisition, (b) a change of the name of New Century to “Wilhelmina
International, Inc.”, or such other name as mutually agreed between New Century
and the Control Sellers, (c) an increase in the authorized Common Stock of New
Century to an amount to fully accommodate the Acquisition and any additional
amount reasonably determined by New Century and (d) the declassification of New
Century’s Board and reconstitution of such Board to initially include the
individuals or representatives of the individuals specified in the Acquisition
Agreement. The Company will promptly (a) notify the Control Sellers
of the receipt of any comments from the SEC with respect to the proxy statement
and of any request by the SEC for amendments of, or supplements to, the proxy
statement, and (b) provide the Control Sellers with copies of all correspondence
with the SEC with respect to the proxy statement. The Company will
use its commercially reasonable efforts to resolve all comments from the SEC
with respect to the proxy statement as promptly as practicable.
In
connection with the stockholder meeting, New Century will use commercially
reasonable efforts to solicit proxies in favor of such stockholder approvals and
obtain the required votes therefore, and New Century’s Board will declare
advisable and recommend in favor of such stockholder
approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, New Century’s Board may
withdraw, modify or change such recommendation if it has determined, based on
the advice of outside counsel, that the failure to do so is reasonably likely to
result in a breach of the Board’s fiduciary duties.
Financing
of Acquisition
The terms
of the financing of the Acquisition (including but not limited to the amount of
any equity or debt financing raised at or prior to Closing and the pricing
thereof), and the sources thereof, will be determined by the Company in its sole
discretion; provided that no equity or instruments convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable for equity shall be on terms more favorable to the financing source
than the NCEH Book Value Per Share; provided further that the consent of the
Control Sellers (which may be withheld in their sole discretion) will be
required in the event that personal guarantees, stock pledges or other security
or similar commitments are required of the Control Sellers in connection with
such financing.
Closing
Settlement
At least
two business days prior to the Closing, all intercompany and affiliate balances
then outstanding between any of the Wilhelmina Companies, on the one hand, and
any other of the Wilhelmina Companies or any Seller, on the other hand, will be
settled by the applicable parties thereto in accordance with their terms and
theretofore extinguished, and no such intercompany or affiliate balances will
arise between such time and the Closing. In the event that the
Sellers or the Wilhelmina Companies take any action outside the ordinary course
of business at or after the Closing that affects any item in the calculations
regarding the consideration for the Acquisition, except as expressly
contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, such calculations will be
appropriately adjusted to exclude the effect of any such actions.
Closing
Conditions
The
obligations of all parties to consummate the Acquisition and the related
transactions is conditioned on (a) stockholder approval of the Acquisition
Proposal and the Capitalization Proposal, (b) there not being any legal
restraint preventing, prohibiting or rendering illegal the consummation of the
Acquisition and (c) there not being any legal proceedings or order seeking to
restrain or to invalidate the Acquisition or otherwise questioning the validity
of the Acquisition Agreement or any of the related documents, which could
reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Wilhelmina
Companies or New Century.
The
obligations of each of the Wilhelmina Companies and the Sellers on the one hand,
and New Century on the other hand, to consummate the Acquisition are subject to
certain closing conditions typical for a transaction of this nature, including
the following:
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each
party has delivered a certificate or certificates to the effect that (a)
its representations and warranties are true and correct in all material
respects as of the Closing, (b) all of its covenants contained in the
Acquisition Agreement have been materially complied with, (c) its officers
or other individuals executing the Acquisition Agreement have all
requisite authority to do so and (d) it has no knowledge of any legal
proceedings or order pending or threatened against it or any of its
affiliates that could reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse effect on it or any of its affiliates;
and
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since
the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, there has not been any event,
change, effect, development or circumstance that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or would reasonably by expected to have a material
adverse effect with respect to a party, and no event has occurred or
circumstances exist that may result in such material adverse
effect.
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The
obligations of the Wilhelmina Companies and the Sellers to consummate the
Acquisition are subject to certain additional closing conditions, including the
following:
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the
shares of Common Stock issuable to the Control Sellers have been duly
authorized and an irrevocable instruction letter to issue the certificates
therefore has been delivered to the Securities Transfer
Corporation;
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the
portion of the consideration deliverable at the Closing has been
appropriately delivered and the remainder has been placed into escrow;
and
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New
Century’s counsel has delivered a written legal opinion with respect to
New Century’s representations and warranties regarding its organization
and legal authority to enter into the Acquisition Agreement, the
enforceability of the Acquisition Agreement against New Century and the
absence of restrictions on New Century’s entry into the Acquisition
Agreement.
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The
obligations of New Century to consummate the Acquisition are subject to certain
additional closing conditions, including the following:
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the
required third party consents, including but not limited to the consent of
Signature Bank, have been obtained;
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the
requisite governmental or regulatory authorizations, approvals and
permits, if any, have been duly obtained and are
effective;
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the
agreements required to be terminated under the Acquisition Agreement,
including but not limited to certain employment, consulting and loan
agreements between the Wilhelmina Companies and the Control Sellers and
their affiliates, have been terminated in all
respects;
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all
security interests or encumbrances in connection with that certain loan
agreement, dated December 21, 2005, between Signature Bank and Wilhelmina
International have been terminated and
released;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies have completed and provided to New Century such
audited financial statements and subsequent interim reviewed financial
statements that New Century is required to file with the SEC in connection
with the Acquisition, as well as the opinion of an independent certified
public accountant, meeting SEC standards, in connection
therewith;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies have made such trademark registrations reasonably
determined by New Century in consultation with the Wilhelmina
Companies;
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the
delivery of evidence of the termination and release by Krassner L.P. of
any and all claims with respect to any loan or note outstanding with
Wilhelmina International;
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the
execution of an employment agreement by Patterson with Wilhelmina
International and New Century, providing, among other things, a full
release of any and all claims with respect to Patterson’s previous
employment agreement;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ counsel has delivered a written legal opinion with
respect to the Wilhelmina Companies’ representations and warranties
regarding their organization, legal authority to enter into the
Acquisition Agreement and capitalization, the enforceability of the
Acquisition Agreement against the Wilhelmina Companies and the absence of
restrictions on the Wilhelmina Companies’ entry into the Acquisition
Agreement; and
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the
delivery of all of the stock certificates (with appropriate stock powers)
representing all of the outstanding equity interests of or assignments
conveying all right, title and interest in the Wilhelmina Companies, as
appropriate, to New Century.
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Fees
and Expenses
Each of
the Wilhelmina Companies will pay its allocable portion of the expenses in
connection with the Acquisition incurred by the Sellers and the Wilhelmina
Companies up to a maximum aggregate amount of $35,000. The Control
Sellers will bear, through an adjustment to the purchase price for the
Acquisition, any expenses of the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Companies in excess
of $35,000 and will pay out of pocket any expenses with respect to the period up
to and including the Closing (other than any expenses of New Century) billed to
any of the Wilhelmina Companies on or after the Closing (or billed to any of the
Wilhelmina Companies and not paid prior to Closing) in excess of $275,000 in the
aggregate. New Century will pay all transaction expenses incurred by
it. To the extent any Seller (other than Esch or Krassner) retains
separate counsel or advisors for individual representation in connection with
the Acquisition, such Seller will pay any and all legal fees and other expenses
incurred directly by him or her related to such representation.
Confidentiality
Following
the Closing, except in the context of performing activities on behalf of New
Century that are authorized by New Century, each Seller will and will use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause its affiliates, counsel, accountants
and other representatives (i) to keep all proprietary information of the
Wilhelmina Companies confidential and not to disclose or reveal any such
information to any person or entity other than counsel, accountants and other
agents and representatives as necessary for them to prepare tax returns or
provide personal financial advisory services and advise such person or entity of
the confidential nature of such information and (ii) not to use such
information for any purpose (including but not limited to any purpose that is
any way detrimental to New Century or any of the Wilhelmina Companies) other
than to enforce such party’s rights and remedies under the Acquisition
Agreement.
Non-Competition
For six
and one-half years after the Closing, no Control Seller may do any of the
following, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of New
Century in its sole and absolute discretion:
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compete
directly or indirectly in (a) any business conducted as of the Closing by
the Wilhelmina Companies or (b) any other part or aspect of the
Representation Business ((a) and (b) collectively, the “Restricted
Business”), within the U.S., its territories and possessions and
throughout anywhere else in the
world;
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have
a direct or indirect interest in any entity that engages in the Restricted
Business, provided, that any Control Seller may own an interest in such
entity, purely as a passive investor (and without any involvement in the
business of such entity), and not as part of a group with any other
Seller, not equal to or more than four and nine tenths percent of the
outstanding securities of any class of any publicly traded securities of
such entity; or
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directly
or indirectly solicit, call on, divert, entice, influence, induce or
attempt to do any of the foregoing with respect to (a) customers or
clients or prospective customers or clients of the Wilhelmina Companies
with respect to goods, products or services that are competitive with
those of the Wilhelmina Companies as of the Closing, (b) models, to
terminate or modify any contract, arrangement or relationship with the
Wilhelmina Companies, (c) any other talent to terminate or modify any
contract, arrangement or relationship with the Wilhelmina Companies, (d)
any employees as of or following the Closing to leave the employ of the
Wilhelmina Companies, (e) suppliers or vendors or prospective suppliers or
vendors of the Wilhelmina Companies with respect to materials, resources
or services to be used in connection with goods, products or services that
are competitive with those of the Wilhelmina Companies as of the Closing
(which excludes outside professional advisors, such as lawyers,
accountants and investment bankers) or (f) distributors, consultants,
agents or independent contractors to terminate or modify any contract,
arrangement or relationship with the Wilhelmina
Companies.
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For
purposes of the foregoing, the “Representation Business” means (a) the business
of identifying, seeking, scouting, arranging, organizing, coordinating,
obtaining and/or negotiating professional and/or marketing opportunities on
behalf of talent or Talent Businesses, (b) promoting talent or Talent Businesses
or any of their respective names or brands, (c) otherwise managing or
representing, or advising talent or third parties with respect to, the business
and legal affairs of talent or Talent Businesses or (d) identifying, developing
and securing talent or Talent Businesses for the purposes of being engaged in
the activities described in clauses (a), (b) or (c). A “Talent
Business” means a business (including an event) (a) that is principally engaged
in or focused on the identification, promotion, hosting, development and/or
representation of talent or (b) which showcases or hosts the principal
professional activities of talent or performs any such activities in a business
form.
Indemnification
Esch and
Krassner, severally up to 50% of the applicable claim or loss, will indemnify,
defend and hold harmless New Century, Wilhelmina Acquisition and their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and stockholders
(collectively, the “Purchaser Group”) in respect of any and all claims or losses
incurred by the Purchaser Group, in connection with any breach or
non-fulfillment of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation by or of
the Wilhelmina Companies or any of the Control Sellers in the Acquisition
Agreement or any related document. Additionally, Esch and Krassner
will indemnify the Purchaser Group under the abovementioned terms for certain
specified matters. In addition to the foregoing, each Seller will
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser Group in respect of any and
all claims or losses incurred by the Purchaser Group, in connection with any
breach of any representation or warranty, or breach or non-fulfillment of any
covenant, agreement or obligation of such Seller. Such
indemnification is subject to certain limitations in that (a) the obligation to
indemnify only becomes effective once claims and losses exceed $250,000 in the
aggregate (except for certain specified claims and losses), (b) neither Esch nor
Krassner will be liable to indemnify the Purchaser Group in an amount greater
than $2,000,000 each in the aggregate (except for certain specified claims) and
(c) no Seller (other than the Control Sellers) will be liable to indemnify the
Purchaser Group in an amount greater than one-eighth of the aggregate
consideration received by such Seller from New Century.
New
Century will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sellers and their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and stockholders
(collectively, the “Seller Group”) in respect of any and all claims or losses
incurred by the Seller Group, in connection with any breach or non-fulfillment
of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation by or of New Century or
Wilhelmina Acquisition in the Acquisition Agreement or any related
document. Such indemnification is subject to certain limitations in
that (a) the obligation to indemnify only becomes effective once claims and
losses exceed $250,000 in the aggregate (except for claims or losses with
respect to certain SEC and legal matters), (b) New Century will not be liable to
indemnify the Seller Group in an amount greater than $4,000,000 (except for
claims or losses with respect to certain SEC and legal matters) and (c) if a
Seller has a valid claim for indemnification as a result of a breach of any
representation or warranty by New Century for which the applicable loss arises
from or relates to a loss incurred or sustained by New Century, the Seller is
only entitled to recover its pro rata share of such loss based on its pro rata
ownership of New Century following the Closing.
A claim
for indemnification may be asserted by an indemnified party with respect to the
representations or warranties in the Acquisition Agreement during the period
beginning at the Closing and ending eighteen (18) months after the date of the
Acquisition Agreement, subject to certain exceptions.
The
parties agree to treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement as an adjustment to the Aggregate Purchase Price or the Merger
Consideration, as applicable.
Termination
The
Acquisition Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as
follows:
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by
mutual written consent of the Wilhelmina Companies and the Control Sellers
on the one hand and New Century on the other
hand;
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if any of the closing
conditions of the other party becomes incapable of fulfillment, and are
not waived in writing;
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if the terminating
party is not in material breach of its obligations under the Acquisition
Agreement and if the other party has breached any material representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement in the Acquisition Agreement such that its
closing conditions would not be satisfied and such breach cannot be or has
not been cured by the earlier of (a) thirty (30) days after written notice
thereof or (b) the Closing;
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·
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if any order
permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Closing is
issued and has become final and
non-appealable;
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if the Closing has not
occurred on or before (a) December 20, 2008, provided New Century does not
receive comments from the SEC with respect to this proxy statement, or (b)
February 15, 2009 in the event New Century does receive comments from the
SEC with respect to this proxy statement; provided that this right to
terminate will not be available if the terminating party’s actions or
failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of
the Closing to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to
act constitutes a breach of the Acquisition
Agreement;
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at
the election of the Control Sellers or New Century if the Acquisition
Proposal and the Capitalization Proposal have not been approved at the
stockholder meeting of New Century at which such proposals are voted on;
or
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at
the election of the Control Sellers if the Board of New Century has
changed its recommendation with respect to the requisite proposals to be
submitted at a stockholder meeting of New Century in a manner adverse to
the Sellers and the Wilhelmina
Companies.
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In the
event that either New Century or the Control Sellers validly terminates the
Acquisition Agreement as a result of the failure of New Century to obtain the
requisite approvals at a stockholder meeting held for that purpose or the Board
of New Century has changed its recommendation with respect to the requisite
proposals to be submitted at a stockholder meeting of New Century, New Century
will pay to the Control Sellers their expenses incurred in connection with the
Acquisition up to a maximum of $150,000.
OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS
The
following summaries describe the material provisions of the Registration Rights
Agreement, Equity Financing Agreement, Mutual Support Agreement and Escrow
Agreement. These summaries may not contain all of the information
about such agreements that is important to you and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the text of the Registration Rights Agreement, Equity Financing
Agreement, Mutual Support Agreement and Escrow Agreement, which are included as
Annexes B, C, D and E to this proxy statement,
respectively. We urge you to read the entirety of such agreements and
the other annexes to this proxy statement carefully and in their
entirety.
Registration
Rights Agreement
On August
25, 2008, the Company entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with the
Control Sellers and Patterson (collectively, the “Registration Rights Holders”),
to become effective upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement.
Demand
Registration Rights
Pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement, at any time following the one year
anniversary of the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, Esch or Krassner may
make a written request to the Company to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, covering all or part of the Registrable Securities (as defined
below) then held by the Control Sellers and any of their respective
affiliates. No later than thirty (30) days following its receipt of
such written request (the “Demand Registration Filing Date”), the Company will
prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act
covering all of the Registrable Securities requested to be included therein, and
the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the
effectiveness of such registration as soon as practicable as would permit or
facilitate the resale and distribution of all securities requested to be
registered. If, however, the Company furnishes to the requesting
Control Seller a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the
Chairman of the Board of the Company prior to the Demand Registration Filing
Date stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be
seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders (and/or such
applicable transaction) for such registration statement to be filed by reason of
a material pending transaction (including a financing transaction, whether a
primary or resale distribution) or the Company has determined in good faith,
after consultation with outside counsel, that the filing of a registration
request would require the disclosure of material information which the Company
has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, then the
Company has the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety
(90) days after the Demand Registration Filing Date.
“Registrable
Securities” means any and all shares of Common Stock (i) that were issued to the
Registration Rights Holders in connection with the Acquisition Agreement and
(ii) issued or issuable with respect to the Common Stock referred to in clause
(i) above upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reclassification, exchange, merger or other similar event; provided that
Registrable Securities will exclude any and all Seller Restricted Shares until
such time as such shares will have been released to the relevant Control Seller
without restriction pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement.
Pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will be obligated to effect
only one demand registration requested by Krassner and only one demand
registration requested by Esch; provided that if any such registration is
commenced and is not consummated due to the revocation of the initial request by
Krassner or Esch, as applicable, at least ten (10) business days prior to the
anticipated effective date of the relevant registration, the Registration Rights
Holder that requested such registration will retain his one demand
right. Additionally, the Company will be obligated to effect only one
registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (whether requested by
Esch or Krassner) in any nine-month period.
Piggyback
Registration Rights
If at any
time or from time to time from and after the execution of the Registration
Rights Agreement and ending on the eighth anniversary thereof, the Company
determines to register any of its securities, either for its own account or the
account of any security holder or holders, the Company will (i) promptly give to
Esch and Krassner written notice thereof and (ii) include in such registration
(and any related qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance), and in
any underwriting involved therein, all of the Registrable Securities specified
in a written request, made within 15 days after receipt of such written notice
from the Company, by Esch and Krassner (on their own behalf and on behalf of
their respective affiliates), but only to the extent that the original issuance
or resale distribution of such Registrable Securities is not already covered by
an effective registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the following registrations will not trigger the abovementioned registration
rights: (i) a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans
on Form S-8 (or any successor form) or relating to a dividend reinvestment plan,
stock option plan or other compensation plan, (ii) a registration on Form S-4
(or any successor form) or other registration in connection with mergers,
acquisitions, exchange offers or similar transactions, (iii) a registration on
any form that does not permit secondary sales or (iv) a registration relating
solely to a subscription offering or a rights offering.
Patterson
(and Derek Fromm, to the extent he becomes the owner of any Registrable
Securities) will have piggyback registration rights commensurate with (and
subject to the same limitations and restrictions) as the rights of the Control
Sellers with respect to Registrable Securities held by Patterson.
Expenses
The
Company will pay (i) all reasonable and customary expenses incurred in
connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) reasonable fees of one counsel for the
Registration Rights Holders and any of their affiliates holding Registrable
Securities (each a “Holder”) (up to a maximum of $10,000) in the case of a
registration in which a Holder participates and (iii) any other similar out of
pocket expenses incurred by any such Holder pursuant to any applicable
underwriting agreement in connection with a registration. All
underwriting, selling broker or dealer manager fees, discounts and selling
expenses and commissions relating to Registrable Securities registered on behalf
of a Holder will be borne by such Holder.
Indemnification
The
Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners
and affiliates, such Holder’s legal counsel and independent accountants, if any,
each person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, each underwriter, if any, and each person who controls any
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (the “Holder
Indemnified Persons”) against all claims, losses, damages, liabilities and
expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) (or actions in respect thereof),
including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any litigation,
commenced or threatened, arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or
alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration
statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any omission
(or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (“Claims”),
or any violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated under the
Securities Act or any state securities laws applicable to the Company and
relating to action or inaction by the Company in connection with any such
registration, qualification or compliance, and will reimburse each such Holder
and the Holder Indemnified Persons for any legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or action (“Expenses”); provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
Expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in
such registration statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
Each
Holder (and Esch and Krassner, as the case may be, on behalf of his affiliated
Holders) will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the
securities as to which such registration, qualification or compliance is being
effected, severally indemnify the Company, each of its directors, officers,
partners and affiliates, their respective legal counsel and independent
accountants, each underwriter, if any, of the Company’s securities covered by
such a registration statement, each person who controls the Company or such
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (the “Company
Indemnified Persons”), and each other such Holder and the Holder Indemnified
Persons, against all Claims, and will reimburse the Company, the Company
Indemnified Persons, such Holders and the Holder Indemnified Persons for any
Expenses, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is
made in such registration statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Holder (or Esch and/or Krassner on behalf thereof) regarding
such Holder and/or such Holder’s method of distribution expressly for use in
such registration statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto; provided, however, that the obligations of each Holder (and Esch and/or
Krassner, as applicable, on behalf thereof) shall be limited to an amount equal
to the net proceeds to such Holder and of Registrable Securities sold pursuant
to such registration statement.
Effectiveness;
Termination
The
Registration Rights Agreement will become effective upon the Closing of the
Acquisition Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement and all
rights and obligations thereunder (other than the indemnification provisions
which shall survive) will terminate upon the earlier of (i) eight years
following the date of the execution of the Registration Rights Agreement or (ii)
at such time as the Control Sellers and their affiliates no longer hold any
Common Stock.
Equity
Financing Agreement
On August
25, 2008, concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company entered into the Equity Financing Agreement with Newcastle, which
currently owns 19,380,768 shares or approximately 36% of the Common Stock, for
the purpose of obtaining financing to complete the transactions contemplated by
the Acquisition Agreement. Pursuant to the Equity Financing
Agreement, subject to and conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition
Agreement, the Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common
Stock at $0.247 per share, or approximately (but slightly higher than) the per
share price applicable to the Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition
Agreement. In addition, under the Equity Financing Agreement,
Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at any time or times
prior to six months following the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, up to an
additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock on the same terms. Any issuance
by the Company of Common Stock under the Equity Financing Agreement will also
include the associated share purchase rights issued under the rights agreement
dated as of July 10, 2006 between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust
Company, as amended, on a one-for-one basis.
The
Equity Financing Agreement is subject to certain conditions, including the
parties’ entry into a registration rights agreement upon the Closing of the
Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Newcastle will be granted certain
demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Stock it
holds, including the Common Stock issuable under the Equity Financing
Agreement. Such registration rights agreement will be substantially
in the form of a form of registration rights agreement attached as Exhibit A to
the Equity Financing Agreement.
The
Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the $3,000,000 of shares of
Common Stock to fund the purchase price to acquire the Wilhelmina Companies and
the proceeds from the sale of, at the Company’s election, up to an additional
$2,000,000 of shares of Common Stock (if any) for other general corporate
purposes.
Pursuant
to the Equity Financing Agreement each party agrees to indemnify and hold the
other party harmless against any loss, liability, damage or expense (including
reasonable legal fees and costs) that the indemnified party may suffer, sustain
or become subject to as a result of or in connection with the breach by the
indemnifying party of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
indemnifying party contained in the Equity Financing Agreement or any other
document executed in connection therewith; provided, however, that no
indemnification will be required for the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the indemnified party or breach by the indemnified party of any of its
representations and warranties set forth in the Equity Financing
Agreement.
If the
closing of the Equity Financing Agreement has not occurred prior to the
termination of the Acquisition Agreement, the Equity Financing Agreement will
terminate upon the termination of the Acquisition
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the commitment
to purchase, at the Company’s election, up to an additional $2,000,000 of shares
of Common Stock, effective upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, will
terminate six months following the Closing of the Acquisition
Agreement.
The
Equity Financing Agreement was approved by an independent special committee of
the Board (the “Special Committee”) on August 18, 2008.
Mutual
Support Agreement
On August
25, 2008, in connection with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Control Sellers entered into the Mutual Support Agreement with
Newcastle. Pursuant to the Mutual Support Agreement, Newcastle agreed
to vote its shares of Common Stock in favor of the Acquisition Agreement and
certain amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation designed to, among other
things, facilitate the closing of the transactions under the Acquisition
Agreement (the “Approved Amendments”) at the meeting of the Company’s
stockholders to be held for the purpose of approving the Acquisition Agreement
and related transactions. The Approved Amendments include, but are
not limited to (i) an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock
authorized, (ii) the declassification of the Board and (iii) a change in the
Company’s name. Newcastle also irrevocably (until the Closing of the
Acquisition Agreement) granted to, and appointed, Derek Fromm (agent for the
Control Sellers) and any designee of the Control Sellers, as Newcastle’s
attorney, agent and proxy, with full power of substitution, with respect to all
of Newcastle’s Common Stock to vote and otherwise act (i) in favor of the
Approved Amendments and (ii) against any action or agreement that could
reasonably be expected to result in a material breach by the Company under the
Acquisition Agreement or any other material binding agreement entered into in
connection therewith.
Pursuant
to the Mutual Support Agreement, the Control Sellers and Newcastle agreed,
effective upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, (i) to use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives serving on the
Board to vote to nominate and recommend the election of individuals designated
by such parties (three designees of Newcastle, one designee of Esch and one
designee of Krassner (collectively, the “Designees”)) and, in the event the
Board will appoint directors without stockholder approval, to use their
commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives on the Board to
appoint the Designees to the Board, (ii) to vote their shares of Common Stock to
elect the Designees at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders or pursuant to
any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting pursuant to which directors
are to be elected to the Board, and (iii) not to propose, and to vote their
Common Stock against, any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws, or the adoption of any other corporate measure, that frustrates or
circumvents the provisions of the Mutual Support Agreement with respect to the
election of the Designees. The Control Sellers and Newcastle also
agreed, effective upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, that for a
period of three years thereafter they will use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause their representatives on the Board to vote to maintain the size
of the Board at no more than nine persons, unless otherwise agreed to by the
Designees.
Additionally,
pursuant to the Mutual Support Agreement, Newcastle agreed that, prior to the
Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, it will not sell, sell short, transfer,
pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract,
option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer,
pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of its holdings of Common
Stock or any interest contained therein other than pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement, unless the person to which such shares are to be transferred agrees
to be bound by the Mutual Support Agreement. Newcastle also agreed
that, following the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement and until the
effectiveness of the first registration statement covering shares of Common
Stock issued under the Acquisition Agreement to the Control Sellers and
Patterson, if Newcastle or any of its affiliates desires to transfer its shares
of Common Stock to a third party purchaser in a transaction or series of related
transactions involving the transfer of Common Stock owned by Newcastle or its
affiliates representing in the aggregate at least 20% of the shares of Common
Stock held by Newcastle at such time, each of the Control Sellers will have the
right to participate in the proposed transfer up to a pro rata portion of its
shares of Common Stock.
The
obligations of the parties under the Mutual Support Agreement terminate upon the
earlier of (i) the written agreement of all of the parties, (ii) the termination
of the Acquisition Agreement or (iii) the date on which two of the three groups
of parties to the Mutual Support Agreement (Esch and his affiliates as one
group, Krassner and his affiliates as another group and Newcastle as another
group) each owns less than 5% of the Common Stock outstanding.
Escrow
Agreement
Pursuant
to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, the Control Sellers will enter into
the Escrow Agreements prior to the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement (one
agreement for Esch and Lorex, and another separate agreement for Krassner and
Krassner L.P.), a form of which is attached hereto as Annex E with respect to
the Seller Restricted Shares.
Appointment
of Escrow Agent
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP, counsel to the Company (the “Escrow
Agent”), will be appointed to serve as escrow agent under the Escrow
Agreement. Each Control Seller will also irrevocably appoint the
Escrow Agent as his or its (as the case may be) attorney-in-fact and agent for
the term of the Escrow Agreement to execute with respect to the property
required to be deposited with the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement (the
“Escrow Property”) all documents necessary or appropriate to complete any
transaction contemplated under the Escrow Agreement.
Rights
of Control Sellers in Seller Restricted Shares
During
the Escrow Period (as defined below), the Seller Restricted Shares may not be
sold, exchanged, assigned, gifted, encumbered, pledged, mortgaged, set over,
hypothecated, transferred or otherwise disposed of, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, or by operation of law (collectively, a “Transfer”) by any of the
Control Sellers, except with the express written consent of the
Company. Any purported and attempted Transfer of any Seller
Restricted Shares or other Escrow Property while held in escrow under the Escrow
Agreement will be void ab
initio (except a Transfer pursuant to certain extraordinary transactions
such as the merger or sale of New Century), and such Seller Restricted Shares
will thereupon become immediately repurchasable by the Company from the Control
Seller for $.0001 per share.
During
the Escrow Period, subject to the provisions of the Mutual Support Agreement and
the Escrow Agreement, the Control Sellers will retain all rights as stockholders
of the Company including, without limitation, the right to vote the Seller
Restricted Shares. Additionally, during the Escrow Period, all
dividends payable in stock, cash or other non-cash property (“Dividends”) will
be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms of the
Escrow Agreement. The Seller Restricted Shares, as defined under the
Escrow Agreement, includes any non-cash dividends distributed
thereon. In the event of dissolution of the Company, or the partial
or complete liquidation of all or substantially all of its assets, or in the
event of bankruptcy or insolvency, the Seller Restricted Shares will participate
in, on a pro rata basis, with all other shares in any distribution dividend,
including in the event of a merger or consolidation, or sale of
assets. The amount per Seller Restricted Share will be adjusted in
the event of a stock split or reclassification of the Common Stock.
The
Seller Restricted Shares will not be included in any registration (and will not
qualify as “registrable securities” or securities for which any demand or
piggyback rights under any registration rights agreement may be exercised) until
such time as the underlying shares are released to the Control Sellers pursuant
to the terms of the Escrow Agreement and no restrictions apply
thereto.
Company
Repurchase Rights
Upon
delivery to the Escrow Agent of appropriate written instructions, executed by
the Company and copied to the Control Sellers, indicating that a Core Decrease
is required pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, unless the Control Sellers
raise an objection in compliance with the Acquisition Agreement, the Escrow
Agent will promptly, in accordance with such written instructions, (i) release
the applicable Escrow Property and (ii) execute such transfer documents to make
effective a repurchase by the Company of the Seller Restricted Shares consistent
with the provisions of the Acquisition Agreement. Following
completion of the Company’s fiscal year 2008 audit and full satisfaction of any
required Core Decrease or Core Increase pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement
(by way of a cash payment or the repurchase of Seller Restricted Shares, in
either case actually effected in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition
Agreement), the Escrow Agent will release to each Control Seller all but
$500,000 (or such lesser amount as remains in escrow following the foregoing
repurchase) of the Seller Restricted Shares previously issued to the Control
Sellers.
Upon
delivery to the Escrow Agent of appropriate written instructions, executed by
the Company and copied to the Control Sellers, indicating that a Total
Divisional Loss and/or an Excess Divisional Loss exists as provided in the
Acquisition Agreement, unless the Control Sellers raise an objection in
compliance with the Acquisition Agreement, in which event such objections must
be resolved pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Escrow Agent will
promptly, in accordance with such written instructions, (i) release the
applicable Escrow Property and (ii) execute such transfer documents to make
effective a repurchase of the Seller Restricted Shares consistent with the
provisions of the Acquisition Agreement.
Upon
delivery to the Escrow Agent of appropriate written instructions, executed by
the Company and copied to the Control Sellers, indicating that the Designated
Matter Post Closing Amount exceeds the Designated Matter Cash Deduction, unless
the Control Sellers raise an objection in compliance with the Acquisition
Agreement, in which event such objections must be resolved pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement, the Escrow Agent will promptly, in accordance with such
written instructions, (i) release the applicable Escrow Property and (ii)
execute such transfer documents to make effective a repurchase of Designated
Holdback Shares consistent with the provisions of the Acquisition
Agreement. If not theretofore repurchased, any remaining Designated
Matter Holdback Shares of the Control Sellers will be released no later than 90
days following the later of (i) final settlement with respect to a designated
due diligence matter and (ii) full
satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core Increase pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement.
Company
Claims for Indemnification
At any
time and from time to time during the Claims Period (as defined below), the
Company may deliver to the Escrow Agent any number of written notices (each, an
“Indemnification Notice”), with copies to the Control Sellers, (i) stating that
the Company may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement (an “Indemnification Claim”), (ii) stating the Company’s good faith
estimate of the amount of losses (the “Claim Amount”) with respect to such
Indemnification Claim or if the maximum amount of losses cannot reasonably be
estimated by the Company, a statement to that effect, and (iii) specifying the
nature of such Indemnification Claim in reasonable detail.
As soon
as practicable, but in no event later than five business days, following receipt
by the Escrow Agent of written instructions signed by each of the
representatives of the Company and the Control Sellers directing the Escrow
Agent to release the Claim Amount (or any other amount mutually agreed upon) (a
“Payment Authorization”), the Escrow Agent will pay to the Company the amount
set forth in such Payment Authorization from the Escrow Property. At
the election of the Company, all or the relevant portion of a Claim Amount may
be satisfied by forfeiture of any remaining Seller Restricted Shares which stock
will be deemed to have a cash value equal to its Market Value (as defined in the
Acquisition Agreement) as of the date of forfeiture (or return) as
applicable.
The
claims period under the Escrow Agreement (the “Claims Period”) will begin on the
date following the issuance of an auditor’s opinion in connection with, and upon
completion of, the Company’s fiscal year 2008 audit and terminate on the last
date on which New Century can bring a claim for indemnification for that
particular claim under the Acquisition Agreement (the “Final Claim
Date”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, prior to the close of
business on the Final Claim Date, the Company properly submits an
Indemnification Claim and such Indemnification Claim is not finally resolved or
disposed of by such date, such Indemnification Claim will continue to survive
and remain a basis for payment under the Escrow Agreement until such
Indemnification Claim is finally resolved or disposed of in accordance with the
terms of the Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither
the exhaustion of Seller Restricted Shares nor other Escrow Property will in any
event limit the amount otherwise required to be paid by an indemnifying party
pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement.
Indemnification
of Escrow Agent
Pursuant
to the Escrow Agreement, the Company and the Control Sellers agree, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent, and its partners,
directors, officers, employees, and agents, from and against all costs, damages,
judgments, reasonable attorneys’ fees (whether such attorneys will be regularly
retained or specifically employed), expenses, obligations and liabilities of
every kind and nature that the Escrow Agent, and its partners, directors,
officers, employees, and agents, incur, sustain, or are required to pay in
connection with or arising out of the Escrow Agreement, unless the
aforementioned results from the Escrow Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct, and to pay the Escrow Agent on demand the amount of all such
costs, damages, judgments, attorneys’ fees, expenses, obligations, and
liabilities. The costs and expenses of enforcing such right of
indemnification will be paid one-half by the Company and one-half by the Control
Sellers.
Termination
The
Escrow Agreement will terminate sixty (60) days following the occurrence of
either (i) a repurchase of any Seller Restricted Shares by the Company in
response to a Total Divisional Loss and/or an Excess Divisional Loss or (ii) the
payment by the Company of an earnout payment under the Acquisition Agreement;
provided that, if any Indemnification Claim for which the Company has a right of
offset remains outstanding as of the date applicable in clause (i) or (ii)
above, the Escrow Agreement will terminate upon the resolution of all such
outstanding Indemnification Claims. In the event the Escrow Agreement
is terminated pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) above and any Seller Restricted
Shares or other Escrow Property remain in the escrow under the Escrow Agreement
at such time, such remaining shares (or, if applicable, any excess cash after
giving effect to the provisions thereof) will be released to the Control
Sellers. Upon termination of the Escrow Agreement, all restrictions
contained in the Escrow Agreement with respect to the released shares will lapse
and terminate. The period commencing on the date of the execution of
the Escrow Agreement and ending on the date of termination thereof is referred
to herein as the “Escrow Period.”
Rights
of Escrow Agent
The
Company and the Control Sellers will reimburse the Escrow Agent for all
reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Escrow
Agent in performance of its duties under the Escrow Agreement (including
reasonable fees and expenses). Up to one-half of any fees or expenses
of the Escrow Agent or its counsel that are not paid as provided for under the
Escrow Agreement may be taken from the Escrow Property, provided however that
any such reduction in the Escrow Property will be applied to reduce any amounts
owed by the Control Sellers.
If the
Escrow Agent becomes involved in any dispute or litigation in connection with
the Escrow Agreement, it will have the right to retain counsel and will have a
lien on the Escrow Property for up to one-half of the amount of all reasonable
and necessary costs, attorneys’ fees, charges, disbursements and expenses in
connection with such litigation, and will be entitled to reimburse itself for
such expenses out of the Escrow Property. If up to one-half of the
amount of the Escrow Agent’s fees, costs, expenses, or reasonable attorneys’
fees provided for under the Escrow Agreement are not promptly paid by the
Control Sellers, the Escrow Agent will have the right to reimburse itself from
the Escrow Property for any amount remaining unpaid by the Control
Sellers.
The
Escrow Agent will not be personally liable for any act that it may do or omit to
do under the Escrow Agreement in good faith and in the exercise of its own best
judgment. The Control Sellers will, jointly and severally, indemnify
and hold harmless the Escrow Agent, and its partners, directors, officers,
employees, and agents, from and against all costs, damages, judgments,
reasonable attorneys’ fees (whether such attorneys shall be regularly retained
or specifically employed), expenses, obligations and liabilities of every kind
and nature that the Escrow Agent, and its partners, directors, officers,
employees, and agents, incur, sustain, or are required to pay in connection with
or arising out of the Escrow Agreement, unless the aforementioned results from
the Escrow Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
The terms
of the Acquisition Agreement are the result of arm’s-length negotiations between
representatives of the Company and the Wilhelmina Companies and their principal
owners. The following is a brief discussion of the background of
these negotiations and the related transactions.
Following
the economic downturn of 2000-2002, the Company divested itself of its then
remaining operating assets, which was largely completed by June
2004. Following June 2004, the Company focused on redeploying
its remaining assets to enhance stockholder value and, accordingly, sought,
analyzed and evaluated appropriate potential acquisition candidates for the
Company. The Company’s focus was to identify businesses with, among
other things, strong cash flow generating characteristics, a leading industry
position, a proven track record of success and growth potential and which could
be purchased at an attractive valuation.
The
Company faced certain challenges identifying suitable businesses for the Company
during the private equity boom of 2004-2007. Given significant
competition for acquisition opportunities, the prices of available businesses
were in many cases unacceptable, in the view of the Company’s
management. Additionally, the Company needed to educate potential
sellers of the benefits and opportunities inherent in selling to a public
company such as New Century, which, in seeking to identify a target to become
its dominant operating business, had characteristics similar to a special
purpose acquisition vehicle, or a “SPAC”. Notwithstanding these
challenges, the Company’s management team worked hard to identify potential
opportunities. Through various deal flow sources, the Company
received business plans, financial summaries or presentation books of numerous
target companies and also had preliminary discussions with various such targets
or their representatives with which no non-disclosure agreements were
signed.
In
considering potential targets for the Company, the Company’s management
considered, among other factors, those factors detailed in the section of this
proxy statement entitled “New
Century’s Reasons for the Acquisition; Recommendation of the Board”
beginning on page 119.
The
Company’s evaluation relating to the merits of a particular acquisition
opportunity were based, to the extent relevant, on the aforementioned factors as
well as other considerations deemed relevant by the Company’s management in
effecting an acquisition consistent with the Company’s objective. In evaluating
a prospective business target, the Company’s management conducted an extensive
due diligence review that encompassed, among other things, meetings with management,
where applicable, and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial
and other information that was available.
In
October 2007, the prospect of an acquisition of the Wilhelmina Companies was
brought to the Company by HD Capital, LLC (“HD Capital”), a third party who is
familiar with the modeling industry. HD Capital facilitated an
introduction between the principals of the Wilhelmina Companies and the
management of the Company. In November 2007, the Company signed a
non-disclosure agreement with the Wilhelmina Companies. New Century
has agreed to pay a “finder” fee in connection with the Acquisition to HD
Capital. The fee amount is expected to be no less than $300,000,
however, the parties are still in discussions and have not, as of the current
date, finalized the amount of such fee.
Following receipt of
relevant information (including financial information) and a preliminary due
diligence review of the target business by the Company’s management team in
November 2007, Mark Schwarz, the Company’s Interim Chief Executive
Officer, the Wilhelmina Companies’ principals, Dieter Esch and Brad Krassner,
and Sean Patterson, the President of Wilhelmina International, held an initial
meeting in New York at the end of November to discuss the Wilhelmina
Companies’ business and the possibility of a transaction. A
follow up meeting among Messrs. Schwarz, Esch and Krassner was then held in Park
City, Utah on December 2, 2007. At this meeting, Messrs. Schwarz,
Esch and Krassner further discussed the Wilhelmina Companies’ business and also
discussed the preliminary outlines of a potential transaction.
After
conducting additional due diligence, including a conference call between the
parties on certain legal and employment related matters on December 15, 2007,
the Company delivered a draft non-binding letter of intent to Messrs. Esch and
Krassner on December 21, 2007. The proposed draft non-binding letter
of intent included an initial valuation proposal and included a 90-day
exclusivity period in favor of the Company during which further due diligence
activities and transaction negotiations would occur.
Preliminary
discussions between Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Krassner with respect to valuation
ensued during and following the Christmas holiday period of 2007.
On
January 4, 2008, the Company delivered a revised draft non-binding letter of
intent to Messrs. Esch and Krassner. The revised draft non-binding
letter of intent included an increase in the applicable enterprise value
transaction multiple (from 7x to 7.5x EBITDA), in addition to certain other
refinements in a proposed earnout structure.
On
January 14, 2008, Messrs. Schwarz, Esch and Krassner, together with other
members of Company management and certain advisors to the parties, met at the
Company’s offices in Dallas, Texas to hold further preliminary talks with
respect to a potential transaction on the terms outlined in the January 4 draft
non-binding letter of intent. At the meeting, issues of valuation and
earnout structures, along with the purchase of Wilhelmina Miami, the assumption
of certain outstanding debt of Wilhelmina Miami and responsibility for any
change of control payments, were principally discussed. Following the
meeting, on January 18, 2008, the Company delivered a further revised
non-binding letter of intent, executed by Mr. Schwarz, to Messrs. Esch and
Krassner reflecting the discussions that took place at the January 14 meeting in
Dallas. Among other things, the revised proposal included a closing
payment to the principals (50% cash and 50% stock) based on an
enterprise value transaction multiple of 8X 2007 “Core” EBITDA, subject to later
adjustment for deficiencies relative to a multiple of 7.5X the average of 2007
and 2008 “Core” EBITDA. The revised letter of intent also included
certain additional refinements, including to the earnout and price adjustment
mechanisms and responsibility with respect to the change of control
payments.
On
January 28, 2008, Mr. Krassner executed the January 18 non-binding letter of
intent with certain additional minor comments. The executed letter of
intent included a 90-day exclusivity period in favor of the
Company.
During
February and March 2008, the Company proceeded to conduct financial due
diligence on the Wilhelmina Companies, including with the services of a third
party consulting firm specializing in such activities for the private equity and
hedge fund industry, Riveron Consulting, LP. In addition, during this
time, the Company’s outside legal counsel, Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig and
Wolosky LLP (“Olshan”) was engaged to represent the Company on the proposed
transaction and also proceeded to conduct customary legal due
diligence. Both the financial and legal advisors to the Company
performed certain such due diligence activities onsite at the offices of the
Wilhelmina Companies in New York City, including in late February and early
March.
On
February 19, 2008, Messrs. Schwarz, Esch, Krassner and Patterson had a lunch
meeting in New York to discuss the proposed transaction.
On March
7, 2008, the Company delivered a first draft of the Acquisition Agreement to
Messrs. Esch and Krassner based on the terms set forth in the January 18
non-binding letter of intent. Discussions between the parties on
certain terms of the Acquisition Agreement ensued.
On April
9, 2008, Loeb & Loeb LLP (“Loeb”), outside legal counsel to the
Wilhelmina Companies, delivered a two-page draft written proposal memorandum to
the Company. Among other things, the proposal memorandum
requested a fixed amount of consideration to be issued at closing ($15,000,000
in cash and $15,000,000 in stock) in respect of all outstanding equity of the
Wilhelmina Companies and their affiliated indebtedness, as opposed to a closing
price based strictly on a multiple of 2007 EBITDA as contemplated by the
parties’ January 18 non-binding letter of intent. The proposal
memorandum also requested, among other things, certain unspecified veto rights
in favor of Messrs. Esch and Krassner on the Company’s business going forward
and further proposed that Messrs. Esch and Krassner not assume certain
outstanding indebtedness owed by Wilhelmina Miami to Wilhelmina International,
as was previously contemplated by the parties. Loeb then proceeded to
deliver comments to the draft Acquisition Agreement to Olshan on April 16,
2008.
In mid
and late April 2008, further discussions on transaction terms between the
parties ensued, including between representatives of the Company and
representatives from the law firm of Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky
(“Strassburger”), which had been engaged by Mr. Krassner to represent him and
his affiliates. In addition to the items previously raised by Loeb,
Strassburger raised certain additional issues with representatives of the
Company, including, among other things, issues with respect to the valuation,
timing and conditions of the release of restricted shares to be issued to
Messrs. Esch and Krassner at the closing based on the results of operations for
2008, the terms of any affiliated or third party financing for the acquisition
and a commitment from the Company or Newcastle, the Company’s largest
stockholder, with respect to financing for future acquisitions by the
Company. Messrs. Esch and Krassner and representatives of the
Company also had extensive discussions regarding the mechanics of a net
debt-based price adjustment, in lieu of a working capital or net equity-based
adjustment as had been described in the draft non-binding letter of
intent. Following these various discussions and based on the
tentative outcome thereof, Olshan delivered a further revised markup of the
Acquisition Agreement to the Wilhelmina Companies and their principals and
representatives on May 2, 2008.
On May
15, 2008, Loeb delivered a revised markup of the Acquisition Agreement to the
Company and its advisors. Following this, on May 16, 2008,
representatives of the Company, Mr. Esch and advisors to Mr. Krassner held a
conference call to address certain issues raised in the latest Loeb markup,
including issues relating to the net debt-based price adjustment, noncompetition
covenants, the mechanics of the purchase of Wilhelmina Miami from its minority
stockholders and termination fee provisions.
On May
19, 2008, Messrs. Schwarz, Esch and Patterson had a dinner meeting in New York
to discuss the transaction, including Mr. Patterson’s role and employment
terms.
On May
20, 2008, representatives from Olshan met with representatives from Loeb at
Loeb’s offices in New York to narrow the scope of the remaining open legal
issues on the Acquisition Agreement.
In late
May and June 2008, drafts of the ancillary agreements to the Acquisition
Agreement were exchanged between the parties and negotiations were
conducted. Representatives of Newcastle, in such capacity, were also
actively involved in discussions with respect to a proposed voting and mutual
support agreement with the principals of the Wilhelmina Companies and their
advisors.
Over of
the weekend of May 31-June 1, 2008 and continuing through June 4,
representatives of the Company, Messrs. Esch and Krassner and advisors thereto
held extensive communications with respect to the price adjustment provisions of
the Acquisition Agreement, an issue that had remained unresolved since the
conference call of May 16, 2008. The parties discussed and refined a
net asset based price adjustment, in lieu of a net debt price
adjustment.
On June
12, 2008, Olshan delivered a revised draft of the Acquisition Agreement to
representatives of the Wilhelmina Companies and their principals and advisors
reflecting the outcome of discussions between Olshan and Loeb on certain legal
and tax-related issues and the separate discussions between representatives of
the Company and Messrs. Esch and Krassner with respect to price adjustment
provisions.
On June
18, 2008, Olshan delivered a further revised draft of the Acquisition Agreement
to representatives of the Wilhelmina Companies and their principals and
advisors.
On June
26, 2008, Olshan and Loeb held a conference call to discuss remaining issues on
the Acquisition Agreement and ancillary agreements.
On July
2, 2008, the Board convened a telephonic meeting to review the status and terms
of the proposed acquisition. Among other things, at the meeting, the
Board approved the formation of the Special Committee
to evaluate and negotiate the terms of the transaction financing proposed to be
provided by Newcastle. The Special Committee subsequently retained
legal counsel, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP (“Gardere”),
and hired a financial advisor, North Point Advisors LLC (“North Point”), to
evaluate the fairness of the proposed Financing Transaction with
Newcastle.
During
the month of July 2008, the Wilhelmina Companies and their auditors worked to
finalize the audit of the 2007 financial statements of the Wilhelmina
Companies. Representatives of the Wilhelmina Companies and their
principals also obtained the agreement of most of the minority stockholders of
Wilhelmina Miami with respect to the terms of the transaction.
On July
29, 2008, the Special Committee conducted its initial meeting by telephone
conference. Gardere participated in the meeting and discussed with the members
of the Special Committee issues relating to the members’ independence in order
to confirm they were qualified to serve on the Special Committee. The
Special Committee was advised by Gardere to take all necessary action to confirm
Gardere’s independence (which the Special Committee subsequently
did). Gardere advised the Special Committee to retain an investment
banker to help ensure that the Special Committee would satisfy its fiduciary
duties. Gardere also advised the Special Committee to determine
whether funding for the acquisition was available from sources other than
Newcastle in order to confirm that more favorable terms were not
available. Gardere and representatives of Newcastle subsequently
negotiated the terms of the Equity Financing Agreement and the Registration
Rights Agreement on multiple occasions prior to reaching an
agreement.
On July
30, 2008, the Company delivered a proposal to representatives of the Wilhelmina
Companies and their principals and advisors with respect to a particular due
diligence matter that had surfaced and, in the Company’s view, required minor
additional refinements to the Acquisition Agreement.
In late
July through mid August 2008, the Company, acting through the Special Committee,
and Newcastle negotiated the terms of the Financing Transaction with
Newcastle.
On August
14, 2008, the Wilhelmina Companies’ 2007 audit was completed.
From
August 15 through August 20, 2008 representatives of the Company and the
Wilhelmina Companies and their principals and advisors, together with
representatives of Newcastle where applicable, held discussions on the
Acquisition Agreement and the various ancillary agreements in order to finalize
them. Drafts of the Acquisition Agreement and the ancillary
agreements were revised and exchanged between the parties and their advisors on
several occasions.
On August
18, 2008, the Special Committee convened a second telephonic meeting and invited
Gardere to participate. The Special Committee reviewed and approved
the Equity Financing Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement in the forms
negotiated by Newcastle and Gardere and reviewed North Point’s opinion letter as
to the fairness to the Company and its stockholders, from a financial point of
view, of the Financing Transaction.
On August
20, 2008, the Board held a telephonic meeting and approved by a majority vote
the terms of the acquisition pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement. Steven J. Pully was the sole director to vote against the
Acquisition. At the meeting, the Board approved the terms of the
Financing Transaction with Newcastle. The Board’s approval was based, in
part, upon the recommendation of the Special Committee, which offered its
recommendation based, in part, upon the opinion of North Point that the terms of
the Financing Transaction were fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Company’s stockholders.
In the
late evening of August 25, 2008, the Acquisition Agreement and the applicable
ancillary documents were executed by the parties thereto, and on August 26,
2008, prior to the opening of the U.S. financial markets, the transaction was
publicly announced.
The
Company intends to account for the Acquisition as a purchase of the Wilhelmina
Companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
U.S. The Wilhelmina Companies will be treated as the acquired
entities for such purposes. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value of
the consideration paid by New Century in connection with the Acquisition will be
allocated to the Wilhelmina Companies’ assets based on their fair values as of
the completion of the Acquisition. The difference between the fair
value of the Wilhelmina Companies’ assets, liabilities and other items and the
aggregate fair value of the consideration paid by New Century will be recorded
as goodwill and other assets and intangibles. The results of
operations of the Wilhelmina Companies will be included in New Century’s
consolidated results of operations only for periods subsequent to the completion
of the Acquisition.
For U.S.
federal income tax purposes, New Century will allocate the aggregate fair market
value of the consideration paid by New Century in connection with the
acquisition of the Wilhelmina Companies among the respective Wilhelmina
Companies. With respect to New Century’s acquisition of the shares of
Wilhelmina International and Wilhelmina Miami, New Century will inherit those
entities’ tax basis in their respective assets and will not be able to increase
that tax basis to reflect the value of the aggregate consideration paid or the
fair market value of the assets. As a result, New Century’s tax-deductible
depreciation with respect to its investment in Wilhelmina International and
Wilhelmina Miami will be less than if the assets of those entities (including
goodwill) had been purchased at the time of the merger for their fair market
value. In addition, in the event that New Century in the future sells
any assets of those entities, taxable gain will be calculated by reference to
their inherited tax basis, as further adjusted. Furthermore, the use of the
Company’s NOLs to offset such taxable gain may be limited under the tax
laws. The acquisition of the interests in the Wilhelmina Companies
(other than Wilhelmina International and Wilhelmina Miami) will be treated as a
purchase of the assets of those entities for tax purposes.
Since New
Century stockholders will not be exchanging or otherwise disposing of their
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, including with
regard to the merger of Wilhelmina Acquisition with and into Wilhelmina
International, New Century stockholders will not recognize any gain or loss from
the Acquisition. No ruling has been, or will be, sought from the IRS
as to the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition
Agreement.
We
believe the Acquisition and the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition
Agreement are not subject to any federal or state regulatory requirement or
approval, except for filings necessary to effectuate the transactions
contemplated by the Acquisition Proposal with the Secretary of State of the
States of Delaware and New York. The amendments to the Certificate of
Incorporation discussed in connection with the Name Change Proposal, the
Capitalization Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and the
Declassification Proposal would become effective when filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware.
Post-Acquisition
Management
Upon the
consummation of the Acquisition, Wilhelmina International will be a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company and will be the Company’s primary operating
subsidiary. The current executive management of the Company will not
change as a result of the Acquisition. The executive management of
the Company will oversee the operations of the Wilhelmina International
subsidiary along with Sean Patterson, the current President of Wilhelmina
International, who will serve as the President of the subsidiary after the
consummation of the Acquisition. The Wilhelmina International
subsidiary will also have other officers appointed in accordance with the
Acquisition Agreement, however, these officers will not have any policy-making
functions.
Post-Acquisition
Ownership
It is
anticipated that immediately following the consummation of the Acquisition there
will be 128,580,227 shares of Common Stock outstanding with Newcastle, Esch and
his affiliates, and Krassner and his affiliates, owning approximately 24.5%,
23.6% and 23.6% of the Common Stock outstanding, respectively. See
“Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management” beginning on page 46.
The
Special Committee requested that North Point provide the Company with an opinion
as to the fairness to the Company and its stockholders, from a financial point
of view, of the Financing Transaction pursuant to which Newcastle, the Company’s
largest stockholder, will provide financing to the Company in order to
consummate the Acquisition. Pursuant to the Equity Financing
Agreement, subject to and conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common Stock at
approximately (but slightly higher than) the per share price applicable to the
Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition Agreement ($0.247 per share, subject
to adjustment). In addition, under the Equity Financing Agreement,
Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at any time or times
prior to six months following the Closing, up to an additional $2,000,000 of
Common Stock on the same terms.
North
Point is an investment banking boutique that provides confidential and strategic
advice to public and private companies and financial sponsors on mergers,
acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings. The Special Committee
determined to use the services of North Point because it is a recognized
investment-banking firm that has substantial experience in advising boards of
directors and rendering fairness opinions. North Point’s opinions are
addressed solely to our Special Committee for its use in connection with its
consideration of the proposed Financing Transaction. In its opinion
letter, North Point stated that its “...opinion does not constitute advice or a
recommendation to the Company or any stockholder of the Company...and shall not
confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the Special Committee
and the Board of Directors...” The Company has not investigated the
legal effect of this statement by North Point and expresses no opinion with
respect thereto. In any event, whether or not such language can
legally limit or otherwise affect any rights or remedies any stockholder of the
Company may have against North Point, such language in no event has any effect
on the rights and responsibilities of the Company’s Board of Directors under
applicable state law or the federal securities laws.
North
Point does not beneficially own any interest in either us or any of the
Wilhelmina Companies and has not provided either with any other
services.
On August
20, 2008, North Point delivered a presentation and its written opinion to the
Special Committee. North Point’s opinion stated that, as of August
20, 2008, and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, matters
considered, and limitations on its review as set forth in the opinion, the terms
of the Financing Transaction were fair, from a financial point of view, to the
Company and its stockholders. North Point did not determine or
recommend the amount of the consideration to be paid for the Common Stock in
connection with the Financing Transaction.
North Point’s opinion was provided to
the Special Committee in connection with its evaluation of the fairness of the
Financing Transaction. North Point’s opinion does not address any
other aspect of the Acquisition and does not constitute a recommendation to any
stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote or act with respect to any
matters relating to the Acquisition. Although the North Point
opinion was delivered as of August 20, 2008 and the Equity Financing Agreement
was not executed until August 25, 2008, no material changes were made to the
terms of the Equity Financing Agreement during the intervening
period.
North
Point acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee in connection with the
Financing Transaction and received a fee of $100,000 for providing its
opinion. The fee was not contingent upon the consummation of the
Financing Transaction or upon the conclusions expressed in the opinion regarding
the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the Company and its
stockholders of the terms of the Financing Transaction.
In
arriving at its opinion, North Point undertook such review, analyses and
inquiries, as it deemed necessary and appropriate under the
circumstances. Among other things, North Point reviewed:
(i) the
August 20, 2008 draft of the Equity Financing Agreement;
(ii) the
June 18, 2008 draft of the Acquisition Agreement;
(iii) certain
publicly available financial, operating and business information related to the
Company, including certain audited and unaudited financial statements of the
Company;
(iv) certain
internal information prepared and furnished by the Company’s management with
respect to the business, operations and prospects of the Company;
(v) certain
audited and unaudited financial statements, and certain internal information
prepared and furnished by the Wilhelmina Companies’ management with respect to
the business, operations and prospects of the Wilhelmina Companies;
(vi) to
the extent publicly available, information concerning selected transactions
which North Point deemed generally comparable to the proposed Financing
Transaction;
(vii) certain
publicly available financial and securities data of selected public companies
which North Point deemed generally comparable to the Company and the Wilhelmina
Companies;
(viii) certain
internal financial information of the Company and the Wilhelmina Companies,
prepared and furnished by the Company’s management and by the Wilhelmina
Companies’ management;
(ix) the
financial due diligence report completed by Riveron, dated March 5, 2008;
and
(x) certain
publicly available market and securities data of the Company.
North
Point also had discussions with members of the Company’s management concerning
the financial condition, current operating results, business outlook, historical
operating results and the regulatory and business outlook for the
Company.
North
Point relied upon and assumed the completeness, accuracy and fairness of (and
the absence of any misleading statements in) the financial statements, financial
forecasts, the Company management’s estimates as to the future performance of
the Company, and other information provided to it by or on behalf of the
Company, or otherwise made available to, discussed with, or reviewed by, North
Point, or publicly available, and North Point did not assume responsibility for
the independent verification of that information. North Point further
relied upon the assurances of the management of the Company that the information
provided to North Point by the Company was prepared on a reasonable basis in
accordance with industry practice and that such information provided a
reasonable basis upon which North Point could form its opinion.
North
Point further assumed that the management of the Company was not aware of any
information or facts that would have made the information provided to North
Point incomplete or misleading. North Point also assumed that there
were no material changes in the Company’s assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations, business or prospects since the respective
dates of the latest financial statements made available to North
Point. North Point assumed that the Company was not party to any
pending transaction, including external financing, recapitalization,
acquisition, merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its
assets, other than the Financing Transaction, the transaction contemplated by
the Acquisition Agreement or in the ordinary course of business.
In
rendering its opinion, North Point assumed, with the Special Committee’s
consent, that the Equity Financing Agreement would not differ in any material
respect from the August 20, 2008 draft North Point examined and that the
Company, Newcastle and Newcastle’s permitted assignees would comply with the
terms of the Equity Financing Agreement. North Point assumed, with
the Special Committee’s consent, that the Financing Transaction would be
consummated in accordance with the terms described in the Equity Financing
Agreement and that there would not be any adjustment to the per share
consideration to be paid in the Financing Transaction. With the
Special Committee’s consent, North Point assumed and relied upon the accuracy
and completeness of each of the representations and warranties contained in the
Equity Financing Agreement.
North
Point assumed that all the necessary regulatory approvals and consents required
for the Financing Transaction would be obtained in a manner that would not
change the terms of the Financing Transaction, including, without limitation,
the per share consideration to be paid in the Financing
Transaction. North Point further assumed that the Financing
Transaction would be consummated in a manner that complies in all respects with
the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all other
applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations.
North
Point was not requested to opine as to, and the North Point opinion does not
address, the basic business decision to proceed with or effect the Financing
Transaction. North Point did not structure or arrange the Financing
Transaction or negotiate the terms of the Financing
Transaction. North Point’s opinion does not address, nor should it be
construed to address, the relative merits of the Financing Transaction, on the
one hand, or any alternative business strategies or alternative transactions
that may be available to the Company, on the other hand, or any tax consequences
of the Financing Transaction.
North
Point’s opinion does not address the fairness of any specific portion of the
Financing Transaction. North Point advised the Special Committee on
potential alternative sources of equity capital, although North Point was not
authorized to and did not solicit any expression of interest from, or initiate
any discussions with, any other parties with respect to any alternative
transaction. North Point expressed no opinion with respect to the
value, which may be obtainable for the Company in a sale to a third party
following an auction process or otherwise. North Point expressed no
opinion as to what the actual value of any Company securities will be when
issued or the prices at which the Company’s securities will actually trade or be
transferable at any time.
In
arriving at its opinion, North Point did not perform any appraisals or
valuations of any specific assets or liabilities of the Company, North Point was
not furnished with any such appraisals or valuations, and North Point did not
make any physical inspection of any property or asset. North Point
expressed no opinion regarding the liquidation value or financial solvency of
any entity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, North
Point undertook no independent analysis of any pending or threatened litigation,
possible unasserted claims or other contingent liabilities, to which the Company
or any of its affiliates is a party or may be subject and, at the Company’s
direction and with its consent, North Point’s opinion makes no assumption
concerning, and therefore does not consider, the possible assertions of claims,
outcomes or damages arising out of any such matters.
North
Point’s opinion is necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions
as they exist and can be evaluated on the date thereof, and upon the information
available to North Point and facts and circumstances as they existed and are
subject to evaluation on the date thereof; events occurring after the date
thereof could materially affect the assumptions used in preparing North Point’s
opinion. North Point did not undertake to update, reaffirm or revise
its opinion or otherwise comment upon any events occurring after the date
thereof and does not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its
opinion. North Point expressed no opinion as to the reaction of the
public markets to the announcement or consummation of the Financing
Transaction.
In
arriving at its opinion, North Point did not attribute any particular weight to
any analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments
as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and
factor. Accordingly, North Point believes that its analyses must be
considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses, without
considering all analyses, would create an incomplete view of the process
underlying its opinion.
No
appraisal rights are available under the DGCL or under the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws to any stockholder who dissents from the Acquisition
Proposal.
When you
consider the recommendation of the Board in favor of the approval of the
Acquisition Proposal and the related proposals, you should keep in mind that
certain of the Company’s directors, director nominees and officers have
interests in the Acquisition that may be different from, or in addition to, your
interests as a stockholder. These interests include the following, among other
things.
Interests
of Mark Schwarz, Steven Pully, John Murray and Evan Stone
Newcastle
owns 19,380,768 shares of Common Stock of the Company, representing
approximately 36% of the outstanding shares.
Pursuant
to the Equity Financing Agreement by and between the Company and Newcastle,
subject to and conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common Stock at $0.247
per share, or approximately (but slightly higher than) the per share price
applicable to the Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition
Agreement. In addition, under the Equity Financing Agreement,
Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at any time or times
prior to six months following the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, up to an
additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock on the same terms.
The
Equity Financing Agreement is subject to certain conditions, including the
parties’ entry into a registration rights agreement upon the Closing of the
Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Newcastle will be granted certain
demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Stock it
holds, including the Common Stock issuable under the Equity Financing
Agreement.
It is
anticipated that, immediately following the consummation of the Acquisition,
Newcastle will own approximately 24.5% of the Common Stock
outstanding.
Mark
Schwarz, the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the
Company, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of NCM, the general partner
of Newcastle, and the managing member of NCG, the general partner of
NCM. Mr. Schwarz will be the Chairman of Wilhelmina International
upon consummation of the Acquisition.
Steven
Pully, one of the Company’s directors and its former Chief Executive Officer, is
a former representative of Newcastle.
John
Murray, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and one of the director nominees,
is the Chief Financial Officer of NCM. Mr. Murray will be a Vice
President of Wilhelmina International upon consummation of the
Acquisition.
Evan
Stone, one of the director nominees, is the Vice President and General Counsel
of NCM. Mr. Stone will be a Vice President of Wilhelmina International upon
consummation of the Acquisition.
Based
upon its evaluation, the Board, at a special meeting held on August 20, 2008 at
which all of the directors were present, resolved by a vote of 3 directors in
favor and 1 against to approve the Acquisition Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby and to recommend to our stockholders that they vote in
favor of the Acquisition. Steven J. Pully was the sole director to
vote against the Acquisition.
In the
course of reaching its recommendation, the Board consulted with management and
outside legal counsel and considered a wide variety of factors it deemed
relevant in connection with its evaluation of the Acquisition. In light of the
complexity of those factors, the Board, as a whole, did not consider it
practicable to, nor did it attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative
weights to specific factors it considered in reaching its decision. Individual
members of the Board may have given different weight to different
factors.
In
reaching its determination that approving the Acquisition is in the best
interests of the Company’s stockholders, a majority of the Board considered,
among other things, the nature of the business of the Wilhelmina Companies,
their operating results, the extent of due diligence conducted by the Company’s
management team, the various risks discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on
page 28 and the factors listed below.
In
considering the Acquisition, the Board gave consideration to, among others, the
following positive factors (although not weighted or in any order of
significance):
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ financial results, including their consistent
historical revenue, margin and cash
flow characteristics;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ leading competitive position in the modeling
business;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ forty year history and strong
reputation;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ extensive, diverse and quality roster of talent and
clients, including their lack of reliance on particular “supermodels” or
significant large clients;
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the
Wilhelmina Companies’ growth prospects, including in talent management and
brand licensing;
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acquisition
opportunities within the modeling and talent management industries
worldwide;
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the
relative size and consideration mix of the Acquisition, including the
ability of the Company and its management team to execute the Acquisition
without significant additional
financing;
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the
opportunity for the Company – which has been searching extensively for an
appropriate acquisition candidate since June 2004 – to execute and
complete a transaction of a high quality business at a price that the
management team considered
attractive;
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the
willingness and desire of the principal owners of the Wilhelmina Companies
to receive a meaningful portion of the sale consideration in Company
equity and structured earnouts, whose value in each case would be
dependent on the future operating success of the Company and the
Wilhelmina Companies;
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the
experience, ability and relationships of the Wilhelmina Companies’
executives and their principal owners in the modeling and talent
management businesses;
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the
experience and ability of the Company’s management in analyzing, investing
in, acquiring and building businesses in the U.S. and
abroad;
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the
relative simplicity and attractiveness of the Wilhelmina Companies’
existing business model;
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the
limited capital requirements associated with the Wilhelmina Companies’
business;
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the
possible excitement and interest generated for a small public company
through the ownership of a “high profile” modeling
business;
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strong
indemnification and set-off provisions in the Acquisition
Agreement to cover any pre-existing problems and certain future operating
losses, including security in the form of shares of Company stock;
and
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strong
noncompetition covenants applying to the Control
Sellers.
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The Board
also considered certain potential risks or negative factors relating to the
Acquisition, including, but not limited to, the following:
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strong
dependence of the Wilhelmina Companies on the retention of their pool of
talent and certain key management personnel and
“bookers”;
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the
relative lack of experience of the Company’s management team in the
modeling and talent management
businesses;
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the
incremental work, preparation and expense associated with preparing the
Wilhelmina Companies’ to be the principal operating business of a U.S.
public company, including the need for certain experienced public company
executives; and
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risk
of non-completion of the Acquisition, including in the event that the
requisite stockholder vote to approve the Acquisition is not
received.
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The Board
members who voted in favor of the Acquisition concluded that the potentially
negative factors associated with the Acquisition were substantially outweighed
by the positive factors identified above and the opportunity and potential to
enhance stockholder value through the Acquisition.
The
approval of the Acquisition Proposal will require the affirmative vote of not
less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF
THE ACQUISITION PROPOSAL.
CHANGE
OF NAME TO “WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL, INC.”
On
October 7, 2008, the Board approved and deemed advisable an amendment to Article
I of the Certificate of Incorporation, which, if approved and adopted by the
Company’s stockholders, would effect a change in the Company’s name from “New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.” to “Wilhelmina International,
Inc.” The change in the Company’s name would become effective upon
the filing of a corresponding amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with
the Secretary of State of Delaware.
This
Name Change Proposal is conditioned upon and subject to the approval of the
Acquisition Proposal and the consummation of the Acquisition.
In the
judgment of a majority of the Board, the change of the Company’s name is
desirable and necessary to appropriately reflect the fact that the business of
the Wilhelmina Companies will become the principal operating business of the
Company upon the consummation of the Acquisition. “Wilhelmina
International, Inc.” is a recognized name in the model and talent management
industry.
If the
Name Change Proposal is approved and adopted, the change of name will not affect
in any way the validity or transferability of the currently outstanding shares
of Common Stock. Previously issued stock certificates will continue
to represent the same number of shares of Common Stock and remain authentic, and
it will not be necessary for stockholders to surrender their stock certificates
following the change of the Company’s name. Instead, when
certificates are presented for transfer, new certificates bearing the name
“Wilhelmina International, Inc.” will be issued.
The
complete text of a form of Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation reflecting the foregoing proposed amendment is set forth as Annex
F to this proxy statement, and stockholders are urged to review Annex F together
with the foregoing information, which is qualified in its entirety by reference
to Annex F.
Vote
Required
The
approval and adoption of the Name Change Proposal will require the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION OF THE NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL.
INCREASE
IN NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AUTHORIZED
On
October 7, 2008, a majority of the Board approved and deemed advisable an
amendment to Article IV, Section 4.1 of the Certificate of Incorporation, which,
if approved and adopted by the Company’s stockholders, would increase the number
of authorized shares of Common Stock to 250,000,000 and thereby increase the
number of authorized shares of all classes of the Company’s stock to
260,000,000. The increase in the number of authorized shares of
Common Stock would become effective upon the filing of a corresponding amendment
to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of
Delaware.
This
Capitalization Proposal is conditioned upon and subject to the approval of the
Acquisition Proposal.
The
purpose of the Capitalization Proposal is to provide a sufficient number of
shares to be reserved for issuance in order to consummate the Acquisition
Agreement, the Equity Financing Agreement and the transactions associated
therewith, and for other corporate uses. Once authorized,
the additional shares of Common Stock may be issued by the Board without the
delay incidental to obtaining stockholder approval of an amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation at the time of such issuance, unless such
stockholder approval is required by law or applicable stock exchange
requirements.
Currently,
the Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company is authorized to
issue up to 85,000,000 shares of all classes of the Company’s stock, including
75,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of
which 1,000,000 are designated shares of Series A Stock. As of the
Record Date, 53,883,872 shares of Common Stock and no shares of Series A
Stock were issued and outstanding. Based upon the book value of the
Common Stock on July 31, 2008, approximately 74,696,354 shares of Common Stock
are expected to be issued upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement (in
connection with the Acquisition Agreement and the Equity Financing
Agreement). Accordingly, assuming the approval of the Acquisition
Proposal, the Company will need to issue more shares of Common Stock than are
currently available for issuance under the Certificate of
Incorporation.
Amending
our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of
Common Stock will not alter the number of shares of Common Stock presently
issued and outstanding or change the relative rights of holders of such
shares. If the Capitalization Proposal is approved and implemented by
the Company, the additional shares of Common Stock will be identical in all
respects to our presently authorized shares of Common Stock. Holders
of Common Stock have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any newly
issued shares of Common Stock. Therefore, the authorization and
subsequent issuance of additional shares of Common Stock may, among other
things, have a dilutive effect on the voting power, earnings per share and
equity interest of existing holders of Common Stock. However, the
actual effect on the present holders of Common Stock cannot be ascertained until
such additional shares of Common Stock are issued. No appraisal
rights will be afforded to our stockholders under the DGCL as a result of the
approval of the Capitalization Proposal.
While a
significant portion of the newly available authorized shares of Common Stock
will be reserved for issuance in connection with the Acquisition Agreement and
the Equity Financing Agreement, the availability of authorized but unissued
shares may enable our Board to render it more difficult or to discourage an
attempt to obtain control of the Company, which may adversely affect the market
price of our Common Stock. If in the due exercise of its fiduciary
obligations, for example, our Board were to determine that a takeover proposal
were not in the best interests of the Company, such shares could be issued by
the Board without stockholder approval in one or more private placements or
other transactions that might prevent or render more difficult or make more
costly the completion of any attempted takeover transaction by diluting voting
or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder group, by
creating a substantial voting block in institutional or other hands that might
support the position of the incumbent Board, by effecting an acquisition that
might complicate or preclude the takeover, or otherwise. The
authorization of additional shares of Common Stock will also enable us to have
the flexibility to authorize the issuance of shares of Common Stock in the
future for financing our business, for acquiring other businesses, for forming
strategic partnerships and alliances and for stock dividends and stock
splits. We currently have no such plans, proposals, or arrangements,
written or otherwise, to issue any of the additional authorized shares of Common
Stock for such purposes.
The
complete text of a form of Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation reflecting the foregoing proposed amendment is set forth as Annex
F to this proxy statement, and stockholders are urged to review Annex F together
with the foregoing information, which is qualified in its entirety by reference
to Annex F.
Vote
Required
The
approval and adoption of the Capitalization Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our
Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION OF THE CAPITALIZATION PROPOSAL.
AUTHORITY
TO EFFECT REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
On
October 7, 2008, a majority of the Board approved and deemed advisable, subject
to stockholder approval, a proposal to grant authority to the Board to effect a
reverse stock split of our Common Stock at a ratio within the range from
one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number
within this range to be determined by our Board in its discretion (the “Reverse
Stock Split”). Approval and adoption of the Reverse Stock Split
Proposal would give the Board discretionary authority to implement the Reverse
Stock Split at any time prior to December 31, 2009. The Reverse Stock
Split would become effective upon the filing of a corresponding amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of
Delaware.
This
Reverse Stock Split Proposal is conditioned upon and subject to the approval of
the Acquisition Proposal.
The Board
intends to effect the Reverse Stock Split only if it believes that a decrease in
the number of shares outstanding may increase the per share market price of the
Common Stock and improve the trading market for the Common Stock. If
stockholders approve and adopt the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Board will
have the discretion to implement only one Reverse Stock Split at any time prior
to December 31, 2009, or effect no Reverse Stock Split at all. The
Board reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder approval and without
further action by stockholders, to not proceed with the Reverse Stock Split if
at any time prior to filing an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Board determines that
the Reverse Stock Split is no longer in the best interests of the Company and
the stockholders. If the Reverse Stock Split is approved and adopted
by the stockholders but is subsequently not implemented by the Board by December
31, 2009, then the Reverse Stock Split Proposal will be deemed abandoned without
any further effect and the Board’s authority to effect the Reverse Stock Split
will terminate. In such case, the Board may again seek stockholder
approval at a future date for a reverse stock split if it deems a reverse stock
split to be advisable at that time.
By voting
to approve the proposed amendment, the Company’s stockholders will be
authorizing the Board, without further stockholder approval, to determine the
ratio of the Reverse Stock Split of between one-for-ten to
one-for-thirty. In connection with any determination to effect a
Reverse Stock Split, the Board will select the Reverse Stock Split ratio that it
believes will result in the greatest marketability of the Company’s Common Stock
based on prevailing market conditions. No further action on the part
of the Company’s stockholders will be required for the Board to select the
Reverse Stock Split ratio or to either effect or abandon the Reverse Stock
Split. If no Reverse Stock Split is effected by December 31, 2009,
the Board’s authority to effect the Reverse Stock Split will
terminate. In addition, by voting to approve the proposed amendment,
the Company’s stockholders will be authorizing the Company’s officers to make
immaterial changes to the proposed amendment as the Company’s officers executing
the amendment may deem appropriate.
The Board
may consider a variety of factors in determining whether or not to implement the
Reverse Stock Split, including, but not limited to, overall trends in the stock
market, recent changes and anticipated trends in the per share market price of
the Common Stock, business and transactional developments and the Company’s
actual and projected business and financial performance.
Adjustments
to the Company’s financial statements to reflect the Reverse Stock Split are
expected to be minimal. The expected immediate effect in the market
would be an increase in the trading price per share, and a decrease in the
number of post-split shares involved in a trade of shares that would have been
involved in an identical trade.
The
complete text of a form of Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Certificate
of Incorporation, reflecting the foregoing proposed amendment is set forth as
Annex F to this proxy statement, and stockholders are urged to review Annex F
together with the foregoing information, which is qualified in its entirety by
reference to Annex F.
There are
several reasons why a majority of the Board recommends that the Company’s
stockholders approve and adopt the Reverse Stock Split, including the
following:
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to
improve the marketability and liquidity of the Company’s Common
Stock;
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to
increase the per share market price of the Company’s Common Stock;
and
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to
assist the Company in meeting the initial listing requirements of a
national securities exchange.
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The
Company believes that a higher price per share of the Common Stock could improve
the marketability of the Common Stock. The Company believes that the
current per share price level of the Common Stock has reduced the effective
marketability of the Common Stock because of the reluctance of many leading
brokerage firms to recommend low-priced stock to their clients. Some
investors view low-priced stock as speculative and unattractive and other
investors may be prohibited by their organizational documents from investing in
low-priced stocks. In addition, a variety of brokerage house policies
and practices tend to discourage individual brokers within those firms from
dealing in low-priced stock. Such policies and practices pertain to
the payment of brokers’ commissions and to the time-consuming procedures that
function to make the handling of low-priced stocks unattractive to brokers from
an economic standpoint.
Because
brokerage commissions on low-priced stock generally represent a higher
percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the
current per share price of the Common Stock results in individual stockholders
paying transaction costs (commission, markups or markdowns) that represent a
higher percentage of their total share value than would be the case if the per
share price of the Common Stock was substantially higher. This factor
may also limit the willingness of institutions to purchase the Common Stock at
its current market price.
Although
any increase in the market price of the Common Stock resulting from the Reverse
Stock Split may be proportionately less than the decrease in the number of
shares outstanding, the proposed Reverse Stock Split could result in a market
price that would be high enough for the shares of the Common Stock to overcome
the reluctance, policies and practices of brokerage firms and investors referred
to above and to diminish the adverse impact of correspondingly higher trading
commissions for the shares.
No
assurance can be given, however, that the Common Stock will trade at a higher
price or that the Company will be successful in improving the marketability,
liquidity and ability to list the Common Stock on a national securities exchange
after the Reverse Stock Split.
If the
stockholders approve and adopt the Reverse Stock Split, the appropriate
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation would be filed with the Secretary
of State of Delaware upon the Board’s decision to implement the Reverse Stock
Split, and subject to approval by the State of Delaware, become effective
shortly thereafter. The Reverse Stock Split would not affect any
current stockholder’s proportionate equity interest in the Company or the
rights, preferences, privileges or priorities of any stockholder, other than an
adjustment that may occur due to payment for fractional shares. The
proposed Reverse Stock Split will not affect the total stockholders’ equity of
the Company or any components of stockholders’ equity as reflected on the
financial statements of the Company except (i) to change the numbers of the
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and (ii) for an adjustment that
will occur due to the costs incurred by the Company in connection with this
proxy statement and the implementation of the Reverse Stock Split. In
addition, the conversion ratios and exercise prices, to the extent applicable,
of the Company’s outstanding stock options and warrants, will be proportionately
adjusted upon the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split. Certain
rights, preferences, privileges or priorities of the Series A Stock, no shares
of which are currently outstanding, also will be proportionately adjusted upon
the consummation of the Reverse Stock Split.
Common
Stock
With the
exception of the number of shares issued and outstanding, the rights and
preferences of outstanding shares of Common Stock prior and subsequent to the
Reverse Stock Split would remain the same. Holders of the Company’s
Common Stock would continue to have no preemptive rights. Following
the Reverse Stock Split, each full share of the Company’s Common Stock resulting
from the Reverse Stock Split would entitle the holder thereof to one vote per
share and would otherwise be identical to the shares of our Common Stock
immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split.
The
Reverse Stock Split, if implemented, would not change the number of authorized
shares of our Common Stock as designated by our Certificate of Incorporation.
Therefore, because the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Common
Stock would decrease, the number of shares remaining available for issuance
under our authorized pool of Common Stock would increase. These
additional shares of Common Stock would also be available for issuance from time
to time for corporate purposes such as raising additional capital, acquisitions
of companies or assets and sales of stock or securities convertible into Common
Stock. We believe that the availability of the additional shares will provide us
with the flexibility to meet business needs as they arise, to take advantage of
favorable opportunities and to respond to a changing corporate
environment. The Capitalization Proposal also included in
this proxy statement, does, however, present to our stockholders for
approval and adoption an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000.
Preferred
Stock
Pursuant
to the Certificate of Designation of the Series A Stock, regardless of whether
any shares of Series A Stock are then issued or outstanding, certain adjustments
are made automatically to the Series A Stock in the event the Company at any
time (i) declares a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, (iii) combines the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, or (iv) issues any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation). Therefore, as a
result of the Reverse Stock Split, certain proportionate adjustments will be
made automatically to the rights and preferences of the Series A Stock,
including the dividend, voting and distribution rights and liquidation
preference.
Options,
Benefit Plans, Warrants and Other Securities
If the
Reverse Stock Split is implemented, outstanding and unexercised options,
warrants and other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable
for, shares of Common Stock would be automatically converted into an
economically equivalent option, warrant or other security to purchase shares of
the Common Stock by decreasing the number of shares underlying the option,
warrant, or other security and increasing the exercise price
appropriately. For example, if the Reverse Stock Split ratio is
one-for-ten, an option, warrant or other security to purchase 150 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share would become an
option, warrant or other security to purchase 15 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share.
Pursuant
to the Reverse Stock Split, depending on the Reverse Stock Split ratio selected
by the Board, every number of pre-split shares of Common Stock equal to the
denominator of such ratio would be converted and reclassified into one share of
post-split Common Stock. No certificates or scrip representing
fractional share interests in the Common Stock will be issued; such fractional
interests will be rounded up to a whole share and will entitle the holder to
such whole share of Common Stock. All shares held by a stockholder
will be aggregated, and one new stock certificate will be issued, unless the
stockholder otherwise notifies the transfer agent. The proposed
Reverse Stock Split would become effective immediately on the effective date of
the corresponding amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (the
“Split Effective Date”). Stockholders will be notified on or after
the Split Effective Date that the Reverse Stock Split has been
effected. The Company’s transfer agent, Securities Transfer
Corporation, will act as the Company’s exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for
stockholders in implementing the exchange of their Common Stock
certificates.
As soon
as practicable after the Split Effective Date, stockholders will be notified and
provided the opportunity (but shall not be obligated) to surrender their
certificates to the Exchange Agent in exchange for certificates representing
post-split Common Stock. Stockholders will not receive certificates
for shares of post-split Common Stock unless and until the certificates
representing their shares of pre-split Common Stock are surrendered and they
provide such evidence of ownership of such shares as the Company or the Exchange
Agent may require. Stockholders should not destroy any stock
certificate or forward their certificates to the Exchange Agent until they have
received notice from the Company that the Reverse Stock Split has become
effective. Beginning on the Split Effective Date, each certificate
representing shares of the Company’s pre-split Common Stock will be deemed for
all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of the appropriate number of shares
of post-split Common Stock.
No
service charge shall be payable by stockholders in connection with the exchange
of certificates, all costs of which will be borne and paid by the
Company.
Even
though a Reverse Stock Split, by itself, does not impact a company’s assets or
prospects, reverse stock splits can result in a decrease in the aggregate market
value of a company’s equity capital. While it is expected that the
reduction in the outstanding shares of Common Stock will increase the market
price of the Common Stock, there are no assurances that the Reverse Stock Split
will increase the market price of the Common Stock by the multiple (ten to
thirty) selected by the Board or result in any permanent increase in the market
price (which can be dependent upon many factors, including, but not limited to,
the Company’s business and financial performance and prospects). The
Reverse Stock Split may be perceived negatively in the marketplace for various
reasons. The number of shares available for trading are reduced,
which, if the reverse stock split does not increase the marketability of the
Common Stock, generally has the effect of reducing liquidity. Round
lots (i.e., lots in multiples of 100 shares) may be converted into odd lots due
to the split, which may in turn increase transaction costs for
stockholders. The Company cannot guarantee that the market price of
the Common Stock immediately after the effective date of the proposed Reverse
Stock Split will be maintained for any period of time or that the ratio of post-
and pre-split shares will remain the same after the Reverse Stock Split is
effected, or that the Reverse Stock Split will not have an adverse effect on the
stock price due to the reduced number of shares outstanding after the Reverse
Stock Split. Should the market price decline after the Reverse Stock
Split, the percentage decline may be greater, due to the smaller number of
shares outstanding, than it would have been prior to the Reverse Stock
Split. In some cases the stock price of companies that have effected
reverse stock splits has subsequently declined back to pre-reverse split
levels.
There can
be no assurance that the Reverse Stock Split would have the desired effects on
the Common Stock. The Board, however, believes that the
abovementioned risks are off-set by the prospect that the Reverse Stock Split
may, by increasing the per share price, make an investment in the Common Stock
more attractive for certain investors.
The
following is a summary of certain material federal income tax consequences of
the Reverse Stock Split; however, this does not purport to be a complete
discussion of all of the possible federal income tax consequences of the Reverse
Stock Split. It does not discuss any state, local, foreign or minimum
income or other U.S. federal tax consequences. Also, it does not
address the tax consequences to stockholders who are subject to special tax
rules, such as banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, real
estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, personal holding
companies, foreign entities, nonresident alien individuals, broker-dealers,
tax-exempt entities, partnerships, and stockholders who hold common stock as
part of a position in a straddle or as part of a hedging, conversion or
integrated transaction. This discussion is based on the provisions of
the U.S. federal income tax law as of the date hereof, which is subject to
change retroactively as well as prospectively. This summary also
assumes that the pre-split shares were, and the post-split shares will be, held
as “capital assets,” as defined in the Code (generally, property held for
investment). Tax treatment may vary depending upon particular facts
and circumstances. Accordingly, each stockholder should consult with
his or her own tax advisor concerning the effects of the Reverse Stock Split
and, in particular, the manner in which the tax basis and holding period of the
stockholder’s post-split shares will be determined.
Generally,
the Reverse Stock Split will not result in the recognition of gain or loss by a
stockholder upon the exchange of pre-split shares for post-split shares pursuant
to the Reverse Stock Split. The aggregate tax basis of the post-split
shares received in the Reverse Stock Split will be the same as the aggregate tax
basis in the pre-split shares exchanged. The holding period for the
post-split shares will include the period during which the pre-split shares
surrendered in the Reverse Stock Split were held.
The
Federal income tax consequences of the receipt of an additional share of Common
Stock in lieu of a fractional interest is not clear. If the receipt
of a portion of an additional share of Common Stock is taxed as a dividend,
however, any tax liability association with such receipt is not expected to be
material.
The
Company will not recognize any gain or loss as a result of the Reverse Stock
Split.
To ensure
compliance with Treasury Department Circular 230, each holder of Common Stock is
hereby notified that: (a) any discussion of U.S. federal tax issues
in this proxy statement is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be
used, by such holder for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed
on such holder under the Code; (b) any such discussion has been included by the
Company in furtherance of the Reverse Stock Split on the terms described herein;
and (c) each such holder should seek advice based on its particular
circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
No
appraisal rights are available under the DGCL or under the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws to any stockholder who dissents from the Reverse Stock
Split Proposal.
The
approval and adoption of the Reverse Stock Split Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our
Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT PROPOSAL.
PROVIDE
FOR THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company’s
directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or
series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or
upon liquidation, are classified into three classes, as nearly equal in number
as possible, serving staggered three-year terms. Currently, the Board
consists of four directors, one whose term expires at the Annual Meeting, one
whose term expires at the Company’s 2009 annual meeting of stockholders, and two
whose terms expire at the Company’s 2010 annual meeting of
stockholders.
On
October 5, 2008, a majority of the Board approved and deemed advisable an
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, which, if approved and
adopted by the Company’s stockholders, would eliminate the classified structure
of the Board and thereby provide for the annual election of directors beginning
at the Annual Meeting. The declassification of the Board would become
effective upon the filing of a corresponding amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware. Assuming the
Declassification Proposal is approved, the Company intends to file such
amendment and adopt a corresponding amendment to the Bylaws promptly after the
results of the stockholder vote are certified.
Before
coming to its decision, the Board considered the advantages and disadvantages of
the classified board structure. A majority of the Board noted that a
classified board structure promotes a company’s continuity and stability,
encourages a long-term perspective on the part of directors and reduces a
company’s vulnerability to coercive takeover tactics. However, in
light of support for the annual elections of directors among certain of the
Company’s stockholders and a number of institutional investor groups, as well as
a majority of the Board’s recognition that the annual election of directors
continues to evolve as a “best practice” in corporate governance, a majority of
the Board determined that it is in the best interest of the Company and its
stockholders to eliminate the classified structure of the Board.
If the
Declassification Proposal is approved, each of the nominees for director set
forth in Proposal 6(a) or 6(b), as applicable, will stand for election at this
Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company and until their successors are duly elected and
qualify. If the Declassification Proposal is not approved, the Board
will remain classified, each of the nominees for director set forth in Proposal
6(c) or 6(d), as applicable, will stand for election at the Annual Meeting and
the other incumbent directors will serve out the remainder of their respective
terms.
The
complete text of a form of Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation and a form of Amendment to the Bylaws, which reflect the foregoing
proposed amendments, are set forth as Annex F and Annex G to this proxy
statement, respectively, and stockholders are urged to review them together with
the foregoing information, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the text of such documents.
Vote
Required
The
approval and adoption of the Declassification Proposal will require the
affirmative vote of not less than 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of our
Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION OF THE DECLASSIFICATION PROPOSAL.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES
The
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company’s
directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or
series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or
upon liquidation, are classified into three classes (each a “Class”), as nearly
equal in number as possible, serving staggered three-year
terms. Currently there are four directors serving on the Board, which
consists of (i) Mark E. Schwarz, a representative of Newcastle, the largest
stockholder of the Company, (ii) Steven J. Pully, a former representative of
Newcastle, and (iii) James Risher and Jonathan Bren, both independent
directors.
The
Company’s incumbent directors, as well as their ages and positions with the
Company, Class designations and year of the annual meeting of stockholders at
which their respective terms will end are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position
with
the
Company
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
I
|
|
2010
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
I
|
|
2010
|
|
Director
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
III
|
|
2009
|
|
Director
|
James
Risher
|
|
II
|
|
2008
|
|
Director
|
At the
Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on the
Declassification Proposal. If the Declassification Proposal is
approved, the Board will no longer be classified and each of the Company’s
incumbent directors will be elected annually, beginning at the Annual
Meeting. If the Declassification Proposal is not approved, the Board
will remain classified, one incumbent director will be nominated for election at
the Annual Meeting and our other directors will serve out the remainder of their
respective terms as set forth in the table above.
As the
number of directors who may be elected to the Board at the Annual Meeting varies
depending on whether or not the Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification
Proposal are approved by the Company’s stockholders, a majority of the Board has
nominated four slates of directors for election at the Annual
Meeting. Each slate of nominees for election to the Board is provided
below.
6(a)
|
If
both the Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are
approved, the Board nominates seven directors for election at the Annual
Meeting
|
If both
the Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved, (i) the
Board will no longer be classified into three classes, (ii) all of the nominees
for election to the Board, as set forth below, will stand for election at the
Annual Meeting to hold office until the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company and (iii) the Board will approve a resolution fixing the size of the
Board at seven.
The
following table lists the nominees for election to the Board under Proposal 6(a) to serve
as directors until the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company and
until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify:
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Position with the Company
|
1.
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
47
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
2.
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
47
|
|
Director
|
3.
|
James
Risher
|
|
65
|
|
Director
|
4.
|
John
Murray*
|
|
39
|
|
—
|
5.
|
Evan
Stone*
|
|
37
|
|
—
|
6.
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk*
|
|
60
|
|
—
|
7.
|
Derek
Fromm*
|
|
51
|
|
—
|
*Election
conditioned on the consummation of the Acquisition.
Unless
otherwise specified, all of the proxies received will be voted “FOR” the
election of the abovementioned nominees. If for any reason any
nominee does not stand for election, such proxies will be voted in favor of the
remainder of those named and may be voted for substitute nominees in place of
those who do not stand. Management has no reason to expect that any
of the nominees will not stand for election.
6(b)
|
If
the Acquisition Proposal is not approved and the Declassification Proposal
is approved, the Board nominates three directors for election at the
Annual Meeting
|
If the
Acquisition Proposal is not approved and the Declassification Proposal is
approved, (i) the Board will no longer be classified into three classes, (ii)
all of the nominees for election to the Board, as set forth below, will stand
for election at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the 2009 annual meeting
of stockholders of the Company and (iii) the Board will approve a resolution
fixing the size of the Board at three.
The
following table lists the nominees for election to the Board under Proposal 6(b), to serve
as directors until the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company and
until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify:
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Position with the Company
|
1.
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
47
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
2.
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
47
|
|
Director
|
3.
|
James
Risher
|
|
65
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unless
otherwise specified, all of the proxies received will be voted “FOR” the
election of the abovementioned nominees. If for any reason any
nominee does not stand for election, such proxies will be voted in favor of the
remainder of those named and may be voted for substitute nominees in place of
those who do not stand. Management has no reason to expect that any
of the nominees will not stand for election.
6(c)
|
If
the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the Declassification Proposal is
not approved, the Board nominates five directors for election at the
Annual Meeting
|
If the
Acquisition Proposal is approved and the Declassification Proposal is not
approved, (i) all of the nominees for election to the Board, as set forth below,
will stand for election at the Annual Meeting, (ii) the Board will remain
classified and (iii) the Board will approve a resolution fixing the size of the
Board at eight. Messrs. Schwarz, Bren and Pully would serve out the
remainder of their respective terms.
The
following table lists the nominees for election to the Board under Proposal 6(c), each to
serve as a director until the expiration of his respective term, in accordance
with the Class designation indicated below, and until his respective successor
is duly elected and qualifies:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Position with the Company
|
1.
|
James
Risher
|
|
65
|
|
II
|
|
Director
|
2.
|
John
Murray*
|
|
39
|
|
II
|
|
—
|
3.
|
Evan
Stone*
|
|
37
|
|
III
|
|
—
|
4.
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk*
|
|
60
|
|
III
|
|
—
|
5.
|
Derek
Fromm*
|
|
51
|
|
I
|
|
— |
*Election
conditioned on the consummation of the Acquisition.
Unless
otherwise specified, all of the proxies received will be voted “FOR” the
election of the abovementioned nominees. If for any reason any
nominee does not stand for election, such proxies will be voted in favor of the
remainder of those named and may be voted for substitute nominees in place of
those who do not stand. Management has no reason to expect that any
of the nominees will not stand for election.
6(d)
|
If
neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the Declassification Proposal is
approved, the Board nominates one director for election at the Annual
Meeting
|
If
neither the Acquisition Proposal nor the Declassification Proposal is approved,
(i) only Mr. Risher, the Company’s sole incumbent Class II director, will stand
for election at the Annual Meeting, (ii) the Board will remain classified and,
(iii) the Board will not effect a change in the size of the
Board. Messrs. Schwarz, Bren and Pully would serve out the remainder
of their respective terms.
The
following table lists the sole nominee for election to the Board under Proposal 6(d), to serve
as a director until the expiration of his term, in accordance with the Class
designation indicated below, and until his successor is duly elected and
qualifies:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Position with the Company
|
1.
|
James
Risher
|
|
65
|
|
II
|
|
Director
|
Unless
otherwise specified, all of the proxies received will be voted “FOR” the
election of Mr. Risher. If for any reason Mr. Risher does not stand
for election, such proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee in place of Mr.
Risher. Management has no reason to expect that Mr. Risher will not
stand for election.
The
following table sets forth information regarding all of the Company’s incumbent
directors, nominees for election to the Board and executive
officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Position
with
the
Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz (2)
|
|
47
|
|
I
|
|
2010
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2004
|
Jonathan
Bren (2)
|
|
47
|
|
I
|
|
2010
|
|
Director
|
|
2005
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
48
|
|
III
|
|
2009
|
|
Director
|
|
2004
|
James
Risher (3)
|
|
65
|
|
II
|
|
2008
|
|
Director
|
|
2004
|
John
Murray (4)
|
|
39
|
|
II
|
|
–
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
–
|
Evan
Stone (4)
|
|
37
|
|
III
|
|
–
|
|
Secretary
|
|
–
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk (5)
|
|
60
|
|
III
|
|
–
|
|
–
|
|
–
|
Derek
Fromm (6)
|
|
51
|
|
I
|
|
–
|
|
–
|
|
–
|
(1)
|
The
designated class of each nominee will only be relevant if the
Declassification Proposal is not approved. In that event, (i)
those nominated as Class I directors will, if elected, serve until the
2010 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly
elected and qualify, (ii) those nominated as Class II directors will, if
elected, serve until the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders and until
their successors are duly elected and qualify and (iii) those nominated as
Class III directors will, if elected, serve until the 2009 annual meeting
of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and
qualify.
|
(2)
|
Nominated
for election to the Board in the event that (i) both the Acquisition
Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved or (ii) the
Acquisition Proposal is not approved and the Declassification Proposal is
approved.
|
(3)
|
Nominated
for election to the Board in all
instances.
|
(4)
|
Nominated
for election to the Board by Newcastle in the event that (i) both the
Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved or
(ii) the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the Declassification
Proposal is not approved. Election is conditioned on the
consummation of the Acquisition.
|
(5)
|
Nominated
for election to the Board by Esch in the event that (i) both the
Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved or
(ii) the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the Declassification
Proposal is not approved. Election is conditioned on the
consummation of the Acquisition.
|
(6)
|
Nominated
for election to the Board by Krassner in the event that (i) both the
Acquisition Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved or
(ii) the Acquisition Proposal is approved and the Declassification
Proposal is not approved. Election is conditioned on the consummation of
the Acquisition.
|
The
business experience for the past five years (and, in some instances, for prior
years) of each of the Company’s incumbent directors, nominees for election to
the Board and officers are as follows:
Mark E. Schwarz has served as
Chairman of the Board of the Company since June 2004, has functioned as its
Interim Chief Executive Officer since October 2007 and was formally appointed
its Interim Chief Executive Officer effective in July 2008. He has
served as the general partner, directly or through entities that he controls, of
NCM since 1993. NCM is an investment partnership and the general
partner of Newcastle, a significant stockholder of the Company. Mr.
Schwarz has served as Chairman of the Board of Hallmark Financial Services,
Inc., a property and casualty insurance company, since October 2001 and was its
Chief Executive Officer from January 2003 to August 2006. He
currently serves as Chairman of the Boards of Bell Industries, Inc., a computer
systems integrator, and Pizza Inn, Inc., a franchisor and food and supply
distributor, and as a director of Nashua Corporation, a specialty paper, label
and printing supplies manufacturer, SL Industries, Inc., a power and data
quality products manufacturer (“SL Industries”), and MedQuist Inc., a provider
of electronic transcription and document management services to the healthcare
industry.
Jonathan Bren serves as the
Global Managing Partner of Bren Ventures L.L.C., an entity he formed in January
of 2005 to make strategic investments in early stage hedge fund
managers. From July 1998 to December 2004, Mr. Bren was a partner of
Hunt Financial Ventures, L.P., which made strategic investments in early stage
and emerging hedge fund managers and also made direct investments into other
hedge fund operations. He also served as President of HFV Investments
Inc., a broker dealer affiliated with Hunt Financial Ventures,
L.P. During the fifteen years prior to joining Hunt Financial
Ventures, L.P., Mr. Bren worked for a series of asset management, investment
banking and merchant banking organizations.
Steven J. Pully has served as
a director of the Company since June 2004 and was also the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer and Secretary from June 2004 through October
2007. Mr. Pully has been the General Counsel of Carlson Capital,
L.P., an alternative asset management firm, since July 2008. From October
2007 through July 2008, he was a consultant in the asset management
industry. From December 2001 to October 2007, Mr. Pully worked for NCM,
where he served as President from January 2003 through October
2007. Mr. Pully is also a director of Peerless Systems Corporation, a
provider of imaging and networking technologies and components to the digital
document markets, Energy Partners, Ltd., an oil and natural gas exploration and
production company, and Ember Resources Inc., a Canadian-based oil and natural
gas exploration and production company. Mr. Pully is licensed as an
attorney and CPA and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
James A. Risher has served as
a director of the Company since October 2004. Mr. Risher has been the
Managing Partner of Lumina Group, LLC, a private company engaged in the business
of consulting and investing in small and mid-size companies, since
1998. Mr. Risher has served as the Chief Executive Officer and
president of Del Global Technologies Corporation (“Del Global”), a leader in
medical imaging and power electronics, since September 2006. Mr.
Risher was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Del Global in August
2006. In addition, Mr. Risher has served as a director of Del Global
since June 2004. From February 2001 to May 2002, Mr. Risher served as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlueStar Battery Systems International,
Inc., a Canadian public company that is an e-commerce distributor of electrical
and electronic products to selected automotive aftermarket segments and targeted
industrial markets. From 1986 to 1998, Mr. Risher served as a
director, Chief Executive Officer and President of Exide Electronics Group, Inc.
(“Exide”), a global leader in the uninterruptible power supply
industry. He also served as Chairman of Exide from December 1997 to
July 1998. Mr. Risher currently serves as a director of SL
Industries.
John Murray has served as the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company since June 2004. Mr. Murray
has served as the Chief Financial Officer of NCM since January
2003. From November 1995 until December 2002, Mr. Murray
was a Certified Public Accountant engaged in his own private practice in Dallas,
Texas. From October 1991 until November 1995, Mr. Murray served as an
accountant with Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Murray has been a
Certified Public Accountant since January 1992.
Evan Stone is Vice President
and General Counsel of NCM, which he joined in May 2006. Prior to
joining NCM, from June 2003 to April 2006 and from October 1997 to December 1999
he served as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at the law firm Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York. From January 2002 to
September 2002, Mr. Stone served as Vice President, Corporate Development at
Borland Software Inc., a provider of software application lifecycle
products. From March 2000 to November 2001, Mr. Stone was a member of
the investment banking department of Merrill Lynch & Co.
Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk is an
attorney in private practice in Frankfurt, Germany, where he has been practicing
law since 1982. He is the sole shareholder of NORA
Unternehmensberatung GmbH, a consulting company he founded
in 1988.
Derek Fromm is the principal
of Greenstone Capital, a corporate advisory firm he founded in London in 1997
and in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2002. Mr. Fromm is a director and the CEO and
President of Greenstone Capital Services, a consulting and advisory company he
co-founded in 1999; a director and the CEO and President of Greenstone Capital
Group, Inc., a consulting and advisory company he founded in 2002; and the
director, President and CEO of Greenstone Capital, Inc., a consulting and
advisory company he founded in 2006. Mr. Fromm is the controlling
shareholder of each of Greenstone Capital Group, Inc., Greenstone Capital
Services and Greenstone Capital, Inc. and is the sole proprietor of Greenstone
Capital. Mr. Fromm has served as a registered representative
with Penates Group, Inc., a broker-dealer, since May 2006. From 1987
to 1997, Mr. Fromm was an investment banker at UBS Limited in London, prior to
which he practiced law in New York. Mr. Fromm is a member of the New
York State Bar Association.
As of the
mailing date of this proxy statement, there is no material proceeding to which
any of our directors, executive officers or affiliates or any owner of record or
beneficially of five percent of any class of the Company’s voting securities is
a party or has a material interest adverse to us, except as otherwise set forth
herein. See “Proposal
No. 1 - Approval of the Acquisition - Description of New Century - Legal
Proceedings” beginning on
page 60.
There are
no family relationships among our incumbent directors, nominees for election to
the Board and executive officers.
During
the past five years, no incumbent director, nominee for election to the Board or
executive officer (i) has been a director or executive officer of any business
that has filed a bankruptcy petition or had a bankruptcy petition filed against
it, (ii) has been convicted of a criminal offense or is the subject of a pending
criminal proceeding, (iii) has been the subject of any order, judgment or decree
of any court permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or
otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or
banking activities or (iv) has been found by a court to have violated a federal
or state securities or commodities law.
None of
our incumbent directors, nominees for election to the Board or any of their
immediate family members or affiliates are indebted to us.
Pursuant
to the Acquisition Agreement, the Company is required to nominate the following
persons for election to the Board: Mark E. Schwarz, Jonathan Bren,
James Risher, one designee of Esch, one designee of Krassner and two designees
of Newcastle. Esch has indicated to the Company that his designee is
Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk. Krassner has indicated to the Company that
his designee is Derek Fromm. Newcastle has indicated to the Company
that its designees are John Murray and Evan Stone. A majority of the
Board has approved the nomination of each of the abovementioned persons for
election to the Board.
Pursuant
to the Acquisition Agreement, the effectiveness of the election of Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk, Derek Fromm, John Murray and Evan Stone to the Board is
conditioned upon and subject to the approval of the Acquisition Proposal and the
consummation of the Acquisition.
Transactions
with Newcastle and its Affiliates
In June
2004, when Newcastle acquired the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, Mark Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of NCM, Steven J.
Pully, former President of NCM, and John Murray, Chief Financial Officer of NCM,
assumed positions as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, respectively, of the Company. Mr. Pully resigned
as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective October 15,
2007. Mr. Schwarz is currently the Interim Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. John Murray is a nominee for election to the Board at
the Annual Meeting. Evan Stone, Vice President and General Counsel of
NCM, is also a nominee for election to the Board at the Annual
Meeting.
On July
3, 2006, Newcastle converted its Series A Preferred Stock into 19,230,768 shares
of Common Stock. Newcastle currently owns 19,380,768 shares of Common
Stock, representing approximately 36% of the outstanding shares. NCM,
as the general partner of Newcastle, may be deemed to beneficially own the
shares of Common Stock owned by Newcastle. NCG, as the general
partner of NCM, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock
owned by Newcastle. Mark Schwarz, as the managing member of NCG, may
also be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock owned by
Newcastle. Accordingly, Newcastle, NCM, NCG and Mr. Schwarz may be
deemed to control the Company.
The
Company’s corporate headquarters are currently located at 200 Crescent Court,
Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201, which are also the offices of
NCM. Pursuant to an oral agreement, the Company previously occupied a
portion of NCM’s office space on a month-to-month basis at no charge, and
received accounting and administrative services from employees of NCM at no
charge. Effective October 1, 2006, the parties formalized this
arrangement by executing a services agreement. Pursuant to the
services agreement, the Company continues to occupy a portion of NCM’s office
space on a month-to-month basis at $2,500 per month and incurs additional fees
to NCM for accounting and administrative services provided by employees of
NCM. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the Company
incurred fees (including the payments for the NCM office space) of approximately
$30,000 under the services agreement. During the nine month period
ended September 30, 2008, the Company incurred fees (including the payments for
the NCM office space) of approximately $70,000 under the services
agreement.
On August
25, 2008, concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company entered into the Equity Financing Agreement with Newcastle for the
purpose of obtaining financing to complete the transactions contemplated by the
Acquisition Agreement. Pursuant to the Equity Financing Agreement,
subject to and conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common Stock at $0.247
per share, or approximately (but slightly higher than) the per share price
applicable to the Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition
Agreement. In addition, under the Equity Financing Agreement,
Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at any time or times
prior to six months following the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, up to an
additional $2,000,000 of Common Stock on the same terms.
The
Equity Financing Agreement is subject to certain conditions, including the
parties’ entry into a registration rights agreement upon the Closing of the
Acquisition Agreement, pursuant to which Newcastle will be granted certain
demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Stock it
holds, including the Common Stock issuable under the Equity Financing
Agreement. Such registration rights agreement will be substantially
in the form of a form of registration rights agreement attached as Exhibit A to
the Equity Financing Agreement. The Equity Financing Agreement was
approved by the Special Committee on August 18, 2008 and recommended to the full
Board for approval. The Board approved the Equity Financing Agreement
on the recommendation of the Special Committee on August 20, 2008.
Transaction
with Esch and Krassner
While not
currently related persons or affiliates of the Company, Dr. Hans-Joachim Bohlk
and Derek Fromm are being nominated for election to the Board as designees of
Esch and Krassner, respectively, pursuant to the Acquisition
Agreement. Esch, Krassner and their affiliates will receive, in
addition to a cash payment, $15,000,000 of Common Stock upon
the consummation of the Acquisition. The purchase price is subject to
certain post-closing adjustments, which will be effected against $4,500,000 of
Common Stock that will be held in escrow pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement
in respect of the “core” business price adjustment, and may be repurchased by
the Company for a nominal amount, subject to certain earnouts and
offsets. Additionally, an affiliate of Mr. Krassner, Krassner L.P.,
will receive $6,000,000 in repayment of an outstanding note held by Krassner
L.P. For additional information on the Acquisition Agreement, see
“Proposal
No. 1 – Approval of the Acquisition – Acquisition Agreement” beginning on page
84.
Esch,
Krassner and their affiliates are also parties to the Registration Rights
Agreement entered into in connection with the Acquisition
Agreement. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, effective
upon the Closing, Esch and Krassner, among others, will obtain certain demand
and piggyback registration rights with respect to the Common Stock to be issued
to them under the Acquisition Agreement. For additional information
on the Registration Rights Agreement, see “Proposal No. 1 – Approval of the
Acquisition – Other Transaction Documents – Registration Rights
Agreement” beginning on page 102.
Transaction
with Derek Fromm
Derek
Fromm, one of the director nominees, entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”)
with Krassner L.P. pursuant to which he provided consulting and advisory
services to Krassner L.P. in connection with the
Acquisition and unrelated matters. Under the terms of the Agreement,
upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, Mr. Fromm will receive from
Krassner L.P. a total of $100,000 of the Company’s Common Stock, based on an
agreed book value per share of Common Stock of $0.247 (subject to an adjustment
identical to the purchase price adjustment set forth in the Acquisition
Agreement). The foregoing payment is to be paid by Krassner L.P.
either directly or, at the direction of Krassner L.P. by the Company in lieu of
issuing shares to Krassner L.P. as part of the
consideration to be received by it in connection with the
Acquisition.
Mr.
Fromm, as a representative of the Penates Group, Inc. (“Penates”), will receive
97.5% of a commission paid pursuant to a separate engagement agreement by and
among Wilhelmina International, the Control Sellers and Penates (the
“Engagement Agreement”), which provides for a commission totaling up to $450,000
in cash and shares of Common Stock (based on an agreed book value per share of
Common Stock of $0.247, subject to an adjustment identical to the purchase price
adjustment set forth in the Acquisition Agreement) with the number of shares and
amount in cash payable to be determined by Mr. Fromm and Penates, which is to be
paid upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement. Penates
will receive the remaining 2.5% of the commission paid pursuant to the
Engagement Agreement. An additional fee will be paid by the Control
Sellers to Penates and Mr. Fromm calculated as a percentage of any earned
deferred consideration paid for WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, as and when such
earnout is paid. The exact amount of such fee is currently
unknown, but is estimated to be (i) 10% of any earnout payments due to the
Sellers by the Company under the Acquisition Agreement in excess
of $30,000,000 but less than $40,000,000, plus (ii) 5% of any earnout
payments between $40,000,000 and $50,000,000, plus (iii) 2.5% of any earnout
payment in excess of $50,000,000 (the “Supplemental Payment”). The
Supplemental Payment is also to be shared and paid equally by each of the
Sellers.
Greenstone
Capital Services, of
which Derek Fromm is the CEO and President,
and which is majority-owned and controlled by Mr. Fromm, has received
consulting and advisory fees from the Wilhelmina Companies in an amount of
$125,000, plus reimbursement of directly-related expenses, in relation to work
performed and to be performed during 2008 for such companies prior to the
Closing of the Acquisition Agreement. Receipt of these fees was not
contingent upon the Closing.
Transaction
with Sean Patterson
On
November 10, 2008, the Company, Wilhelmina International and Sean Patterson
entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) covering the
terms of the employment of Mr. Patterson by Wilhelmina International subject to,
and effective upon, the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement. Under
the Employment Agreement, Mr. Patterson will continue to serve as President of
Wilhelmina International. Mr. Patterson will receive a base salary of
$475,000 per year and an annual bonus based on the excess of the combined annual
EBITDA of Wilhelmina International, WAM and Wilhelmina Models, over
$4,000,000. The Employment Agreement has a three-year
term. Mr. Patterson is subject to certain non-competition,
non-solicitation and related obligations during and following the term of the
Employment Agreement.
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The Board
reviews all relationships and transactions in which the Company and its
directors and executive officers or their immediate family members are
participants to determine whether such persons have a direct or indirect
material interest. The Board is primarily responsible for the
development and implementation of processes and controls to obtain information
from the directors and executive officers with respect to related person
transactions and for then determining, based on the facts and circumstances,
whether the Company or a related person has a direct or indirect material
interest in the transaction. As required under SEC rules,
transactions that are determined to be directly or indirectly material to the
Company or a related person are disclosed in the Company’s proxy statements in
connection with action to be taken with respect to the election of
directors. In addition, the audit committee of the Board (the “Audit
Committee”) reviews and approves or ratifies any related person transaction that
is required to be disclosed. In the course of its review and approval
or ratification of a related party transaction to be disclosed, the Audit
Committee considers: (i) the nature of the related person’s interest
in the transaction, (ii) the material terms of the transaction, including,
without limitation, the amount and type of transaction, (iii) the importance of
the transaction to the related person, (iv) the importance of the transaction to
the Company, (v) whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director
or executive officer to act in the best interest of the Company and (vi) any
other matters the Audit Committee deems appropriate.
Any
member of the Board who is a related person with respect to a transaction under
review may not participate in the deliberations or vote respecting approval or
ratification of the transaction, provided, however, that such director may be
counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or
committee that considers the transaction.
Annually,
as well as in connection with the election or appointment of a new director to
the Board, the Board considers the business and charitable relationships between
it and each non-employee director to determine compliance with the NASD listing
standards for independent directors. Based on that review, the Board
has determined that Messrs. Bren, Risher and Bohlk are independent under Rule
4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing standards.
Currently,
the Board does not have a Nominating Committee. Messrs. Bren and
Risher serve the function of the Nominating Committee. Mr. Risher is
the sole member of the Audit Committee.
The Board
considered all of the matters discussed under the section entitled “Transactions
with Related Persons” in determining that Messrs. Bren, Risher and Bohlk are in
compliance with the NASD listing standards for independent
directors.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that the Company’s directors, executive
officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the
Company’s equity securities file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership of the Common Stock and other equity securities
of the Company. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10%
stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies
of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the
Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of the Section 16(a)
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, there was
compliance with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders.
A
plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of each of the
Company’s director nominees.
A
MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH
OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES AS SET FORTH IN THE DIRECTOR PROPOSAL.
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The audit
committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) has appointed Burton McCumber
& Cortez, L.L.P. (“Burton McCumber”) to serve as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2008. Although the selection of Burton McCumber does not require
ratification, the Board has directed that the appointment of Burton McCumber be
submitted to stockholders for ratification due to the significance of their
appointment to the Company. If stockholders do not ratify the
appointment of Burton McCumber as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm, the Audit Committee will consider the appointment of other
certified public accountants. A representative of Burton McCumber
will not be present at the Annual Meeting.
Fees
Aggregate
fees for professional services rendered to the Company by Burton McCumber for
the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$ |
95,217 |
|
|
$ |
96,672 |
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
All
Other
Fees
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
95,217 |
|
|
$ |
96,672 |
|
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Burton McCumber for professional services required for
the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements included in the Company’s
annual report on Form 10-K and the review of the interim financial statements
included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q were $95,217 and
$96,672 for fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees
The
Company did not engage or pay Burton McCumber for assurance and related services
related to the performance of the audit of the Company’s annual financial
statements or the review of the interim financial statements for fiscal years
2007 and 2006.
Tax
Fees
The
Company did not engage or pay Burton McCumber for professional services relating
to tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning in fiscal years 2007 and
2006.
All
Other Fees
The
Company did not engage or pay Burton McCumber for additional services, other
than the services described above, for fiscal years 2007 and 2006.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
All audit
and non-audit services to be performed by the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm must be approved in advance by the Audit
Committee. Consistent with applicable law, limited amounts of
services, other than audit, review or attest services, may be approved by one or
more members of the Audit Committee pursuant to authority delegated by the Audit
Committee, provided each such approved service is reported to the full Audit
Committee at its next meeting.
All of
the engagements and fees for the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
were approved by the Audit Committee. In connection with the audit of
the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007,
Burton McCumber only used full-time, permanent employees.
The Audit
Committee has considered whether the provision by Burton McCumber of the
services covered by the fees other than the audit fees is compatible with
maintaining Burton McCumber’s independence and believes that it is
compatible.
Vote
Required
The
approval of the Auditor Proposal will require the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast thereon and represented at the Annual Meeting.
A
MAJORITY OF THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF
THE AUDITOR PROPOSAL.
ADJOURNMENT
OF THE ANNUAL MEETING IF NECESSARY
The
Adjournment Proposal, if approved, would allow the Annual Meeting to be
adjourned to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation
of proxies in the event, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient
votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve the proposals for
consideration at the Annual Meeting. Therefore, the Adjournment
Proposal will only be presented at the Annual Meeting if any such Proposal is
not approved.
In no
event will the Company solicit proxies to adjourn the Annual Meeting beyond the
date by which it may properly do so under its Certificate of Incorporation,
Bylaws and the DGCL.
Consequences
if Adjournment Proposal is not Approved
If the
Adjournment Proposal is presented to the Annual Meeting and is not approved by
stockholders after, based on the tabulated votes, there are not sufficient votes
at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve the proposals for consideration at
the Annual Meeting, the Board may not be able to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a
later date. In such event, the Acquisition would not be consummated,
the Acquisition Agreement would be subject to termination by the Control Sellers
or the Company, and in the event such termination occurs, the Company would be
required to pay to the Control Sellers their expenses incurred in connection
with the Acquisition up to a maximum of $150,000.
Vote
Required
The
approval of the Adjournment Proposal will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast thereon and represented at the Annual
Meeting.
A
MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF
THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
Meetings
and Committees of the Board of Directors
The
business of the Company is managed under the direction of the
Board. The full Board did not hold a formal meeting during 2007 but
directors had involvement in various Company activities during that
time. Each of the directors of the Company attended at least 75% of
the aggregate total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on
which he served (during the periods that he served) during 2007. Each
director is expected to make reasonable efforts to attend meetings of the Board,
meetings of the committees of which such director is a member and the annual
meetings of stockholders. One of the Company’s directors was present
at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board currently has
an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee but does not have a Nominating
Committee. It is the intention of the Board to establish a Nominating
Committee, consisting solely of independent directors.
Audit
Committee
The Audit
Committee is currently comprised of James Risher, who is not an employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee is only
comprised of one director although the Charter of the Audit Committee provides
that at least three directors shall serve as members of the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee meets with the independent auditors
and management representatives, recommends to the Board appointment of
independent auditors, approves the scope of audits and other services to be
performed by the independent auditors, considers whether the performance of any
professional services by the auditors other than services provided in connection
with the audit function could impair the independence of the auditors and
reviews the results of audits and the accounting principles applied in financial
reporting and financial and operational controls. The independent
auditors have unrestricted access to the Audit Committee and vice
versa. The Board has determined that James Risher satisfies the
“audit committee financial expert” criteria established by the
SEC. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007. James Risher is an independent director, as
independence is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing
standards. The Board has adopted a written Charter of the Audit
Committee, which is attached as Annex H hereto.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee is comprised of Jonathan Bren, who is not an employee of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Mr. Bren is an independent
director, as independence is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASD listing
standards. The Compensation Committee has primary authority to
determine and make recommendations to the Board on policies and procedures
relating to compensation and employee stock and other benefit plans of key
executives and approval of individual salary adjustments and stock
awards. Each named executive officer, in turn, participates in an
annual performance review with the Board to provide input about their
contributions to the Company’s business for the period being
assessed.
The
Compensation Committee did not meet during fiscal year ended December 31,
2007. The Compensation Committee does not have a
charter.
Nomination
of Directors
Currently,
the Board does not have a Nominating Committee. The independent
directors of the Board serve such function of a nomination committee and the
Board may formalize their designation as such in the future. While
the Company does not currently have a charter governing the nomination of
directors and the Company does not have policies with regard to consideration of
director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders, the Board’s
intention has been to adopt a charter outlining the qualifications for director
candidates, as well as policies with regard to consideration of director
candidates by the stockholders of the Company. Provided that director candidates
meet the delineated qualifications and the nominations are submitted timely
pursuant to the Company’s Bylaws, the Board does not anticipate that the
Nomination Committee will differentiate evaluating nominees for directors based
on their source.
The
independent directors of the Board identify prospective candidates to serve as
directors by reviewing candidates’ credentials and qualifications, and
interviewing prospective candidates before submitting their respective names to
the Board. Each of the independent directors of the Board that serve
the function of the Nominating Committee meet the criteria for being
“independent” set forth under Section 4200(a)(15) of the NASD’s listing
standards.
The
independent directors of the Board consider recommendations for director
nominees from a wide variety of sources, including members of the Company’s
Board, business contacts, community leaders, other third-party sources and
members of management. The independent directors of the Board also
consider stockholders’ recommendations for director nominees that are properly
received by the Company. For additional information, see the section entitled
“Stockholder Proposals”
beginning on page 151.
The Board
believes that all of its directors should have the highest personal integrity
and have a record of exceptional ability and judgment. The Board also believes
that its directors should ideally reflect a mix of experience and other
qualifications. There is no firm requirement of minimum
qualifications or skills that candidates must possess. The
independent directors of the Board evaluate director candidates based on a
number of qualifications, including their independence, judgment, leadership
ability, expertise in the industry, experience developing and analyzing business
strategies, financial literacy, risk management skills, and, for incumbent
directors, his or her past performance.
The
independent directors of the Board initially evaluate a prospective nominee on
the basis of his or her resume and other background information that has been
made available to the Board. An independent director of the Board
will contact for further review and interview those candidates who the
independent directors of the Board believe are qualified, who may fulfill a
specific Board need and who would otherwise best make a contribution to the
Board. If, after further discussions with the candidate, and other
review and consideration as necessary, the independent directors of the Board
believe that they have identified a qualified candidate, they will consider
nominating the candidate for election as a director.
In
addition to the foregoing, Newcastle and the Control Sellers have, pursuant to
the Mutual Support Agreement, agreed that effective upon consummation of the
Acquisition, they will each: (i) use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause their representatives serving on the Board to vote to nominate
and recommend the election of individuals designated by Newcastle and the
Control Sellers (three designees of Newcastle, one designee of Esch and one
designee of Krassner (collectively, the “Designees”)) and, in the event the
Board appoints directors without stockholder approval, to use their commercially
reasonable efforts to cause their representatives on the Board to appoint the
Designees to the Board, (ii) to vote their shares of Common Stock to elect the
Designees at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders or pursuant to any action
by written consent in lieu of a meeting pursuant to which directors are to be
elected to the Board, and (iii) not to propose, and to vote their Common Stock
against, any amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws,
or the adoption of any other corporate measure, that frustrates or circumvents
the provisions of the Mutual Support Agreement with respect to the election of
the Designees. The parties also agreed, effective upon the
consummation of the Acquisition, that for a period of three years thereafter the
parties will use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause their
representatives on the Board to vote to maintain the size of the Board at no
more than nine persons, unless otherwise agreed to by the
Designees.
Code
of Conduct and Ethics
The
Company has adopted a code of conduct and ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) that
applies to all directors, officers and employees. The Code of Conduct
is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote (i) honest and ethical
conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of
interest between personal and professional relationships, (ii) full, fair,
accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed
with, or submitted to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the
Company, (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and
regulations, (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of
Conduct to appropriate persons identified in the Code of Conduct, and (v)
accountability for adherence to the Code of Conduct. Amendments to
the Code of Conduct and any grant of a waiver from a provision of the Code of
Conduct requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules will be disclosed in a
Current Report on Form 8-K. The Code of Conduct is filed as Exhibit
14.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003. The Company will provide a copy of the Code of
Conduct to any person without charge upon written request to New Century Equity
Holdings Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201,
Attn: Corporate Secretary.
Stockholder
Communications with the Board
The Board
has established a process for stockholders to send communications to the
Board. Stockholders may communicate with the Board generally or a
specific director at any time by writing to: New Century Equity
Holdings Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201,
Attn: Corporate Secretary. The Corporate Secretary reviews
all messages received, and forwards any message that reasonably appears to be a
communication from a stockholder about a matter of stockholder interest that is
intended for communication to the Board. Communications are sent as
soon as practicable to the director to whom they are addressed, or if addressed
to the Board generally, to the Chairman of the Board. Because other
appropriate avenues of communication exist for matters that are not of
stockholder interest, such as general business complaints or employee
grievances, communications that do not relate to matters of stockholder interest
are not forwarded to the Board. The Corporate Secretary has the
right, but not the obligation, to forward such other communications to
appropriate channels within the Company.
The
following Summary Compensation Table shows the cash and non-cash compensation
awarded to or earned by the Company’s executive officers for the last two fiscal
years. Other than the individuals named below (the “Named Executive
Officers”), the Company did not have any other executive officers during fiscal
year 2007. Columns have been omitted from the table when there has
been no compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to any of the executive
officers required to be reported in that column.
Name
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
2007
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
28,000 |
(1) |
|
|
28,000 |
|
Interim
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2006
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
28,000 |
(1) |
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
2007
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
(2) |
|
|
112,000 |
|
Former
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
2006
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
7,500 |
(3) |
|
|
157,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Murray
|
|
2007
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
2006
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
director fees paid to Mr. Schwarz in such capacity. Mr. Schwarz
receives no compensation in his capacity as Interim Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of $7,000 in director fees paid to Mr. Pully in such capacity and $5,000
in 401(k) Retirement Plan contributions made on behalf of Mr.
Pully.
|
(3)
|
Represents
401(k) Retirement Plan contributions made on behalf of Mr.
Pully.
|
Narrative
Disclosure to Summary Compensation
Employment
Agreements and Arrangements
All of
the Company’s employees are employed at will and do not have employment,
severance or change in control agreements.
Neither
Mr. Schwarz nor Mr. Murray receives salary compensation at the current time for
his day-to-day services to the Company. Pursuant to the Settlement,
the Company agreed to certain limitations on cash compensation of employees who
are employees of Newcastle (other than Mr. Pully, whose employment with NCM
ceased in October 2007) until such time as the Company acquires a revenue
generating business. All employees, including Mr. Murray, continue to
be eligible for equity grants and other benefits from the Company.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The
Company has no plans or other arrangements in respect of remuneration received
or that may be received by its executive officers to compensate such officers in
the event of termination of employment (as a result of resignation, retirement
or change in control) or other events following a change in
control.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table
The
following table shows the unexercised stock options held at the end of fiscal
year 2007 by the Named Executive Officers. Columns have been omitted
from the table where there are no outstanding equity awards required to be
reported in that column.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Exercisable
|
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)
Unexercisable
|
|
|
Option
Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
.28 |
|
|
|
6-21-11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Murray
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
.28 |
|
|
|
6-18-14 |
|
Compensation
of Directors
A total
of 1,300,000 shares of Common Stock are subject to the Company’s 1996
Non-Employee Director Plan (the “Director Plan”). In November of
2002, the Board revised the Director Plan to reflect the following (effective
with the Board meetings held in 2003): each non-employee director of
the Company will be entitled to annual compensation consisting of $28,000 in
fees or stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock. As
an alternative, each non-employee director may elect a combination of stock and
options. In the fiscal year 2007, Mr. Schwarz, Mr. Risher and Mr.
Bren each elected to receive his annual compensation all in cash. For
each quarterly Board meeting not attended by a non-employee director, 25% of
such annual compensation (both cash and stock options) will be
forfeited. Mr. Schwarz has served as Chairman of the Board since June
2004, and currently also serves in the non-compensated role as Interim Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
Compensation
for services performed during fiscal year 2007 is shown in the table
below.
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
Steven
J. Pully
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
|
|
7,000 |
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
James
A. Risher
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
|
|
28,000 |
|
The Audit
Committee currently consists of one director who is independent as defined in
the listing standards of the NASD. A brief description of the
responsibilities of the Audit Committee is set forth above under the heading
“Corporate Governance –
Audit Committee”
beginning on page 145.
The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2007 with management of the
Company. The Audit Committee has discussed with Burton McCumber, the
Company’s independent registered public accountant for the year ended December
31, 2007, the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as amended. The Audit Committee has also received
the written disclosures and the letter from Burton McCumber required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independent Standards Board No. 1,
Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has discussed with Burton
McCumber its independence.
Based on
the review and the discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year
ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the SEC.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Audit Committee approved in advance any
and all audit services, including the audit engagement fees and terms, and
non-audit services provided to the Company by its independent auditors (subject
to the de minimus exception for non-audit services contained in Section
10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act). The independent auditors and the
Company’s management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee
the extent of services provided by the independent auditors and the fees
associated with these services.
The Audit
Committee has forwarded this report on its activities with respect to its
oversight responsibilities during the year ended December 31,
2007. The report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be
“filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or to the liabilities
of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the report shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing by the Company
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the
Company specifically incorporates it by reference to such filing.
Audit
Committee
James
Risher
Requirements
for Stockholder Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy
Materials
Stockholder
proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act (“Rule 14a-8”),
and intended to be presented at the Company’s 2009 annual meeting of
stockholders, must be received by the Company and addressed to 200 Crescent
Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn: Corporate Secretary, no
later than March 15, 2009 to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy
materials for that meeting.
Requirements
for Stockholder Proposals Outside the Scope of Rule 14a-8
A
stockholder may present a proposal for consideration at the 2009 annual meeting
of stockholders by providing written notice in a timely manner to the Secretary
of the Company setting forth the following information: a brief
description of the proposal to be brought before the annual meeting and the
reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; the name and address
of the stockholder making the proposal; the class and number of shares of the
Company which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and a representation
that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
introduce the proposal or proposals specified in the notice. To be
timely, notice must be received by the Company (a) in the case of an annual
meeting, not less than 120 days prior to the date of the Company’s proxy
materials for the previous year’s annual meeting, or (b) in the case of a
special meeting, not less than the close of business on the seventh day
following the day on which notice of such meeting is first given to
stockholders. No business shall be conducted at a meeting except
business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set
forth above. If the Chairman or other officer presiding at a meeting
determines that the stockholder proposal was not properly brought before such
meeting, such proposal will not be introduced at such meeting.
Requirements
for Stockholder Nominations of Directors
The
advance notification procedures that stockholders must follow in order to
nominate directors (the “Nomination Procedure”), set forth in Section 8.3 of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Section 3.16 of the Bylaws, provides that only
persons who are nominated by or at the direction of the Board, or by a
stockholder who has given timely prior written notice to the Secretary of the
Company prior to the meeting at which directors are to be elected will be
eligible for election to the Board. To be timely, notice must be
received by the Company (a) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than 90
days prior to the annual meeting, or (b) in the case of a special meeting, not
later than the seventh day following the day on which notice of such meeting is
first given to stockholders.
Under the
Nomination Procedure, notice to the Company from a stockholder who proposes to
nominate a person or persons at a meeting for election as a director must
contain certain information, including the name and address of the stockholder
who intends to make the nomination and the person to be nominated, a
representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the
Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by
proxy to nominate the person, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person
pursuant to which the nomination is to be made, such other information regarding
each nominee as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed
pursuant to the Proxy Rules of the SEC had the nominee been nominated by the
Board and the consent of such nominee to serve as a director if so
elected. If the Chairman presiding at the meeting determines that a
person was not nominated in accordance with the Nomination Procedure, such
person will not be eligible for election as a director.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The SEC
allows us to “incorporate by reference” certain information into this proxy
statement, which means that we can disclose important information to our
stockholders by referring our stockholders to other documents that we filed
separately with the SEC. Our stockholders should consider the
incorporated information as if we reproduced it in this proxy statement, except
for any information directly superseded by information contained in this proxy
statement.
Stockholders
may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by us at
the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from
the public reference section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the operation of the public reference
room. Our SEC filings made electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR
system are available to the public at the SEC’s website located at
www.sec.gov.
We
incorporate by reference into this proxy statement the information contained in
Item 8 (Financial Statements and Supplementary Data) of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on
March 28, 2008, as amended by Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 29, 2008,
as amended by Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on June 4, 2008.
Our stockholders may get
copies of any of the incorporated portions of documents (excluding exhibits,
unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated) at no charge by requesting
copies in writing from us at the following address: New Century Equity Holdings
Corp., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn:
Corporate Secretary. Documents should be requested by January
22, 2009 in order to
receive them before the Annual Meeting. Note that a
copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007, and amendments thereto, are provided with the materials accompanying this
proxy statement.
Stockholders
should not rely on information other than that contained or incorporated by
reference in this proxy statement. We have not authorized anyone to
provide information that is different from that contained in this proxy
statement. This proxy statement is dated December 22,
2008. No assumption should be made that the information contained in
this proxy statement is accurate as of any date other than that date, and the
mailing of this proxy statement will not create any implication to the
contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there is any material
change in any of the information previously disclosed, we will, where relevant
and if required by applicable law, update such information through a supplement
to this proxy statement.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
Page
|
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp. and Subsidiaries
|
|
Financial
Statements for the periods ended September 30, 2008:
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and
December
31, 2007 (audited)
|
FS-2
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – For the Three and Nine
Months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
FS-3
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the Nine Months
ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
FS-4
|
Notes
to Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements
|
FS-5
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. and Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (the “Wilhelmina
International Group”)
|
|
Financial
Statements for the periods ended December 31, 2007
(audited):
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
FS-12
|
Combined
Balance Sheets, December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
FS-13
|
Combined
Statements of Operations, December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
FS-14
|
Combined
Statements of Deficit, December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
FS-15
|
Combined
Statements of Cash Flows, December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
FS-16
|
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements, December 31, 2007 and
2006
|
FS-17
|
|
|
Financial
Statements for the periods ended September 30, 2008
(Unaudited):
|
|
Condensed
Combined Balance Sheets (Unaudited), September 30, 2008 and
2007
|
FS-20
|
Condensed
Combined Statements of Operations (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
FS-30
|
Condensed
Combined Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
FS-31
|
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited), September 30, 2008
and 2007
|
FS-32
|
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands, except share data)
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
12,088
|
|
|
$
|
12,679
|
|
Prepaid
and other assets
|
|
|
815
|
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
12,903
|
|
|
|
12,716
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
interest
|
|
|
815
|
|
|
|
803
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
13,706
|
|
|
$
|
13,519
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
106
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Accrued
liabilities
|
|
|
260
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
and total liabilities
|
|
|
366
|
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none
outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common
stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 53,883,872 shares
issued and outstanding
|
|
|
539
|
|
|
|
539
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
75,357
|
|
|
|
75,357
|
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(62,556
|
)
|
|
|
(62,508
|
)
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
13,340
|
|
|
|
13,388
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
13,706
|
|
|
$
|
13,519
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim condensed consolidated
financial statements.
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
revenues
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
271
|
|
|
|
448
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(81
|
)
|
|
|
(121
|
)
|
|
|
(271
|
)
|
|
|
(448
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
|
223
|
|
|
|
466
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other income
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
|
223
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss) applicable to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(21
|
)
|
|
$
|
34
|
|
|
$
|
(48
|
)
|
|
$
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
53,884
|
|
|
|
53,884
|
|
|
|
53,884
|
|
|
|
53,884
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim condensed consolidated
financial statements.
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In
thousands)
|
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
(loss) income
|
|
$
|
(48
|
)
|
|
$
|
18
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
based payment expense
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase)
decrease in prepaid and other assets
|
|
|
(778
|
)
|
|
|
122
|
|
Increase
(decrease) in accounts payable
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
Increase
(decrease) in accrued liabilities
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
(59
|
)
|
Net
cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
|
|
(591
|
)
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
(decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(591
|
)
|
|
|
83
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
|
|
12,679
|
|
|
|
12,319
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of period
|
|
$
|
12,088
|
|
|
$
|
12,402
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim
condensed consolidated financial statements.
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Note
1. Basis of Presentation
The
interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been
prepared by New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (“NCEH” or the “Company”) and
subsidiaries without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Although certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules
and regulations, all adjustments considered necessary in order to make the
financial statements not misleading, have been included. In the
opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying interim condensed
consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, of a normal recurring
nature, that are necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial
position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. It
is recommended that these interim condensed consolidated financial statements be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes
thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007, as amended. Results of operations for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any
other interim periods or the full fiscal year.
Note
2. Recent Developments
Wilhelmina
Acquisition Agreement
On August
25, 2008, NCEH and Wilhelmina Acquisition Corp., a New York corporation and
wholly owned subsidiary of NCEH (“Wilhelmina Acquisition”), entered into an
agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”) with Dieter Esch (“Esch”), Lorex
Investments AG, a Swiss corporation (“Lorex”), Brad Krassner (“Krassner”),
Krassner Family Investments, L.P. (“Krassner L.P.” and together with Esch, Lorex
and Krassner, the “Control Sellers”), Wilhelmina International, Ltd., a New York
corporation (“Wilhelmina International”), Wilhelmina – Miami, Inc., a Florida
corporation (“Wilhelmina Miami”), Wilhelmina Artist Management LLC, a New York
limited liability company (“WAM”), Wilhelmina Licensing LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“Wilhelmina Licensing”), and Wilhelmina Film & TV
Productions LLC, a New York limited liability company (“Wilhelmina TV” and
together with Wilhelmina International, Wilhelmina Miami, WAM and Wilhelmina
Licensing, the “Wilhelmina Companies”), Sean Patterson, an executive with the
Wilhelmina Companies (“Patterson”), and the shareholders of Wilhelmina Miami
(the “Miami Holders” and together with the Control Sellers and Patterson, the
“Sellers”). Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, NCEH will acquire
the Wilhelmina Companies subject to the terms and conditions thereof (the
“Acquisition”). The Acquisition Agreement provides for (i) the merger
of Wilhelmina Acquisition with and into Wilhelmina International in a
stock-for-stock transaction, as a result of which Wilhelmina International will
become a wholly owned subsidiary of NCEH (the “Merger”) and (ii) NCEH’s purchase
of the outstanding equity interests of the other Wilhelmina Companies for
cash.
At the
closing of the Acquisition Agreement (the “Closing”), NCEH will pay an aggregate
purchase price of $30,000,000 in connection with the Acquisition, of which
$24,000,000 will be paid for the outstanding equity interests of the Wilhelmina
Companies and $6,000,000 in cash will repay the outstanding balance of a note
held by a Control Seller. The purchase price includes $15,000,000 of
Common Stock of NCEH (the “Common Stock”), valued at book value as of July 31,
2008 (which the parties agreed is $0.247 per share of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment) to be issued in connection with the merger of Wilhelmina Acquisition
with and into Wilhelmina International. The remaining $9,000,000 of
cash will be paid to acquire the equity interests of the remaining Wilhelmina
Companies.
The
purchase price is subject to certain post-closing adjustments, which will be
effected against a total of $4,600,000 of Common Stock that will be held in
escrow pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement. The $30,000,000 to be
paid at Closing, less $4,500,000 of Common Stock to be held in escrow in respect
of the “core business” purchase price adjustment, provides for a floor purchase
price of $25,500,000 (which amount may be further reduced in connection with
certain indemnification matters). The shares of Common Stock held in
escrow may be repurchased by NCEH for a nominal amount, subject to certain
earnouts and offsets.
The
shares of Common Stock held in escrow support earnout offsets and
indemnification obligations of the Sellers. The Sellers will be
required to leave in escrow, through 2011, any stock “earned” following
resolution of “core” adjustment, up to a total value of
$1,000,000. Losses at WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, respectively, can be
offset against any positive earnout with respect to the other Wilhelmina
Company. Losses in excess of earnout amounts could also result in the
repurchase of the remaining shares of Common Stock held in escrow for a nominal
amount. Working capital deficiencies may also reduce positive
earnout amounts. The earnouts are payable in 2011.
The
Acquisition Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder is subject to
shareholder approval. On October 14, 2008, the Company filed a
preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in order to seek shareholder approval
of, among other things, the Acquisition Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereunder. When completed, the definitive proxy
statement will be mailed to the shareholders.
Newcastle
Financing Agreement
Concurrently
with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the Company entered into a
purchase agreement (the “Equity Financing Agreement”) with Newcastle Partners,
L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Newcastle”), which currently owns 19,380,768
shares or approximately 36% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, for the
purpose of obtaining financing to complete the transactions contemplated by the
Acquisition Agreement. Pursuant to the Equity Financing Agreement,
subject to and conditioned upon the Closing of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company will sell to Newcastle $3,000,000 of shares of Common Stock at $.247 per
share, or approximately (but slightly higher than) the per share price
applicable to the Common Stock issuable under the Acquisition
Agreement. In addition, under the Equity Financing Agreement,
Newcastle committed to purchase, at the Company’s election at any time or times
prior to six months following the Closing, up to an additional $2,000,000 of
Common Stock on the same terms. The Equity Financing Agreement is
subject to certain other conditions, including the parties’ entry into a
registration rights agreement upon the Closing, pursuant to which Newcastle will
be granted certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the
Common Stock it holds, including the Common Stock issuable under the Equity
Financing Agreement.
Sean
Patterson Employment Agreement
On
November 10, 2008, the Company, Wilhelmina International and Sean Patterson
entered into an Employment Agreement covering the terms of the employment of Mr.
Patterson by Wilhelmina International subject to, and effective upon, the
closing of the acquisition of the Wilhelmina Companies by the Company pursuant
to the Acquisition Agreement. See “Wilhelmina Acquisition
Agreement” above. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr.
Patterson will continue to serve as President of Wilhelmina
International. Mr. Patterson will receive a base salary of $475,000
per year and an annual bonus based on the excess of the combined annual EBITDA
of Wilhelmina International, WAM and Wilhelmina Models, Inc., a Wilhelmina
International subsidiary, over $4,000,000. The Employment Agreement
has a three year term. Mr. Patterson is subject to certain
non-competition, non-solicitation and related obligations during and following
the term of the Employment Agreement.
Note
3. Historical Overview
On
October 5, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Ascendant
Agreement”) with ACP Investments, L.P. (d/b/a Ascendant Capital Partners)
(“Ascendant”) to acquire an interest in the revenues generated by
Ascendant. Ascendant is a Berwyn, Pennsylvania based alternative
asset management company whose funds have investments in long/short equity funds
and which distributes its registered funds primarily through various financial
intermediaries and related channels. The Company’s interest in
Ascendant currently represents the Company’s sole operating
business.
The
Company, which was formerly known as Billing Concepts Corp. (“BCC”), was
incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1996. BCC was previously a
wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Long Distance Corp. (“USLD”) and principally
provided third-party billing clearinghouse and information management services
to the telecommunications industry (the “Transaction Processing and Software
Business”). Upon its spin-off from USLD, BCC became an independent,
publicly-held company. In October 2000, the Company completed the
sale of several wholly-owned subsidiaries that comprised the Transaction
Processing and Software Business to Platinum Holdings (“Platinum”) for
consideration of $49,700,000 (the “Platinum Transaction”). The
Company also received payments totaling $7,500,000 for consulting services
provided to Platinum over the twenty-four month period subsequent to the
Platinum Transaction.
Beginning
in 1998, the Company made multiple investments in Princeton eCom Corporation
(“Princeton”) totaling approximately $77,300,000 before selling all of its
interest for $10,000,000 in June 2004. The Company’s strategy,
beginning with its investment in Princeton, of making investments in high-growth
companies was also facilitated through several other investments.
In early
2004, the Company announced that it would seek stockholder approval to liquidate
the Company. In June of 2004, the board of directors of the Company
determined that it would be in the best interest of the Company to accept an
investment from Newcastle, an investment fund with a long track record of
investing in public and private companies. On June 18, 2004, the
Company sold 4,807,692 newly issued shares of its Series A 4% Convertible
Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) to Newcastle for $5,000,000
(the “Newcastle Transaction”). The Series A Preferred Stock was
convertible into approximately thirty-five percent of the Company’s Common
Stock, at any time after the expiration of twelve months from the date of its
issuance at a conversion price of $0.26 per share of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment for dilution. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock
were entitled to a four percent annual cash dividend (the “Preferred
Dividends”). Following the investment by Newcastle, the management
team resigned and new executives and board members were appointed. On
July 3, 2006, Newcastle converted its Series A Preferred Stock into 19,230,768
shares of Common Stock
During
May 2005, the Company sold its equity interest in Sharps Compliance Corp.
(“Sharps”) for approximately $334,000. Following the sale of its
interest in Sharps, the Company no longer holds any investments made by former
management and which reflected former management’s strategy of investing in
high-growth companies.
Derivative
Lawsuit
On August
11, 2004, Craig Davis, allegedly a stockholder of the Company, filed a lawsuit
in the Chancery Court of New Castle County, Delaware (the
“Lawsuit”). The Lawsuit asserted direct claims, and also derivative
claims on the Company’s behalf, against five former and three current directors
of the Company. On April 13, 2006, the Company announced that it
reached an agreement with all of the parties to the Lawsuit to settle all claims
relating thereto (the “Settlement”). On June 23, 2006, the Chancery
Court approved the Settlement, and on July 25, 2006, the Settlement became final
and non-appealable. As part of the Settlement, the Company set up a
fund (the “Settlement Fund”), which was distributed to stockholders of record as
of July 28, 2006, with a payment date of August 11, 2006. The portion
of the Settlement Fund distributed to stockholders pursuant to the Settlement
was $2,270,017 or approximately $.04 per common share on a fully diluted basis,
provided that any Common Stock held by defendants in the Lawsuit who were
formerly directors of the Company would not be entitled to any distribution from
the Settlement Fund. The total Settlement proceeds of $3,200,000 were
funded by the Company’s insurance carrier and by Parris H. Holmes, Jr., the
Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, who contributed
$150,000. Also included in the total Settlement proceeds was $600,000
of reimbursement for legal and professional fees paid to the Company by its
insurance carrier and subsequently contributed by the Company to the Settlement
Fund. Therefore, the Company recognized a loss of $600,000 related to
the Lawsuit for the year ended December 31, 2006. As part of the
Settlement, the Company and the other defendants in the Lawsuit agreed not to
oppose the request for fees and expenses by counsel to the plaintiff of
$929,813. Under the Settlement, the plaintiff, the Company and the
other defendants (including Mr. Holmes) also agreed to certain mutual
releases.
The
Settlement provided that, if the Company had not acquired a business that
generated revenues by March 1, 2007, the plaintiff maintained the right to
pursue a claim to liquidate the Company. This custodian claim was one of several
claims asserted in the Lawsuit. Even if such a claim is elected to be
pursued, there is no assurance that it will be successful. In
addition, the Company believes that it has preserved its right to assert that
the Ascendant investment meets the foregoing requirement to acquire a
business.
During
October 2007, in connection with the resolution of the Lawsuit, the Company and
the insurance carrier agreed to settle all claims for reimbursement of legal and
professional fees paid by the Company for $240,000.
Note
4. Stock Based Compensation
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”
(“SFAS 123R”) using the modified prospective application transition
method. Under this method, previously reported amounts should not be
restated to reflect the provisions of SFAS 123R. SFAS 123R requires
measurement of all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair-value
method and recording of such expense in the consolidated financial statements
over the requisite service period. Previously, the Company had
applied the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
“Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations and
elected to utilize the disclosure option of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded $0 and
$17,000, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense under the fair-value
provisions of SFAS 123R. The Company utilizes stock-based awards as a
form of compensation for employees, officers and directors.
Note
5. Revenue Interest
Pursuant
to the Ascendant Agreement, the Company is entitled to a 50% interest, subject
to certain adjustments, in the revenues of Ascendant, which interest declines if
the assets under management of Ascendant reach certain
levels. Revenues generated by Ascendant include revenues from assets
under management or any other sources or investments, net of any agreed
commissions. The Company also agreed to provide various marketing
services to Ascendant. On November 5, 2007, John Murray, Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, was appointed to the Investment Advisory
Committee of Ascendant to replace the Company’s former CEO. The total
potential purchase price under the terms of the Ascendant Agreement was
$1,550,000, payable in four equal installments of $387,500. The first
installment was paid at the closing and the second installment was paid on
January 5, 2006. Subject to the provisions of the Ascendant
Agreement, including Ascendant’s compliance with the terms thereof, the third
installment was payable on April 5, 2006 and the fourth installment was payable
on July 5, 2006. On April 5, 2006, the Company elected not to make
the April installment payment and subsequently determined not to make the
installment payment due July 5, 2006. The Company believed that it
was not required to make the payments because Ascendant did not satisfy all of
the conditions in the Ascendant Agreement.
Subject
to the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, if the Company does not make an
installment payment and Ascendant is not in breach of the Ascendant Agreement,
Ascendant has the right to acquire the Company’s revenue interest at a price
which would yield a 10% annualized return to the Company. The Company
has been notified by Ascendant that Ascendant is exercising this right as a
result of the Company’s election not to make its third and fourth installment
payments. The Company believes that Ascendant has not satisfied the
requisite conditions to repurchase the Company’s revenue interest.
Ascendant
had assets under management of approximately $40,800,000 and $37,500,000 as of
September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. Under the
Ascendant Agreement, revenues earned by the Company from the Ascendant revenue
interest (as determined in accordance with the terms of the Ascendant Agreement)
are payable in cash within 30 days after the end of each
quarter. Under the terms of the Ascendant Agreement, Ascendant has 45
days following notice by the Company to cure any material breach by Ascendant of
the Ascendant Agreement, including with respect to payment
obligations. Ascendant failed to make the required revenue sharing
payments for the calendar quarters including June 30, 2006 through June 30,
2008, in a timely manner and did not cure such failures within the required 45
day period. In addition, Ascendant has not made the payment for the
quarter ended September 30, 2008. Under the terms of the Ascendant
Agreement, upon notice of an uncured material breach, Ascendant is required to
fully refund all amounts paid by the Company, and the Company’s revenue interest
remains outstanding.
The
Company has not recorded any revenue or received any revenue sharing payments
for the period from July 1, 2006 through September 30,
2008. According to the Ascendant Agreement, if Ascendant acquires the
revenue interest from the Company, Ascendant must pay the Company a return on
the capital that it invested. Pursuant to the Ascendant Agreement,
the required return on the Company’s invested capital will not be impacted by
any revenue sharing payments made or not made by Ascendant.
In
connection with the Ascendant Agreement, the Company also entered into the
Principals Agreement with Ascendant and certain limited partners and key
employees of Ascendant (the “Principals Agreement”) pursuant to which, among
other things, the Company has the option to purchase limited partnership
interests of Ascendant under certain circumstances. Effective March
14, 2006, in accordance with the terms of the Principals Agreement, the Company
acquired a 7% limited partnership interest from a limited partner of Ascendant
for nominal consideration. The Principals Agreement contains certain
noncompete and nonsolicitation obligations of the partners of Ascendant that
apply during their employment and the twelve month period following the
termination thereof.
Since the
Ascendant revenue interest meets the indefinite life criteria outlined in
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets”, the Company does not amortize this intangible
asset, but instead reviews this asset quarterly for impairment. Each
reporting period, the Company assesses whether events or circumstances have
occurred which indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds
its fair value. If the carrying amount of the intangible asset
exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized in an amount equal
to that excess. After an impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted
carrying amount of the intangible asset shall be its new accounting
basis. Subsequent reversal of a previously recognized impairment loss
is prohibited.
The
Company assesses whether the entity in which the acquired revenue interest exists meets
the indefinite life criteria based on a number of factors including: the
historical and potential future operating performance; the historical and potential
future rates of attrition among existing clients; the stability and longevity
of existing client relationships; the recent, as well as long-term, investment
performance; the characteristics of the entities’ products and investment styles;
the stability and depth of the management team and the history and perceived
franchise or brand value.
Note
6. Commitments and Contingencies
In
October 2000, the Company completed the Platinum Transaction. Under
the terms of the Platinum Transaction, all leases and corresponding obligations
associated with the Transaction Processing and Software Business were assumed by
Platinum. Prior to the Platinum Transaction, the Company guaranteed
two operating leases for office space of the divested companies. The
first lease is related to office space located in San Antonio, Texas, and
expired in 2006. The second lease is related to office space located
in Austin, Texas, and expires in 2010. Under the original terms of
the second lease, the remaining minimum undiscounted rent payments total
approximately $1,773,000 at September 30, 2008. In conjunction with
the Platinum Transaction, Platinum agreed to indemnify the Company should the
underlying operating companies not perform under the terms of the office
leases. The Company can provide no assurance as to Platinum’s
ability, or willingness, to perform its obligations under the
indemnification. The Company does not believe it is probable that it
will be required to perform under the remaining lease guarantee and, therefore,
no liability has been accrued in the Company’s financial
statements.
On
December 12, 2005, the Company received a letter from the SEC, based on a review
of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2004,
requesting that the Company provide a written explanation as to whether the
Company is an “investment company” (as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940). The Company provided a written response to the
SEC, dated January 12, 2006, stating the reasons why it believes it is not an
“investment company”. The Company has provided certain confirmatory
information requested by the SEC. In the event the SEC or a court
took the position that the Company is an investment company, the Company’s
failure to register as an investment company would not only raise the
possibility of an enforcement or other legal action by the SEC and potential
fines and penalties, but also could threaten the validity of corporate actions
and contracts entered into by the Company during the period it was deemed to be
an unregistered investment company, among other remedies.
In a
letter to the Company dated October 16, 2007, a lawyer representing Steven J.
Pully (the former CEO) alleged that the Company filed false and misleading
disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
elimination of Mr. Pully’s compensation (see the Company’s Forms 8-K filed on
September 5, 2007 and October 17, 2007). No specifics were provided
as to such allegations. The Company believes such allegations are
unfounded and, if a claim is made, the Company intends to vigorously defend
itself.
Note
7. Related Party Transactions
In June
2004, in connection with the Newcastle Transaction, Mark Schwarz, Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of Newcastle Capital Management, L.P. (“NCM”),
Steven J. Pully, former President of NCM, and John Murray, Chief Financial
Officer of NCM, assumed positions as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, of the
Company. Mr. Pully received an annual salary of $150,000 as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Pully resigned as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company effective October 15, 2007. Mr.
Schwarz is performing the functions of Chief Executive Officer. NCM
is the general partner of Newcastle, which owns 19,380,768 shares of Common
Stock of the Company.
The
Company’s corporate headquarters are currently located at 200 Crescent Court,
Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201, which are also the offices of
NCM. The Company occupies a portion of NCM space on a month-to-month
basis at $2,500 per month, pursuant to a services agreement entered into between
the parties. The Company also receives accounting and administrative
services from employees of NCM pursuant to such agreement. NCM is the
general partner of Newcastle. The Company incurred expenses pursuant
to the services agreement totaling $115,500 and $22,500 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company owed NCM
$69,000 and $0 as of September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
On August
25, 2008, concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, the
Company entered into the Equity Financing Agreement with Newcastle for the
purpose of obtaining financing to complete the transactions contemplated by the
Acquisition Agreement (See Note 2).
Note
8. Share Capital
On July
10, 2006, the Company entered into a stockholders rights plan (the “Rights
Plan”) that replaced the Company’s stockholders rights plan dated July 10, 1996
(the “Old Rights Plan”) that expired according to its terms on July 10, 2006.
The Rights Plan provides for a dividend distribution of one preferred share
purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Common Stock. The terms
of the Rights and the Rights Plan are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as
of July 10, 2006, by and between New Century Equity Holdings Corp. and The Bank
of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.
The
Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Rights Plan to protect stockholder
value by protecting the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of its net
operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) and capital loss
carryforwards. In general terms, the Rights Plan imposes a
significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 5% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock without the prior approval of the Company’s Board of
Directors. Stockholders that own 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock as
of the close of business on the Record Date may acquire up to an additional 1%
of the outstanding Common Stock without penalty so long as they maintain their
ownership above the 5% level (such increase subject to downward adjustment by
the Company’s Board of Directors if it determines that such increase will
endanger the availability of the Company’s NOLs and/or its capital loss
carryforwards). In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors has exempted
Newcastle, the Company’s largest stockholder, and may exempt any person or group
that owns 5% or more if the Board of Directors determines that the person’s or
group’s ownership will not endanger the availability of the Company’s NOLs
and/or its capital loss carryforwards. A person or group that acquires a
percentage of Common Stock in excess of the applicable threshold is called an
“Acquiring Person”. Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not
be exercised. The Company’s Board of Directors authorized the issuance of one
Right per each share of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date. If the
Rights become exercisable, each Right would allow its holder to purchase from
the Company one one-hundredth of a share of the Company’s Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 (the “Preferred Stock”), for a
purchase price of $10.00. Each fractional share of Preferred Stock would give
the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights
as does one share of Common Stock. Prior to exercise, however, a Right does not
give its holder any dividend, voting or liquidation rights.
The
Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock, other
than $2,270,017 distributed to the stockholders pursuant to the
Settlement in August 2006 (See Note 3). On June 30, 2006, Newcastle
elected to receive Preferred Dividends in cash for the period from June 19, 2005
through June 30, 2006. On July 3, 2006, Newcastle elected to convert
all of its Series A Preferred Stock into 19,230,768 shares of Common
Stock.
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the
Board of Directors
Wilhelmina
International Group
We have
audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of Wilhelmina International
Group (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related combined
statements of operations, deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended.
These combined financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined
financial statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the combined financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of their operations and
their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
As
discussed in Note 14 to the combined financial statements, the December 31, 2006
combined financial statements have been restated to reflect the correction of
errors in connection with certain assets, liabilities, deficit, income, expense,
and cash flows and certain disclosures. The effects of these adjustments are to
increase the accumulated deficit by approximately $3,615,000 at January 1, 2006
and to decrease net income by approximately $515,000 for the year ended December
31, 2006.
Lake
Success, N.Y.
August
14, 2008
Wilhelmina
International Group
Combined
Balance Sheets
December
31, 2007 and
2006
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
(Restated)
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
1,810,616 |
|
|
$ |
875,487 |
|
Accounts
receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $35,000
in 2007 and 2006
|
|
|
8,171,616 |
|
|
|
6,540,531 |
|
Due
from models
|
|
|
1,682,016 |
|
|
|
1,952,099 |
|
Prepaid
income taxes
|
|
|
42,049 |
|
|
|
98,019 |
|
Receivable
from affiliate
|
|
|
430,427 |
|
|
|
302,518 |
|
Due
from officers
|
|
|
189,238 |
|
|
|
93,656 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
449,774 |
|
|
|
614,487 |
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
13,040,736 |
|
|
|
10,476,797 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
350,893 |
|
|
|
298,311 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
79,552 |
|
|
|
50,620 |
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
Investment
in affiliate
|
|
|
150,363 |
|
|
|
132,713 |
|
Other
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other assets
|
|
|
524,473 |
|
|
|
477,891 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
14,077,632 |
|
|
$ |
11,414,529 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Line
of credit
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
8,680,971 |
|
|
|
5,597,990 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
1,175,038 |
|
|
|
796,622 |
|
Taxes
payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
1,301,213 |
|
|
|
1,337,173 |
|
Current
portion of note payable
|
|
|
257,720 |
|
|
|
241,183 |
|
Current
portion of capital lease obligation
|
|
|
24,647 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Due
to factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
262,835 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
12,939,589 |
|
|
|
9,735,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to stockholder
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
Note
payable, net of current portion
|
|
|
298,221 |
|
|
|
554,487 |
|
Capital
lease obligation, net of current portion
|
|
|
42,798 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
tax liability
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
66,187 |
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
long-term liabilities
|
|
|
6,437,206 |
|
|
|
6,608,191 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
19,376,795 |
|
|
|
16,343,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock, no par value; 2,200 shares authorized, 2,103 shares issued
and outstanding
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
Members’
deficit
|
|
|
(1,475,099 |
) |
|
|
(906,974 |
) |
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(5,357,956 |
) |
|
|
(5,556,383 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
deficit
|
|
|
(5,299,163 |
) |
|
|
(4,929,465 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and deficit
|
|
$ |
14,077,632 |
|
|
$ |
11,414,529 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
statements.
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Combined
Statements of
Operations
December
31, 2007 and 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
(Restated)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions
and residuals
|
|
$ |
4,914,400 |
|
|
$ |
4,701,749 |
|
Service
charges
|
|
|
5,326,951 |
|
|
|
4,554,747 |
|
Consulting
income
|
|
|
226,226 |
|
|
|
247,898 |
|
Management
fees, license fees and other income
|
|
|
1,022,892 |
|
|
|
1,235,164 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
11,490,469 |
|
|
|
10,739,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
6,743,333 |
|
|
|
5,766,276 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
2,999,242 |
|
|
|
2,628,897 |
|
Stockholder’s
compensation and consulting fees
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
975,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
10,717,575 |
|
|
|
9,370,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
772,894 |
|
|
|
1,369,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
12,591 |
|
|
|
139,448 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(992,011 |
) |
|
|
(999,105 |
) |
Equity
in income (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
17,650 |
|
|
|
(21,684 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
(961,770 |
) |
|
|
(881,341 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) before provision for
(benefit
from) income taxes
|
|
|
(188,876 |
) |
|
|
488,044 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
212,222 |
|
|
|
21,983 |
|
Deferred
|
|
|
(235,000 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22,778 |
) |
|
|
21,983 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
(166,098 |
) |
|
$ |
466,061 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
statements.
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Combined
Statements of Deficit
December
31, 2007 and
2006
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
|
|
|
Members’
Deficit
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- December 31, 2005
|
|
|
128 |
|
|
$ |
33,828 |
|
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
(280,765 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,293,801 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,540,738 |
) |
To
adjust equity in income of affiliate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,453 |
|
|
|
58,453 |
|
To
record impairment of intangible assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
To
record opening equity in Wilhelmina Miami, Inc.
|
|
|
1,975 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
499,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,235,590 |
) |
|
|
(735,526 |
) |
To
record potential liability in connection with abandoned property
law
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(139,823 |
) |
|
|
(139,823 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- December 31, 2005 (Restated)
|
|
|
2,103 |
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
|
|
(280,765 |
) |
|
|
(5,908,728 |
) |
|
|
(4,655,601 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income for the year - as previously reported
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
113,716 |
|
|
|
867,136 |
|
|
|
980,852 |
|
To record deferred rent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(53,704 |
) |
|
|
(53,704 |
) |
To record net loss of Wilhelmina Miami, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(593,972 |
) |
|
|
(593,972 |
) |
To record interest income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(739,925 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(739,925 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- December 31, 2006 (Restated)
|
|
|
2,103 |
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
|
|
(906,974 |
) |
|
|
(5,556,383 |
) |
|
|
(4,929,465 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income for the year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(364,525 |
) |
|
|
198,427 |
|
|
|
(166,098 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(203,600 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(203,600 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- December 31, 2007
|
|
|
2,103 |
|
|
$ |
34,828 |
|
|
$ |
1,499,064 |
|
|
$ |
(1,475,099 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,357,956 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,299,163 |
) |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
statements.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Combined
Statements of Cash Flows
December
31, 2007 and
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
(Restated)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
(166,098 |
) |
|
$ |
466,061 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided
by operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
70,954 |
|
|
|
78,024 |
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
(235,000 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
12,483 |
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
Equity
in (income) loss from affiliate
|
|
|
(17,650 |
) |
|
|
21,684 |
|
Increase
(decrease) in cash resulting from changes in operating
assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(1,631,085 |
) |
|
|
310,215 |
|
Due
from models
|
|
|
270,083 |
|
|
|
(370,027 |
) |
Prepaid
income taxes
|
|
|
55,970 |
|
|
|
(15,360 |
) |
Receivable
from affiliate
|
|
|
(127,909 |
) |
|
|
(121,707 |
) |
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
164,713 |
|
|
|
267,933 |
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
(28,932 |
) |
|
|
7,439 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
3,082,981 |
|
|
|
12,295 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
378,416 |
|
|
|
(663,087 |
) |
Taxes
payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
(35,960 |
) |
|
|
318,319 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
1,792,966 |
|
|
|
365,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(44,803 |
) |
|
|
(20,171 |
) |
Due
from officer
|
|
|
(95,582 |
) |
|
|
64,733 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash (used in) provided by investing activities
|
|
|
(140,385 |
) |
|
|
44,562 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from factor
|
|
|
1,563,500 |
|
|
|
2,230,700 |
|
Repayments
to factor
|
|
|
(1,826,335 |
) |
|
|
(1,967,865 |
) |
Repayment
of note
|
|
|
(239,729 |
) |
|
|
(219,806 |
) |
Repayment
of capital lease obligations
|
|
|
(11,288 |
) |
|
|
(22,918 |
) |
Distributions
|
|
|
(203,600 |
) |
|
|
(739,925 |
) |
Proceeds
from Note
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
15,476 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(717,452 |
) |
|
|
(704,338 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
935,129 |
|
|
|
(294,283 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
of year
|
|
|
875,487 |
|
|
|
1,169,770 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End
of year
|
|
$ |
1,810,616 |
|
|
$ |
875,487 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid during the years for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$ |
935,201 |
|
|
$ |
933,460 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
taxes
|
|
$ |
72,376 |
|
|
$ |
74,155 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment
purchased under capital leases
|
|
$ |
78,733 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial
statements.
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
1 Nature
of Operations
Wilhelmina
International Group (the “Company”) is a fashion modeling agency, placing models
with clients located principally throughout the United States. Since its
foundation in 1967 by the famous model Wilhelmina Cooper, the Company has grown
largely organically to its current size, and has developed into a broadly
diversified full service agency with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
In addition to its traditional fashion model management activities, the Company
has also expanded into music and sports talent endorsement, television show
production and licensing opportunities for the Wilhelmina brand
name.
Wilhelmina
International Group also collects fees from licensees across the United States,
who serve as the Company’s local representatives.
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Combination
The
accompanying financial statements include the consolidated accounts of
Wilhelmina International Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Wilhelmina West
Inc., Wilhelmina Models, Inc., and LW1 Inc. (“LW1”), Wilhelmina Miami, Inc.
(“Miami”), Wilhelmina Artist Management, LLC, Wilhelmina Licensing, LLC and
Wilhelmina Film & TV, LLC which are wholly or majority owned by the
stockholders and officers of the consolidated companies, are combined with the
consolidated group of companies. The collective group is referred to as the
Company. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been
eliminated in combination.
The
Company is affiliated with other companies in a similar line of business, all of
which are controlled by common ownership. Management believes that combining the
companies into the collective group provides more complete
reporting.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company acts as an agent and records revenue equal to the net amount retained,
when the fee or commission is earned. The Company recognizes services provided
as revenue upon the rendering of modeling services to its clients. Commission
income represents a percentage charged to the models upon the completion of
their services to the clients. The Company also recognizes management fees as
revenues for providing services to other modeling agencies as well as consulting
income in connection with services provided to a television production network
according to the terms of the contract.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Cash
Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and
2006
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable consist of trade receivables recorded at original invoice amounts,
net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, and are subject to credit risk.
Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis; thus, trade
receivables do not bear interest. Trade receivables are periodically evaluated
for collectibility based on past credit histories with customers and their
current financial conditions. Changes in the estimated collectibility of trade
receivables are recorded in the results of operations for the periods in which
the estimates are revised.
Concentrations
of Credit Risk
The
Company maintains its cash balances in four different financial institutions in
New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. Balances are insured up to FDIC limits of
$100,000 per institution as of September 30, 2008. On October 4, 2008, the
FDIC limit was increased to $250,000. At September 30, 2008, the Company
had cash balances in financial institutions of approximately $1,054,000 in
excess of such insurance.
Property and
Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization, based upon the
estimated useful lives of the assets or terms of the leases, are computed by use
of the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized based upon the
shorter of the terms of the leases or asset lives. When property and equipment
are retired or sold, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are
eliminated from the related accounts and gains or losses, if any, are reflected
in the combined statement of operations.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist primarily of goodwill and buyer relationships resulting from a
business acquisition. According to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill and
intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer subject to amortization,
but rather to an annual assessment of impairment by applying a fair-value based
test. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 as of January 1, 2002 and ceased
amortizing goodwill and intangible assets. The Company completed its annual
impairment test as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and was not required to
recognize an impairment charge for such years (see Notes 4 and 14).
Investment
in Unconsolidated Affiliate
The
Company accounts for its investment in its 50% owned affiliate using the equity
method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company recognizes its pro-rata share of
the affiliate’s income or loss in earnings. Distributions from the affiliate are
reflected as a reduction of the investment. The equity method of accounting is
suspended when the share of the net losses is equal to the carrying amount of
the investment and no additional losses are charged to operations.
Advertising
The
Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense included
in operating expenses approximates $307,000 and $12,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Income
Taxes
The
Company follows SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” which requires the
asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under that method,
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are computed using enacted tax rates, expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely
than not that future benefits associated with a deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Reclassification
Certain
amounts in the prior period presented have been reclassified to conform to the
current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no
effect on previously reported net income.
3
Property and Equipment
|
Property
and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Estimated
Useful Lives
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
|
$ |
801,393 |
|
|
$ |
785,358 |
|
5-7
years
|
Equipment
|
|
|
717,877 |
|
|
|
635,794 |
|
5-7
years
|
Computer
software
|
|
|
12,635 |
|
|
|
12,635 |
|
5
years
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
|
|
678,323 |
|
|
|
652,905 |
|
Remaining
life of lease
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,210,228 |
|
|
|
2,086,692 |
|
|
Less
accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(1,859,335 |
) |
|
|
(1,788,381 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
$ |
350,893 |
|
|
$ |
298,311 |
|
|
Property
and equipment includes equipment under capital lease obligations with a cost of
$75,614 and $112,194 and related accumulated depreciation of $5,401 and $55,820
at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
4
Intangible Assets
As of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, intangible assets consist of the following assets
recognized upon the acquisition of the issued and outstanding stock of LW1 from
a related party in 1999 (see Note 14):
Goodwill
|
|
$ |
145,530 |
|
Customer
relationships
|
|
|
16,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
161,530 |
|
5
Restricted Cash
At
December 31, 2007, the Company has $285,000 of restricted cash that serves as
collateral for an irrevocable standby letter of credit. The letter of credit is
additional security under the New York lease extension that expires in December
2010. In May 2008, the corresponding security deposit requirement was reduced to
$175,000 under the terms of the lease.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
6
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate
The
Company owns a fifty percent interest in an unconsolidated affiliate. Included
in receivable from affiliate are management fees receivable. The net receivable
from the affiliate was approximately $430,000 and $303,000 at December 31, 2007
and 2006, respectively.
7
Line of Credit and Note Payable
In
December 2005, the Company negotiated a financing agreement with a bank and used
the proceeds to pay off the loan from its previous financial institution. The
agreement consists of a $1,500,000 revolving line of credit and $1,000,000 term
note.
Interest
on the revolving credit note is payable monthly at an annual rate of prime plus
one-half percent equal to 7.75% at December 31, 2007. The weighted average
interest rate for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was 8.65% and
8.46%, respectively. Availability under the revolving line of credit is subject
to a borrowing base computation.
In
January 2008, the Company renewed the revolving line of credit with an increase
in borrowing capacity to $2,000,000, with availability subject to a borrowing
base computation. The renewed revolving line of credit matures on August 31,
2008.
The term
note is payable in monthly installments of $23,784 including principal and
interest calculated at a fixed rate of 6.65% per annum and matures in December
2009.
The line
of credit and note payable are collateralized by all of the assets of the
Company, cross collateralized by the combined and consolidated companies herein
and are guaranteed by a stockholder of the Company.
Annual
maturities of the term note are as follows:
|
|
Periods
Ending
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
257,720
|
|
2009
|
|
|
298,221
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
555,941
|
|
8 Due to Factor
The
Company was a party to an agreement with a factor. The factor advanced a
subsidiary an aggregate of $1,564,000 and $2,231,000 during the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006, all of which was repaid by December 31, 2007. For
the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company paid $23,000 and $40,000
in fees to the factor and $56,300 and $21,000 in interest expense, respectively.
Included in accounts receivable at December 31, 2007 is $212,000 of funds on
deposit with the factor. The agreement with the factor was terminated in March
2008.
9 Taxes Payable - Other Than Income
Taxes
Taxes
payable – other than income taxes - consists principally of payroll and
withholding taxes, including U.S. income taxes withheld on fees paid to foreign
models aggregating approximately $969,000 and $991,000 at December 31, 2007 and
2006, respectively.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
10
Commitments
Capital
Lease Obligations
In July
2007, the Company entered into a 36 month capital lease for equipment. The lease
obligation is payable monthly in the amount of $2,604 including interest at a
rate of 11.7% per annum. In 2006, the Company paid off substantially all of its
then outstanding capital leases. Interest expense on these capital leases
totaled approximately $4,334 and $1,635 for the years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006, respectively.
Years
Ending
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
Amount
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
31,245
|
|
2009
|
|
|
31,245
|
|
2010
|
|
|
15,622
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
minimum lease payments
|
|
78,112
|
|
Less:
amount representing interest
|
|
(10,667
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Present
value of net minimum lease payments
|
|
67,445
|
|
Less:
current portion
|
|
(24,647
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized
lease obligations, net of current
portion
|
$
|
42,798
|
|
Operating
Leases
The
Company is obligated under lease agreements for the rental of office space and
various other lease agreements for the leasing of office equipment. These
operating leases expire at various dates between 2008 and 2011. In addition to
the minimum base rent, the office space lease agreements provide that the
Company shall pay its pro-rata share of real estate taxes and operating costs as
defined in the lease agreement.
Future
minimum payments under the lease agreements are summarized as
follows:
Years
Ending
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
604,000 |
|
2009
|
|
|
418,000 |
|
2010
|
|
|
387,000 |
|
2011
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,413,000 |
|
Rent
expense totaled approximately $599,000 and $578,000 for the years ended December
31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
10
Commitments (continued)
Management
and Service Agreements
Wilhelmina
has entered into agreements with both affiliated and non-affiliated entities to
provide management and administrative services, as well as sharing of space
where applicable. Compensation under these agreements may be either a fixed
amount or contingent upon the other parties’ commission income. Management fee
income under these agreements approximated $160,000 and $328,000 for the years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively (See Note 11).
Production
Series
In 2007,
the Company entered into an agreement with a television network for development
of a television series. The Company will provide talent, use of the Company
trademark and logo and is obligated to utilize the services of the winner in
exchange for a fee per episode plus 15% of Modified Gross Adjusted Receipts, as
defined. The statement of operations includes $120,000 from this production
series.
11
Related Party Transactions
Note
Payable to Stockholder
The
Company is obligated on a note payable to stockholder for $6 million which
matures on June 3, 2009. The note bears a stated rate of interest of 12.5% per
annum. Interest is paid monthly and aggregates $750,000 in each year ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Consulting
Fees Paid
The
Company paid consulting fees of $125,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006 to a 50% stockholder of the Company.
Management
Fees Income
The
Company provided management services to an unconsolidated affiliate in the
amount of $110,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (See Notes 6
and 10).
Due
from Officer
Advances
to officers are non-interest bearing and are due on demand.
12
Income Taxes
|
|
Deferred
income tax expense consists of the following:
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Deferred
tax benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
and local
|
|
$ |
(180,000 |
) |
|
$ |
- |
|
Federal
|
|
|
(55,000 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(235,000 |
) |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
12
Income Taxes (continued)
The
components of deferred tax assets and liability consist of the
following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Deferred
tax assets - current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
|
$ |
162,000 |
|
|
$ |
353,000 |
|
Property
and equipment
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
88,000 |
|
Accrued
bonus
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Valuation
allowance
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(441,000 |
) |
Deferred
tax assets - current
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Deferred
tax assets - long term, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
rent expense
|
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management
determined that is was more likely than not that future taxable income would be
sufficient to enable the Company to realize all of its deferred tax assets.
Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded at December 31,
2007.
At
December 31, 2007, the Company had state and local net operating loss
carryforwards for tax purposes of approximately $1,400,000 in each jurisdiction,
expiring at various dates through 2022.
At
December 31, 2006, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for tax
purposes of approximately $470,000 which will expire at various dates through
2022. Management had provided a valuation allowance against the deferred tax
assets at December 31, 2006 since it was more likely than not that these assets
will not be realized.
The
combined financial statements include three related limited liability companies
which, for tax purposes, are treated as partnerships and one S Corp, and as
such, their income or loss and credits are passed to their members and
stockholders and combined with their other personal income and deductions to
determine taxable income on their individual tax returns. Accordingly, no
federal or state income taxes have been provided for, however, the Company has
included a provision for local income taxes in certain of these entities. The
net loss related to these limited liability companies and S Corp, is a loss of
approximately $875,000 and $480,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2006, respectively, and have been included in the combined statements of
operations.
A
reconciliation of the provision for income taxes attributable to income from
operations computed at the Federal statutory rate to the reported provision for
income taxes is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006
|
Tax
(credit) provision at Federal statutory rate
|
|
|
(34.00 |
%) |
|
|
34.00 |
% |
Passed
through entities with pre-tax losses not
included in Federal
tax return
|
|
|
156.11 |
% |
|
|
30.83 |
% |
State
and city net operating loss carryforward
|
|
|
50.22 |
% |
|
|
22.31 |
% |
State
and city tax provision
|
|
|
(85.83 |
%) |
|
|
0.00 |
% |
Utilization
of net operating loss carryforward
|
|
|
(96.66 |
%) |
|
|
(87.14 |
%) |
Other
temporary differences
|
|
|
10.97 |
% |
|
|
6.88 |
% |
Non-deductible
expenses and other
|
|
|
(12.87 |
%) |
|
|
(2.38 |
%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12.06 |
%) |
|
|
4.50 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
13 Contingencies
|
(a)
|
The
Company obtained a summary judgment approximating $941,000, exclusive of
interest, against a represented talent for breach of contract and unjust
enrichment in as much as the talent allegedly personally collected the
entire fee from the client, including that portion earned by the Company.
As of December 31, 2005, $492,000 was received and $449,000 was included
in both accounts receivable and other current assets. The entire balance
plus interest was collected in
2006.
|
|
(b)
|
In
February 2006, the Company filed a claim against a former international
client for breach of contract and quantum meruit. The attempts to mediate
have been unsuccessful. The case is proceeding to summary
judgment.
|
|
(c
)
|
In
the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various legal
proceedings, the resolution of which in management’s opinion, will not
have a material adverse effect on the financial position or the results of
operations of the Company.
|
14 Restatement
of Previously Issued Financial Statements
The
accompanying combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006
have been restated to reflect the correction of the following
errors:
|
1.
|
An
adjustment to correct the balance of the investment in affiliate account
as of January 1, 2006 aggregating
$58,453;
|
|
2.
|
Recognition
of an impairment loss on intangible assets as of January 1, 2006
aggregating $2,297,967;
|
|
3.
|
Recording
Miami’s opening deficit as of January 1, 2006 aggregating $1,235,590 in
connection with a change in the reporting entity. The Company has
recognized a net loss of $593,972 related to Miami’s results of operations
for the year ended December 31,
2006.
|
|
4.
|
Recognition
of potential liability related to New York State Abandoned Property Law
(ABP Law) and amounts due to models, as of January 1, 2006 aggregating up
to approximately $140,000. In July 2008, the Company entered into the New
York State Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) in connection with ABP Law.
Under the VCP, unclaimed amounts are reportable to New York State or other
applicable states and the underlying amounts are required to be
transferred to the State Comptroller of New York or other applicable
states who serve as custodian of the funds until their rightful owners
claim them. The Company has estimated that its potential aggregate
liability could amount to an aggregate $95,000. In addition, the Company
has recorded amounts due to models which they have located aggregating
approximately $45,000.
|
|
5.
|
Recognition
of additional rent expense of $53,704 during the year ended December 31,
2006 to properly reflect rent on a straight-line
basis;
|
|
6.
|
Reflect
interest income of $132,885 during the year ended December 31, 2006
attributable to intercompany loans to Miami to correct elimination of
intercompany balances;
|
Retained
earnings at December 31, 2005 or a prior year has been adjusted to correct
errors #1 through #4, described above aggregating $3,615,000. The errors had no
effect on net income for the year ended December 31, 2006.
The
accompanying combined financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006
have been restated to correct errors #3, #5 and #6, described above. The effect
of the restatement was to decrease net income by approximately
$515,000.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
14 Restatement
of Previously Issued Financial Statements (continued)
The
effects of the corrections of these errors on the Company’s combined balance
sheet as of December 31, 2005, as well as the effects of these changes on the
Company’s combined balance sheet and statements of operations and cash flows as
of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 are as follows:
|
|
January
1, 2006 Combined Balance Sheet
|
|
|
|
As
previously
reported
|
|
|
Investment
in
affiliate
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
impairment
|
|
|
Miami’s
opening
accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
Property
abandon-
ment
|
|
|
Reclass-
ification
|
|
|
As
restated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due
from models
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,582,072 |
|
|
$ |
1,582,072 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
|
|
|
2,459,497 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
Investment
in affiliate
|
|
|
95,944 |
|
|
|
58,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
154,397 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
3,455,656 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
503,144 |
|
|
|
44,823 |
|
|
|
1,582,072 |
|
|
|
5,585,695 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued
expenses
|
|
|
1,131,338 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
233,370 |
|
|
|
95,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,459,708 |
|
Common
stock
|
|
|
33,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
Additional
paid in capital
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
499,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(2,293,801 |
) |
|
|
58,453 |
|
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
|
|
(1,235,590 |
) |
|
|
(139,823 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(5,908,728 |
) |
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
14
Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements (continued)
December
31, 2006 Combined Balance Sheet
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
As
previously
reported
|
|
|
Investment
in
affiliate
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
impairment
|
|
|
Miami’s
balances
|
|
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
Property
abandonment
|
|
|
Reclass-
ification
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
As
restated
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
866,589 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
8,898 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
875,487 |
|
Accounts
receivable, net
|
|
|
5,776,539 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
763,992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,540,531 |
|
Due
from models
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
243,111 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,708,988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,952,099 |
|
Prepaid
income taxes
|
|
|
98,019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
98,019 |
|
Receivable
from affiliate
|
|
|
302,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
302,518 |
|
Due
from officer
|
|
|
93,656 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,656 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
596,259 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,228 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
614,487 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
7,733,580 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,476,797 |
|
Property
and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
270,325 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,986 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
298,311 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
asset
|
|
|
2,459,497 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
50,620 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,620 |
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
Receivable
from affiliate
|
|
|
1,052,299 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,185,184 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Investment
in affiliate
|
|
|
74,260 |
|
|
|
58,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,713 |
|
Other
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other assets
|
|
|
1,471,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
477,891 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
11,935,139 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
11,414,529 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Line
of credit
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
3,189,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
655,162 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,823 |
|
|
|
1,708,988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,597,990 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
420,301 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
281,321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
95,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
796,622 |
|
Taxes
payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
1,329,962 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,211 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,337,173 |
|
Current
portion of note payable
|
|
|
241,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
241,183 |
|
Due
to affiliates
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,185,184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,185,184 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Due
to factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
262,835 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
262,835 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
6,680,463 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,735,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to stockholder
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
Note
payable - net of current portion
|
|
|
554,487 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
554,487 |
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
long-term liabilities
|
|
|
6,554,487 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,608,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
13,234,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,343,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock, no par value; 2,200 shares
authorized, 2,103
shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
33,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
499,064 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
Members’
deficit
|
|
|
(906,974 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(906,974 |
) |
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(1,426,665 |
) |
|
|
58,453 |
|
|
|
(2,297,967 |
) |
|
|
(1,829,562 |
) |
|
|
(53,704 |
) |
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
(139,823 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,556,383 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
deficit
|
|
|
(1,299,811 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,929,465 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and deficit
|
|
$ |
11,935,139 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
11,414,529 |
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
14
Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements (continued)
|
|
December
31, 2006 Combined Statement of Operations
|
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
previously
reported
|
|
|
Miami’s
balances
|
|
|
Deferred
Rent
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
As
restated
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions
and residuals
|
|
$ |
4,222,247 |
|
|
|
479,502 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,701,749 |
|
Service
charges
|
|
|
4,173,696 |
|
|
|
381,051 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,554,747 |
|
Consulting
income
|
|
|
231,250 |
|
|
|
16,648 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
247,898 |
|
Management
fees, license fees and other income
|
|
|
1,246,501 |
|
|
|
9,383 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,720 |
) |
|
|
1,235,164 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
9,873,694 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,739,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
8,033,119 |
|
|
|
1,304,070 |
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,720 |
) |
|
|
9,370,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
1,840,575 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,369,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
139,427 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
(132,885 |
) |
|
|
139,448 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(955,483 |
) |
|
|
(176,507 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
132,885 |
|
|
|
(999,105 |
) |
Equity
in (loss) of affiliate
|
|
|
(21,684 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21,684 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
(837,740 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(881,341 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
1,002,835 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
488,044 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
21,983 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,983 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
980,852 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
466,061 |
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Combined Financial Statements
December
31, 2007 and 2006
14
Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements (continued)
|
|
December
31, 2006 Combined Statement of Cash Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
previously
reported
|
|
|
Miami’s
balances
|
|
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
Reclassification
|
|
|
Eliminations
|
|
|
As
restated
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss)
income
|
|
$ |
980,852 |
|
|
$ |
(593,972 |
) |
|
$ |
(53,704 |
) |
|
$ |
132,885 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
466,061 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
71,837 |
|
|
|
6,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,024 |
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53,704 |
|
Equity in income (loss)
of affiliate
|
|
|
21,684 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,684 |
|
Increase (decrease) in
cash resulting from
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
changes in operating
assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
324,743 |
|
|
|
(14,528 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
310,215 |
|
Due from models
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(370,027 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(370,027 |
) |
Prepaid income taxes
|
|
|
(15,360 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15,360 |
) |
Receivable from affiliate
|
|
|
(121,707 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(121,707 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
114,500 |
|
|
|
153,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
267,933 |
|
Security deposits
|
|
|
4,980 |
|
|
|
2,459 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,439 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
(266,639 |
) |
|
|
(91,093 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
370,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,295 |
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
(711,037 |
) |
|
|
47,950 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(663,087 |
) |
Taxes payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
318,292 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
318,319 |
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
722,145 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
365,493 |
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of property and
equipment
|
|
|
(18,942 |
) |
|
|
(1,229 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,171 |
) |
Advances to
affiliate
|
|
|
(52,299 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,299 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Due from officer
|
|
|
13,089 |
|
|
|
51,644 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,733 |
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(58,152 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44,562 |
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from
factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,230,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,230,700 |
|
Repayments to
factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,967,865 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,967,865 |
) |
Repayment of
note
|
|
|
(219,806 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(219,806 |
) |
Repayment of capital lease
obligations
|
|
|
(22,918 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22,918 |
) |
Distributions
|
|
|
(739,925 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(739,925 |
) |
Proceeds from
note
|
|
|
15,476 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,476 |
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(967,173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(704,338 |
) |
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and
cash
equivalents
|
|
|
(303,180 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(294,283 |
) |
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of
year
|
|
|
1,169,770 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,169,770 |
|
End of year
|
|
$ |
866,590 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
875,487 |
|
15
Subsequent Event - Letter of Intent
In
January 2008, the Company entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell
substantially all of its business to a publicly-listed entity. The Company is
undergoing diligence review and a transaction, if and when completed, would lead
to the Company becoming publicly-held. There is no assurance that these
discussions will result in a transaction.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Condensed
Combined Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
680,196 |
|
|
$ |
396,514 |
|
Accounts
receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$35,000
in 2008 and 2007
|
|
|
9,060,734 |
|
|
|
6,677,617 |
|
Due
from models
|
|
|
1,880,955 |
|
|
|
1,807,831 |
|
Prepaid
income taxes
|
|
|
304,906 |
|
|
|
193,324 |
|
Receivable
from affiliate, net
|
|
|
324,561 |
|
|
|
379,494 |
|
Due
from officers
|
|
|
285,653 |
|
|
|
695,626 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
356,159 |
|
|
|
385,486 |
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
|
|
182,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
13,075,164 |
|
|
|
10,835,892 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
373,098 |
|
|
|
328,171 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
79,829 |
|
|
|
54,523 |
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
175,000 |
|
|
|
285,000 |
|
Investment
in affiliate
|
|
|
164,021 |
|
|
|
145,017 |
|
Deferred
tax assets, net
|
|
|
41,000 |
|
|
|
51,000 |
|
Other
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other assets
|
|
|
469,408 |
|
|
|
545,098 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
14,079,200 |
|
|
$ |
11,870,691 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
and Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Line
of credit
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
Due
to models
|
|
|
8,817,319 |
|
|
|
6,895,187 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
1,273,722 |
|
|
|
1,406,798 |
|
Taxes
payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
948,020 |
|
|
|
920,381 |
|
Note
payable to stockholder
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Current
portion of note payable
|
|
|
269,369 |
|
|
|
247,940 |
|
Current
portion of capital lease obligation
|
|
|
26,896 |
|
|
|
23,940 |
|
Due
to factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
133,731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
18,835,326 |
|
|
|
11,127,977 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
payable to stockholder
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
Note
payable, net of current portion
|
|
|
96,159 |
|
|
|
369,456 |
|
Capital
lease obligation, net of current portion
|
|
|
22,333 |
|
|
|
49,232 |
|
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
55,599 |
|
|
|
63,066 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
long-term liabilities
|
|
|
174,091 |
|
|
|
6,481,754 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
19,009,417 |
|
|
|
17,609,731 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock, no par value; 2,200 shares authorized, 2,103 shares issued and
outstanding
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
|
|
34,828 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
|
|
1,499,064 |
|
Members’
deficit
|
|
|
(1,612,357 |
) |
|
|
(1,669,844 |
) |
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(4,851,752 |
) |
|
|
(5,603,088 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
deficit
|
|
|
(4,930,217 |
) |
|
|
(5,739,040 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and deficit
|
|
$ |
14,079,200 |
|
|
$ |
11,870,691 |
|
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed combined
financial statements.
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Condensed
Combined Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commissions
and residuals
|
|
$ |
4,367,201 |
|
|
$ |
3,572,913 |
|
Service
charges
|
|
|
4,830,588 |
|
|
|
3,744,661 |
|
Management
fees, license fees and other income
|
|
|
691,304 |
|
|
|
372,113 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
9,889,093 |
|
|
|
7,689,687 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries
and service costs
|
|
|
5,679,910 |
|
|
|
4,978,119 |
|
Office
and general expenses
|
|
|
2,164,949 |
|
|
|
2,185,065 |
|
Stockholder’s
compensation and consulting fees
|
|
|
731,250 |
|
|
|
731,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
8,576,109 |
|
|
|
7,894,434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
1,312,984 |
|
|
|
(204,747 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
19,596 |
|
|
|
11,636 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(784,333 |
) |
|
|
(757,619 |
) |
Equity
in income of affiliate
|
|
|
13,658 |
|
|
|
12,304 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
other expense
|
|
|
(751,079 |
) |
|
|
(733,679 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
(loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
561,905 |
|
|
|
(938,426 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
175,866 |
|
|
|
22,149 |
|
Deferred
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
(351,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
187,866 |
|
|
|
(328,851 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
374,039 |
|
|
$ |
(609,575 |
) |
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed combined
financial statements.
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Condensed
Combined Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
374,039 |
|
|
$ |
(609,575 |
) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
67,166 |
|
|
|
50,725 |
|
Deferred
income taxes
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
(351,000 |
) |
Deferred
rent
|
|
|
(10,588 |
) |
|
|
9,362 |
|
Equity
in income from affiliate
|
|
|
(13,658 |
) |
|
|
(12,304 |
) |
Increase
(decrease) in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net
|
|
|
(889,118 |
) |
|
|
(137,086 |
) |
Due
from models
|
|
|
(198,939 |
) |
|
|
144,268 |
|
Prepaid
income taxes
|
|
|
(262,857 |
) |
|
|
(95,305 |
) |
Receivable
from affiliate, net
|
|
|
105,866 |
|
|
|
(76,976 |
) |
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
203,615 |
|
|
|
229,001 |
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
(277 |
) |
|
|
(3,903 |
) |
Due
to models
|
|
|
136,348 |
|
|
|
1,297,197 |
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
98,691 |
|
|
|
610,176 |
|
Taxes
payable - other than income taxes
|
|
|
(353,193 |
) |
|
|
(416,792 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
|
|
(730,905 |
) |
|
|
637,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(89,371 |
) |
|
|
(1,851 |
) |
Due
from officers
|
|
|
(96,415 |
) |
|
|
(601,970 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(185,786 |
) |
|
|
(603,821 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,583,500 |
|
Repayments
to factor
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,712,604 |
) |
Repayment
of note
|
|
|
(190,413 |
) |
|
|
(178,274 |
) |
Repayment
of capital lease obligations
|
|
|
(18,216 |
) |
|
|
(5,562 |
) |
Distributions
|
|
|
(5,100 |
) |
|
|
(200,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(213,729 |
) |
|
|
(512,940 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(1,130,420 |
) |
|
|
(478,973 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
of period
|
|
|
1,810,616 |
|
|
|
875,487 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End
of period
|
|
$ |
680,196 |
|
|
$ |
396,514 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid during the periods for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$ |
784,333 |
|
|
$ |
757,619 |
|
Income
taxes
|
|
$ |
206,979 |
|
|
$ |
68,632 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment
purchased under capital leases
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
78,733 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed combined
financial statements.
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
1 Nature
of Operations
Wilhelmina
International Group (the “Company”) is a fashion modeling agency, placing models
with clients located principally throughout the United States. Since its
foundation in 1967 by the famous model Wilhelmina Cooper, the Company has grown
largely organically to its current size, and has developed into a broadly
diversified full service agency with offices in New York City, Los Angeles and
Miami. In addition to its traditional fashion model management activities, the
Company has also expanded into music and sports talent endorsement, television
show production and licensing opportunities for the Wilhelmina brand
name.
Wilhelmina
International Group also collects fees from licensees across the United States,
who serve as the Company’s local representatives.
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis
of Combination
The
accompanying financial statements include the consolidated accounts of
Wilhelmina International Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Wilhelmina West
Inc., Wilhelmina Models, Inc., and LW1 Inc. (“Consolidated Companies”),
Wilhelmina Miami, Inc., Wilhelmina Artist Management, LLC, Wilhelmina Licensing,
LLC and Wilhelmina Film & TV, LLC which are wholly or majority owned by the
stockholders and officers of the Consolidated Companies, are combined with the
consolidated group of companies. The collective group is referred to as the
Company. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been
eliminated in combination.
The
Company is affiliated with other companies in a similar line of business, all of
which are controlled by common ownership. Management believes that combining the
companies into the collective group provides more complete
reporting.
Unaudited
Interim Financial Information
The
accompanying unaudited interim condensed combined financial statements have been
prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally
included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been
condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations relating to interim
financial statements.
In the
opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed combined
financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the
Company at September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The results of operations of
any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations
to be expected for the full fiscal year.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company acts as an agent and records revenue equal to the net amount retained,
when the fee or commission is earned. The Company recognizes services provided
as revenue upon the rendering of modeling services to its clients. Commission
income represents a percentage charged to the models upon the completion of
their services to the clients. The Company also recognizes management fees as
revenues for providing services to other modeling agencies as well as consulting
income in connection with services provided to a television production network
according to the terms of the contract.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Cash
Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable consist of trade receivables recorded at original invoice amounts,
net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, and are subject to credit risk.
Trade credit is generally extended on a short-term basis; thus, trade
receivables do not bear interest. Trade receivables are periodically evaluated
for collectibility based on past credit histories with customers and their
current financial conditions. Changes in the estimated collectibility of trade
receivables are recorded in the results of operations for the periods in which
the estimates are revised.
Concentrations
of Credit Risk
The
Company maintains its cash balances in four different financial institutions in
New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. Balances are insured up to FDIC limits of
$100,000 per institution as of September 30, 2008. On October 4, 2008, the
FDIC limit was increased to $250,000. At September 30, 2008, the Company
had cash balances in financial institutions of approximately $1,054,000 in
excess of such insurance.
Property and
Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization, based upon the
estimated useful lives of the assets or terms of the leases, are computed by use
of the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized based upon the
shorter of the terms of the leases or asset lives. When property and equipment
are retired or sold, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are
eliminated from the related accounts and gains or losses, if any, are reflected
in the combined statement of operations.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
2 Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist primarily of goodwill and buyer relationships resulting from a
business acquisition. According to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill and
intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer subject to amortization,
but rather to an annual assessment of impairment by applying a fair-value based
test. At September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company did not recognize any
impairment charge.
Investment
in Unconsolidated Affiliate
The
Company accounts for its investment in its 50% owned affiliate using the equity
method of accounting. Accordingly, the Company recognizes its pro-rata share of
the affiliate’s income or loss in earnings. Distributions from the affiliate are
reflected as a reduction of the investment. The equity method of accounting is
suspended when the share of the net losses is equal to the carrying amount of
the investment and no additional losses are charged to operations.
Advertising
The
Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense included
in operating expenses approximate $172,000 and $147,000 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Income
Taxes
The
Company follows SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes ,” which requires the
asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under that method,
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are computed using enacted tax rates, expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely
than not that future benefits associated with a deferred tax asset will not be
realized.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
3 Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
September
30,
|
|
Estimated
Useful Lives
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
|
$ |
834,053 |
|
|
$ |
791,517 |
|
5-7
years
|
Equipment
|
|
|
726,967 |
|
|
|
710,220 |
|
5-7
years
|
Computer
software
|
|
|
12,635 |
|
|
|
12,635 |
|
5
years
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
|
|
725,944 |
|
|
|
652,907 |
|
Remaining
life of lease
|
|
|
|
2,299,599 |
|
|
|
2,167,279 |
|
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
amortization
|
|
|
(1,926,501 |
) |
|
|
(1,839,108 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
$ |
373,098 |
|
|
$ |
328,171 |
|
|
Property
and equipment includes equipment under capital lease obligations with a cost of
$75,614 and related accumulated depreciation of $13,503 at September 30,
2008.
4
Restricted Cash
At
September 30, 2008, the Company had $175,000 of restricted cash which serves as
collateral for an irrevocable standby letter of credit. The letter of credit is
additional security under the New York City office lease extension that expires
in December 2010.
5
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate
The
Company owns a fifty percent interest in an unconsolidated affiliate. Included
in receivable from affiliate are management fees receivable. The net receivable
from the affiliate is approximately $325,000 and $379,000 at September 30, 2008
and 2007, respectively.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
6
Line of Credit and Note Payable
The
Company has a financing agreement with a bank. Through December 2007, the
agreement consisted of a $1,500,000 revolving line of credit and $1,000,000 term
note. In January 2008, the Company renewed the revolving line of credit with an
increase in borrowing capacity to $2,000,000, with availability subject to a
borrowing base computation. The borrowing base computation is based on 75%
of the Company's eligible domestic accounts receivable and 25% of the Company's
eligible foreign accounts receivable, as defined. The renewed revolving
line of credit which matured originally on August 31, 2008, was extended until
January 31, 2009.
Interest
on the revolving credit note is payable monthly at an annual rate of prime plus
one-half percent equal to 5.5% at September 30, 2008. The weighted average
interest rate for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 was
6.00% and 8.75%, respectively. Availability under the revolving line of credit
is subject to a borrowing base computation.
The term
note, payable in monthly installments of $23,784 including principal and
interest calculated at a fixed rate of 6.65% per annum, matures in December
2009.
The line
of credit and note payable are collateralized by all of the assets of the
Company, cross collateralized by the combined and consolidated companies herein
and is guaranteed by a principal of the Company.
Annual
maturities of the term note are as follows:
Annual
maturities of the term note are as
follows:
|
12
Months Ending
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
269,369
|
|
2010
|
|
|
96,159
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
365,528
|
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
7
Due to Factor
The
Company was a party to an agreement with a factor. The factor advanced a
subsidiary an aggregate of $1,584,000 during the nine months ended September 30,
2007, all of which was repaid by December 31, 2007. For the nine months ended
September 30, 2007, the Company paid $34,800 in fees to the factor and $30,700
in interest expense. The agreement with the factor was terminated in March
2008.
8 Taxes Payable - Other Than
Income Taxes
Taxes
payable – other than income taxes consists principally of payroll and
withholding taxes, including U.S. income taxes withheld on fees paid to foreign
models aggregating approximately $873,000 and $853,000 at September 30, 2008 and
2007, respectively.
9
Commitments
Capital
Lease Obligations
In July
2007, the Company entered into a 36 month capital lease for equipment. The lease
obligation is payable monthly in the amount of $2,604 including interest at a
rate of 11.7% per annum. Interest expense on the capital lease totaled $5,220
for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
12
Months Ending
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
Amount
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
31,245 |
|
2010
|
|
|
23,433 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
minimum lease payments
|
|
|
54,678 |
|
Less:
amount representing interest
|
|
|
(5,449 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Present
value of net minimum lease payments
|
|
|
49,229 |
|
Less:
current portion
|
|
|
(26,896 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized
lease obligations, net of current portion
|
|
$ |
22,333 |
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
9
Commitments (continued)
Operating
Leases
The
Company is obligated under various non-cancellable lease agreements. These lease
agreements are for the rental of office space and office equipment. These
operating leases expire at various dates between 2008 and 2011. In
addition to the minimum base rent, the office space lease agreements provide
that the Company shall pay its pro-rata share of real estate taxes and operating
costs as defined in the lease agreement.
Future
minimum payments under the non-cancellable lease agreements are summarized as
follows:
12
Months Ending
|
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
735,000 |
|
2010
|
|
|
468,000 |
|
2011
|
|
|
97,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,300,000 |
|
Rent
expense totaled approximately $461,000 and $452,000 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Management
and Service Agreements
Wilhelmina
has entered into agreements with both affiliated and non-affiliated entities to
provide management and administrative services, as well as sharing of space
where applicable. Compensation under these agreements may be either a fixed
amount or contingent upon the other parties’ commission income. Management fee
income under these agreements approximated $51,000 and $113,000 for the nine
months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively (See Note
10).
Production
Series
In 2007,
the Company entered into an agreement with a television network for development
of a television series. The Company will provide talent, use of the Company
trademark and logo and is obligated to utilize the services of the winner in
exchange for a fee per episode plus 15% of Modified Gross Adjusted Receipts, as
defined. The statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30,
2007 includes $124,000 of revenue related to this production
series. There is no contract for a production series in
2008.
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
10 Related Party
Transactions
Note Payable to
Stockholder
The
Company is obligated on a note payable to stockholder for $6 million which
matures on June 3, 2009. The note bears a stated rate of interest of 12.5% per
annum. Interest is paid monthly and aggregated $562,500 in each nine month
period ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.
Consulting Fees
Paid
The
Company paid consulting fees of $93,750 for the nine months ended September 30,
2008 and 2007 to a 50% stockholder of the Company.
Management Fees
Income
The
Company provided management services to an unconsolidated affiliate in the
amount of $51,000 and $83,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
2007, respectively (See Notes 5 and 9).
Due from Officers
Advances
to officers are non-interest bearing and are due on demand.
11
Income Taxes
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
and local
|
|
$ |
(7,078 |
) |
|
$ |
22,149 |
|
Federal
|
|
|
182,944 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
175,866 |
|
|
$ |
22,149 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
and local
|
|
$ |
(12,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(217,000 |
) |
Federal
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
(134,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
12,000 |
|
|
$ |
(351,000 |
) |
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
11 Income
Taxes (continued)
The
components of deferred tax assets and liability consist of the
following:
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Deferred
tax assets - current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
|
$ |
182,000 |
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Deferred
tax assets - long term, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment
|
|
$ |
66,000 |
|
|
$ |
80,000 |
|
Deferred
rent expense
|
|
|
(25,000 |
) |
|
|
(29,000 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
41,000 |
|
|
$ |
51,000 |
|
Management
determined that is was more likely than not that future taxable income would be
sufficient to enable the Company to realize all of its deferred tax assets.
Accordingly, no valuation allowance has been recorded at September 30, 2008 and
2007.
At
September 30, 2008, the Company had state and local net operating loss
carryforwards for state and local tax purposes of approximately $1,530,000 in
each jurisdiction, expiring at various dates through 2022.
The
condensed combined financial statements include three related limited liability
companies which, for tax purposes, are treated as partnerships and one S Corp.,
and as such, their income or loss and credits are passed to their members and
stockholders and combined with their other personal income and deductions to
determine taxable income on their individual tax returns. Accordingly, no
federal or state income taxes have been provided for; however, the Company has
included a provision for local income taxes in certain of these entities. The
net loss related to these limited liability companies and S Corp., is
approximately $106,000 and $1,100,000 for the nine months ended September 30,
2008 and 2007, respectively, and has been included in the condensed combined
statements of operations.
A
reconciliation of the provision for income taxes attributable to income (loss)
from operations computed at the Federal statutory rate to the reported
provision for income taxes is as follows:
|
|
|
September
30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
Tax
(credit) provision at Federal statutory rate
|
|
|
34.00%
|
|
(34.00%)
|
Passed
through entities with pre-tax losses not included in
Federal tax return
|
|
|
6.43%
|
|
39.76%
|
State
and city tax provision
|
|
|
(3.40%)
|
|
(20.76%)
|
Utilization
of net operating loss carryforwards
|
|
|
0.12%
|
|
(10.10%)
|
Other
temporary differences
|
|
|
0.51%
|
|
(4.07%)
|
Non-deductible
expenses and other
|
|
|
(4.23%)
|
|
(5.87%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33.43%
|
|
(35.04%)
|
Wilhelmina
International Group
Notes
to Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited)
September
30, 2008 and 2007
12 Contingencies
In the
normal course of business, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings,
the resolution of which in management’s opinion, will not have a material
adverse effect on the financial position or the results of operations of the
Company.
13 Acquisition
Agreement
On August
25, 2008, New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (“NCEH”) and Wilhelmina Acquisition
Corp., a New York corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of NCEH, entered into
an agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”) with the stockholders of the Company
and the other owners of its affiliates to acquire (i) Wilhelmina International
Ltd. and its affiliates in a stock-for-stock transaction (the “Merger”) and (ii)
NCEH’s purchase of the outstanding equity interests of the other Wilhelmina
Companies for cash.
The
Acquisition Agreement is subject to the approval of NCEH’s shareholders, as well
as certain other closing conditions set forth in the Acquisition Agreement. The
closing of the Acquisition Agreement is expected to occur by the first quarter
of 2009.
Annex A
AGREEMENT
BY AND
AMONG
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.,
WILHELMINA
ACQUISITION CORP.,
WILHELMINA
INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
THE OTHER
WILHELMINA TRANSFERRED COMPANIES (AS DEFINED HEREIN)
AND
THE
SELLERS SET FORTH ON SCHEDULE A HERETO
Dated: August
25, 2008
ARTICLE
1
|
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
|
2
|
|
1.
|
Defined
Terms
|
2
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
2
|
THE
TRANSACTION
|
19
|
|
2.1
|
Closing
|
19
|
|
2.2
|
The
Merger.
|
19
|
|
2.3
|
Transaction
Consideration.
|
21
|
|
2.4
|
No
Fractional Shares
|
22
|
|
2.5
|
Payment
for Shares in the Merger
|
22
|
|
2.6
|
Core
Adjustment.
|
23
|
|
2.7
|
Seller
Restricted Shares
|
25
|
|
2.8
|
Earn-Out
Payments; Off-Set
|
25
|
|
2.9
|
Resolution
of Calculation Objections.
|
28
|
|
2.10
|
Krassner
Note
|
28
|
|
2.11
|
Purchaser
Sub
|
28
|
|
2.12
|
Controlled
Vehicles; Set Offs
|
28
|
|
2.13
|
Election
|
29
|
|
2.14
|
Aggregate
Purchase Consideration Allocation.
|
29
|
|
2.15
|
Patterson
Payment
|
29
|
|
2.16
|
Designated
Matter Repurchase
|
30
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
3
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF WILHELMINA TRANSFERRED COMPANIES AND CONTROL
SELLERS
|
30
|
|
3.1
|
Organization
|
30
|
|
3.2
|
Legal
Authority; Binding Effect
|
31
|
|
3.3
|
Capitalization.
|
31
|
|
3.4
|
Subsidiaries
|
32
|
|
3.5
|
Conflict
with other Instruments; Absence of Restrictions
|
32
|
|
3.6
|
Government
and Third Party Approvals
|
33
|
|
3.7
|
Title
to Properties; Adequacy of Properties
|
33
|
|
3.8
|
Real
Property; Personal Property
|
33
|
|
3.9
|
Financial
Statements.
|
34
|
|
3.10
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
35
|
|
3.11
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
35
|
|
3.12
|
Compliance
with Law; Permits and Approvals.
|
35
|
|
3.13
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
36
|
|
3.14
|
Absence
of Changes
|
36
|
|
3.15
|
Contracts,
Leases, Etc.
|
37
|
|
3.16
|
Customers/Client
Accounts/Models.
|
40
|
|
3.17
|
Insurance
|
41
|
|
3.18
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
41
|
|
3.19
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
42
|
|
3.20
|
Employee
and Labor Matters.
|
43
|
|
3.21
|
Employee
Benefit Plans.
|
44
|
|
3.22
|
Environmental
Laws
|
45
|
|
3.23
|
Taxes
and Tax Returns
|
46
|
|
3.24
|
Proxy
Statement
|
48
|
|
3.25
|
Corporate
Records, Controls
|
48
|
|
3.26
|
Brokers
|
48
|
|
3.27
|
Bank
Accounts; Powers of Attorney
|
48
|
|
3.28
|
Statements
and Other Documents Not Misleading
|
48
|
|
3.29
|
No
Knowledge of Breaches
|
49
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
4
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
|
49
|
|
4.1
|
Organization
|
49
|
|
4.2
|
Legal
Authority; Binding Effect
|
49
|
|
4.3
|
No
Conflicts, Consents
|
49
|
|
4.4
|
Title
to Shares and Units
|
50
|
|
4.5
|
Agreements
|
50
|
|
4.6
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
50
|
|
4.7
|
Purchase
Entirely for Own Account
|
50
|
|
4.8
|
Seller
Address, Access to Information, Experience, Etc.
|
50
|
|
4.9
|
Restricted
Securities
|
51
|
|
4.10
|
No
Knowledge of Breaches
|
51
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
5
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
|
51
|
|
5.1
|
Organization
|
52
|
|
5.2
|
Legal
Authority; Binding Effect
|
52
|
|
5.3
|
Conflict
with other Instruments; Absence of Restrictions
|
52
|
|
5.4
|
Capitalization.
|
53
|
|
5.5
|
SEC
Filings/Financial Statements.
|
53
|
|
5.6
|
Compliance
with Law
|
54
|
|
5.7
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
54
|
|
5.8
|
Purchase
Entirely for Own Account
|
54
|
|
5.9
|
Access
to Information, Experience, Etc.
|
55
|
|
5.10
|
Absence
of Changes
|
55
|
|
5.11
|
Proxy
Statement
|
55
|
|
5.12
|
Rights
Plan
|
55
|
|
5.13
|
Board
Recommendation
|
55
|
|
5.14
|
Brokers
or Finders
|
56
|
|
5.15
|
Financial
Ability to Complete the Contemplated Transactions
|
56
|
|
5.16
|
Acquisition
for Investment
|
56
|
|
5.17
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
56
|
|
5.18
|
Statements
and Other Documents Not Misleading
|
56
|
|
5.19
|
No
Knowledge of Breaches
|
56
|
ARTICLE
6
|
CERTAIN
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS AND OTHER MATTERS
|
56
|
|
6.1
|
Restriction
on Certain Discussions and Actions
|
56
|
|
6.2
|
Conduct
of Business of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
|
57
|
|
6.3
|
Conduct
of Business of Purchaser
|
60
|
|
6.4
|
Notice
of Certain Events
|
62
|
|
6.5
|
Additional
Financial Statements
|
62
|
|
6.6
|
Cooperation;
Access to Books and Records
|
62
|
|
6.7
|
Commercially
Reasonable Efforts.
|
63
|
|
6.8
|
Proxy
Statement.
|
63
|
|
6.9
|
Stockholder
Meeting
|
64
|
|
6.10
|
Purchaser
Financing
|
65
|
|
6.11
|
Closing
Settlement
|
65
|
|
6.12
|
Patterson
Issuance
|
66
|
|
6.13
|
Designated
Matter Proceedings
|
66
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
7
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING
|
67
|
|
7.1
|
Obligations
of Both Parties
|
67
|
|
7.2
|
Obligation
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and the Sellers to
Close
|
67
|
|
7.3
|
Obligation
of the Purchaser and Merger Sub to Close
|
69
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
8
|
CLOSING;
EXPENSES; SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENTATION
|
71
|
|
8.1
|
Closing
|
71
|
|
8.2
|
Deliveries
at Closing
|
71
|
|
8.3
|
Expenses
|
74
|
|
8.4
|
Subsequent
Documentation
|
74
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
9
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
AND COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
|
74
|
|
9.1
|
Confidentiality.
|
74
|
|
9.2
|
Covenant
Not To Compete
|
75
|
|
9.3
|
Specific
Enforcement; Extension of Period.
|
76
|
|
9.4
|
Disclosure
|
77
|
|
9.5
|
Interpretation
|
77
|
|
9.6
|
Acknowledgment
|
77
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
10
|
SURVIVAL
AND INDEMNIFICATION
|
77
|
|
10.1
|
Survival.
|
77
|
|
10.2
|
Indemnification
by Esch and Krassner
|
78
|
|
10.3
|
Indemnification
by Sellers
|
79
|
|
10.4
|
Limitations
on Seller Indemnification
|
79
|
|
10.5
|
Indemnification
by Purchaser
|
79
|
|
10.6
|
Limitations
on Purchaser Indemnification
|
80
|
|
10.7
|
Claims
for Indemnification.
|
80
|
|
10.8
|
Treatment
of Indemnity Payments
|
83
|
|
10.9
|
Calculation
of Losses
|
83
|
|
10.10
|
Exclusive
Remedy
|
84
|
ARTICLE
11
|
TAX
MATTERS
|
84
|
|
11.1
|
Allocation
|
84
|
|
11.2
|
Tax
Returns.
|
84
|
|
11.3
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
85
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
12
|
POST
CLOSING COVENANTS
|
85
|
|
12.1
|
Public
Announcements
|
85
|
|
12.2
|
Assistance
in Defense
|
85
|
|
12.3
|
Further
Cooperation.
|
86
|
|
12.4
|
Post
Closing Reimbursement of Expenses
|
86
|
|
12.5
|
Reorganization
|
86
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
13
|
TERMINATION
|
87
|
|
13.1
|
Termination
|
87
|
|
13.2
|
Survival
|
88
|
|
13.3
|
Expense
Reimbursement
|
88
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
14
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
88
|
|
14.1
|
Notices
|
88
|
|
14.2
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
90
|
|
14.3
|
Schedules
and Exhibits
|
90
|
|
14.4
|
Entire
Agreement; Amendment
|
90
|
|
14.5
|
Section
and Paragraph Titles
|
90
|
|
14.6
|
Binding
Effect; No Assignment
|
90
|
|
14.7
|
Counterparts
|
90
|
|
14.8
|
Purchaser
Reliance
|
90
|
|
14.9
|
No
Reliance on Control Sellers or Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies
|
91
|
|
14.10
|
Severability
|
91
|
|
14.11
|
Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction
|
91
|
|
14.12
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
92
|
|
14.13
|
Waiver
|
92
|
|
14.14
|
Time
of the Essence
|
92
|
SCHEDULES AND
EXHIBITS
Certain
Schedules
Schedule
A – Sellers
Schedule
B – Percentages
Exhibits
A – Sellers’
Names and Addresses
B – Rights
Plan Amendment
C – Registration
Rights Agreement
D – Escrow
Agreement
AGREEMENT
THIS
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
is made as of August 25, 2008, by and among (i) New Century Equity Holdings
Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”),
(ii) Wilhelmina Acquisition Corp., a New York corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of the Purchaser (the “Merger
Sub”) (iii) Wilhelmina International, Ltd., a New York corporation
(the “Company”),
(iv) Wilhelmina – Miami, Inc. a Florida corporation (“Wilhelmina
Miami”), (v) Wilhelmina Artist Management LLC, a New York limited
liability company (“WAM”),
Wilhelmina Licensing LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Wilhelmina
Licensing”), and Wilhelmina Film & TV Productions LLC, a New York
limited liability company (“Wilhelmina
TV”) (WAM, Wilhelmina Licensing and Wilhelmina TV collectively, the “LLCs” and
together with the Company and Wilhelmina Miami, the “Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies”), (vi) Dieter Esch (“Esch”),
Lorex Investments AG, a Swiss corporation (“Lorex”),
Brad Krassner (“Krassner”),
Krassner Family Investments, L.P. (the “Krassner
L.P.”, and together with Esch, Lorex and Krassner, the “Control
Sellers”), (vii) Sean Patterson (“Patterson”)
and (viii) the shareholders of Wilhelmina Miami set forth on Schedule A
hereto (other than Esch and the Krassner L.P.) (the “Remaining Miami
Sellers”, and together with the Control Sellers and Patterson, the “Sellers”).
WHEREAS,
the Sellers desire to transfer, and Purchaser (through itself and/or one or more
wholly owned subsidiaries of Purchaser (each, a “Purchaser
Sub”)) desires to acquire, the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, other
than the Company, through the acquisition of interests in such Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies; and
WHEREAS,
the Sellers desire to, and the Purchaser (through a Purchaser Sub), desires to,
cause the Company to merge with a Purchaser Sub such that the Purchaser Sub will
merge with and into the Company, and that such merger qualify as a tax-free
“reorganization;
WHEREAS,
concurrently herewith, the Control Sellers and Newcastle Partners, L.P., are
entering into a certain Mutual Support Agreement with respect to certain matters
relating to the transactions hereunder and certain post closing matters;
and
WHEREAS,
concurrently herewith, the Control Sellers and the Company are entering into a
Registration Rights Agreement, relating to certain registration rights granted
to the Control Sellers in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”) which agreement shall become effective as of the
Closing;
WHEREAS,
concurrently herewith, Purchaser is amending the Rights Agreement, dated as of
July 10, 2006, by and between Purchaser and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, as rights agent (the “Rights
Agreement”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Rights
Amendment”).
NOW, THEREFORE, IN
CONSIDERATION of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and
agreements contained herein, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
1. Defined
Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings herein specified, unless the context otherwise
requires:
1.1
(a) “2007 Audited
Financials” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.9(a)(iii).
(b)
“2007 Core
EBITDA” shall mean the Core EBITDA for calendar year 2007.
(c) “2008 Core
EBITDA” shall mean the Core EBITDA for calendar year 2008.
1.2 “Accounts
Payable” shall mean for purposes of Article 2 all accounts payable and
accrued expenses of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies (other than Gross
Amounts Due to Models) as of the close of business on the Closing Date
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that accounts payable shall include
any payables (including but not limited to payables in respect of Taxes,
including foreign withholding Taxes) that Purchaser’s auditor determines, in
connection with Purchaser’s fiscal year 2008 audit, would be required to be
reflected on a balance sheet of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as of the
Closing Date.
1.3 “Accounts
Receivable” shall mean for purposes of Article 2 the sum of (a) third
party customer receivables (net of applicable reserves) contained in
the line item “accounts receivable”, (b) third party customer receivables (net
of applicable reserves) of Wilhelmina Kids & Creative Management LLC
contained in the line item “receivable from affiliate” (it being understood that
this clause (b) shall not contain any intercompany loan or related intercompany
item), (c) the amount of the line item “due from officer”, provided that such
amount is repaid in full to the Company at Closing, (d) prepaid income taxes,
and (e) the amounts of the specific subaccounts within the line item “prepaid
expenses and other current assets” set forth on Schedule 1.3, in each case ((a)
– (e)) of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as of the close of business on
the Closing Date determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (i)
applicable reserves (referred to in clauses (a) and (b)) shall include any
reserves that Purchaser’s auditor determines, in connection with
Purchaser’s fiscal year 2008 audit, would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as of the Closing Date or
as of any date following the Closing Date through December 31, 2008 and (ii)
accounts receivable shall exclude any accounts receivable written off since the
Closing Date.
1.4 “Accumulated
Funding Deficiency” shall have the meaning assigned to it in
ERISA.
1.5
“Affiliate”
shall mean: (i) any Person that directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or under common control
with the Person specified; (ii) any director, officer or Subsidiary of the
Person specified; and (iii) any spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother in
law, father in law, son in law, daughter in law, brother in law or sister in law
of the Person specified. The term “control” (including, with
correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”),
as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or other
governing body) or to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
1.6 “Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.7 “Aggregate
Divisional EBITDA Loss” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8(c).
1.8 “Aggregate Merger
Consideration” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.3(a).
1.9 “Aggregate
Purchase Consideration” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.3(b).
1.10 “Aggregate
Purchase Price” shall mean the sum of (i) Aggregate Merger
Consideration, (ii) the Aggregate Purchase Consideration and (iii) any
Earnout Payments, subject to the adjustments set forth in this
Agreement.
1.11 “Aggregate
Designated Matter Amount” shall mean the sum of (a) (i) the Designated
Matter Holdback Shares multiplied by (ii) NCEH Book Value Per Share, plus (b) the Designated
Matter Cash Deduction.
1.12 “Average Core
EBITDA” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.6(b).
1.13 “Approved
Acquisition Targets” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
12.4.
1.14 “Auditor’s
Consent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
7.3(j).
1.15 “Auditor’s
Opinion” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
7.3(j).
1.16 “Authorized
Capital Approval” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.17 “Bank
Accounts” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.27.
1.18 “Base
Price” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.6(b).
1.19 “Books and
Records” shall mean all records, documents, lists and files, relating to
the Property or the Business, including, without limitation, executed originals
(or copies of executed originals when executed originals are not available) of
all Tax Returns, Contracts, purchase orders, sales orders, price lists, lists of
accounts, customers, suppliers, employees, contractors, consultants and other
personnel, all product, business and marketing plans, sales and product
brochures and catalogs and other sales literature and materials, historical
sales and commissions data and all books, ledgers, files, financial statements
and other financial and accounting records (and related work papers and
correspondence from accountants), minute books, all records relating to Client
Accounts, deeds, title policies, computer files, programs and retrieved
programs, environmental studies and plans and business records, whether in hard
copy, electronic form or otherwise.
1.20 “Business”
shall mean the business of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as conducted as
of the date of this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the Talent
management and Talent agency booking business, including the scouting,
developing, marketing and booking of models for purposes of advertising
campaigns, editorial, runway or otherwise, (ii) the Model Contest Business,
(iii) the WAM Business, (iv) the film and television production
business (v) product licensing and distribution, and (vi) the
licensing of the “Wilhelmina” name or mark to third parties engaged in the
businesses described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) (iv) and (v).
1.21 “Business
Day” shall mean any calendar day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or
federal holiday.
1.22 “Cash”
shall mean all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ cash, money, currency or
any credit balances in any demand or deposit account and cash equivalents in any
currency.
1.23
“Calculation
Objection” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.9(a).
1.24 “Certificate”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.2(i).
1.25 “Certificate of
Merger” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.2(e).
1.26 “Charter
Approval” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.27 “Change in
Recommendation” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.28 “Claim”
shall mean any written or oral demand, claim, complaint, suit, action, cause of
action, investigation, proceeding or notice by any Person alleging actual or
potential liability for any Loss, or for any Default under any Law, Contract,
License, Permit or Employee Benefit Plan.
1.29 “Claims
Period” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
10.1(c).
1.30 “Client
Account” shall mean any business account relationship including, without
limitation, any Person who or which is provided any products or services of the
Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, as of the Closing Date.
1.31 “Closing”
shall mean the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions on the Closing Date
pursuant to Section 8.1.
1.32 “Closing
Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.1.
1.33 “Closing
Financials” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
7.3(j).
1.34 “Closing Net Asset
Adjustment” shall mean a number (which may be positive or negative) equal
to (a) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (which shall exclude security
deposits) of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as of 11:59 p.m. on the
Closing Date plus (b)
Excess Receivables plus
(c) the Revolver Reduction Amount minus (d) the Minimum
Liquidity Requirement minus (e) the Term Loan
Amount. For purposes of example only, Schedule 1.33 sets forth what
the Closing Net Asset Adjustment would be based on the Company’s consolidated
balance sheet as of March 31, 2008.
1.35 “COBRA”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.21(b).
1.36 “Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, as amended and supplemented from time to time, or any
successors thereto.
1.37 “Collateral
Documents” shall mean any documents or Contracts, other than this
Agreement, that relate to the Contemplated Transactions.
1.38 “Company”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble.
1.39 “Company
Shares” means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01
per share.
1.40 “Company’s
Knowledge” or “Knowledge of the
Company” shall mean the actual knowledge of any of Esch, Krassner,
Patterson, and Richard Diamond.
1.41 “Computer
Software” shall mean all computer applications software, owned or
licensed, whether for general business usage (e.g., accounting, word processing,
graphics, spreadsheet analysis, etc.) or specific, unique to the business usage
(e.g., booking software) and all computer operating, security or programming
software, owned or licensed.
1.42 “Confidentiality
Agreement” shall mean the Confidentiality Agreement dated November 6,
2007 between Purchaser and the Company.
1.43 “Consents”
shall mean any consent, waiver, approval, authorization, certification or
exemption required from any Person or under any Contract or Law, as
applicable.
1.44 “Constituent
Corporations” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.2
(a).
1.45 “Contemplated
Transactions” shall mean all of the transactions which are referred to in
this Agreement.
1.46 “Contracts”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, all contracts, Leases, agreements,
instruments, Licenses, undertakings and other commitments, whether written or
oral to which such Person is, or such Person’s properties, operations, business
or assets are, bound.
1.47 “Control
Sellers” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the introductory
paragraph of this Agreement.
1.48 “Copyrights”
shall mean registered copyrights, copyright applications and unregistered
copyrights, whether arising by common law or statute.
1.49 “Core
Business” means (a) the core model management and model agency booking
business conducted by the Company and divisions Wilhelmina West, Inc., a
California corporation; and L.W. 1. Inc., a California corporation (b) the Model
Contest Business, including WAM’s Model Contest Business, (c) the business
conducted by Wilhelmina Licensing, and (d) the business conducted by Wilhelmina
TV. The “Core Business” shall exclude all business conducted by
Wilhelmina Miami and WAM other than WAM’s model contest business.
1.50 “Core
Decrease” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.6(b).
1.51 “Core EBITDA”
shall mean for any period and without duplication, (a) the EBITDA
attributable to the Core Business plus (b) the addbacks set forth on Schedule 1.51
hereto.
1.52 “Core
Increase” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.6(b).
1.53 “Declassification
Approval” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.54 “Default”
shall mean, with respect to a Contract, Permit, License, Law, Employee Benefit
Plan, Organizational Document or other instrument or agreement, (a) a
violation, breach or default, (b) the occurrence of an event which with the
passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a violation,
breach or default, or (c) the occurrence of an event that (with or without
the passage of time or the giving of notice or both) would give rise to a right
of damages, specific performance, termination, renegotiation or acceleration
(including the acceleration of payment), in all such cases unless being
contested in good faith through appropriate procedures.
1.55 “Designated Matter
Cash Deduction” shall mean the lesser of (i) $95,000 or (ii) the amount,
if any, agreed to by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies prior to the Closing
in settlement of the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading
“Program Amounts” thereon.
1.56 “Designated Matter
Legal Fees” shall mean all legal, accounting and other advisory fees and
expenses incurred (whether at the direction of the Control Sellers or otherwise)
in connection with the pursuit of settlement of the matter set forth on Schedule
10.2(d) under the heading “Program Amounts”.
1.57 “Designated Matter
Post-Closing Amount” shall equal (a) the amount, if any, agreed to by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies following the Closing in settlement of the
matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading “Program Amounts” thereon
plus (b) any other
Losses or Claims covered by Section 10.2(d).
1.58 “Designated Matter
Holdback Shares” shall mean a number of shares of Purchaser Stock equal
to (x) $100,000 divided
by (y) the greater of NCEH Book Value Per Share or the Market Value on
the Closing Date.
1.59 Designated
Matter Repurchase Share
Amount” shall mean (x) the excess, if any, of the Designated Matter Post
Closing Amount over the Designated Matter Cash Deduction divided by (y) the greater of
NCEH Book Value Per Share or the Market Value on the Closing Date; provided that
the Designated Matter Repurchase Share Amount shall in no event exceed the
Designated Matter Holdback Shares.
1.60 “Designated Matter
True-Up” shall mean the excess, if any, of the Designated Matter Cash
Deduction over the Designated Matter Post Closing Amount; provided that if a
settlement with respect to the matter set forth under the heading “Program
Amounts” has not been agreed to by the time of completion of Purchaser’s fiscal
year 2008 audit, then the Designated Matter True-Up shall be $0.
1.61 “Earn-Out
Payments” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8.
1.62 “EBITDA”
shall mean, with respect to a particular entity, business unit, division or a
collection thereof, for any period and without duplication, the sum of
(a) net income (or loss) for such period, plus (b) interest expense
for such period, plus (c) federal, state and local taxes for such period,
plus (d) depreciation expenses for such period, plus (e) amortization
expenses for such period, in each case as determined on a GAAP
basis. For the purposes of Article 2, the calculation of EBITDA shall
not include (i) expenses incurred in connection with the evaluation,
negotiation and completion of the Contemplated Transactions as set forth on
Schedule 1.62 or (ii) those incremental expenses incurred as a consequence
of Purchaser’s status as a public company, which includes, but is not limited to
audit costs greater than the average of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies’
2006 and 2007 audit costs (including, but not limited to, costs related to
compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the design and implementation of
disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial
reporting; provided that the calculation of 2007 audit
costs shall in any event exclude those incremental audit expenses
incurred solely as a result of the preparation of such audit in
connection with the Contemplated Transactions, such as the LW1 goodwill
impairment analysis), the costs and expenses related to the Purchaser’s filings
with the SEC and the costs and expenses of the salary of the chief executive
officer and chief financial officer (assuming the individuals filling such roles
are not employees of any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as
of the Closing Date).
1.63 “Effective
Time” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.2(f).
1.64 “Employee Benefit
Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of ERISA) and any material pension, retirement, profit sharing,
deferred compensation, bonus, incentive, performance, stock option, phantom
stock, stock purchase, restricted stock, premium conversion, medical,
hospitalization, vision, dental or other health, life, disability, severance, or
termination program, arrangement, agreement or policy, which any of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies sponsors, maintains, contributes to, is
obligated to contribute to, is a party to or is otherwise bound by, or with
respect to which any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies could have any
material Liability.
1.65 “Employees”
shall mean each of the employees of any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
or any of their Subsidiaries at any time prior to Closing, including employees
who are on paid leave of absence, military leave or disability
leave.
1.66 “Employment
Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.15(a)(ii).
1.67 “Encumbrances”
shall mean, with respect to any asset, any security interests, liens,
encumbrances, pledges, mortgages, charges, claims, conditional or installment
sales Contracts, title retention Contracts, transferability restrictions and
other claims or burdens of any nature whatsoever attached to or adversely
affecting such asset. For the purposes of clarity, an Encumbrance
does not include any requirement, duty or obligation imposed upon any party
pursuant to the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
1.68 “Environmental
Laws” shall mean all Laws relating to pollution or protection of the
environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, land, or surface or subsurface strata) including, without
limitation, Laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, petroleum, or industrial, toxic
or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment and Laws relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of any of the foregoing including, without limitation, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.
§ 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.
§ 6901 et seq., and the rules and regulations promulgated under any of the
foregoing, all as amended and supplemented from time to time, and together with
any successors thereto.
1.69 “Equipment”
shall mean all of the subject entity’s furniture, fixtures, machinery,
equipment, motor vehicles, office equipment, computers, tools and replacement
parts, wherever located.
1.70 “ERISA”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended and supplemented from time to
time, or any successors thereto.
1.71 “ERISA
Affiliate” shall mean any Person that is included with any of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies in a controlled group or affiliated service
group under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
1.72 “Escrow”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.7.
1.73 “Escrow
Agreement” shall mean that Escrow Agreement entered into between the
Control Sellers and Purchaser at the Closing, a form of which agreement is
attached hereto as Exhibit D.
1.74 “Excess Divisional
Loss” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8(e).
1.75 “Excess
Receivables” shall mean a number (which may be positive or negative)
equal to (a) Accounts Receivable minus (b) Accounts Payable minus (c) Gross
Amounts Due to Models.
1.76 “Exchange
Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.5(a).
1.77 “Financial
Statements” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.9(b).
1.78 “Financing”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.10.
1.79 “GAAP”
shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States,
applied on a basis consistent with past practices and preceding years and
throughout the periods involved, except as subsequently restated.
1.80 “Governmental
Consent” shall mean any and all licenses, franchises, permits, easements,
rights, consents, Orders, approvals, variances, waivers, filings and other
authorizations with, of or from any Governmental Entity, that are
(a) necessary to consummate the Contemplated Transactions in the manner
contemplated hereby, or (b) otherwise relating to (i) any Contract or
other instrument with any Governmental Entity and to which the subject Person,
its Subsidiaries or any of its stockholders or other equity holders (as the case
may be) is a party (or by which any of their respective properties or assets is
bound or affected), or (ii) any Permit, including the transfer of any such
Contract, Permit or other instrument in accordance with the terms.
1.81 “Governmental
Entity” shall mean any court, tribunal, arbitrator, authority, agency,
commission, official or other instrumentality of the government of the United
States or of any foreign country, any state or any political subdivision of any
such government (whether state, provincial, county, city, municipal or
otherwise).
1.82 “Gross Amounts Due
to Models” shall mean the gross amounts due to models (as a reflected as
a line item on a balance sheet of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies subject
to the next sentence). For the avoidance of doubt, the Gross Amounts
Due to Models is a gross number and shall exclude any advances to models (which
is used to arrive a net due to models).
1.83 “Hazardous
Materials” shall mean all explosive or regulated radioactive materials or
substances, hazardous or toxic substances, reactive, corrosive, carcinogenic,
flammable or hazardous pollutant or other substance, hazardous wastes or
chemicals, petroleum or petroleum distillates, natural gas or synthetic gas,
asbestos or asbestos containing materials and all other materials or chemicals
regulated pursuant to any Environmental Laws, including any “hazardous
substance” or “hazardous waste” as defined in Environmental
Laws, materials listed in 49 C.F.R. §172.101, materials defined as
hazardous pursuant to § 101(14) of CERCLA special nuclear or by product
material, as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C.A. §3011 et
seq. and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.84 “Indebtedness”
shall mean debt created, issued, incurred or assumed for money borrowed or for
the deferred purchase price of property purchased.
1.85 “Initial
Enterprise Proceeds” shall mean $30,000,000.
1.86 “Intellectual
Property” shall mean, collectively, (a) all inventions (whether
patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all
improvements thereto, and all Patents, (b) all registered and unregistered
Trademarks, trade dress, logos, trade names, fictitious names, brand names,
brand marks, domain names and corporate names, together with all translations,
adaptations, derivations, and combinations thereof and including all goodwill
associated therewith, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in
connection therewith, (c) all copyrightable works, all Copyrights, and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (d) all
trade secrets and confidential business information (including ideas, research
and development, know how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production
processes and techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications,
customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and
marketing plans and proposals), (e) all Computer Software (including, but
not limited to data, source codes, object codes, specifications and related
documentation), (f) all other proprietary rights, and (g) all copies
and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
1.87 “IRS” means
the United States Internal Revenue Service.
1.88 “June 2008
Financials” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.9(c).
1.89 “Knowledge”
and all variations thereof (other than the “Company’s Knowledge,” “to the
Knowledge of the Company,” “Purchaser’s Knowledge” or “to the Knowledge of the
Purchaser” variations) shall mean with respect to any representation, warranty
or statement of any party in this Agreement that is qualified by such party’s
“knowledge,” the actual knowledge of such party or, in the case of an entity,
the actual knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, inside General Counsel, Controller or directors (or
persons performing equivalent functions) of such entity.
1.90 “Krassner
Note” means the Promissory Note dated June 3, 1999 in the principal
amount of $6,000,000 issued by the Company to the Krassner L.P.
1.91 “Law” shall
mean, with respect to any Person, any applicable law, statute, treaty,
ordinance, rule, regulation, Order, pronouncement having the effect of law, or
other requirement of any Governmental Entity, including, without limitation, the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, and those covering safety, health,
transportation, bribery, record keeping, zoning, employment, tax, anti
discrimination, antitrust, wage and hour and price and wage control matters, to
which, in each of the foregoing cases, such Person is, or any of such Person’s
properties, operations, business or assets are, bound or
subject. “Laws” shall include Environmental Laws.
1.92 “Lease”
shall mean any lease, agreement (whether verbal or written) or tenancy for
property or assets, together with all subleases, amendments, extensions,
addenda, assignments, waivers and all other rights of use and/or occupancy, and
Contracts and documents relating to any of the foregoing.
1.93 “Leased Real
Property” shall mean the Real Property leased by any of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries.
1.94 “Leasehold
Improvements” and “Fixtures”
shall mean all of the leasehold improvements, fixtures and appurtenances owned
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and attached to the Leased Real
Property.
1.95 “Legal
Proceeding” shall mean any Claim or any legal, administrative or other
similar proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity or arbitration or
alternative dispute resolution panel.
1.96 “Liabilities”
shall mean, without limitation, any direct or indirect Indebtedness, guaranty,
endorsement, Claim, loss, damage, deficiency, cost, expense, obligation or
responsibility, fixed or unfixed, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted,
choate or inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or
unsecured.
1.97 “Licenses”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, all licenses, permits, authorizations,
approvals, registrations, franchises, rights, variances (including zoning
variances), easements, rights of way, and similar consents or certificates
granted or issued by any other Person, other than a Governmental Entity,
relating to the business of the subject Person.
1.98 “LLC
Agreements” shall mean the operating agreement for each of the
LLCs.
1.99 “LLCs”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.100 “Losses”
shall mean, with respect to any event or circumstance, any and all Liabilities,
Encumbrances, penalties, fines, settlements, and causes of action, including,
without limitation, any diminution in value of any real or personal property and
reasonable attorneys’, experts’ and accountants’ fees, expenses and
disbursements and court costs in connection with any of the foregoing incurred
by a Person in connection with such event or circumstance. The term
Losses does not include (i) a diminution of value of real or personal
property due to the operation of market conditions, (ii) the change in the
fair market value of any securities, (iii) lost profits or lost
opportunities as such relate to third party claims, unless any of the foregoing
are included in any final and nonappealable judicially determined damage amount
or (iv) amounts in respect of specific indemnifiable items that were included in
the calculation of, and resulted in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in favor of
the Purchaser in, the amount of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment; provided that
amounts not included in the Closing Net Asset Adjustment but that relate to
items or accounts included or taken into account in such calculation, may be
Losses.
1.101 “March 2008
Financials” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.9(c).
1.102 “Market
Value” of Purchaser Stock shall mean the trailing 30 trading day average
closing price of shares of common stock of Purchaser (which shall include the
reference date, if the U.S. financial markets have closed) on the market on
which such security is listed. If shares of Purchaser common stock
are not listed on a stock exchange, but are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or
on the Pink Sheets, the Market Value of such security shall be the average of
the mean of the closing bid and asked prices per share of such security for the
30 trading days preceding such date.
1.103 “Material Adverse
Effect” or “Material Adverse
Change” shall mean any effect, change, circumstance, development or event
(each a “Change” and collectively, “Changes”) that, individually or in the
aggregate, is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to or in
respect of the condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations, results
of operations, affairs, assets, liabilities, Licenses, Permits, rights or
prospects (whether contractual or otherwise) of a specified Person or Persons
when taken as a whole; provided that Changes resulting from any of
the following shall not be taken into account when determining whether a
“Material Adverse Effect” has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur:
(A) general economic, political, financial or securities market conditions
and (B) general conditions to the industry in which the specified Person or
Persons operate, provided that, in either case ((A) or (B)) such Changes do not
disproportionately affect the specified Person or Persons.
1.104 “Material
Contract” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.15(a).
1.105 “Maximum Share
Offset” shall mean a number of shares of Purchaser Stock equal to (i)
(a) $4,500,000 divided by (b) the NCEH Book Value Per Share and
(ii) after completion of Purchaser’s fiscal year 2008 audit and the full
satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core Increase pursuant to Section
2.6 hereof (by way of a cash payment or the repurchase of Seller Restricted
Shares, in either case actually effected in accordance therewith),
(a) $1,000,000 divided by (b) the greater of (1) NCEH Book Value Per Share
and (2) the Market Value of Purchaser Stock as of the applicable
date.
1.106 “Miami
Earnout” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8(b).
1.107 “Miami
Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value .01 per share,
of Wilhelmina Miami.
1.108 “Minimum
Liquidity Requirement” means a number equal to (a) $1 million minus (b)
unrestricted cash and cash equivalents (which shall exclude security deposits)
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as of the close of business on the
Closing Date minus (c) the Revolver Reduction Amount; provided that, if the
foregoing calculation yields a negative number, the “Minimum Liquidity
Requirement” shall be $0.
1.109 “Model Contest
Business” shall mean the annual model search competitions carried out by
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, including particularly WAM, in conjunction
with certain third parties, including magazine publishers.
1.110 “Name Change
Approval” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.111 "NCEH Book Value
Per Share" shall
mean (a) net book value per Purchaser Share as of the month end prior to
the date of this Agreement (which the parties agree is $0.247) minus (b) an amount equal to
(x) Ratable Purchaser Transaction Expenses divided by (y) the number of
shares of Purchaser Stock outstanding as of the date of the
Agreement. For purposes of the foregoing, (i) “Ratable
Purchaser Transaction Expenses” means (x) Purchaser’s Transaction
Expenses incurred as of the date that is five Business Days prior to the Closing
(which expenses shall be determined by Purchaser based on invoices received to
date, plus a reasonable estimate by Purchaser in good faith of any noninvoiced
amounts as of such date) multiplied by (y) the Pro
Forma Seller Percentage; and (ii) “Pro Forma Seller Percentage” means the sum of
the “Pro Forma” percentages applicable to “Dieter Esch and Affiliates” and “Brad
Krassner and Affiliates” set forth on Schedule 5.4.
1.112 “New Employment
Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
8.2(c)(ii).
1.113 “NYBCL”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 2.2(e).
1.114 “Objection
Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.9(a).
1.115 “Old Employment
Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.20(b).
1.116 “Order”
shall mean any judgment, order, writ, decree, injunction, award, ruling or other
determination whatsoever of any Governmental Entity or any other entity or body
(including, without limitation, any arbitration or similar panel) whose finding,
ruling or holding is legally binding or is enforceable as a matter of right (in
any case, whether preliminary or final).
1.117 “Organizational
Documents” shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation,
bylaws, certificate of organization, operating agreement, certificate of
partnership, partnership agreement or other governing or constituent documents
of a Person.
1.118 “Patents”
shall mean all letters patent and pending applications for patents of the United
States and all countries foreign thereto, including regional patents,
certificates of invention and utility models, rights of license or otherwise to
or under letters patent, certificates of intention and utility models which have
been opened for public inspection and all reissues, divisions, continuations and
extensions thereof.
1.119 “Permits”
shall mean all licenses, permits, certificates of authority, authorizations,
approvals, registrations, franchises, rights, variances (including zoning
variances), Orders, qualifications and similar rights or approvals granted or
issued by any Governmental Entity relating to the Property or the Business of
the Company or any Subsidiary.
1.120 “Person”
shall mean any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, joint venture, trust,
estate, association, union, entity, or other form of business organization or
any Governmental Entity whatsoever.
1.121 “Prepaid
Items” shall mean all of the Company’s prepaid expenses, including but
not limited to advances and deposits.
1.122 “Prohibited
Transaction” shall mean any transaction prohibited by Section 406 of
ERISA or “prohibited transaction” under Section 4975(c) of the Code with respect
to any Employee Benefit Plan, except for transactions which are exempt under
Section 408 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
1.123 “Property”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.7.
1.124 “Proprietary
Information” shall mean any and all of the following matter and
information: trade secrets, ideas, techniques, processes, operation methods, new
product or service developments, product or service plans or improvements,
customer and client lists, Talent lists, financial information or statements,
sales or marketing information, plans or strategies, Talent information or new
Talent acquisition plans, personnel information or new personnel acquisition
plans, details of any Contracts, pricing and fee policies, projections and other
similar information that the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries own, use or will use, and/or which is useful in
Business. “Proprietary information'' shall not include
information that (a) was or becomes generally available to the public other than
as a result of a disclosure by a Seller, or the Affiliates, counsel, accountants
and other representatives of any Seller, or (b) was or becomes available to a
Seller on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Purchaser or its
advisors, provided that such source was not known by such Seller to be bound by
any agreement with the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to keep such
information confidential, or otherwise prohibited from transmitting the
information to you by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation.
1.125 “Proxy
Statement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.8(a).
1.126 “Purchaser”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble.
1.127 “Purchaser
Group” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
10.2.
1.128 “Purchaser Issued
Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
5.4(c).
1.129 “Purchaser SEC
Reports” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
5.5(a).
1.130 “Purchasers
Knowledge” or “Knowledge of
Purchaser” (or similar formulation) shall mean the actual knowledge of
any officer of Purchaser.
1.131 “Purchaser
Stock” or “Purchaser
Shares” shall mean the shares of common stock of Purchaser, par value
$.01 per share.
1.132 “Purchaser Value
Loss” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
10.6(c).
1.133 “Real
Property” shall mean any real estate or interest therein, together with
all buildings, improvements, fixtures, easements, options to acquire real estate
or interest therein, rights to unpaid insurance proceeds in respect of Losses to
real estate, rights to unpaid condemnation awards and all other rights in or
appurtenant thereto.
1.134 “Real Property
Leases” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.8.
1.135 “Registration
Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
Recitals.
1.136 “Reportable
Event” shall have the meaning assigned to it in ERISA.
1.137 “Representation
Business” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
9.2(c).
1.138 “Representative”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.8.
1.139 “Required
Consents” shall mean any Consent required from any Person or under any
Contract or Law, as applicable, including all Governmental Consents and Required
Third Party Consents listed on Schedule 3.6 attached
hereto.
1.140 “Required Third
Party Consents” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.7(b).
1.141 “Requisite
Stockholder Vote” shall mean the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of
the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of
Purchaser Stock.
1.142 “Restricted
Area” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
9.2(a).
1.143 “Restricted
Business” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
9.2(a).
1.144 “Restricted
Patterson Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.12.
1.145 “Restricted
Period” shall mean the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending
on the date which is six and one-half (6 ½) years from the Closing
Date.
1.146 “Restricted
Sellers” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
9.2.
1.147 “Restricted Share
Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.7.
1.148 “Revolver
Reduction Amount” shall mean a number (which may be positive or negative)
equal to (a) $1.5 million minus (b) all outstanding principal amounts and
accrued interest owing to Signature Bank under the Company’s revolving line of
credit as of the close of business on the Closing Date.
1.149 “Rights
Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the
Recitals.
1.150 “SEC” shall
have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.5(a).
1.151 “Securities”
shall mean all units of membership interests, shares of capital stock,
partnership interests, options, warrants, notes, bonds or other equity or debt
securities which have been offered or sold by the subject entity.
1.152 “Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any successors thereto,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended and
supplemented from time to time.
1.153 “Seller
Basket” shall
have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.4(a).
1.154 “Seller
Group” shall have
the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.5.
1.155 “Seller
Restricted Shares” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.7.
1.156 “Sellers”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Preamble.
1.157 “Signature Bank
Security Interests” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
7.3(i).
1.158 “Stockholder
Approvals” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.159 “Stockholder
Meeting” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.9.
1.160 “Subsidiary”
shall mean any entity with respect to which a specified Person (or a Subsidiary
thereof) directly or indirectly owns 50% or more of the voting stock, units, or
membership interests, or otherwise has the power to vote or direct the voting of
sufficient Securities to elect at least half of the entity directors or
managers, as the case may be.
1.161 “Surviving
Corporation” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.2(a).
1.162 “Talent”
shall mean any model, entertainer, artist, athlete or other “talent” or
celebrity.
1.163 “Talent
Agreement” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
3.15(a)(iii).
1.164 “Talent Business”
shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.2(c).
1.165 “Tax
Returns” shall mean all returns, reports, Claims for refunds or other
information filed with any Governmental Entity in connection with Taxes
(including, without limitation, information returns and declarations of
estimated tax).
1.166 “Taxes”
shall mean (i) all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments including,
without limitation, all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, payroll, employment, social security,
unemployment, excise, estimated, stamp, occupancy, occupation, property or other
similar taxes, including any interest or penalties thereon, and additions to tax
or additional amounts imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign
Governmental Entity, domestic or foreign (a “Taxing
Authority”) and (ii) all Liability for the payment of any taxes,
interest, penalty, addition to tax or like additional amount resulting from the
application of Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-6 or comparable Law.
1.167 “Term Loan
Amount” shall mean the amount of all outstanding principal and accrued
interest under the Company’s term loan owing to Signature Bank and any other
borrowings of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies (other than any amounts under
or in connection with: (a) the Company’s revolver with Signature Bank (b) the
Krassner Note and (c) intercompany debt between or among the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their wholly owned subsidiaries) as of the close of
business on the Closing Date.
1.168 “Terminated
Agreements” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
7.3(h).
1.169 “Third
Party” shall mean any Person other than any Seller, Wilhelmina
Transferred Company, and any Subsidiary thereof, or an Affiliate of any of the
foregoing.
1.170 “Total Divisional
Loss” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8(e).
1.171 “Trademarks”
shall mean registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademark and
service mark applications, and unregistered trademarks and service
marks.
1.172 “Transaction
Expense Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
13.3.
1.173 “Transaction
Expenses” shall mean the legal, accounting, financial advisory and
consulting fees and other fees and expenses incurred by any party hereto in
connection with the negotiation and closing of the Contemplated Transactions,
including any letter of intent, this Agreement, any Collateral Documents, any
document or filing in connection with the SEC approval process (including the
Proxy Statement), the Stockholders Meeting, any Third Party Consent or
otherwise. Transaction Expenses shall exclude any Designated Matter
Legal Fees.
1.174 “Unaudited Monthly
Statements” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
6.5.
1.175 “WAM” shall
have meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.176 “WAM
Business” means the artist or talent management business, including but
not limited to celebrity or talent endorsements, sponsorships, appearances,
licensing and product lines, and campaigns (but excluding in all cases the core
model management booking business).
1.177 “WAM
Earnout” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8(a).
1.178 “WAM
EBITDA” means, for any period and without duplication, (a) the
EBITDA of WAM related to the WAM Business, plus (b) the addbacks and, minus
(c) the deductions set forth on Schedule 1.178
hereto. For avoidance of doubt, WAM EBITDA is intended to include
solely EBITDA from the WAM Business and shall in all cases exclude any Core
EBITDA, such as the Model Contest Business.
1.179 “WAM Units”
shall mean the units or membership interests of WAM.
1.180 “Wilhelmina Equity
Interests” shall mean the Wilhelmina Shares and the Wilhelmina
Units.
1.181 “Wilhelmina
Expense Amount” shall mean a number (which number may be positive or
negative) equal to (i) $35,000, minus (ii) the Transaction Expenses
incurred by or otherwise to be paid by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
their Subsidiaries, that remain unpaid prior to Closing.
1.182 “Wilhelmina
Licensing” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.183 “Wilhelmina
Licensing Units” shall mean the units or membership interests of
Wilhelmina Licensing.
1.184 “Wilhelmina
Miami” shall have meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.185 “Wilhelmina Miami
EBITDA” means, for any period and without duplication, (a) the
EBITDA of Wilhelmina Miami, plus (b) the addbacks and minus (c) the
deductions, in each case as set forth on Schedule 1.185 hereto. For
avoidance of doubt, Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA excludes all EBITDA (including any
Core EBITDA) not directly generated by Wilhelmina Miami.
1.186 “Wilhelmina
Models” shall mean Wilhelmina Models, Inc., a New York
corporation.
1.187 “Wilhelmina
Shares” shall mean, collectively, the Company Shares and the Miami
Shares.
1.188 “Wilhelmina
Subsidiaries” means Wilhelmina Models Inc., a New York corporation;
Wilhelmina West, Inc.; L.W. 1. Inc.; and Wilhelmina Kids & Creative
Management LLC, a Delaware corporation.
1.189 “Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies” shall have meaning set forth in the
Preamble.
1.190 “Wilhelmina
TV” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
1.191 “Wilhelmina TV
Units” shall mean the units or membership interests of Wilhelmina
TV.
1.192 “Wilhelmina
Units” shall mean, collectively, the WAM Units, Wilhelmina Licensing
Units and Wilhelmina TV Units.
THE
TRANSACTION
2.1 Closing. On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing: (i) the Merger Sub will merge
with and into the Company (the “Merger”)
in accordance with Sections 2.2 through 2.5, and (ii) each Seller shall
sell, assign, convey and deliver to Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub, as applicable),
and Purchaser shall (or shall cause Purchaser Sub, as applicable, to) acquire
from each such Seller, good and marketable title to all outstanding Wilhelmina
Equity Interests (other than the Company Shares which shall be transferred by
merger pursuant to clause (i)) held by such Seller, free and clear of all
Encumbrances, in accordance with Sections 2.5, 2.6 and 2.8. Schedule
2.1(a) sets forth a list of the Wilhelmina Equity Interests held by each Seller
and transferred to Purchaser hereunder.
(a) At
the Effective Time, (i) the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease and
Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (Merger Sub and the Company
are sometimes referred to herein as the “Constituent
Corporations”; with respect to periods after the Effective Time, the
Company is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving
Corporation”); (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation; and (iii) the By-laws of Merger
Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the By-laws of
the Surviving Corporation.
(b) At
the Effective Time, title to all property owned by each of the Constituent
Corporations shall vest in the Surviving Corporation without reversion or
impairment, and the Surviving Corporation shall automatically assume all of the
liabilities of each Constituent Corporation.
(c) Immediately
after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall elect those individuals set forth on
Schedule 2.2(c) to the Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation (which
persons will constitute the entire Board of Directors of the Surviving
Corporation). Neither Purchaser nor the Surviving Corporation is
under any obligation to maintain any person in any such position.
(d) Immediately
after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall cause the Board of Directors of the
Surviving Corporation to name the persons set forth on Schedule 2.2(d) as
officers of the Surviving Corporation in the positions indicated, provided
however, that neither Purchaser nor the Surviving Corporation is under any
obligation to maintain any person in any such position, except to the extent
provided in the Mutual Support Agreement.
(e) On
the Closing Date, the Company and Merger Sub will cause the Certificate of
Merger (the “Certificate of
Merger”) to be executed and filed with the New York Secretary of State as
provided in the New York Business Corporation Law (the “NYBCL”)
and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the NYBCL in order
to effect the Merger.
(f) The
Merger shall become effective on the day and time of the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the New York Secretary of State, or at such other
date or time as the Parties may agree. The date and time of such
effectiveness is herein sometimes referred to as the “Effective
Time”.
(g) As
of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holders of any Company Shares or the holders of capital stock of
Merger Sub:
(i) Each
issued and outstanding Company Share shall be automatically converted into the
right to receive a pro-rata portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration as
defined in Section 2.3 upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.5
hereof, of the certificate that formally evidenced such Company
Share. All such Company Shares, when so converted, shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a certificate representing any such Company Shares
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive
a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration therefor upon the surrender of
such certificate in accordance with Section 2.5. Any Company Shares
held as treasury shares by the Company shall automatically be cancelled and
retired and shall cease to exist, and shall not be converted into the right to
receive any consideration.
(ii) Each
issued and outstanding share of the capital stock of Merger Sub shall
automatically, and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be
converted into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(h) As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, each holder of Company Shares
prior to the Effective Time will surrender the certificates representing the
Company Shares pursuant to Section 2.5. Upon the surrender of all the
Company Shares owned by a stockholder, such Person shall promptly receive from
Purchaser the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration which such Person is
entitled to receive pursuant to Section 2.5.
(i) In
the event any certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented outstanding Company Shares (the “Certificates”)
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of
fact by the Person claiming such Certificate(s) to be lost, stolen or destroyed
and, if required by Purchaser, the posting by such person of a bond in such sum
as Exchange Agent may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against any party hereto or the Surviving Corporation with respect to
such Certificate(s), the Exchange Agent will disburse the Merger Consideration
pursuant to Section 2.5 payable in respect of the Company Shares represented by
such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate(s).
(j) At
the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and
thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of the Company
Shares on the records of the Company. From and after the Effective
Time, the holders of Certificates evidencing ownership of the Company Shares
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any
rights with respect to such Company Shares, except as otherwise provided for
herein or by applicable law. If, after the Effective Time,
Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they
shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article 2.
(k) The
Merger is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Sections
368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code. Each party shall treat the
Merger consistent with such characterization, including complying with the
reporting and record keeping requirements of Treasury Regulation Section
1.368-3.
(l) The
Merger shall have all further effects as specified in the applicable provisions
of the NYBCL.
(a) The
aggregate merger consideration shall be $15,000,000 of shares of Purchaser Stock
calculated based on NCEH Book Value Per Share of newly issued shares of
Purchaser Stock (the “Aggregate Merger
Consideration”), subject to the provisions of Section 2.7 (Seller
Restricted Shares) and as adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Article
2. Schedule 2.3 sets forth the portion of the Aggregate Merger
Consideration that will be distributable to each applicable Seller at Closing
and the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration that will be placed into
Escrow pursuant to Section 2.7.
(b) Subject
to Section 2.15, the aggregate consideration (the “Aggregate
Purchase Consideration”) payable by Purchaser in respect of the purchase
of all outstanding Wilhelmina Equity Interests (other than the Company Shares or
the Miami Shares) shall be (i) $9,000,000 minus (ii) the Designated Matter Cash
Deduction, in cash allocated as set forth on Schedule 2.3, as adjusted pursuant
to the provisions of this Article 2 and reduced by any applicable withholding
Tax; plus, as part of the consideration for the WAM Units, the WAM Earnout and
as consideration for the Miami Shares, the Miami Earnout.
2.4 No
Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, no fraction of a share of Purchaser Stock will be issued by
virtue of the Merger, but in lieu thereof each holder of shares of Company
Shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of
Purchaser Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Purchaser Stock that
otherwise would be received by such holder) shall, upon surrender of such
holder’s Company Certificate(s) receive from Purchaser one share of the
Purchaser Stock (after taking into account all shares of Company Shares owned by
such holder at the Effective Time).
2.5 Payment
for Shares in the Merger. The manner of making payment for
Company Shares in the Merger shall be as follows:
(a) On
or prior to the Closing Date, Purchaser shall make available to Securities
Transfer Corporation (the “Exchange
Agent”) for the benefit of the holders of Company Shares, a sufficient
number of shares of Purchaser Stock required to effect the delivery of the
Aggregate Merger Consideration.
(b) Promptly
after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to each holder of record
(as of the Effective Time) of a Certificate or Certificates (i) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Company Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery
of the Company Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Company Certificates in exchange for
certificates representing shares of Purchaser Stock pursuant to Section 2.2, and
any dividends or other distributions pursuant to this Section
2.5. Upon surrender of Company Certificates for cancellation to the
Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by
Purchaser, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly
executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holders of such
Company Certificates shall be entitled, at the Effective Time, to receive in
exchange therefore, certificates representing the number of whole shares of
Purchaser Stock into which their shares of Company Shares were converted
pursuant to Section 2.2, a share of Purchaser Stock in lieu of fractional shares
which such holders have the right to receive pursuant to Section 2.2 and any
dividends or other distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.5(c), and the
Company Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. Until so
surrendered, outstanding Company Certificates will be deemed, from and after the
Effective Time, to evidence only the ownership of the number of whole shares of
Purchaser Stock into which such shares of Company Shares shall have been so
converted (including any voting, notice or other rights associated with the
ownership of such shares of Purchaser Stock under the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Purchaser or under New York Law) and the right to
receive one share of Purchaser Stock in lieu of the issuance of any fractional
shares in accordance with Section 2.2 and any dividends or other distributions
payable pursuant to Section 2.5(c).
(c) No
dividends or other distributions that are declared after the Effective Time on
Purchaser Stock and payable to the holders of record thereof after the Effective
Time will be paid to persons entitled by reason of the Merger to receive
Purchaser Stock until such persons surrender their Company Certificates as
provided above. Upon such surrender, there shall be paid to the
person in whose name the Purchaser Stock are issued any dividends or other
distributions having a record date after the Effective Time and payable with
respect to such Purchaser Stock between the Effective Time and the time of such
surrender. After such surrender, there shall be paid to the person in
whose name the Purchaser Stock are issued any dividends or other distributions
on such Purchaser Stock which shall have a record date after the Effective
Time. In no event shall the persons entitled to receive such
dividends or other distributions be entitled to receive interest on such
dividends or other distributions.
(d) If
any certificate representing Purchaser Stock is to be issued in a name other
than that in which the Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is
registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer
and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of certificates for
such Purchaser Stock in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange
Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any of the Parties shall be liable
to a holder of Company Shares for any Purchaser Stock or dividends thereon
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable escheat
law. The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any
rights of ownership with respect to the Purchaser Stock held by it from time to
time hereunder, except that it shall receive and hold all dividends or other
distributions paid or distributed with respect to such Purchaser Stock for the
account of the persons entitled thereto.
(f) Subject
to applicable law, any portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration which
remains unclaimed by the former stockholders of the Company for one (1) year
after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Purchaser, upon demand of
Purchaser, and any former stockholder of the Company shall thereafter look only
to Purchaser for payment of their applicable claim for their Company
Shares.
(g) No
transfers of Company Shares shall be made on the stock transfer books of the
Company after the close of business on the day immediately prior to the date of
the Effective Time.
(a) As
soon as reasonably practicable but not later than thirty (30) days following
completion of Purchaser’s fiscal year 2008 audit, the Purchaser shall inform the
Control Sellers of its good faith calculation, based on the books and records of
the Company, of the Core Increase or the Core Decrease, as
applicable. For a period of thirty (30) days after the date that the
Purchaser informs the Control Sellers of its calculations, the Purchaser will
provide the Control Sellers with full reasonable access to the Company’s Books
and Records, personnel and accountants during normal business hours and upon
reasonable notice. In the event that the Purchaser receives an
objection notice relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers within
such thirty (30) day period, the dispute as to the calculation will be resolved
pursuant to Section 2.9 of this Agreement.
(b) The
Aggregate Purchase Price shall be adjusted either (i) upwards, in the
amount of the Core Increase or (ii) downwards, in the amount of the Core
Decrease. The “Core
Increase” shall mean, if the Base Price is higher than the Initial
Enterprise Proceeds, the excess of (a) the Base Price over (b) Initial
Enterprise Proceeds. The “Core
Decrease” shall mean, if the Base Price is lower than the Initial
Enterprise Proceeds, the excess of (c) the Initial Enterprise Proceeds over
(d) the Base Price. The “Base
Price” means a number equal to (i) the product of (x) 7.5 times (y)
Average Core EBITDA, plus (ii) Closing Net Asset Adjustment plus (iii) the
Wilhelmina Expense Amount plus (iv) the Designated Matter True-Up (if
applicable). “Average Core
EBITDA” means the average of audited 2007 Core EBITDA and audited 2008
Core EBITDA. In the event that a Core Increase is required, Purchaser
shall pay the Control Sellers in cash in immediately available funds (subject to
the last sentence of this Section 2.6(b)), pro-rata for their equity ownership
in the Company prior to Closing, the amount of such Core Increase within the
later of (A) 30 calendar days following Purchaser’s delivery of the
calculation of such Core Increase pursuant to Section 2.6(a) or (B) 10
(ten) days following the resolution, in accordance with Section 2.9 of this
Agreement, of any objection raised in compliance with Section 2.6(a)
above. In the event that a Core Decrease is required, Esch and
Krassner shall each pay (or cause to be paid by Lorex and the Krassner L.P.,
respectively) the Purchaser in cash in immediately available funds, 50% of the
amount of such Core Decrease within the later of (A) 30 calendar days
following Purchaser’s delivery of the calculation of such Core Decrease pursuant
to Section 2.6(a) or (B) 10 (ten) days following the resolution, in
accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement, of any objection raised in
compliance with Section 2.6(a) above), not to exceed $2,250,000 in each case
($4,500,000 in the aggregate); provided that if either Esch or Krassner fails to
timely make (or caused to be made) its required cash payment pursuant to the
foregoing (or if either otherwise elects), Purchaser shall have the right to
promptly repurchase for $.0001 (one one-hundredths of one penny) per share such
number of Seller Restricted Shares equal to (x) 50% (with respect to each of
Esch and Krassner, for a total of 100% in the case of default and/or election by
both) of the amount of the Core Decrease divided by (y) the lesser of (1) the
Market Value of Purchaser Stock as of the date of repurchase and (2) the NCEH
Book Value Per Share; provided that in no event shall Purchaser be permitted to
purchase an amount of shares greater than the Maximum Share Offset pursuant to
the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Base Price
is less than $25,500,000 and (ii) the sum of
(A) Closing Net Asset Adjustment plus (B) Wilhelmina
Expense Amount yields a negative number, Purchaser shall be permitted to offset
against payments pursuant to Section 2.8 an amount equal to the lesser of (a)
$25,500,000 minus the
Base Price or (b) absolute value of the sum of (A) the Closing Net Asset
Adjustment plus
(B) the Wilhelmina Expense Amount. In the event of any
adjustments pursuant to this Section 2.6, the Parties hereto agree to use good
faith efforts to reach agreement on the allocation of any such adjustments
between the Aggregate Merger Consideration and the Aggregate Purchase
Consideration; provided, however, that in the event that a Core Increase is
required, any additional consideration that is allocable by virtue of this
provision to Aggregate Merger Consideration shall be paid in Purchaser Stock
(valued at Market Value as of the date of required payment) to the extent the
payment of such additional consideration would cause more than 20 percent of the
Aggregate Merger Consideration (based on the fair market value of the capital
stock and other consideration that would otherwise constitute Aggregate Merger
Consideration (i.e.,
without giving effect to the proviso)) to be paid in other than voting stock of
the Purchaser in violation of Section 368(a)(2)(E)(ii) of the Code; provided,
further that the Purchaser shall not be deemed in breach of this Section 2.6(b)
in the event that the parties hereto have not resolved the appropriate
allocation of any adjustments prior to the time of required payment by the
Purchaser pursuant to the fifth sentence of this Section 2.6(b).
2.7 Seller
Restricted Shares. Concurrently with the Closing, a number
of shares issuable as part of the Aggregate Merger Consideration and equal to
(i) the Maximum Share Offset plus (ii) Designated Matter Holdback Shares (such
total, the “Restricted Share
Amount”) shall be deposited in escrow (the “Escrow”)
to be held in accordance with the Escrow Agreement (collectively, the “Seller
Restricted Shares”). Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig &
Wolosky LLP shall serve as escrow agent for the Escrow. Seller
Restricted Shares shall be subject to repurchase by Purchaser pursuant to the
provisions of the Escrow Agreement, as further described in Sections 2.6, 2.8,
2.16 and 10.7. For the avoidance of doubt, the Seller Restricted
Shares constitute a portion of the shares issuable to the Sellers at Closing
pursuant to the Merger.
2.8 Earn-Out
Payments; Off-Set. The purchase price payable by Purchaser for
WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, as applicable, shall be the right of the applicable
Sellers to receive the following cash payments (collectively, the “Earn-Out
Payments”) that may become deliverable or payable to the Sellers as
follows:
(a) WAM
Earnout
(i) As
soon as reasonably practicable but not later than thirty (30) days following the
third anniversary of the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall inform the Control
Sellers of its good faith calculation, based on the books and records of WAM, of
the WAM Earnout. For a period of twenty (20) days after the date that
the Purchaser informs the Control Sellers of its calculations, the Purchaser
will provide the Control Sellers with full reasonable access to WAM’s Books and
Records, personnel and accountants during normal business hours and upon
reasonable notice. In the event that the Purchaser receives an
objection notice relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers within
such twenty (20) day period, the dispute as to the calculation will be resolved
pursuant to Section 2.9 of this Agreement.
(ii) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.8(c) and the resolution of any objection raised
in compliance with Section 2.8(a)(i) above, Purchaser shall pay to the Control
Sellers, pro rata in accordance with their pre-closing ownership of WAM, an
amount (if positive) in cash in immediately available funds equal to
(a) five (5) multiplied by (b) the three year average of audited WAM
EBITDA for the twelve month periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first
anniversary of the Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date,
respectively; provided that aggregate payments (determined prior to any
adjustment pursuant to Section 2.8(c)) under this Section 2.8(a)(ii) shall not
exceed $10,000,000; and provided further that revenue associated with any cash
included in the calculation of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment under Section
2.6 shall be excluded from WAM EBITDA for purposes of the foregoing
calculation. The Earn-Out Payment described under this Section
2.8(a), subject to Section 2.8(c), is referred to as the “WAM
Earnout”. Any positive WAM Earnout payment owed by Purchaser
shall be paid by Purchaser within the later of (A) 30 calendar days
following Purchaser’s delivery of the calculation of the WAM Earnout pursuant to
Section 2.8(a)(i) or (B) 10 (ten) days following the resolution, in
accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement, of any objection raised in
compliance with Section 2.8(a)(i) above.
(b) Miami
Earnout
(i) As
soon as reasonably practicable but not later than thirty (30) days following the
third anniversary of the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall inform the Control
Sellers of its good faith calculation, based on the books and records of
Wilhelmina Miami, of the Miami Earnout. For a period of twenty (20)
days after the date that the Purchaser informs the Control Sellers of its
calculations, the Purchaser will provide the Control Sellers with full
reasonable access to Wilhelmina Miami’s Books and Records, personnel and
accountants during normal business hours and upon reasonable
notice. In the event that the Purchaser receives an objection notice
relating to such calculations from the Control Sellers within such twenty (20)
day period, the dispute as to the calculation will be resolved pursuant to
Section 2.9 of this Agreement.
(ii) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.8(c) and the resolution of any objection raised
in compliance with Section 2.8(b)(i) above, Purchaser shall pay to the Control
Sellers and the Remaining Miami Sellers, pro rata for their pre-closing
ownership of Wilhelmina Miami, an amount (if positive) in cash in immediately
available funds equal to (a) 7.5 multiplied by (b) the three year
average of audited Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for the twelve months periods
beginning on the Closing Date, the first anniversary of the Closing and the
second anniversary of the Closing Date, respectively; provided that revenue
associated with any cash included in the calculation of the Closing Net Asset
Adjustment under Section 2.6 shall be excluded from Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA for
purposes of the foregoing calculation . The Earn-Out Payment described under
this Section 2.8(b), subject to Section 2.8(c), is referred to as the “Miami
Earnout”. Any positive Miami Earnout payment owed by Purchaser
shall be paid by Purchaser within the later of (A) 30 calendar days
following Purchaser’s delivery of the calculation of the Miami Earnout pursuant
to Section 2.8(b)(i) or (B) 10 (ten) days following the resolution, in
accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement, of any objection raised in
compliance with Section 2.8(b)(i) above.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, Purchaser shall have the right, prior to making any
payment under Section 2.8(a) or 2.8(b), and in addition to any other set off
rights specifically provided for in this Agreement, to reduce the amount of any
payments otherwise owing pursuant to either Section 2.8(a) or Section 2.8(b) by
(a) the absolute value of any Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Loss and (b) if
pursuant to Section 2.5 (i) the Base Price was less than $25,500,000 and (ii) the sum
of (A) Closing Net Asset Adjustment plus (B) the Wilhelmina
Expense Amount yields a negative number, an amount equal to the lesser of
(A) $25,500,000 minus the Base Price or
(B) the absolute value of the sum of (A) Closing Net Asset Adjustment
plus
(B) Wilhelmina Expense Amount. An “Aggregate
Divisional EBITDA Loss” shall mean (a) an aggregate WAM EBITDA loss
for the twelve months periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first
anniversary of the Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date,
respectively, if any, and/or (b) an aggregate Wilhelmina Miami EBITDA loss
for the twelve months periods beginning on the Closing Date, the first
anniversary of the Closing and the second anniversary of the Closing Date,
respectively, if any (it being understood that an aggregate loss in each case
shall be determined by summing EBITDA, including negative EBITDA, for all three
periods).
(d) After
giving effect to any reduction(s) of Earnout Payments pursuant to Section
2.8(c), Purchaser shall pay any positive WAM Earnout and/or the Miami Earnout to
the applicable Sellers, pro rata for their pre-closing ownership interests in
WAM and Wilhelmina Miami, respectively, within the later of (A) 30 calendar
days following Purchaser’s delivery of the calculations with respect to the WAM
Earnout pursuant to Section 2.8(a)(i) and the Miami Earnout pursuant to Section
2.8(b)(i) (whichever is delivered later) or (B) 10 (ten) days following the
resolution, in accordance with Section 2.9 of this Agreement, of all objections
raised in compliance with Section 2.8(a)(i) or Section 2.8(b)(i)
above.
(e) In
the event that either (i) Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Losses exist for both
WAM and Wilhelmina Miami (the sum of such Aggregate Divisional EBITDA Losses,
the “Total
Divisional Loss”) or (ii) the amount an Aggregate Divisional EBITDA
Loss exceeds the amount of any Earnout Payment (prior to any adjustment made
under Section 2.8(c)) (an “Excess
Divisional Loss”), then Purchaser shall have the right to promptly
repurchase for $.0001 (one one-hundredths of one penny) per share a number of
Seller Restricted Shares (valued at the greater of (i) the prevailing Market
Value as of the date of repurchase and (ii) NCEH Book Value Per Share)
equal to the Total Divisional Loss or the Excess Divisional Loss, as applicable;
provided that in no event shall Purchaser be permitted to repurchase shares
hereunder having a value greater than the lesser of (a) $1,000,000 and, if
a repurchase of Seller Restricted Shares by Purchaser occurred pursuant to
Section 2.6 hereof, (b) the value (measured at the greater of (1) the
Market Value of Purchaser Stock as of the date of such repurchase and (2) NCEH
Book Value Per Share) of the number of Seller Restricted Shares that were
required to remain in escrow following such repurchase pursuant to Section 2.6
in respect of any Core Decrease. Any such repurchase shall be
effected on 50/50 proportionate basis between shares issued to Lorex and shares
issued to Krassner L.P. Each of Lorex or the Krassner L.P. shall have
the right to cover their respective ½ portions of any Total Divisional loss or
Excess Divisional Loss by a cash payment to Purchaser made within the time
period required by Section 2.8 above (in which case Purchaser shall not
repurchase Seller Restricted Shares pursuant to the foregoing).
(f) The
Earnout Payments may be payable in whole or in part in Purchaser Shares (valued
at then prevailing Market Value), at the election of the Control Sellers, provided (a) that
within fifteen (15) days after the date that the Purchaser informs the Control
Sellers of its calculation of the WAM Earnout, the Control Sellers deliver to
Purchaser a notice electing the whole or partial payment of the Earnout Payment
in Purchaser Shares and (b) Purchaser consents thereto in writing at the time of
such payment. In the event that the Control Sellers fail to deliver
such notice, then the Earnout Payments shall be payable in cash or Purchaser
Shares, or any combination of cash and Purchaser Shares, at the sole discretion
of Purchaser.
(g) Earnout
Payments shall be considered an adjustment to the Aggregate Purchase
Price. The net amount, if any, payable with respect to the WAM
Earnout shall be allocable to the WAM Units, and the net amount, if any, payable
with respect to the Miami Earnout shall be allocable to the Miami
Shares.
(a) Any
objection notice delivered in connection with the matters set forth in Sections
2.6 and 2.8 shall be in writing (an “Objection
Notice”) and set forth any alleged inaccuracies or miscalculations (the
“Calculation
Objection”) no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the fifteenth
(15th) day
after receipt of such calculations from Purchaser. If the Control
Sellers do not deliver an Objection Notice to Purchaser by such date and time,
the Control Sellers shall be deemed to have accepted such calculations as
prepared by Purchaser.
(b) Following
the Purchaser’s receipt of any Objection Notice, the Purchaser and the Control
Sellers shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute. In the
event that the Control Sellers and the Purchaser fail to agree on any of the
Control Sellers’s objections set forth in the Objection Notice within ten (10)
days after the Purchaser receives the Objection Notice, the Control Sellers and
the Purchaser agree that RSM McGladrey, independent public accountants, shall,
within the thirty (30) day period immediately following referral of any
calculation to RSM McGladrey, make the final determination of such calculation
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Purchaser and the
Control Sellers each shall provide RSM McGladrey with their respective
determinations of such calculation and such supporting documentation and
information as RSM McGladrey may request. RSM McGladrey shall make an
independent determination of the calculation that, assuming compliance with the
previous clause, shall be final and binding on the Sellers and the Purchaser if
RSM McGladrey’s determination shall be a number that is between or equal to one
of the numbers proposed by the Purchaser to the Control Sellers and the Control
Sellers in the objection notice. If RSM McGladrey’s determination of
any calculation is not between the calculations of the Purchaser and the Control
Sellers, then the calculation determined by the party that was closer to that of
RSM McGladrey shall be final and binding. The Control Sellers and the
Purchaser shall each pay one-half (½) of the fees, costs and expenses of RSM
McGladrey in connection with the foregoing.
2.10 Krassner
Note. At the Closing, the outstanding principal amount
(which the parties agree is $6,000,000), plus any accrued but unpaid interest,
under the Krassner Note shall be paid in its entirety to the Krassner L.P. by
Purchaser, or by Merger Sub (or the Surviving Corporation with funds contributed
by Purchaser) on behalf of Purchaser, and the Krassner Note shall be forthwith
cancelled and be no longer of any force and effect.
2.11 Purchaser
Sub. Purchaser shall have the right to consummate any
purchase of Wilhelmina Equity Interests hereunder through a newly formed
subsidiary entity or entities of Purchaser. Purchaser shall inform
the Control Sellers within 5 Business Days prior to the Closing of its intention
with respect to which entity shall make the applicable acquisitions of equity
interests hereunder. For avoidance of doubt, unless the context
indicates otherwise, Purchaser alone shall have the right to determine which
Purchaser entity is applicable in the event of references under this Agreement
to “Purchaser or Purchaser Sub” or a similar formulation.
2.12 Controlled
Vehicles; Set Offs. For the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser
shall be permitted to adjust amounts owed to any Affiliate of Esch or Krassner
(e.g., owed to Lorex (controlled by Esch) or to the Krassner L.P. (controlled by
Krassner), respectively) with amounts owed or payable by Esch or Krassner under
this Agreement, and vice versa. No Control Seller shall assert that
the ownership or transfer of any Wilhelmina entity by such Control Seller’s
affiliate (e.g., by Lorex and the Krassner L.P., respectively, in the case of
Esch and Krassner, respectively, and vice versa), rather than such Control
Seller, precludes Purchaser from setting off against, or otherwise adjusting
amounts owed to such Affiliate under this Agreement.
2.13 Election. The Control Sellers may elect to
direct the payment of shares of Purchaser Stock otherwise payable to them as
part of the consideration under this Agreement to qualified Persons who make the
representations set forth in Section 4.7, Section 4.8 and Section 4.9 of this
Agreement.
2.14 Aggregate
Purchase Consideration Allocation.
(a) After
a thorough analysis of the assets of each LLC and arm’s length negotiations, the
parties agree that the Aggregate Purchase Consideration with respect to such LLC
(including any contingent portion of the Aggregate Purchase Consideration) and
the liabilities of such LLC immediately before the Closing, to the extent not
required to be treated as interest under Section 1274 of the Code, shall be
allocated among the assets of such LLC as follows:
(i) to
each asset of the LLC (other than Section 197 intangibles, within the meaning of
Section 197 of the Code), there shall be allocated an amount equal to the book
value of such asset net of the book value of any contra account with respect
thereto, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP as reflected on the
LLC’s books and records immediately prior to the Closing, and
(ii) the
balance, including all contingent payments with respect to such LLC (except to
the extent required to be treated as interest) shall be allocated to Section 197
intangibles within the meaning of Section 197 of the Code, including
goodwill.
(b) No
portion of such amount shall be allocated to the covenants contained in Article
9.
(c) Each
of the parties (i) shall be bound by the allocations described in this
Section 2.14 for all purposes, including determining any Taxes, (ii) shall
prepare and file all Tax Returns to be filed in a manner consistent with such
allocations, and (iii) shall not take (or permit any affiliate to take any
position inconsistent with such allocations in any Tax Return, any proceeding
before a Governmental Authority or otherwise. In the event the
allocation is disputed by a Governmental Authority, the party receiving notice
of such dispute shall promptly notify and consult with the other parties
concerning the resolution of such dispute, and shall keep the other parties
apprised of the status of such dispute and the resolution thereof.
2.15 Patterson
Payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, an
amount in cash (i) equal to one-half of the Patterson Payment Amount and (ii)
otherwise payable to Control Sellers as cash consideration under Section 2.3(b)
at Closing, shall be directed and paid to Patterson to satisfy, together with
the issuance of Purchaser Shares (including Restricted Patterson Shares) under
Section 6.12 hereof, the Company’s obligations in respect of any change in
control or related payment under Patterson’s Old Employment
Agreement. The "Patterson Payment Amount" shall mean the amount (if
any) jointly determined by the Control Sellers and Purchaser to be owed at
Closing to Patterson in respect of any change in control or related payment
under Patterson's Old Employment Agreement in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The total foregoing cash payment
shall be an adjustment to the Aggregate Purchase Price.
2.16 Designated
Matter Repurchase. If, as a result of the settlement
with respect to the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading
“Program Amounts”, the Designated Matter Post Closing Amount exceeds the
Designated Matter Cash Deduction, then Purchaser shall have the right to
promptly repurchase for $.0001 (one one-hundredths of one penny) per share a
number of Designated Matter Holdback Shares having a value equal to the
Designated Matter Repurchase Share Amount. Any repurchase of
Designated Matter Holdback Shares pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall occur no
later than 90 days following the later of (i) final settlement with respect to
the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading “Program Amounts” and
(ii) full satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core Increase pursuant
to Section 2.6 hereof. In no event shall Purchaser repurchase any
Designated Matter Holdback Shares other than pursuant to this Section 2.16;
provided that Designated Matter Holdback Shares shall not be Purchaser’s sole
remedy with respect to the indemnification amounts covered by Section
10.2(d).
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF WILHELMINA TRANSFERRED COMPANIES AND CONTROL
SELLERS
Each of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and Control Sellers severally in accordance
with the percentages set forth on Schedule B hereby make the following
representations and warranties to the Purchaser and Merger Sub as of the date
hereof and as of the Closing Date, except that to the extent that a
representation or warranty relates to a particular Control Seller, such
representation or warranty, as it relates to such Control Seller, shall be
deemed to have been made by such Control Seller severally and not
jointly:
3.1 Organization. Each of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries is a corporation or limited
liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization. Each of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries is duly authorized or
admitted to conduct business and, where applicable, is in good standing under
the laws of each jurisdiction where such authorization or admission is required,
except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. All of such jurisdictions are listed on Schedule
3.1(a). Each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries has the power and authority to own its property and to carry on its
business as presently conducted or as presently contemplated by such
entity. Correct and complete copies of the operating or limited
liability company agreement, Certificate or Articles of Organization (as
applicable), or Certificate or Articles of Incorporation (as applicable) and
Bylaws of each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries
(as applicable), as amended through the Closing Date, have been delivered to the
Purchaser. None of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies is in
violation of any term of its respective Operating Agreement, Certificate or
Articles of Organization (as applicable), or Certificate or Articles of
Incorporation (as applicable) or Bylaws (as applicable), as amended to the
Closing Date, or any Contract, Order, or Law applicable to it. True
and complete listings of the managers, members, officers and directors (as
applicable) of each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies their Subsidiaries
are set forth on Schedule
3.1(b).
3.2 Legal
Authority; Binding Effect. Each of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies has the power and authority (corporate or otherwise, as
applicable) to execute and deliver this Agreement, each of the Collateral
Documents which it has executed and delivered and to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies of this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents to which it has executed and delivered, and the consummation by each
of them of the Contemplated Transactions have been duly authorized by all
necessary action (corporate or otherwise, as applicable) on the part of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies. This Agreement and each of the
Collateral Documents which any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies has
executed and delivered have been duly executed and delivered by such Wilhelmina
Transferred Company and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such
Wilhelmina Transferred Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their
terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors’
generally and general equity principles (regardless of whether enforceability is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(a) The
number of authorized and outstanding Wilhelmina Shares (with respect to the
Company and Wilhelmina Miami) and Wilhelmina Units (with respect to each of the
LLCs) is accurately set forth on Schedule 3.3(a)
hereof. No Wilhelmina Shares or Wilhelmina Units or other equity
interests of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies are held in treasury or
otherwise reserved for issuance. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.3(a), the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies have not issued any shares of capital stock,
membership interests or other equity interests, there are no outstanding
warrants, options or other rights, commitments, agreements or understandings to
purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock, membership interests or other
equity interests or securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, there
are no outstanding debt securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
convertible into shares of capital stock, membership interests or otherwise
containing equity interests or securities and there are no outstanding or
authorized unit appreciation, phantom unit, profit participation or similar
rights with respect to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies.
(b) The
Company Shares and the other Wilhelmina Equity Interests set forth on Schedule 3.3(a) have
been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not otherwise
subject to any Encumbrances, except for those that are contained in the LLC
Agreements and the Signature Bank Security Interests. None of the
Company Shares or the other Wilhelmina Equity Interests have been issued in
violation of any applicable preemptive or similar right. There are no
preemptive rights with respect to the issuance or sale of shares of capital
stock, membership interests or other equity interests or securities by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies that have not otherwise been waived or
terminated. All securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
were issued in compliance with all Laws and, at the time of sale, were exempt
from registration pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act
and applicable national or state securities laws, and no such Securities were
registered under any such act or Laws. There are no restrictions on
the transfer of any membership interests or other equity securities in the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, other than those
arising from federal and state securities Laws and under the relevant operating
agreements (which restrictions relating to the operating agreements, if any,
have been waived in respect of the Contemplated Transactions). There
are no voting trusts or other similar agreements or understandings to which any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company is a party with respect to the voting or
ownership of membership interests or other equity securities of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries.
3.4 Subsidiaries. A true and complete list of all
Subsidiaries of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, indicating the authorized
and outstanding equity securities thereof, is set forth in Schedule
3.4. The organizational documents of the Subsidiaries of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies), as amended through the Closing Date, have
been delivered to Purchaser. Other than as listed on Schedule 3.4, no
Wilhelmina Transferred Company has any direct or indirect investments in, and no
Wilhelmina Transferred Company is a party to any agreement, commitment or
understanding requiring any Wilhelmina Transferred Company to purchase or
acquire any interest in, the equity of any Person, or debt securities
convertible into such securities or otherwise containing equity
provisions. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4, the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the
outstanding shares of capital stock or membership interests (as the case may be)
of each of their Subsidiaries and each such share of capital stock or unit or
membership interest has been duly authorized and is validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable and is not otherwise subject to any Encumbrances, and none of
such shares of capital stock or units or membership interests has been issued in
violation of any applicable preemptive or similar right.
3.5 Conflict
with other Instruments; Absence of Restrictions. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the Control Sellers do not and will
not: (i) result in a Default of or under (A) any of the
terms of the Organizational Documents of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
any of their Subsidiaries, (B) assuming the receipt of all Governmental
Consents listed on Schedule 3.6, any
Law, Permit or Order applicable to or binding upon the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of the Sellers, or (C) assuming the receipt of all
Required Consents listed on Schedule 3.6, any
Material Contracts, Permits or Licenses to which the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them are
bound; (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon
any of the equity interests of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries or upon any of the assets or properties of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries; or (iii) assuming the
receipt of all Required Consents listed on Schedule 3.6,
(A) result in the termination, amendment or modification of, or give any
party the right to terminate, amend, modify, abandon, or refuse to perform any
Material Contract, License or Permit to which the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them, or
any of their properties or assets, are bound, or (B) result in the
acceleration or modification of, or give any party the right to accelerate or
modify, the time within which, or the terms under which, any duties or
obligations are to be performed, or any rights or benefits are to be received
under any Material Contract, License or Permit to which the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of
them, or any of their properties or assets, is bound, except that the
Krassner Note will be paid at Closing.
3.6 Government
and Third Party Approvals. Except as listed on Schedule 3.6, no
Governmental Consent or Consent of any Person (including any party to any
Contract any the Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any of their Subsidiaries) is
required for (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries of this Agreement or any of
the Collateral Documents to which any of them is a party, (ii) the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions by the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies, any of their Subsidiaries or any of the Sellers, or (iii) the
continued enforceability of any Material Contract after giving effect to the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
3.7 Title to
Properties; Adequacy of Properties. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.7,
each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries has good,
valid and marketable title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets,
valid leasehold interests in, all of its tangible and intangible properties and
assets, real, personal and mixed, used or held for use in the Business (the
“Property”),
free and clear of any and all Encumbrances. The Property includes,
but is not limited to, all of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies’ and their
Subsidiaries’ Accounts Receivable, Cash, Equipment, Intellectual Property,
Leased Real Property, Leasehold Improvements and Fixtures, Prepaid Items,
personal property leased by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, causes of
action, contract rights, going concern value, and goodwill. The
tangible personal property included in such Property (including Equipment) is in
good working order, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and fit for its intended
use. Except as set forth on Schedules 3.7 and
3.8, no Property (other than the Leased Real Property) is held under any
Lease or Encumbrance. No Property is located other than in the
possession and control of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries at their respective places of business. The Property,
taken as a whole, is adequate to conduct the Business as now conducted or as
presently contemplated by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the Sellers to
be conducted. All of the Property is properly reflected in the
balance sheets contained in the Financial Statements.
3.8 Real
Property; Personal Property. No Wilhelmina Transferred
Company nor any of their Subsidiaries owns any Real Property or is a party to
any option, agreement or other document pursuant to which such Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or such Subsidiary has the right or obligation to purchase
or acquire title to or any interest in any Real Property. Schedule 3.8 hereof
sets forth a true and complete list of each Lease for Real Property executed by
or binding upon the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, as
lessor or lessee, sublessor or sublessee, landlord or tenant, or assignor or
assignee (the “Real Property
Leases”), and a true and complete description of all Leased Real
Property. Each of the Real Property Leases and all leases of personal
property to which the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their
Subsidiaries is a party (the “Personal Property Leases”) is legal, valid and
binding and in full force and effect without any material Default thereof by any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary thereof or, to the Knowledge of
the Company or any Control Seller, any other party thereto and each of the Real
Property Leases and Personal Property Leases affords the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or their Subsidiaries (whichever is a party thereto) peaceful and
undisturbed possession of the Leased Real Property or Leased Personal Property,
as the case may be, which is the subject matter of the applicable Real Property
Lease or Personal Property Lease, subject to the terms and conditions of the
Real Property Lease or Personal Property Lease, as the case may
be. The Leased Real Property constitutes the only Real Property
leased by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries or
otherwise used by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries in
connection with the operation of their Business as currently conducted and as
presently proposed to be conducted. Except for the occupancy and use
of the Leased Real Property by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries, there are no leases, tenancies, licenses or other rights of
occupancy or use for any portion of the Leased Real Property, and, except as set
forth on Schedule
3.8, no Person or entity other than the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
or their Subsidiaries occupies or uses any portion of the Leased Real
Property. True and complete copies of the Real Property Leases have
been delivered to the Purchaser.
(a) Schedule 3.9 contains
the following financial information concerning the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries:
(i) the
audited consolidated financial statements of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
(including the December 31, 2005 balance sheet and a statement of income and
retained earnings for the year then ended);
(ii) the
audited consolidated financial statements of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
(including the December 31, 2006 balance sheet and a statement of income and
retained earnings for the year then ended); and
(iii)
the audited consolidated financial statements of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
(including the December 31, 2007 balance sheet and a statement of income and
retained earnings for the year then ended) (the “2007 Audited
Financials”).
(b) The
financial statements contained in Schedule 3.9,
together with all Unaudited Monthly Statements and 2007 Audited Financials, are
collectively referred to as the “Financial
Statements”.
(c) The
Financial Statements set forth in Section 3.9(a) were prepared in accordance
with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition,
the results of the operations and, where applicable, the cash flows and changes
of financial position of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and for the periods reported
therein, subject in the case of the March 2008 Financials, the June 2008
Financials and the Unaudited Monthly Statements to normal year end
adjustments. The financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended
March 31, 2008 (including the March 31, 2008 balance sheet and a statement of
income and retained earnings for the quarter then ended) (the “March 2008
Financials”) and the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2008 (including the
June 30, 2008 balance sheet and a statement of income and retained earnings for
the quarter then ended) (the “June 2008
Financials”), when delivered, will be prepared in accordance with GAAP
and will fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, the
results of the operations and, where applicable, the cash flows and changes of
financial position of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and for the periods reported
therein, subject to normal year-end adjustments. The Financial
Statements, the March 2008 Financials, and the June 2008 Financials when
delivered, have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and
records of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies.
3.10 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies nor any of their Subsidiaries has any material Liabilities
which are not properly disclosed, reflected or reserved against on the Financial
Statements or which are not otherwise set forth on Schedule 3.10(a)
attached hereto. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
any Liabilities which have been incurred since December 31, 2007, other than
those Liabilities set forth on Schedule 3.10(b)
attached hereto or Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that
are not material.
3.11 Accounts
Receivable. All of the accounts receivable of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies have arisen, and as of the Closing Date will
have arisen, solely in a bona fide transaction in the ordinary course of
business of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 or
reserved for as allowance for doubtful accounts on the Financial Statements,
each of the accounts receivable constitutes, and as of the Closing Date will
constitute, a valid claim in the full amount thereof against the debtor charged
therewith on the books of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and is
enforceable, and as of the Closing Date will be enforceable, in accordance with
its terms, subject in all cases to reserves indicated on the Financial
Statements. The amounts charged to clients or customers of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies in the creation of any accounts receivable are
consistent, and as of the Closing Date will be consistent, with those stated on
such client Contracts or arrangements (whether oral or written), as may exist
and as such may be modified or amended. No account debtor has, or
will have as of the Closing Date, any valid set off, deduction or defense with
respect thereto, and no account debtor has asserted to the Company such set off,
deduction or defense.
(a) The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries are, and since January
1, 2005 have been, in compliance in all material respects with the Laws or
Orders to which any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries or the Business is subject. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(a)(i),
no Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Control Seller has received, nor does the
Company or any Control Seller have Knowledge of the issuance of, any notice from
any Governmental Entity, citizens group, employee, model, client or other Third
Party of any such violation or alleged violation of any applicable Laws or
Orders by any of them or of any investigation with respect to any such violation
or non-compliance, in each case since January 1, 2005. To the
Knowledge of the Company or any Control Seller, there is no investigation
relating to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries or the
Business (or the Control Sellers in respect of the Business) that is in
progress, threatened or contemplated by any Governmental Entity. The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries have operated in full
compliance with the terms of the settlement set forth under Schedule 3.12(a)(ii)
since such settlement became effective.
(b) Schedule 3.12(b)
contains a true and correct description of all Licenses and Permits issued in
favor of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, all of
which are in full force and effect, and the Business is currently being operated
in compliance with the terms of each of the foregoing in all material
respects. None of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries have failed to obtain any License or Permit (including all talent
agency licenses) necessary to the ownership of the Company’s or its
Subsidiaries’ assets or the operation of the Business and, except as described
on Schedule
3.12(b) or such renewals as are required in the ordinary course of
business consistent with the terms of such License or Permit, none of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries will be required, as a
result of the Closing, to file, apply for or obtain any License or Permit in
order to operate the Business in the same manner as currently operated on the
date of this Agreement. Neither the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
nor any of their Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action
which could reasonably be expected to result in or enable, with or without
notice or lapse of time or both, the revocation or termination of any of such
Licenses or Permits or the imposition of any restrictions thereon. No
Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or any Control
Seller, threatened to revoke, refuse to renew or modify any of the Licenses or
Permits.
3.13 Legal
Proceedings. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, there
is no Legal Proceeding pending against or, to the Knowledge of the Company or
any Control Seller, threatened against or affecting, the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries (or any of the Control Sellers relating
the Business). Schedule 3.13
indicates the extent to which such pending Legal Proceedings are covered by
insurance, together with the amount claimed, if any. Except as set
forth on Schedule
3.13, there is no Order outstanding against the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries.
3.14 Absence
of Changes. (a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(a),
since December 31, 2007, (i) there has been no event or condition which had
(or is reasonably likely to result in) a Material Adverse Effect on the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries, (ii) the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries have in all material respects
conducted the Business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices
(except entering into this Agreement) and have not taken any action which, if
taken after the date hereof, would constitute a violation of Section 6.2 of this
Agreement, and (iii) there has been no incurrence or discharge of any
material Liabilities, except in the ordinary course of business.
(b) Since
December 31, 2007, there has been no distribution or transfer of cash or assets
(whether by dividend, loan, compensation related payment or otherwise) by or
from any Wilhelmina Transferred Company to the Control Sellers, other than the
regular payments of consulting fees (and/or regular interest on the Krassner
Note) or in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice as
set forth on Schedule 3.14(b), or as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement.
(c) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.14(c), since September 30, 2007, there has been no
modification in the cash management practices of any Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies, including but not limited to (i) any acceleration of the
collection of Accounts Receivable and/or (ii) delay in the payment of any
accounts payable or similar obligations, and all vendors, employees and models
have been paid on a basis consistent with past practice in all material
respects.
(a)
Schedule
3.15(a) attached hereto sets forth a true and complete list of all
Contracts to which any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries is currently a party, or by which any of their respective Property
is currently bound, that fall into one or more of the following categories
(together with the Contracts set forth on Schedule 3.15(b), each, a “Material
Contract”):
(i)
except for the LLC Agreements and the Krassner Note, any Contract or commitment
with any current or former member, manager, stockholder, director, or officer of
the Company or any of the other Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, or any of
their Affiliates;
(ii)
employment Contract or severance Contract (each, an “Employment
Agreement”) with any Employee;
(iii) Contract
with any Talent representing the top 20 highest grossing such Contracts for
2007 (“Talent
Agreement”);
(iv) Contract
(other than any Contract, including any “ticket”, entered into by models and
third persons with respect to one-time jobs) with any third party pursuant to
which any Wilhelmina Transferred Company earns fees, royalties or other amount
representing the top 10 highest grossing such Contracts for 2007;
(v)
Contract, commitment or arrangement with any labor union or other
representative of Employees;
(vi) Contract
or commitment related to the Intellectual Property of the Company, including all
license or franchise agreements covering the “Wilhelmina” name or
mark;
(vii) Contract
or commitment for the performance of services by a Third Party which involves in
any one case Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) and is not cancelable on
thirty (30) days notice or less without penalty;
(viii) agreement
or commitment to perform services which obligates any Wilhelmina Transferred
Company or a Subsidiary thereof to perform services which involves in any one
case Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) and which is not cancelable on
thirty (30) days notice or less without penalty;
(ix) Lease
under which any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary is either
lessor or lessee of personal property requiring annual Lease payments (including
rent and any other charges) in excess of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000);
(x) Lease
under which any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary thereof is the
lessor of real property;
(xi) note,
debenture, mortgage, pledge, charge, security agreement, bond, conditional sale
agreement, equipment trust agreement, letter of credit agreement, loan agreement
or other Contract or commitment for borrowing or lending of money (including,
without limitation, loans to or from any current or former managers, officers,
directors, Sellers, stockholders or members of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing), agreement or arrangements
for a line of credit or guarantee, pledge or undertaking of the Indebtedness of
any other Person, which involves in any one case Twenty Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000);
(xii) Contract
or series of related Contracts for any capital expenditure in excess of Twenty
Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000);
(xiii) Contract
limiting or restraining it from engaging or competing in any lines of business
with any Person or in any geographic area;
(xiv) Contract
involving either (i) the purchase or sale of (A) membership interests,
capital stock, partnership interests or other equity interests or
(B) substantially all or a material portion of the assets of a Person, or
(ii) a merger, consolidation or joint venture with another
Person;
(xv) Settlement
agreements relating to Claims previously filed against the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries;
(xvi) agreement
with any Governmental Entity;
(xvii) power
of attorney granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in favor of any
Person;
(xviii) any
other Contract or series of related Contracts requiring payments or other
consideration by or from the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies in excess of
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) during the remainder of its
term;
(xix) except
for the LLC Agreements, Contracts imposing any Encumbrances on any of the
Wilhelmina Shares or the Wilhelmina Units or the Property; or
(xx) other
material Contracts not made in the ordinary course of business.
(b)
Schedule 3.15(b) sets forth each Contract (other than any Contract,
including any “ticket”, entered into by models and third parties with respect to
one time jobs) between any Talent and any third party pursuant to which any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company earns fees, royalties or other amounts and which
agreement is in effect.
(c) Each
Material Contract is valid and enforceable (except as such enforceability may be
limited by and be subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law
(including, without limitation, concepts of notice and materiality), and by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ and
debtors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, any state or federal
law in respect of fraudulent transfers)) in accordance with its terms
against the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries party
thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company and any Control Seller, the Third
Parties party thereto are in compliance with the provisions thereof; neither the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies nor any of their Subsidiaries party thereto
nor, to the Knowledge of the Company and any Control Seller, any of the Third
Parties party thereto, is in Default in the performance, observance or
fulfillment of any obligation, covenant or condition contained therein; and, no
event has occurred which with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, would constitute a Default thereunder by the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, any Control Seller or, to the Knowledge
of the Company and any Control Seller, any other party.
(d) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.15(d), the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Collateral
Documents and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not
(i) result in or give to any Person any right of termination, non renewal,
cancellation, withdrawal, acceleration or modification in or with respect to any
Material Contract, (ii) result in or give to any Person any additional
rights or entitlement to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed
payments under any Material Contract or (iii) result in the creation or
imposition of any Liability upon the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries or any Encumbrances upon any of the Property under the terms
of any Material Contract.
(e) Except
as expressly listed under the leading “3.15(a)(xiii)” on Schedule 3.15(a),
none of the terms or provisions of any Material Contract include a restriction
on the ability of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries to
compete with any Person or to compete in any geographic area.
(f) No
party to any Material Contract (i) has provided any notice to the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or any of the
Control Sellers of its intent to terminate, or withdraw its participation in,
any such Material Contract or (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company and any
Control Seller, has threatened to terminate, or withdraw from participation in,
any such Material Contract.
(g) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.6, no
Consent of any Third Party to any Material Contract is required in connection
with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
(h) The
Company has delivered to Purchaser a true, correct and complete copy of each
written Material Contract.
(i) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.15(i), no
Talent Agreement or related Contract shall terminate, or is otherwise terminable
upon the termination of representation, or any such other relationship, with a
Wilhelmina Transferred Company (or subsidiary thereof) booking agent, talent
manager, or other person specified in such agreement.
(a) Schedule 3.16(a)
attached hereto sets forth a true and complete list of the names of those
clients or customers which accounted for the twenty (20) largest gross billings
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, as determined from the books and records of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies utilized to prepare the 2007 Audited
Financials. There has been no actual termination or cancellation of
the business relationship of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries with any client or group of clients listed on Schedule 3.16(a)
attached hereto. Except where such change, modification or alteration
would not have a material Adverse Effect on the results of operations of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, to the Knowledge of the
Company or any Control Seller, there is no present or impending change,
modification or alteration in the relationship of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries with any client or group of clients listed on
Schedule
3.16(a) attached hereto, including any Knowledge of the Company or any
Control Seller of an intent not to renew or Knowledge of any of them of facts
and circumstances, other than general economic conditions, that would reasonably
cause any specific client or group of clients to fail to renew the existing
relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries.
(b) Schedule 3.16(b)
attached hereto sets forth a true and complete list of the names of the models
which accounted for the twenty (20) largest gross billings (each of men and
women) of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, as determined from the books and records of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies utilized to prepare the income statement contained in the
2007 Audited Financials. Except as indicated on Schedule 3.16(b), all
of such models indicated on Schedule 3.16(b) are under contract with the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies (and subject to customary provisions consistent
with past practice with respect to such contracts), and there has been no actual
termination or cancellation of the business relationship of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries with any model listed on Schedule 3.16(b)
attached hereto. Except where such change, modification or alteration
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the results of operations of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, to the Knowledge of the
Company or any Control Seller, there is no present or impending change,
modification or alteration in the relationship of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries with any model listed on Schedule 3.16(b)
attached hereto, including any Knowledge of an intent not to renew or Knowledge
of facts and circumstances, other than general economic conditions, that would
reasonably cause any specific model or group of models to fail to renew the
existing relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries.
(c) There
has been no cancellation or termination or material amendment or modification
by, or the receipt of any notice of intent or desire to cancel, terminate, amend
or modify from, any supplier or vendor that was material to the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries in 2007.
3.17 Insurance. The Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries have maintained in effect since January 1,
2005, and presently has in effect, all errors and omissions insurance policies,
and all other insurance policies, required by Law or reasonably appropriate in
connection with the operation of the their Business as presently
conducted. Schedule 3.17 lists
each existing insurance policy (including, without limitation, policies
providing property, casualty, liability, errors and omissions, and workers
compensation coverage) to which the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries is a party or is the named insured. With respect to each
such insurance policy set forth on Schedule 3.17 (unless
otherwise specified): (a) each errors and omissions policy and
each other policy, is legal, valid, binding, enforceable (except as such
enforceability may be limited by and be subject to general principles of equity,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law (including, without limitation, concepts of notice and
materiality), and by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting
creditors’ and debtors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, any
state or federal law in respect of fraudulent transfers)) in accordance
with its terms, and in full force and effect in all respects and all premiums
due thereunder have been paid and no notice of cancellation or termination has
been received by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any Subsidiary with
respect to such policies, (b) to the Company’s Knowledge, no other party to
the policy is in material breach or Default (including with respect to the
payment of premiums or the giving of notices), and to the Company’s Knowledge,
no event has occurred which would permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under the policy; and (c) no other party to the policy has
repudiated any provision thereof. Each of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to keep or cause such insurance or comparable insurance to be kept in effect
through the Closing Date.
(a) Set
forth on Schedule
3.18(a) is a true and complete list of all registered and unregistered
Intellectual Property of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries used in, necessary for, or related to the Business of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries (with a brief
description of each, including, where relevant, the owner, the applicable
jurisdiction, the registration number, application number or issuance number,
and the date of application, issuance and/or filing) as it is currently
conducted.
(b) To
the Knowledge of the Company or any Control Seller, no person or entity is
infringing upon, diluting, or otherwise violating any of the rights of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries to the Intellectual
Property. To the Knowledge of the Company or any Control Seller, the
operation of the Business does not infringe, dilute, or otherwise violate the
Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party and neither the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies nor any of their Subsidiaries has received notice of
infringement upon, misappropriation of or conflict with any asserted right of
any Third Party (including, without limitation, any employee or former employee
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries) under any
Intellectual Property. No Wilhelmina Transferred Company has received
notice that any Third Party has exercised or intends to exercise any rights to
indemnification granted by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their
Subsidiaries against infringement of Intellectual Property rights.
(c) No
Claim is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or any Control Seller,
threatened, and no Wilhelmina Transferred Company nor any of Subsidiary thereof
has received written notice to the effect that: (i) the business conducted
by any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Subsidiary thereof infringes upon,
misappropriates or conflicts with the asserted rights of any other Person under
any Intellectual Property; or (ii) any Wilhelmina Transferred Company’s or
any such Subsidiary’s interest in any Intellectual Property owned or licensed by
any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary, or which any Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or any such Subsidiary otherwise has the right to use, is
invalid or unenforceable.
(d) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.15(a)
under the heading “3.15 (a)(vi)”, there are no licenses, sublicenses, consents
or other agreements (whether written or otherwise) pertaining to any
Intellectual Property (a) by which any Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
any of their Subsidiaries licenses or otherwise authorizes a Third Party to use
such Intellectual Property or (b) by which a Third Party licenses or
otherwise authorizes the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their
Subsidiaries to use its Intellectual Property.
(e) Except
as provided on Schedule 3.18(e), the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain and protect,
including through registration when appropriate, the Intellectual Property owned
by the Company or any of their Subsidiaries so as not to materially or adversely
affect the validity or enforceability thereof. The Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries have diligently taken commercially
reasonable action necessary to enforce their Intellectual Property
rights.
3.19 Transactions
with Affiliates. No member, manager, stockholder, officer,
or key employee of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any Affiliate
(including any family member) of any of the foregoing has during the past two
(2) years: (a) received or earned, or (b) had an ownership interest
(whether direct or indirect) in any business, corporate or otherwise, which has
or had any business arrangement or relationship of any kind under which it has
received or earned, payments from the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries in excess of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) (except for
ordinary payroll compensation for employees) in any year, except as described in
Schedule 3.19
attached hereto. There are no Contracts between any Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or any Subsidiary thereof and any current or former member,
manager, stockholder, officer, or employee of the Company or any Affiliate
(including any family member) of any such Person except for an LLC’s Operating
Agreement, Employment Agreements, and those Contracts identified on Schedule 3.19 hereto,
a true and complete copy of each of which (including all amendments) has been
delivered to Purchaser. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.19 and the
Krassner Note, no Wilhelmina Transferred Company nor any Subsidiary thereof is
indebted to any Seller or his or her Affiliate, and Schedule 3.19
contains a complete list of all amounts owed to any Wilhelmina Transferred
Company or any Subsidiary thereof by any Seller or his or her
Affiliate. All transactions required to be listed on Schedule 3.19
attached hereto have been recorded in the Books and Records of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies, as applicable, at the full value, as if they were
rendered in arm’s-length transactions.
(a) Schedule 3.20(a) sets
forth a complete and accurate list showing all Employees of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and each of their Subsidiaries, listing all Contracts with
such Employees and the rate of compensation (and the portions thereof
attributable to salary, bonus and other compensation, respectively) of each of
such Persons for fiscal year 2007 and as of the date hereof. Since
December 31, 2007, there have been no increases in the compensation payable or
any special bonuses to any manager, officer, director, or Employee, except
ordinary salary, bonus and other compensation increases implemented on a basis
consistent with past practices (which have been notified to Purchaser prior to
execution of this Agreement).
(b) On
and following the Closing Date, the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies will have
no liability for any change of control payment or similar payment or benefit
(including but not limited to any obligations to pay cash or issue equity) to
any employee of the Company under the Old Employment Agreements as a result of
the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions, except as set forth in Section 6.12. The “Old Employment
Agreements” shall mean (i) that certain Employment Agreement by and
among the Company, WAM, Wilhelmina Models, and Sean Patterson, dated August 1,
2003, (ii) that certain Employment Agreement by and among the Company, WAM,
Wilhelmina Models, and Adam Schneider, dated September 13, 2006, (iii) that
certain Employment Agreement by and among the Company and Mia Lolordo, dated
February 8, 2007 and (iv) any other employment or similar agreement with an
employee or affiliate of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies entered into prior
to the Closing Date (other than the New Employment Agreement). On the
Closing Date, the Company will have no Liability in connection with any deferred
compensation program.
(c) Each
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries has complied and
is in compliance in all material respects with all Laws which relate to wages,
hours, discrimination in employment and collective bargaining and no Wilhelmina
Transferred Company nor any Subsidiary thereof is liable for any arrears of
wages, Taxes or penalties for failure to comply, in all material respects, with
any of the foregoing. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20(c),
none of the Control Sellers or the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies have
received any notice of a Claim or Legal Proceeding against any Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or Subsidiary thereof (whether under federal, state or local
Law, under any employment Contract, or otherwise) brought or, to the Knowledge
of the Company or any Control Seller, threatened by any Employee on account of
or for: (i) overtime pay, other than overtime pay for work done during the
current payroll period; (ii) wages or salary for any period other than the
current payroll period; (iii) any amount of vacation pay or pay in lieu of
vacation time, other than vacation time or pay in lieu thereof earned in or in
respect of the current fiscal year; (iv) any violation of any Law relating
to minimum wages or maximum hours of work or (v) relating to
discrimination or occupational safety in employment or employment practices
(including the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Fair
Labor Standards Act, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended, or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
amended).
(d) Neither
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies nor any of their Subsidiaries is or has
ever been bound by or subject to (and none of its respective assets or Property
is or has ever been bound by or subject to) any arrangement with any labor
organization. No Employees of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
their Subsidiaries are represented by any labor organization or covered by any
collective bargaining agreement. To the Knowledge of the Company or
any Control Seller, no campaign to establish such representation is or has ever
been in progress and there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or
any Control Seller, threatened labor dispute involving the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries and any group of their
Employees.
(a) Schedule 3.21 sets
forth a complete and accurate list of each Employee Benefit
Plan. With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Purchaser
true and complete copies of, as applicable (i) the plan document,
amendments, trust agreement and any other material document governing such
Employee Benefit Plan, (ii) the most recent financial statement;
(iii) the current summary plan description required by ERISA, (iv) the
three most recent Form 5500 annual reports, (v) the most recent IRS
determination letter, (vi) substantially all documents comprising all
insurance contracts, annuity contracts, investment management or advisory
agreements, administration contracts, service provider agreements, fidelity
bonds and fiduciary liability policies currently in effect, and (vii) all
material correspondence with any Governmental Entity.
(b) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.21, none of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies nor
any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has any material
Liability with respect to: (A) a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA
(including, without limitation, a “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA)); (B) a “multiple employer plan” (within the
meaning of Section 413 of the Code); (C) a “multiple employer welfare
arrangement” (within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA); or
(D) post-employment medical or death benefits, except as required under
Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code (“COBRA”).
(c) Substantially
all contributions to and payments from the Employee Benefit Plans have been
timely made. All such contributions which are currently deductible by
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies for federal income tax purposes have been
fully deducted by the applicable Wilhelmina Transferred Company for such
purposes. Such deductions, to the Knowledge of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies, have not been challenged or disallowed by any
Governmental Entity and none of the Wilhelmnia Transferred Companies nor any
Control Seller has reason to believe that such deductions are not properly
allowable.
(d) All
the Employee Benefit Plans conform in all material respects to, and are being
administered and operated in material compliance with their respective terms,
the requirements of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable Laws.
(e) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.21, each Employee Benefit Plan intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section
501(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the
Internal Revenue Service and no event has occurred since the date of such
determination letter that is reasonably likely to affect adversely such
qualification or exemption.
(f) Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.21, the execution of and performance of the
Contemplated Transactions will not (either alone or upon the occurrence of any
additional or subsequent events) result in: (1) any payment to or acceleration,
vesting or increase in the rights of any current or former Employee or other
service provider of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries,
or (2) any “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code)
to any current or former Employee or other service provider of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries.
(g) There
are no pending or, to the Knowledge of any of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any Control Seller, threatened material Claims by or on behalf of
any Employee Benefit Plan, or by or on behalf of any individual participants or
beneficiaries of any Employee Benefit Plan, alleging any violation of ERISA or
any other applicable Laws or regulations, or claiming payments (other than
benefit claims made and expected to be approved in the ordinary course of the
operation of such Employee Benefit Plans). No Employee Benefit Plan
is the subject of any pending or, to the Knowledge of any of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any Control Seller, threatened investigation or audit
by the IRS, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation or any other Governmental Entity.
(h) Solely
to the extent that such action or inaction could result in any liability to a
Wilhelmina Transferred Company, no individual who would otherwise have satisfied
the criteria for eligibility in an Employee Benefit Plan did not participate in,
or was denied the opportunity to participate in, an Employee Benefit Plan solely
on account of his/her misclassification as an independent contractor or
consultant or 1099 recipient(or words having similar import as any of the
foregoing) or leased employee. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of
the preceding sentence, to the extent an Employee Benefit Plan contains
“Microsoft” type language intended to address such misclassifications, an
individual shall not be deemed to have satisfied the criteria for eligibility in
an Employee Benefit Plan.
(i) Each
Employee Benefit Plan that is “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (within
the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) has been operated in accordance with a
good faith reasonable interpretation of the applicable requirements
thereof.
3.22 Environmental Laws. The Company, its
Subsidiaries and the operation of the Business is and has been in compliance
with all applicable Environmental Laws in all material
respects. There have occurred no, and there are no, events,
conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, or actions on the
part of, or caused by, the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, any of their
Subsidiaries or any of the Control Sellers (or, to the Knowledge of the Company
or any Control Seller, caused by a Third Party) that may give rise to any common
law or statutory Liability, or otherwise form the basis of any Claim, Legal
Proceeding, Order or action involving or relating to the Business, based upon or
related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling, or the emission, discharge, release or
threatened release into the environment, of any pollutants, contaminants,
chemicals, petroleum, or industrial, toxic or Hazardous Materials.
3.23 Taxes
and Tax Returns. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.23:
(a) Since
December 31, 2004, each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries, including any predecessors thereof, has duly and timely filed all
Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or before the Closing Date (taking
into account extensions) with any Governmental Entity. Each such Tax
Return was true, accurate and complete in all material respects (or as
subsequently amended, whether or not pursuant to an audit). Each of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries, including any
predecessors thereof, has timely paid in full all material Taxes for the period
covered by each such Tax Return, whether or not shown as due on such Tax Return,
subject to the amounts disclosed on Schedule 3.23 with respect to Taxes not
shown as due on a Tax Return (which amounts are being contested in good faith
and for which adequate reserves have been established). All Taxes not
yet due and payable have been withheld or reserved for and, to the extent that
they relate to periods on or prior to the Closing Date are, or will be,
reflected as a Liability on the balance sheets contained in the Unaudited
Monthly Statements. The LLCs have never elected to be taxed as other
than a partnership for federal or state income tax purposes.
(b) Each
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries has complied in
all material respects with all Laws relating to the payment and withholding of
Taxes and information reporting and back up withholding (including, without
limitation, withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code,
or similar provisions under any foreign Laws) and has, within the time and in
the manner prescribed by Law, withheld from employee wages and paid over, in a
timely manner, to the proper Taxing Authorities all amounts required
to be so withheld and paid over under applicable Law.
(c) No
material deficiency for any Taxes has been asserted or assessed against the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries that has not been
resolved and paid in full or fully reserved for in each case, as reserved for
and identified on the Financial Statements. None of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies nor any of their Subsidiaries has received any notices in
writing from the IRS or any other Taxing Authority of any proposed examination
or of any proposed change in reported information relating to the Taxes of
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries. No
Legal Proceeding or audit or similar foreign proceedings is pending with regard
to any of the Taxes or Tax Returns of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
their Subsidiaries. No Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Subsidiary
thereof has received notice in writing of any claim by a Governmental Entity in
a jurisdiction where such Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Subsidiary does not
file Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by any Governmental
Entity.
(d) The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries have delivered or made
available to the Purchaser copies of all federal, state, local and foreign
income or franchise Tax Returns filed by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
any of their Subsidiaries, as well as examination reports and statements of
deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or their Subsidiaries, for all years in which the statute of
limitations remains open for a Taxing Authority to assess any Taxes and all
supporting work papers for the above referenced Tax Returns.
(e) There
are no outstanding waivers, agreements or comparable consents given by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their respective Subsidiaries
regarding the application of the statute of limitations for assessment or
collection with respect to any Taxes or Tax Returns relating to the Company or
its Subsidiaries nor is any request for any such waiver, agreement, or consent
pending.
(f) None
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries (A) is a
party to or bound by any tax allocation or sharing agreement (B) is or has
been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax
Return (other than with another Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or a
Subsidiary) or (C) has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other
than any of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries)
under Reg. §1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law),
as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise. None of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries is a party to any joint
venture, partnership or other arrangement that is treated as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes (except for the LLCs).
(g) None
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries has a permanent
establishment located in any tax jurisdiction other than the United States or is
liable for the payment of Taxes levied by any jurisdiction located outside the
United States. None of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445 of the
Code.
(h) None
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries is a party to any
agreement, contract, arrangement, or plan that has resulted or would result,
separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of any “excess parachute payment”
within the meaning of Section 280G (or any corresponding provision of state,
local, or foreign Tax law).
(i) None
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries has constituted
either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the
meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock
qualifying for tax free treatment under Section 355 of the Code.
(j) None
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries will be required
to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable
income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date
as a result of any: (i) intercompany transactions or excess loss
accounts described in Treasury regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or
any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), (ii) installment
sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, or
(iii) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.
(k) No
Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary thereof is a “United States
real property holding company” within the meaning of Section 897 of the
Code. No transaction contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject
to the withholding requirements set forth in Sections 1445 or 1446 of the
Code.
3.24 Proxy
Statement. None of the information supplied in writing or
to be supplied in writing by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the Control
Sellers for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement and
any amendments thereof and supplements thereto will at the time of the mailing
of the Proxy Statement to the shareholders of Purchaser and at the time of the
Shareholder Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or will, at the time of the Shareholder Meeting, omit to
state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Shareholder
Meeting which shall have become false or misleading in any material
respect. Only information supplied or to be supplied by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies in writing shall be considered to have been
supplied for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
3.25 Corporate
Records, Controls. The Books and Records of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries fairly and accurately record and
reflect all transactions material to the operations of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries and the Business and have been
maintained in accordance with sound business practices.
3.26 Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.26
(any of which listed items shall be borne out of pocket at Closing solely by the
Sellers), no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person, is
entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or
commission in connection with the Contemplated Transactions based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any
of the Sellers, or any Person acting on their behalf.
3.27 Bank
Accounts; Powers of Attorney. Schedule 3.27 lists
the names of (a) each bank, trust company and stock or other broker with
which any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Subsidiary thereof has an account,
credit line or safe deposit box or vault, or otherwise maintains relations (the
“Bank
Accounts”), and (b) all Persons authorized to draw on, or to have
access to, each of the Bank Accounts, and (c) all Persons authorized by
proxies, powers of attorney or other like instruments to act on behalf of any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any Subsidiary thereof in any matter
concerning their Property or the Business.
3.28 Statements
and Other Documents Not Misleading. Neither this
Agreement, including all Schedules and Exhibits, nor any other Collateral
Document or other written instrument heretofore or hereafter furnished by the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, their Subsidiaries or the Control Sellers to
Purchaser in connection with the Contemplated Transactions contains or will
contain any untrue statement of any material fact or omits or will omit to state
any material fact required to be stated in order to make such statement,
document or other instrument not misleading.
3.29 No
Knowledge of Breaches. Neither the Control Sellers nor the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries currently has actual
Knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would serve as the basis for a
Claim by the Sellers or Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries
against the Purchaser based upon a (i) breach of any of the representations
and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, or (ii) breach
of any of the covenants to be performed by the Purchaser at or prior to
Closing.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
Each
Seller, severally and not jointly, hereby makes the following representations
and warranties to the Purchaser and Merger Sub with respect to such Seller as of
the date hereof and of the Closing Date (provided that Esch shall only be deemed
to make the representations as to both Esch and Lorex and Krassner shall only be
deemed to make the representations as to both Krassner and the Krassner
L.P.):
4.1 Organization. Such Seller (if not a natural
person) is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization.
4.2 Legal
Authority; Binding Effect. Such Seller has the full right,
power, authority and capacity to enter into and perform this Agreement and each
of the Collateral Documents to which such Seller is a party, and to consummate
the Contemplated Transactions. The execution, delivery and
performance by such Seller of this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation by such Seller of the
Contemplated Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary action
(corporate or otherwise, as applicable) on the part of such
Seller. This Agreement and each of the Collateral Documents to which
such Seller is a party have been duly executed and delivered by each such
Seller, and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Seller,
enforceable against such Seller in accordance with their terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or
similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and general equity
principles (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding
at law or in equity).
4.3 No
Conflicts, Consents. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and each of the Collateral Documents, and the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, by such Seller do not and will
not: (i) result in a Default of or under (A) any of the
terms of the Organizational Documents of such Seller (if not a natural person),
(B) any Law, Permit or Order applicable to or binding upon such Seller, or
(C) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the
equity interests of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies held by such Seller. No
Governmental Consent or Consent of any Person that has not been acquired is
required for (i) the execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of
this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents to which any of them is a
party, or (ii) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions by such
Seller.
4.4 Title to
Shares and Units. Such Seller has good and valid title to the
Wilhelmina Equity Interests and Company Shares reflected as owned by such Seller
on Schedule A, free and clear of all Encumbrances (except such Encumbrances as
may be imposed by the LLC Agreements and the Signature Bank Security
Interests). At the Closing, such Seller will transfer to Purchaser
the entire right, title and interest in and to his respective Wilhelmina Equity
Interests, as applicable, free and clear of all Encumbrances. Such
Seller owns of record and beneficially equity interests in the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.
4.5 Agreements. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.5, such Seller has no understanding or agreement with any Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or Subsidiary respecting equity interests or other
securities of any Wilhelmina Transferred Company or Subsidiary thereof that have
not been released on or prior to the date hereof. Such Seller has not
entered into or granted any outstanding warrants, options, commitments,
agreements or understandings to or with any Person (except for the Contemplated
Transactions) to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any securities (equity
or debt) in the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, including, without limitation,
the Wilhelmina Shares or Wilhelmina Units. Such Seller is not a party
to any voting trust or other similar agreement or understanding with respect to
the voting or ownership of equity securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies.
4.6 Legal
Proceedings. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.6, there
are no Legal Proceedings or Orders pending against or, to Knowledge of such
Seller, threatened against or affecting such Seller that (i) would impair
the ability of such Seller to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
any of the Collateral Documents, (ii) seeks to prevent the consummation of
any of the Contemplated Transactions, (iii) questions the validity of this
Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents, (iv) affect transferability
of Wilhelmina Shares or Wilhelmina Units or (v) would reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to (a) have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, any of their Subsidiaries or the
Business or (b) impair the ability of the such Seller, or the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries to perform its obligations
under this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents. There is no Order
outstanding against such Seller that relates to or affects the Wilhelmina Shares
or the Wilhelmina Units or this Agreement or the Contemplated
Transactions.
4.7 Purchase
Entirely for Own Account. Subject to any election pursuant
to Section 2.13, the Purchaser Stock to be received by or at the direction of
the Sellers pursuant to the terms hereof will be acquired for investment for
each such Sellers’ own accounts, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view
to the resale or distribution of any part thereof. No Seller has any
present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise
distributing the Purchaser Stock acquired by such Seller. No Seller
has any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell
or transfer, or grant any participation to such Person or to any Third Party,
with respect to any Purchaser Stock to be acquired by the Seller.
4.8 Seller
Address, Access to Information, Experience, Etc.
(a) The
address set forth on the signature pages of this Agreement is such Seller’s true
and correct business, residence or domicile address. The Seller has
received and read and is familiar with this Agreement. The Seller has
had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives
of the Purchaser concerning the terms and conditions of this
transaction. The Seller has reviewed the representations and
warranties in Article 3 and has no Knowledge of any inaccuracy in such
statements.
(b) The
Seller has substantial experience in evaluating non-liquid investments such as
the Purchaser Stock and is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an
investment in the Purchaser. The Seller is an “accredited investor”
as that term is defined in Rule 501(c) of Regulation D promulgated under the
Securities Act.
(c) The
Seller has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from
representatives of the Purchaser concerning the terms and conditions of this
transaction.
(d) The
Seller has been furnished access to the business records of the Purchaser and
such additional information and documents as such Seller has requested and has
been afforded an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from,
representatives of the Purchaser concerning the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the acquisition of the Purchaser Stock, the business, operations,
market potential, capitalization, financial condition and prospects of the
Purchaser, and all other matters deemed relevant to such Seller.
(e) The
Seller acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to evaluate all information
regarding the Purchaser as it has deemed necessary or desirable in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions, has independently evaluated the Contemplated
Transactions and has reached its own decision to enter into this
Agreement.
4.9 Restricted
Securities. The Seller understands that the Purchaser
Stock to be acquired by such Seller have not been registered under the
Securities Act or the laws of any state and may not be sold or transferred, or
otherwise disposed of, without registration under the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to an exemption
therefrom. In the absence of an effective registration statement
covering the Purchaser Stock to be acquired by the Seller, the Seller will sell
or transfer, or otherwise dispose of, the Purchaser Stock to be acquired by the
Seller only in a manner consistent with its representations and agreements set
forth herein, the terms and conditions set forth in the Collateral Documents and
any applicable Federal and state securities laws.
4.10 No
Knowledge of Breaches. No Seller currently has actual
Knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would serve as the basis for a
Claim by the Sellers or Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries
against the Purchaser based upon a (i) breach of any of the representations
and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, or (ii) breach
of any of the covenants to be performed by the Purchaser at or prior to
Closing.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF THE
PURCHASER
The
Purchaser and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Sellers and the
Company as follows:
5.1 Organization. The Purchaser (i) is a
Delaware corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the state of its organization, (ii) has the power and authority
to own and operate its properties and assets and to transact its business as
currently conducted and (iii) is duly qualified and authorized to do
business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where the failure to be
duly qualified, authorized and in good standing would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Purchaser. The Merger Sub
(i) is a New York corporation duly organized on August 14, 2008, and is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its
organization, (ii) has the power and authority to own and operate its
properties and assets and to transact its business as currently conducted and
(iii) is duly qualified and authorized to do business and is in good
standing in all jurisdictions where the failure to be duly qualified, authorized
and in good standing would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Purchaser.
5.2 Legal
Authority; Binding Effect. The Purchaser and the Merger
Sub have the corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this
Agreement, each of the Collateral Documents to which each is a party, and to
consummate the Contemplated Transactions. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Purchaser of this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents to which each is a party, and the consummation by each of them of the
Contemplated Transactions, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of Purchaser or Merger Sub, as applicable. This
Agreement and each of the Collateral Documents to which the Purchaser or Merger
Sub is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and/or
Merger Sub, as applicable and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Purchaser and Merger Sub, enforceable against the Purchaser or Merger Sub in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar Laws affecting the
rights of creditors’ generally and general equity principles (regardless of
whether enforceability is considered a proceeding at law or in
equity).
5.3 Conflict
with other Instruments; Absence of Restrictions. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, by the
Purchaser do not and will not: (i) assuming receipt of the
Charter Approval, result in a Default of or under (A) any of the terms of
the Purchaser’s or Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents, (B) any Law,
Permit or Order applicable to or binding upon the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any
of their respective Subsidiaries, or (C) any Material Contracts, Permits or
Licenses to which Purchaser or Merger Sub is a party or is bound;
(ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of
the assets or properties of the Purchaser or Merger Sub; or (iii)
(A) result in the termination, amendment or modification of, or give any
party the right to terminate, amend, modify, abandon, or refuse to perform any
Material Contract, License or Permit to which Purchaser or Merger Sub is a party
or by which it, or any of their properties or assets, are bound, or
(B) result in the acceleration or modification of, or give any party the
right to accelerate or modify, the time within which, or the terms under which,
any duties or obligations are to be performed, or any rights or benefits are to
be received under any Material Contract, License or Permit to which Purchaser or
Merger Sub is a party or by which it, or any of its properties or assets, is
bound.
(a) The
authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists of (i) 75,000,000 shares
common stock and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock (with giving
effect to any increase in authorized capital pursuant to the Authorized Capital
Approval). As of the date hereof, 53,883,872 shares of common stock
are outstanding and (iii) stock options exercisable for 240,000 shares of
Common Stock outstanding. Except as described in this Section 5.4,
there are no shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity
interests of Purchaser, outstanding warrants, options or other rights,
commitments, agreements or understandings to purchase or acquire any shares of
capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests or securities of
Purchaser, there are no outstanding debt securities of Purchaser convertible
into shares of capital stock, membership interests or otherwise containing
equity interests or securities and there are no outstanding or authorized unit
appreciation, phantom unit, profit participation or similar rights with respect
to Purchaser. Outstanding Purchaser Shares were issued or sold in compliance
with all applicable Laws and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. Schedule 5.4 provides a pro-forma capitalization
chart for Purchaser Shares at the Closing, assuming no changes in capitalization
or NCEH Book Value per Share between the date hereof and the
Closing.
(b) The
authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares common
stock. As of the date hereof, 100 shares of common stock are
outstanding. Except as described in this Section 5.4, there are no
shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests of
Merger Sub, outstanding warrants, options or other rights, commitments,
agreements or understandings to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock,
membership interests or other equity interests or securities of Merger Sub,
there are no outstanding debt securities of Merger Sub convertible into shares
of capital stock, membership interests or otherwise containing equity interests
or securities and there are no outstanding or authorized unit appreciation,
phantom unit, profit participation or similar rights with respect to Merger Sub.
Outstanding shares of Merger Sub were issued or sold in compliance with all
applicable Laws and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(c) Purchaser
Shares to be issued under this Agreement (the “Purchaser Issued
Shares”), when issued, will be issued or sold in compliance with all
applicable Laws and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar right. There are
no preemptive rights with respect to the issuance or sale of the Purchaser
Issued Shares that have not otherwise been waived or terminated.
5.5 SEC
Filings/Financial Statements.
(a) Purchaser
has filed with (or furnished to) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) all
forms, documents, certifications, registration statements and reports required
to be filed (or furnished) by it with the SEC since January 1, 2005 (as amended
to date, the “Purchaser SEC
Reports”). As of their respective dates, or, if amended, as of
the date of the last such amendment, the Purchaser SEC Reports filed with the
SEC complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the applicable rules
and regulations promulgated there under. None of the Purchaser SEC
Reports filed with the SEC at the time they were filed or, if amended, as of the
date of the last such amendment, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(b) Each
of the financial statements contained in the Purchaser SEC Reports were prepared
in accordance with GAAP and fairly present the financial condition, the results
of the operations and, where applicable, the cash flows and changes of financial
position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof
and for the periods reported therein, subject in the case of interim statements
to normal year end adjustments. The financial statements contained in
the Purchaser SEC Reports have been prepared from, and are in accordance with,
the books and records of the Purchaser.
5.6 Compliance
with Law. Purchaser and Merger Sub are, and since January
1, 2005 have been, in compliance in all material respects with the Laws or
Orders to which Purchaser is subject. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.6, Purchaser has not received, nor does it have Knowledge of the issuance of,
any notice from any Governmental Entity, citizens group, employee, client or
other Third Party of any violation or alleged violation of any applicable Laws
or Orders by any of them or of any investigation with respect to any such
violation or non-compliance, in each case since January 1,
2005. Purchaser has no Knowledge of any investigation relating to
Purchaser that is in progress, threatened or contemplated by any Governmental
Entity.
5.7 Legal
Proceedings. There is no Legal Proceeding or Order pending
against or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser or Merger Sub, threatened against or
affecting, the Purchaser or Merger Sub, except those that would reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to (i) have a Material Adverse
Effect on Purchaser or Merger Sub (giving effect to the Contemplated
Transactions and the acquisition of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies) or
(ii) materially adversely impair or restrict the ability of Purchaser or
Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the
Collateral Documents. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.7, there
is no Order outstanding against Purchaser or Merger Sub that (i) could
reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to materially
adversely impair or restrict the ability of Purchaser or Merger Sub to perform
its obligations under this Agreement or any of the Collateral
Documents.
5.8 Purchase
Entirely for Own Account. The securities in the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies to be received by the Purchaser pursuant to the terms
hereof will be acquired for investment for Purchaser’s own account, not as a
nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part
thereof. The Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting
any participation in, or otherwise distributing such securities. The
Purchaser has no contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person
to sell or transfer, or grant any participation to such Person or to any Third
Party, with respect to any securities to be acquired by the
Purchaser.
5.9 Access to
Information, Experience, Etc.
(a) The
Purchaser has received and read and is familiar with this
Agreement. The Purchaser has had an opportunity to ask questions of
and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning the terms and
conditions of the Contemplated Transactions. The Purchaser has
substantial experience in evaluating non-liquid investments such as the
securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and is capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of an investment in the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies. The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as that term is
defined in Rule 501(c) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities
Act.
(b) The
Purchaser has been furnished access to the business records of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and such additional information and documents as the
Purchaser has requested and has been afforded an opportunity to ask questions
of, and receive answers from, representatives of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies concerning the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the acquisition
of the securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, the business,
operations, market potential, capitalization, financial condition and prospects
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and all other matters deemed relevant to
such Seller.
(c) The
Purchaser acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to evaluate all
information regarding the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as it has deemed
necessary or desirable in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, has
independently evaluated the Contemplated Transactions and has reached its own
decision to enter into this Agreement.
5.10 Absence
of Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.10, since
December 31, 2007, there has been no event or condition which had (or is
reasonably likely to result in) a Material Adverse Effect on the
Purchaser.
5.11 Proxy
Statement. None of the information supplied or to be
supplied by Purchaser or Merger Sub for inclusion in the Proxy Statement (and
any amendments thereof and supplements thereto) will at the time of the mailing
of the Proxy Statement to the shareholders of Purchaser and at the time of the
Shareholder Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
5.12 Rights
Plan. The Rights Amendment has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Purchaser and is valid and enforceable in
accordance with its terms.
5.13 Board
Recommendation. As of the date of this Agreement, the Board of
Directors of Purchaser and the Board of Directors of the Merger Sub, at a
meeting duly called and held, has approved the Contemplated Transactions and the
Board of Directors of the Purchaser has resolved to recommend that the
stockholders of Purchaser vote in favor of the Stockholder
Approvals.
5.14 Brokers or
Finders. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.14, the
Purchaser has not engaged the services of any broker or finder with respect to
the Contemplated Transactions.
5.15 Financial Ability to
Complete the Contemplated Transactions. At the Closing, the
Purchaser will have the financial ability to complete the Contemplated
Transactions.
5.16 Acquisition for
Investment. Purchaser (or Merger Sub) is acquiring the
Wilhelmina Shares and Wilhelmina Units solely for its own account and not with a
view to any distribution of other disposition of such securities in violation of
the Securities Act.
5.17 Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities. Neither the Purchaser nor the Merger Sub has any
material Liabilities which are not properly disclosed, reflected or reserved
against in the Purchaser SEC Reports or which are not otherwise set forth on
Schedule 5.17
attached hereto. Neither the Purchaser nor the Merger Sub has any
Liabilities which has been incurred since December 31, 2007, other than those
Liabilities set forth on Schedule 5.17
attached hereto or Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that
are not material.
5.18 Statements and Other
Documents Not Misleading. Neither this Agreement, including
all Schedules and Exhibits, nor any other Collateral Document or other written
instrument heretofore or hereafter furnished by the Purchaser or the Merger Sub
or their respective Subsidiaries to the Company in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions contains or will contain any untrue statement of any
material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required to be
stated in order to make such statement, document or other instrument not
misleading.
5.19 No Knowledge of
Breaches. Neither Purchaser nor Merger Sub currently has
actual Knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would serve as the basis for
a Claim by the Purchaser or Merger Sub against the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or the Sellers based upon a (i) breach of any of the
representations and warranties of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the
Sellers contained in this Agreement, or (ii) breach of any of the covenants
to be performed by the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the Sellers at or
prior to Closing. Purchaser or Merger Sub shall not be deemed to have
actual Knowledge of facts or circumstances merely because such facts or
circumstances were disclosed in or discernable from due diligence materials,
written or otherwise, provided or made available by the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or the Sellers, but not otherwise disclosed in this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
6
CERTAIN
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS AND OTHER MATTERS
6.1 Restriction on Certain
Discussions and Actions. Until the Closing Date or earlier
termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, each of the Sellers
and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies will refrain, and will cause their
respective Affiliates, managers, members, officers, directors, stockholders,
employees, attorneys, accountants and other agents and representatives to
refrain, from taking any action, directly or indirectly,
to (i) solicit, encourage, initiate or participate in any way in
discussions or negotiations with, or furnish any information with respect to the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries to any Person
(other than the Purchaser and its representatives) in connection with any
possible or proposed sale of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, the sale of a
substantial portion of the assets, merger or other business combination
involving the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, or
the acquisition of an equity interest in the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
any of their Subsidiaries, or any similar transaction involving the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, or any other transaction
(including any recapitalization, refinancing or reorganization or any
extraordinary licensing transaction involving the “Wilhelmina” name) which could
reasonably be expected to impair the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions, or (ii) except as required by law after not less than five
(5) days notice to Purchaser, disclose to any Third Party any non-published
information concerning the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, any of their
Subsidiaries, its Property or the Business. Each Seller shall
promptly notify Purchaser if such Seller receives any such proposal or offer or
any inquiry or contact with respect thereto. No Seller will, prior to
the termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, (i) sell,
transfer, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any
contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale,
transfer, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other disposition of, any of his
equity interests in the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, or (ii) grant any
proxies, deposit any such equity interests into a voting trust or enter into a
voting agreement with respect to any such equity interests.
6.2 Conduct of Business of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies. During the period from the
date of this Agreement to the Closing Date or the earlier termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms, each of the Control Sellers and the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies agrees (i) to cause the Business of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries to be conducted in the
ordinary course consistent with past practices, (ii) to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to (A) preserve the business organizations
of each of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and each of their Subsidiaries
intact, (B) keep available to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies the
services of each employee and model having an employment or contractor
relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, (C) preserve the
goodwill of the clients, customers and others having business relations with any
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries and
(D) maintain the legal existence of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
and their Subsidiaries and (iii) the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and
their Subsidiaries will not, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser,
other than (A) in connection with the negotiation and completion of the
Contemplated Transactions or (B) as required by contract or by
Law:
(a) issue,
transfer, sell, encumber or pledge any Wilhelmina Shares or Wilhelmina Units,
membership interests, shares of capital stock or other securities (including but
not limited to securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or options or
rights to acquire, Wilhelmina Shares or Wilhelmina Units or other securities) of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries;
(b) split,
combine or reclassify any Wilhelmina Shares, Wilhelmina Units, membership
interests, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries;
(c) pay
any dividends or make distributions, whether in cash, stock or property, to any
equity holder or other owner or any other Person, or redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire any Wilhelmina Shares, Wilhelmina Units, membership interests,
shares of capital stock or other securities of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, other than the regular payments of
consulting fees (and/or regular interest on the Krassner Note) in the ordinary
course of business consistent with prior practice and as set forth on Schedule
3.14(b);
(d) amend
any Organizational Documents;
(e) except
as set forth on Schedule 6.2(e), acquire (i) by merging or consolidating
with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interests in or a substantial
portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other business
organization or division thereof, or (ii) any assets that are material,
individually or in the aggregate, to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any
of their Subsidiaries; or enter into any binding commitment or
agreement (written or otherwise) to take any of the foregoing actions with
respect to those items set forth on Schedule 6.2(e);
(f) sell,
lease, license or otherwise dispose or, or incur, suffer or permit to exist any
Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any material assets,
properties or rights of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, other than
(i) pursuant to Material Contracts in existence as of the date hereof (and
which have been disclosed to Purchaser) and (ii) license agreements
described in the exceptions set forth in clause 6.2(g);
(g) permit
the use of the “Wilhelmina” name or mark by any other Person, other than
pursuant to license agreements (i) in place as of the date hereof (which
agreements have been delivered to the Purchaser) or (ii) with
the modeling agencies set forth on Schedule 6.2(g) on terms consistent with
license agreements described in clause (i); or enter into any binding
commitment or agreement (written or otherwise) to take any of the foregoing
actions with respect to those items set forth on Schedule 6.2(g);
(h) make
any capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 individually or in the aggregate
following the date of this Agreement;
(i) except
as set forth on Schedule 6.2(i), (i) enter into any new business line or
business area, (ii) relocate any of their facilities; or
(iii) terminate, discontinue, close or dispose of any facility or business
operation; or enter into any binding commitment or agreement (written
or otherwise) to take any of the foregoing actions with respect to those items
set forth on Schedule 6.2(i);
(j) (i)
incur any new Indebtedness for borrowed money, including but not limited to (x)
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of another Person or (y) issuing or selling any
debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, or
(ii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other Person; provided that the Company
shall maintain and may utilize its existing bank line of credit with Signature
Bank in the ordinary course of business in a manner consistent with past
practice and in amounts such that there is no greater than $2,500,000 (inclusive
of any term loan and revolver) under such bank line outstanding at
any one time;
(k) enter
into, amend or voluntarily terminate any Material Contract to which any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company is a party, except that the Company may
(i) enter into Material Contracts in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice provided that such Contracts are terminable on 60
days notice without cost or penalty (provided that any license agreements shall
also be subject to clause (g) above) and (ii) make technical or
immaterial amendments to Material Contracts in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; provided that this clause (k) shall in all
respects be subject to the following clause (1) and any other applicable
restriction set forth in this Section 6.2;
(l) agree
to any non-compete restriction or similar prohibition on the Business or future
business of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
subsidiaries;
(m) enter
into or amend (i) any employment agreements or any other type of employment
arrangement, which in either case provides (A) compensation greater than
$100,000 per annum, (B) equity compensation of any kind (whether upfront or
contingent), (C) guaranteed compensation of any amount for a period longer
than six months, (D) any bonus or similar compensation based on a
percentage of profits or EBITDA, or (E) change of control or severance
compensation or (ii) any severance or change of control agreements or
arrangements or deferred compensation agreements or arrangements;
(n) (i)
enter into any new, or amend or otherwise alter any existing, Employee Benefit
Plan; (ii) adopt, amend, terminate or change an interpretation of any
Employee Benefit Plan or the participation or coverage under any Employee
Benefit Plan, (iii) accelerate the payment or vesting of any material
benefits or amounts payable under any Employee Benefit Plan, (iv) cause,
suffer or permit the termination of any Employee Benefit Plan, (v) permit
any Prohibited Transaction involving any Employee Benefit Plan or fail to pay to
any Employee Benefit Plan contribution which they are obligated to pay under the
terms of such Employee Benefit Plan, whether or not such failure to pay would
result in an Accumulated Funding Deficiency, or (vi) allow or suffer to
exist any occurrence of a Reportable Event or any other event or condition,
which presents a material risk of termination of any Employee Benefit
Plan;
(o) implement
or effect any lay off, early retirement program, severance program or other
program concerning the termination of employment of employees or contractors of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries;
(p) (i)
remove any fixtures, Equipment or personal property from any of the Leased Real
Property except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice; (ii) sell, discount, factor or otherwise dispose of any Accounts
Receivable (except by collection in the ordinary course of business); or
(iii) cancel or compromise any Indebtedness or Claim except in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice, or waive or release any rights
of material value;
(q) settle
or compromise any legal proceeding or enter into any consent decree, injunction
or similar restraint or form of equitable relief in settlement of any
proceeding;
(r) change
any accounting principle, practice or method;
(s) (i)
fail to pay when due all Taxes lawfully levied or assessed against the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries before any penalty
or interest accrues on any unpaid portion thereof and file all Tax Returns when
due (including applicable extensions); or, with respect to payroll or
withholding Taxes, fail to make any such payments or deposits as such payments
or deposits when due by Law; and (ii) make or change any Tax elections or
settle any audit or examination relating to Taxes, except those being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(t) fail
to use reasonable commercial efforts to maintain in full force and effect
insurance coverage of the types and in the amounts set forth in Schedule 3.17
attached hereto;
(u) modify
its cash management practices, including but not limited to
(i) accelerating the collection of Accounts Receivable and/or
(ii) delaying payment of accounts payable or similar obligations; provided
that it is understood and agreed that the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies shall
pay on a timely basis consistent with past practice all amounts due to vendors,
employees and models (except those being contested in good faith);
and
(v) take,
suffer or permit any action, or omit to take any action, that would render
untrue any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article 3 of this
Agreement; and
(w) enter
into any commitment or agreement to take any of the actions described in clauses
(a) through (v) of this Section 6.2.
6.3 Conduct of Business of
Purchaser. During the period from the date of this Agreement
to the Closing Date or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance
with its terms, Purchaser will not agree or commit to take, any action that
would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the consummation of
the Contemplated Transactions; provided that that the failure of Purchaser to
give any consent or waiver under this Agreement (where such consent or waiver of
such party is or would be required) shall not be construed as any such action in
violation of this Section 6.3. In addition, during the period from
the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date or the earlier termination of
this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Purchaser shall not, without
the prior written consent of the Company and the Control Sellers, other than
(i) as contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) in connection with the
evaluation, negotiation and completion of the Contemplated Transactions or
(ii) as required by contract or by Law:
(a) issue,
transfer, sell, encumber or pledge any Purchaser Shares, shares of capital stock
or other securities (including but not limited to securities convertible into or
exchangeable for, or options or rights to acquire, Purchaser Shares ) of the
Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in respect of any equity
financing raised in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions (which equity financing shall not be priced more favorably to the
financing source than NCEH Book Value Per Share without the consent of the
Control Sellers);
(b) split,
combine or reclassify any Purchaser Shares or shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries;
(c) pay
any dividends or make distributions, whether in cash, stock or property, to any
equity holder or other owner or any other Person, or redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire any Purchaser Share, shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries;
(d) amend
any Organizational Documents;
(e) acquire (i) by
merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interests
in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any
business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other
business organization or division thereof, or (ii) any assets in an amount
greater than $50,000, individually or in the aggregate, to the
Purchaser;
(f) make
any capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 individually or in the aggregate
following the date of this Agreement;
(g) (i) incur
any new Indebtedness for borrowed money, including but not limited to (x)
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of another Person or (y) issuing or selling any
debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries, or
(ii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other Person; provided that the Company may
incur Indebtedness in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions;
(h) Pay
to any person for services rendered an amount in excess of $50,000, other than
reasonable compensation on market terms to employees of Purchaser;
(i) (i) fail
to pay when due all Taxes lawfully levied or assessed against the Purchaser or
Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries before any penalty or
interest accrues on any unpaid portion thereof and file all Tax Returns when due
(including applicable extensions); or, with respect to payroll or withholding
Taxes, fail to make any such payments or deposits as such payments or deposits
when due by Law; and (ii) make or change any Tax elections or settle any
audit or examination relating to Taxes, except those being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings;
(j) settle
or compromise any material legal proceeding or enter into any consent decree,
injunction or similar restraint or form of equitable relief in settlement of any
proceeding that would reasonably impact the conduct of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies following the Closing;
(k) take,
suffer or permit any action, or omit to take any action, that would render
untrue any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article 5 of this
Agreement; and
(l) enter
into any commitment or agreement to take any of the actions described in clauses
(a) through (k) of this Section 6.3.
6.4 Notice of Certain
Events. The Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and the Control
Sellers, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand, covenant and
agree to provide each other with prompt notice to each other of (i) any
event, fact or circumstance which, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or Purchaser, as
the case may be, (ii) any representation or warranty made by any of them
contained in this Agreement which has become untrue or inaccurate,
(iii) the failure by any of them to comply with or satisfy any covenant,
agreement or condition to be complied with or satisfied under this Agreement,
within the time frame set forth in this Agreement or (iv) (A) the
commencement of, any known threat to commence, and of any developments or
changes in any pending or threatened Legal Proceedings or (B) the
assertion, commencement or threat of any Claim of the type and nature which
would be required to be disclosed on Schedule 3.13, Schedule 4.6 or Schedule
5.7; provided, however, that such notification shall not excuse or otherwise
affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties,
or the conditions to the obligations of the parties, under this
Agreement.
6.5 Additional Financial
Statements. The Company and the Control Sellers agree to
deliver to the Purchaser monthly consolidated unaudited financial statements of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries consisting of an
income statement (the “Unaudited
Monthly Statements”) for each calendar month following the date hereof
within 15 days after the end of each such month; provided, however, if the
Closing shall occur prior to the required delivery date as set forth in this
Section 6.5 applicable to particular Unaudited Monthly Statements, then the
obligation to deliver such financial statements shall terminate at the
Closing. The Company and the Control Sellers agree to deliver the
March 2008 Financials and the June 2008 Financials to the Purchaser not later
than September 15, 2008.
6.6 Cooperation; Access to Books
and Records. Each of the Sellers, the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies and their Subsidiaries will use reasonable commercial efforts to
cooperate with the Purchaser and Merger Sub in connection with the Contemplated
Transactions and, until the Closing Date or earlier termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms, shall afford to the Purchaser and the
Merger Sub, its agents, attorneys, accountants, financing sources (whether debt
or equity) and other authorized representatives, including engineers, financial
advisers, current and prospective lenders and debt underwriters, reasonable
access to all of the properties, assets, financial information, operations,
books, records, files, correspondence, computer output, data, files, log books,
technical and operating manuals and other materials of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries (including those in the possession
or control or their accountants, attorneys and any other Third Party), as the
case may be, for the purpose of permitting the Purchaser to make such
investigation and examination of the Business, assets, properties and Books and
Records of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
and their
Subsidiaries as are reasonably necessary or appropriate. Any such
investigation, access and examination shall be conducted during regular business
hours and upon mutually agreed upon times and will be conducted in a manner that
will not materially disrupt the operation of the Business. Each of
the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies will cause his and its
counsel, accountants and representatives and each of the managers, directors,
officers, employees or contractors or the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and
their Subsidiaries, and shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the models and other Talent of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries, to reasonably cooperate with the employees and representatives of
the Purchaser in connection with such investigation, access and
examination. The parties shall cooperate prior to Closing to make
appropriate “cleanup” corrections to documents, agreement and state filings of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies as reasonably determined advisable by
Purchaser’s counsel.
6.7 Commercially Reasonable
Efforts.
(a) Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties
shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken,
all commercially reasonable actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to
assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious
manner practicable, the Closing, and the other Contemplated Transactions,
including (a) obtaining all Governmental Consents, (b) defending any
Legal Proceeding or Claims challenging this Agreement or the consummation of any
of the Contemplated Transactions, including, if the circumstances warrant,
seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining Order vacated or reversed, and
(c) the execution and delivery of any additional documents, agreements and
instruments necessary to consummate the Contemplated Transactions by, and to
fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement.
(b) At
Purchaser’s request, the Control Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all third party
consents reasonably determined by Purchaser to be required under Contracts of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies including those listed on Schedule 3.6 (the
“Required
Third Party Consents”); provided that, in no event, shall the Control
Sellers or the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, without Purchaser’s consent,
pay or agree to pay any amount of money, or relinquish any economic right or
amend any Contracts in a manner adverse to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
in connection with obtaining the Required Third Party Consent.
6.8 Proxy
Statement.
(a) As
promptly as practicable following the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
Purchaser shall prepare or cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC a proxy
statement (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the
“Proxy
Statement”) in connection with the Stockholder Meeting. The
Company and the Control Sellers shall cooperate with Purchaser in the
preparation of the Proxy Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto,
including providing, and causing their Affiliates to provide, such information
(including but not limited to all required financial information, whether
audited or unaudited, with respect to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and
their Subsidiaries) as may be required or appropriate in connection with the
preparation and mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments and
supplements thereto, including any such information required in connection with
approvals and matters described in Section 6.9.
(b) Purchaser
shall promptly (i) notify Control Sellers of the receipt of any comments
from the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and of any request by the SEC
for amendments of, or supplements to, the Proxy Statement, and (ii) provide
the Control Sellers with copies of all correspondence with the SEC with respect
to the Proxy Statement. Purchaser shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to resolve all comments from the SEC with respect to the
Proxy Statement as promptly as practicable. Purchaser, on the one
hand, and the Control Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, on the
other hand, shall notify each other as promptly as practicable upon becoming
aware of any event or circumstance which should be described in an amendment of,
or supplement to, the Proxy Statement so that the Proxy Statement would not
include any misstatement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading, and as promptly as practicable thereafter,
Purchaser shall file an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such
information with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law or the
SEC, and disseminate such amendment or supplement to its
stockholders.
6.9 Stockholder
Meeting. Purchaser shall duly call, give notice of, convene
and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Stockholder
Meeting”) following clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC, in
compliance with applicable Law, for the purpose of obtaining (1) stockholder
approval of the Contemplated Transactions under Section XII of Purchaser’s
Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter
Approval”), (2) stockholder approval of a change of the corporate name of
Purchaser to “Wilhelmina International, Inc.” (or such other name as
mutually agreed between Purchaser and the Control Sellers following the date
hereof) (the “Name Change
Approval”), provided that any such change in name shall be effected only
if the Closing occurs; (3) stockholder approval of an increase in the authorized
common stock of the Purchaser to an amount to fully accommodate the Contemplated
Transactions and any additional amount reasonably determined by Purchaser (the
“Authorized
Capital Approval”), (4) stockholder approval of the declassification of
Purchaser’s Board of Directors and reconstitution of such Board of Directors to
initially include the individuals set forth on Schedule 6.9(a)
hereof (the “Declassification
Approval”) and (5) the other amendments to Purchaser’s Certificate of
Incorporation as set forth on Schedule 6.9(b)
hereof ((1)-(5) collectively, the “Stockholder
Approvals”); provided that, in Purchaser’s discretion, Purchaser may
elect to seek the Stockholder Approvals, and any other approval reasonably
determined by Purchaser to be required in connection with the Contemplated
Transactions (including in respect of the Financing), at Purchaser’s annual
meeting of stockholders and concurrently with the annual election of directors
to Purchaser’s board of directors at such meeting; provided further that, so
long at the SEC clears the Proxy Statement, Purchaser shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to hold the Stockholder Meeting (which may be Purchaser’s
annual meeting, in Purchaser’s discretion) within forty-five (45) days of such
clearance. Purchaser shall, subject to applicable law and the last sentence of
this Section 6.9, use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit proxies in
favor of the Stockholder Approvals and obtain the required votes therefore
(including, with respect to the Charter Approval, the Requisite Stockholder
Vote). Purchaser’s Board of Directors shall declare advisable and
recommend in favor of the Stockholder Approvals (which recommendation shall be
contained in the Proxy Statement); provided that Purchaser’s Board of Directors
may withdraw, modify or change such recommendation in favor of the Stockholder
Approvals (a “Change in
Recommendation”) if it has determined, based on the advice of outside
counsel, that the failure to effect such Change in Recommendation is reasonably
likely to result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of Purchaser’s Board of
Directors under applicable Law; provided further that, in the event that the
Purchaser’s Board of Directors effects a Change in Recommendation, Purchaser
shall have no obligation under the second sentence of this Section
6.9.
6.10 Purchaser
Financing. From the date of this Agreement until the Closing,
the Control Sellers shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to, provide
reasonable cooperation to Purchaser and its Affiliates in connection with the
arrangement of financing (which may include debt or equity financing, but in any
case for not more than $5 million in the aggregate) necessary for Purchaser to
complete the Contemplated Transactions (the “Financing”),
including (i) permitting direct contact, upon Purchaser’s request, between
prospective lenders and appropriate officers and employees of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies, (ii) preparing and providing all financial
information reasonably requested by prospective financing sources,
(iii) seeking, and making arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser
and its financing sources with respect to, lien releases, applicable consents,
landlord estoppel certificates, pay off letters and similar customary items and
(iv) using its commercially reasonable efforts to cause appropriate
officers and employees of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies (A) to be
available, on a customary basis and at mutually agreed times and places, to meet
with prospective lenders and investors in presentations, meetings, road shows
and due diligence sessions, (B) to assist with the preparation
of disclosure documents in connection therewith and (C) to execute and
deliver agreements, instruments and certificates of officers of Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies to the extent reasonably necessary to facilitate the
Financing, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause legal counsel and
accountants to render legal opinions and comfort letters to the extent
reasonably necessary in connection with the Financing and not otherwise
reasonably available from the legal counsel and/or accountants of Purchaser (or
are not reasonably acceptable to Purchaser’s financing sources); provided that
none of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries shall
be required to pay any commitment or other similar fee or incur any liability or
obligation in connection with the Financing prior to the Closing (other than any
such fee or other obligation contingent on the Closing). Purchaser
shall promptly, upon request of the Control Sellers, reimburse the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs, including fees
charged by legal counsel and accountants incurred by the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with its cooperation with
arranging the Financing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
the terms of the Financing (including but not limited to the amount of any
equity or debt financing raised at or prior to Closing and the pricing thereof),
and the sources thereof, shall be determined by Purchaser in its sole
discretion; provided that no equity or instruments convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable for equity shall be on terms more favorable to the financing source
than the NCEH Book Value Per Share; provided further that the consent of Control
Sellers (which may be withheld in their sole discretion) shall be required in
the event that personal guarantees, stock pledges or other security or similar
commitments are required of the Control Sellers in connection with such
financing.
6.11 Closing
Settlement. At least two (2) Business Days prior to the
Closing, all intercompany and affiliate balances then outstanding between any
Wilhelmina Transferred Company, on the one hand, and any other Wilhelmina
Transferred Company or any Seller, on the other hand, shall be settled by the
applicable parties thereto in accordance with their terms and theretofore
extinguished, and no such intercompany or affiliate balances shall arise between
such time and the Closing. In the event that the Sellers or the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries take any action outside
the ordinary course of business on the Closing Date at or after the Closing
which affects any item in the calculations pursuant to Article 2 except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, such calculations shall be
appropriately adjusted to exclude the effect of any such actions. The
Krassner Note shall be repaid at Closing pursuant to Section 2.10.
6.12 Patterson
Issuance. If the Closing occurs, Purchaser shall issue
to Patterson at or promptly following the Closing (i) shares of Purchaser Stock
equal to four-twelfths of the Patterson Payment Amount and (ii) shares of
Restricted Patterson Shares equal to two-twelfths of the Patterson Payment
Amount (in each case based on a per share value equal to NCEH Book Value Per
Share); provided that, in its discretion, Purchaser may elect to pay, in lieu of
a portion of shares of Purchaser Stock under clause (i), up to three-twelfths of
the Patterson Payment Amount solely in cash (in other words, assuming Purchaser
made the full election, Purchaser could pay to Patterson (i) three-twelfths of
the Patterson Payment Amount in cash, (ii) one-twelfth of the Patterson Payment
Amount in unrestricted shares of Purchaser Stock and (iii) two-twelfths of the
Patterson Payment Amount in Restricted Patterson Shares ((ii) and (iii) based on
a per share value equal to NCEH Book Value Per Share). “Restricted
Patterson Shares” shall mean shares of Purchaser Stock to be held in
escrow by the Escrow Agent pending determination and resolution of the
applicable adjustment calculations under Section 2.6. In the event
that a Core Decrease applies, Purchaser shall have the right to promptly
repurchase, for $.0001 (one one-hundredths of one penny) per share, a number of
Restricted Patterson Shares such that the aggregate payment to Patterson of
Purchaser Stock hereunder (based on NCEH Book Value Per Share), together with
the cash payment to Patterson at Closing as set forth in Section 2.15 (and any
cash payment elected to be made by Purchaser hereunder), is consistent with the
calculations set forth in Section 5(b) of Patterson’s Old Employment Agreement
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
Purchaser. The issuance of Purchaser Stock (including Restricted
Patterson Shares, subject to their repurchase), together with the cash payment
at Closing as set forth in Section 2.15 (and any cash payment elected to be made
by Purchaser hereunder), shall be in full satisfaction of any obligations of the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies to Patterson with respect to any change of
control or related payment under Patterson’s Old Employment
Agreement.
6.13 Designated Matter
Proceedings. Esch and Krassner shall, together with
their counsel, but subject to consultation with Purchaser and Purchaser’s
counsel, direct and control the settlement process with New York State, provided that (i) in
the course of consultation with Purchaser and Purchaser’s counsel, Purchaser and
Purchaser’s counsel shall be kept fully informed on a current basis as to all
developments and steps (including with regard to related Legal Proceedings) in
connection with the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) and shall have the
opportunity to participate in any Legal Proceedings and material discussions
(including conference calls) with New York State (or any other applicable
Governmental Entity) regarding such matter and (ii) any settlement with respect
to the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d):
(a) reflects
a final settlement with respect to the matter set forth on Schedule
10.2(d);
(b) does not
include any equitable remedy or delayed payment or any restriction or obligation
on the business of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies other than the
applicable one-time payment; and
(c) relates
solely to the matter set forth on Schedule
10.2(d).
Esch and
Krassner agree to take the action set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the
heading “New York Process”.
ARTICLE
7
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING
7.1 Obligations of Both
Parties. The obligations of all parties to consummate the
Contemplated Transactions on the Closing Date shall be subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing
Date:
(a) There
shall not be any Law or Order enacted, entered, promulgated, enforced or issued
by any Governmental Authority or other legal restraint preventing, prohibiting
or rendering illegal the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions.
(b) The
Charter Approval and the Authorized Capital Approval shall have been received in
accordance with applicable Law.
(c) There
shall not be any Legal Proceedings or Order seeking to restrain or to invalidate
the Contemplated Transactions or otherwise questioning the validity of this
Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents, which, if resolved unfavorably to
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their Subsidiaries, the Sellers or
Purchaser, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
on the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries or, the
Purchaser (giving effect to the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions).
7.2 Obligation of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and the Sellers to Close. The
obligations of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and the Sellers to
consummate the Contemplated Transactions on the Closing Date shall be subject to
the satisfaction (or written waiver by the Control Sellers, which waiver shall
be effective as to all Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and Sellers) of the
following conditions on or prior to the Closing Date:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in
Article 5 of this Agreement (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions
contained therein regarding materiality or a Material Adverse Effect) shall be
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as
though made on and as of such date, except for changes contemplated by this
Agreement unless any such representation or warranty is made only as of a
specific date, in which event such representation or warranty shall be true and
correct only as of such specific date), provided that this condition shall be
deemed to be satisfied unless all such failures of the representations and
warranties to be true and correct, would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
representations and warranties of the Purchaser, set forth in Sections 5.1
(Organization), 5.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 5.4 (Capitalization), 5.5
(SEC Filings/Financial Statements), 5.10 (Absence of Changes), 5.14 (Brokers or
Finders) and 5.19 (No Knowledge of Brokers), shall be true and correct in all
respects as of the Closing Date, as though such representations were made on and
as of such date (except for any of such representations and warranties which is
made only as of a specific date, in which event such representation or warranty
shall be true and correct only as of such specific date). The Company and
Sellers shall have received a certificate signed by an executive officer of
Purchaser certifying as to the fulfillment of the condition set forth in this
Section 7.2(a).
(b) Covenants. The
Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with each
and every covenant, agreement and condition required by this Agreement to be
performed or satisfied by the Purchaser at or prior to the Closing
Date. The Company and Sellers shall have received a certificate
signed by an executive officer of Purchaser certifying as to the fulfillment of
the condition set forth in this Section 7.2(b).
(c) Secretary
Certificate. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company
and Sellers a certificate or certificates dated as of the Closing Date and
signed on its behalf by its Secretary or other duly authorized person to the
effect that: (i) (A) its Organizational Documents attached to
the certificate are true and complete and are in full force in the form
attached, and (B) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser
authorizing the actions taken in connection with the Contemplated Transactions
were duly adopted at a duly convened meeting thereof, at which a quorum was
present and acting throughout, or by written consent, remain in full force and
effect, and have not been amended, rescinded or modified; (ii) the officers
or other individuals executing this Agreement and each of the Collateral
Documents to which the Purchaser is a party are incumbent officers or otherwise
duly authorized to execute such agreements and documents on behalf of the
Purchaser and the specimen signatures on such certificate are their genuine
signatures; and (iii) the Purchaser is in good standing in the State of
Delaware. The certificate referred to above in clause
(iii) shall attach a good standing or validly subsisting certificate with
respect to the Purchaser certified by the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, dated as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the Closing
Date. Such certificate or certificates shall be in customary form and
substance.
(d) Legal
Proceedings. No Legal Proceedings or Orders shall be pending
or threatened against the Purchaser, any of its Subsidiaries, at law or in
equity, before any Governmental Entity, which, if resolved unfavorably to the
Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect in the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or, the
Sellers (giving effect to the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions). The Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the
Sellers a certificate to the effect that no Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries
has any Knowledge that any Legal Proceeding or Order specified in Section 7.1(c)
is pending or threatened.
(e) No Material Adverse
Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there has not been
any event, change, effect, development or circumstance that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or would reasonably by expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Purchaser, and no event has occurred or
circumstances exist that may result in such Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) Aggregate Merger
Consideration. The shares of Purchaser Stock issuable as the
Aggregate Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.3 shall have been
duly authorized;
(g) Deliverables. Delivery
of the items specified in Section 8.2(a) in accordance with the terms
thereof.
7.3 Obligation of the Purchaser
and Merger Sub to Close. The obligations of the Purchaser and
Merger Sub to consummate the Contemplated Transactions on the Closing Date shall
be subject to the satisfaction (or written waiver by the Purchaser) of the
following conditions on or prior to the Closing Date:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. Except as set forth in the next sentence, the
representations and warranties contained in Article 3 and 4 of this Agreement
(disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein regarding
materiality or a Material Adverse Effect) shall be true and correct as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of
such date, except for changes contemplated by this Agreement unless any such
representation or warranty is made only as of a specific date, in which event
such representation or warranty shall be true and correct only as of such
specific date), provided that this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied
unless all such failures of the representations and warranties to be true and
correct, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties of the
Company, the Control Sellers and the Sellers, as the case may be, set forth in
Sections 3.1 (Organization), 3.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 3.3
(Capitalization), 3.4 (Subsidiaries), 3.14 (Absence of Changes), 3.26 (Brokers),
4.1(Organization), 4.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 4.4 (Title to Shares
and Units) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date, as
though such representations were made on and as of such date (except for any of
such representations and warranties which is made only as of a specific date, in
which event such representation or warranty shall be true and correct only as of
such specific date). The Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by
the Control Sellers and an executive officer of each Wilhelmina Transferred
Company certifying as to the fulfillment of the condition set forth in this
Section 7.3(a).
(b) Covenants. The
Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies shall have each performed and
complied in all respects with each and every covenant, agreement and condition
required by this Agreement to be performed or satisfied by the Sellers and the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, respectively. Purchaser shall have
received a certificate signed by the Control Sellers and an executive officer of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies certifying as to the fulfillment of the
condition set forth in this Section 7.3(b).
(c) Secretary
Certificate. The Wilhelmina Transferred Companies shall each
have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate or certificates dated as of the
Closing Date and signed by their respective corporate Secretary or other duly
authorized person to the effect that: (i) (A) its Organizational
Documents are true and complete and are in full force and effect in the form
attached, and (B) the resolutions of the Board of Directors (or equivalent
body) of the entity authorizing the actions taken in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions, were duly adopted at a duly convened meeting thereof,
at which a quorum was present and acting throughout, or by written consent,
remain in full force and effect, and have not been amended, rescinded or
modified; (ii) the officers or other individuals executing this Agreement
and each of the Collateral Documents on behalf of any entity is a party are
incumbent officers or otherwise duly authorized to execute such agreements and
documents on behalf of such entity and the specimen signatures on such
certificate are their genuine signatures; and (iii) the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries are in good standing in their
respective states of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, in their
respective states of qualification. The certificates referred to
above in clause (iii) shall attach a good standing certificate certified by
the relevant Secretary of State of the state of incorporation or organization or
state qualification, as the case may be, dated as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the Closing Date. Such certificate or certificates
shall be in customary form and substance.
(d) Consents and
Estoppel. The Required Third Party Consents set forth on Schedule 7.3(d) shall
have been obtained.
(e) Legal
Proceedings. No Legal Proceedings or Orders shall be pending
or threatened against the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, any of their
Subsidiaries or any of the Sellers, at law or in equity, before any Governmental
Entity, which, if resolved unfavorably to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies
or their Subsidiaries or the Sellers, could reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect in the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries or, the Purchaser (giving effect to the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions). The Control Sellers shall have executed and
delivered to the Purchaser a certificate to the effect that no Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries have any Knowledge that any
Legal Proceeding or Order specified in Section 7.1(c) is pending or
threatened.
(f) No Material Adverse
Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there has not been
any event, change, effect, development or circumstance that, individually or in
the aggregate, has had or would reasonably by expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or the
Business, and no event has occurred or circumstances exist that may result in
such Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Regulatory
Approvals. All authorizations, approvals and permits, if any,
of any Governmental Entity or regulatory body of the United States or of any
state that are required to be obtained on or prior to the Closing in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions shall have been duly obtained and shall be
effective as of the Closing.
(h) Termination of Certain
Agreements. The agreements listed on Schedule 7.3(h) (the
“Terminated
Agreements”) shall have been terminated in all respects pursuant to
instructions reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser and without any obligation or
liability hereunder on the part of any Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
Subsidiary thereof.
(i) Release of Signature Bank
Security Interests. Any and all security interests in, or
Encumbrances affecting, the Wilhelmina Equity Interests and the Company Shares
in connection with that certain Loan Agreement, dated December 21, 2005, between
Signature Bank and the Company, as amended or supplemented, (the “Signature Bank
Security Interests”) shall have been terminated and released to the
satisfaction of the Purchaser without liability to any of Purchaser, Merger Sub,
the Surviving Corporation, the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or their
Subsidiaries.
(j) Financials. The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their Subsidiaries shall have completed and
provided to Purchaser such audited financial statements and subsequent interim
reviewed financial statements, which shall conform to GAAP, that Purchaser is
required to file with the SEC under any and all U.S. securities laws, rules or
regulations in such form as is satisfactory in all respects to Purchaser in its
reasonable discretion (the “Closing
Financials”). The Closing Financials
shall be in the form, and include the opinion of Weiser LLP, the independent
certified public accountant of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and their
Subsidiaries (the “Auditor’s
Opinion”), necessary to meet the standards required by the SEC, and
Weiser LLP shall have provided its consent to Purchaser (the “Auditors
Consent”) to the use of the Closing Financials
in the Purchaser’s 8-K and other registration filings with the SEC as requested
by Purchaser. Further, Weiser LLP shall have made all of
its work papers and other supporting documents it utilized in providing the
Auditor’s Opinion available for review by the Purchaser’s independent certified
public accountants.
(k) Designated Matter
Proceedings. The condition on Schedule 10.2(d) under the
heading “Matter Proceedings” shall have been satisfied.
(l) Wilhelmina Miami
Shareholders. All the shareholders of Wilhelmina Miami
representing 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Wilhelmina
Miami shall have executed this Agreement or a joinder agreement joining them as
parties to this Agreement.
(m) Deliverables. Delivery
of the items specified in Section 8.2(c) and (d) in accordance with the
terms thereof.
(n) Additional
Conditions. The Sellers (as applicable) shall have satisfied
the conditions set forth on Schedule 7.3(n)
hereto.
ARTICLE
8
CLOSING;
EXPENSES; SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENTATION
8.1 Closing. Closing
of the Contemplated Transactions (the “Closing”)
shall (subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
7) take place at 10:00 a.m. local time, no later than the fifth (5th) Business
Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article
7 (other than those involving the delivery of documents, agreements or
instruments at the Closing) (the “Closing
Date”), at the New York offices of Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig &
Wolosky LLP, or such other place (or electronically) as is mutually agreed by
the parties hereto. All actions taken at Closing shall be deemed to
have occurred simultaneously, and shall be effective as of the close of business
on the Closing Date.
8.2 Deliveries at
Closing. At the Closing:
(a) The
Purchaser will deliver:
(i) to
the Sellers, cash in an aggregate amount equal to the amount payable at Closing
pursuant to Article 2 of this Agreement by wire transfer to account(s)
designated by the applicable Seller at least three (3) Business Days prior to
Closing or by certified or bank check;
(ii) to
the Sellers a written legal opinion of Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig &
Wolosky LLP, counsel for the Purchaser and the Merger Sub, with respect to the
matters set forth in Sections 5.1 (Organization), 5.2 (Legal Authority; Binding
Effect), 5.3 (Conflict with other Instruments; Absence of
Restrictions);
(iii) the
Registration Rights Agreement;
(iv) into
Escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, a stock certificate representing an
amount of shares of Purchaser Stock equal to the Restricted Share
Amount;
(v) irrevocable
instruction letter from Purchaser to the Exchange Agent to issue the Purchaser
Certificates pursuant to Section 2.5;
(vi) to
the Company and the Sellers, the certificates required to be delivered pursuant
to Sections 7.2(a), 7.2(b) and 7.2(c); and
(vii) all
other agreements, certificates, consents, approvals and documentary evidence
required to be delivered pursuant to the Purchaser’s obligations
hereunder.
(b) The
Certificate of Merger shall have been filed with the New York Secretary of
State.
(c) The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and Control Sellers (as applicable) will
deliver:
(i) Assuming
the concurrent repayment of the Krassner Note pursuant to Section 2.10, to the
Purchaser, evidence of the acceptance by the Krassner L.P. of the Company Shares
(which shares shall be transferred to Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub, as
applicable) at Closing) as full and complete payoff of the Krassner Note, and
the termination and release by the Krassner L.P. of any and all Claims with
respect to the Krassner Note, all in such form as the Purchaser may reasonably
request;
(ii) to
the Purchaser, the employment agreement executed by Sean Patterson, the Company
and Purchaser (the “New Employment
Agreement”) which agreement shall, among other things, provide a full
release of any and all Claims of such employee arising under such employee’s Old
Employment Agreement with the respective Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any
of the Subsidiaries thereof;
(iii) to
the Purchaser, a written legal opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP counsel for the
Company, with respect to the matters set forth in Sections 3.1 (Organization),
3.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 3.3 (Capitalization); 3.4 (Subsidiaries);
3.5 (Conflict with other Instruments; Absence of Restrictions).
(iv) to
the Purchaser, certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Sections
7.3(a), 7.3(b) and 7.3(c);
(v) to
the Purchaser, evidence satisfactory to Purchaser that the Terminated Agreements
have been terminated;
(vi) to
the Purchaser, evidence satisfactory to Purchaser that the Signature Bank
Security Interests have been released and terminated without liability to any of
Purchaser, Merger Sub, Surviving Corporation, the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies or their Subsidiaries;
(vii) to
the Purchaser, the Closing Financials;
(viii) to
the Purchaser, the Auditor’s Opinion;
(ix) to
the Purchaser, the Auditor’s Consent; and
(x) all
other agreements, certificates, consents, approvals and documentary evidence
required to be delivered pursuant to any Wilhelmina Transferred Companies’ or
Seller’s obligations hereunder;
(d) The
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and the Sellers (as applicable) will
deliver:
(i)
to the Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub, as applicable), stock certificates
representing all of the Company Shares held by any Seller (as set forth on
Schedule 3.3) endorsed for transfer to Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub) or
accompanied by stock powers executed in blank and otherwise satisfactory to
Purchaser for transfer;
(ii) to
the Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub, as applicable), stock certificates representing
all of the Miami Shares held by any Seller (as set forth on Schedule 3.3)
endorsed for transfer to Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub) or accompanied by stock
powers executed in blank and otherwise satisfactory to Purchaser for
transfer;
(iii) to
the Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub, as applicable), an assignment conveying to the
Purchaser (or Purchaser Sub) all right, title and interest in and to the
Wilhelmina Units held by any Seller (as set forth on Schedule A) in such form as
the Purchaser may reasonably request to transfer record and beneficial ownership
of such Wilhelmina Units; and
(iv) all
other agreements, certificates, consents, approvals and documentary evidence
required to be delivered pursuant to any Seller’s obligations
hereunder.
(e) The
Control Sellers (as applicable) will deliver:
(i) to
the Purchaser, a written legal opinion of [__________] counsel to Lorex, with
respect to the matters set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization), 4.2 (Legal
Authority, Binding Effect), 4.3 (No Conflicts, Consents), and 4.4
(Title to Shares and Units);
(ii) to
the Purchaser, a written legal opinion of Strassburger McKenna Gutnick &
Gefsky, counsel to the Krassner L.P., with respect with respect to the matters
set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization), 4.2 (Legal Authority, Binding Effect),
4.3 (No Conflicts, Consents) and 4.4 (Title to Shares and Units).
8.3 Expenses. Each
Wilhelmina Transferred Company shall pay its allocable portion of the
Transaction Expenses incurred by the Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies up to a maximum aggregate amount of $35,000. Control
Sellers shall assume responsibility for, and pay out of pocket, any Transaction
Expenses with respect to the period up to and including the Closing (other than
any such Transaction Expenses of the Purchaser) billed to any of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies on or after the Closing (or billed to any of the Wihelmina
Transferred Companies and not paid prior to Closing) in excess of $275,000 in
the aggregate. Control Sellers shall receive an appropriate
dollar-for-dollar credit in determining the Wilhelmina Expense Amount (for
purposes of Section 2.6) for any such expenses incurred by the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies and paid out-of-pocket by Control Sellers after the
Closing pursuant the foregoing. The Purchaser shall pay all
Transaction Expenses incurred by it. To the extent any Seller (other
than Esch or Krassner) retains separate counsel or advisors for individual
representation in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, such Seller
shall pay any and all legal fees and other expenses incurred directly by him
related to such representation. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, the Control Sellers shall be responsible for and pay out-of-pocket
(and shall direct attorneys pursuing settlement of the matter set forth on
Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading “Program Amounts” to invoice the Control
Sellers directly with respect to) all Designated Matter Legal Fees.
8.4 Subsequent
Documentation. The Sellers shall at any time and from time to
time upon the request of the Purchaser, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or
cause to be executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further assignments,
instruments of sale and transfer and other documents as may be reasonably
required to better evidence, confirm and carry out the intent of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
9
CONFIDENTIALITY
AND COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
9.1 Confidentiality.
(a) Following
the Closing, except in the context of performing activities on behalf of the
Purchaser that are authorized by Purchaser, each Seller shall and shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Affiliates, counsel, accountants
and other representatives to: (a) keep all Proprietary
Information confidential and not to disclose or reveal any Proprietary
Information to any Person other than counsel, accountants and other agents and
representatives who need to know the Proprietary Information to prepare tax
returns (or in engage in other matters relating the payment of taxes) and
provide personal financial advisory services and are advised of the confidential
nature of the Proprietary Information; and (b) not to use the Proprietary
Information for any purpose (including but not limited to any purpose that is
any way detrimental to Purchaser or any Wilhelmina Transferred Company) other
than to enforce such party’s rights and remedies under this
Agreement.
(b) The
Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
Closing. On the Closing Date, the Confidentiality Agreement shall
terminate. This Section 9.1(b) shall supersede any contrary provision
of the Confidentiality Agreement.
9.2 Covenant Not To
Compete. As a material inducement to the Purchaser’s
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, no Control Seller (the “Restricted
Sellers”) shall, during the Restricted Period, provided that the
Purchaser has not shut down or abandoned the Restricted Business, do any of the
following, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
Purchaser in its sole and absolute discretion (other than, in such Control
Seller’s capacity as representative of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, a member
of its Board of Directors (either directly or through a representative) or an
investor therein, such of the following activities that are done for the benefit
of solely Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and as authorized by
Purchaser):
(a) compete
directly or indirectly in (i) any business conducted as of the Closing Date by
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries and, if such
businesses are subsequently transferred, such businesses if they continue to be
conducted by any successors or assigns or (ii) in any other part or aspect of
the Representation Business ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “Restricted
Business”), within the United States, its territories and possessions and
throughout anywhere else in the world (the “Restricted
Area”);
(b) have
a direct or indirect interest in (whether as owner, stockholder, lender,
partner, co venturer, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or
otherwise), any Person that engages in the Restricted Business; provided, that any Control
Seller may own, purely as a passive investor (and without any involvement in the
business of such Person), and not as part of a group with any other Seller, not
equal to or more than four and nine tenths percent (4.9%) of the outstanding
securities of any class of any publicly traded securities of a Person; provided
that all other restrictions set forth in this Section 9.2 shall apply
notwithstanding any passive ownership of securities pursuant to the
foregoing;
(c) directly
or indirectly solicit, call on, divert, entice, influence, induce or attempt to
do any of the foregoing (in each case for the direct or indirect benefit of a
Restricted Seller or any third party) with respect to (i) customers or
clients or prospective customers or clients (wherever located in the world in
each case) of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries
with respect to goods, products or services that are competitive with those of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries as of the
Closing Date, (ii) models, to terminate or modify any contract, arrangement
or relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their
Subsidiaries, (iii) any other Talent to terminate or modify any contract,
arrangement or relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries, (iv) any Employees as of or following the
Closing Date to leave the employ of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or
their Subsidiaries, (v) suppliers or vendors or prospective suppliers or
vendors (wherever located) of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries with respect to materials, resources or services to be used
in connection with goods, products or services that are competitive with those
of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of their Subsidiaries as of the
Closing Date (which excludes outside professional advisors, such as lawyers,
accountants and investment bankers) or (vi) distributors, consultants,
agents or independent contractors to terminate or modify any contract,
arrangement or relationship with the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any of
their Subsidiaries;
For
purposes of the foregoing, the “Representation
Business” shall mean (i) the business of identifying, seeking, scouting,
arranging, organizing, coordinating, obtaining and/or negotiating professional
and/or marketing opportunities on behalf of Talent (including without limitation
jobs, endorsement deals, sponsorship deals, licensing deals, campaigns,
appearances, speeches, other forms of participation and charitable involvement)
or Talent Businesses, (ii) promoting Talent or Talent Businesses or any of their
respective names or brands, (iii) otherwise managing or representing, or
advising Talent or third parties with respect to, the business and legal affairs
of Talent or Talent Businesses or (iv) identifying, developing and securing
Talent or Talent Businesses for the purposes of being engaged in the activities
described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii). A “Talent
Business” shall mean a business (including an event) that is (a)
principally engaged in or focused on the identification, promotion, hosting,
development and/or representation of Talent or (b) which showcases or hosts the
principal professional activities of Talent or performs any such activities in a
business form.
9.3 Specific Enforcement;
Extension of Period.
(a) The
Restricted Sellers acknowledge that any breach or threatened breach by any
Restricted Seller of any provision of Section 9.1 or 9.2 will cause continuing
and irreparable injury to the Purchaser and its Affiliates for which monetary
damages would not be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, the Purchaser
shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief from a court of competent
jurisdiction, including specific performance, with respect to any such breach or
threatened breach of Section 9.1 or 9.2.
(b) No
Restricted Seller shall, in any Legal Proceeding to enforce any provision of
this Article 9, assert the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law
exists or that injunctive relief is not appropriate under the
circumstances. The rights and remedies of the Purchaser set forth in
this Section 9.3 are in addition to any other rights or remedies to which the
Purchaser may be entitled, whether existing under this Agreement, at law or in
equity, all of which shall be cumulative.
(c) The
periods of time set forth in this Article 9 shall not include, and shall be
deemed extended by, any time required for litigation to enforce the relevant
covenant periods, if the Purchaser was successful in such
litigation. The term “time required for litigation” as used in this
Section 9.3(c) shall mean the period of time from the earlier of (i) any
Restricted Seller’s (as applicable) first alleged breach of the provisions of
Section 9.1 or 9.2, or (ii) service of process upon any Restricted Seller
(as applicable) with respect to a Legal Proceeding instituted by the Purchaser,
in either event through the expiration of all appeals related to such Legal
Proceeding.
9.4 Disclosure. The
Restricted Sellers acknowledge that the Purchaser and its Affiliates may provide
a copy of this Article 9 of this Agreement or any portion of this Agreement to
any Person whom the Purchaser or its Affiliates believe in good faith is acting
with, through or on behalf of any of the Restricted Sellers and that may,
directly or indirectly, breach or threaten to breach any of the provisions of
Section 9.1 or 9.2.
9.5 Interpretation. It
is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article 9
shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permissible under Law and public
policy. Accordingly, if any provision of this Article 9 shall be
determined to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal for any reason, then the
validity and enforceability of all of the remaining provisions of this Article 9
shall not be affected thereby. If any particular provision of this
Article 9 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, then such
provision shall be deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus
adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such amendment to apply only to the
operation of such provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such
adjudication is made; provided that, if any
provision contained in this Article 9 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable because such provision is held to be excessively broad as to
duration, geographic scope, activity or subject, then such provision shall be
deemed amended by limiting and reducing it so as to be valid and enforceable to
the maximum extent compatible with the Laws and public policy of such
jurisdiction, such amendment only to apply with respect to the operation of such
provision in the applicable jurisdiction in which the adjudication is
made.
9.6 Acknowledgment. Each
Restricted Seller acknowledges that it or he, respectively, has carefully read
and considered the provisions of this Article 9. Each Restricted
Seller believes that it or he, as the case may be, has received and will receive
sufficient consideration and other benefits to justify the restrictions in this
Article 9. Each Restricted Seller also acknowledges and understands
that these restrictions are reasonably necessary to protect the interests of
Purchaser and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, and that the covenants
contained in this Article 9 were a material inducement to the Purchaser on which
the Purchaser relied in executing this Agreement. Each of the
Restricted Sellers believes that the provisions of this Article 9 will not
prevent him from conducting businesses that are not competitive with those of
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies during the term of such restrictions in the
Restricted Area.
ARTICLE
10
SURVIVAL
AND INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Survival.
(a) Representations and
Warranties. Notwithstanding any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Purchaser prior to or after the Closing Date, the representations
or warranties set forth in this Agreement and any Collateral Document shall
survive the Closing for a period of eighteen (18) months following the Closing
Date; provided that (a) the representations and warranties set forth in
Sections 3.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 3.3 (Capitalization), 3.4
(Subsidiaries), 3.26 (Brokers), 4.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 4.4
(Title to Shares and Units), 5.2 (Legal Authority; Binding Effect), 5.4
(Capitalization), and 5.14 (Brokers or Finders) shall survive for the applicable
statute of limitations plus sixty days and (b) the representations and
warranties set forth in Sections 3.20 (Employee and Labor Matters), 3.21
(Employee Benefit Plans), 3.22 (Environmental Laws), and 3.23 (Taxes and Tax
Returns) shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations plus sixty
days. Following the Closing, all representations and warranties made
by the Company in this Agreement or any Collateral Documents shall be deemed to
have been made solely by the Sellers.
(b) Covenants;
Agreements. Except for those covenants and agreements which by
their terms require performance after the Closing (which covenants and
agreements shall survive in accordance with their respective terms), all
covenants and other agreements of the parties in this Agreement and in the
Collateral Documents shall end at and as of the time of Closing and shall not
survive the Closing.
(c) Claims Period
Survival. The period during which a claim for indemnification
may be asserted by an indemnified party (the “Claims
Period”) with respect to the representations or warranties set forth in
this Agreement shall begin on the Closing Date and shall terminate on the date
that is eighteen (18) months after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing, the Claims Period during which a claim for
indemnification may be asserted with respect to the applicable representations
and warranties set forth in Section 10.1(a) shall
begin as of the date of this Agreement and shall continue until the applicable
survival periods set forth in Section 10.1(a) shall
have terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, prior to
the close of business on the last day of the Claims Period, an indemnifying
party shall have been properly notified of a claim for indemnity hereunder and
such claim shall not have been finally resolved or disposed of at such date,
such claim shall continue to survive and shall remain a basis for indemnity
hereunder until such claim is finally resolved or disposed of in accordance with
the terms hereof.
10.2 Indemnification by Esch and
Krassner. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article
10, Esch and Krassner, severally up to 50% of the applicable Claim or Loss,
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser and Merger Sub and their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and shareholders
(collectively, the “Purchaser
Group”) in respect of any and all Claims or Losses incurred by the
Purchaser Group, in connection with any or all of the following:
(a) Any
breach of any representation or warranty made by any of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies or any of the Control Sellers in this Agreement or any
Collateral Document;
(b) The
breach or non-fulfillment after the date hereof and before the Closing Date of
any covenant, agreement or obligation of any of the Wilhelmina Transferred
Companies (or any of the Control Sellers) contained in this Agreement or any
Collateral Documents, including, without limitation, the covenants set forth in
Article 9 of this Agreement;
(c) Any
and all Taxes of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies allocable to periods up to
and including the Closing Date, unless such Taxes were included in the
calculation of the Closing Net Asset Adjustment and then only to the extent of
such amounts included in the Closing Net Asset Adjustment; and
(d) The
matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading “Coverage”.
10.3 Indemnification by
Sellers. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article
10, each Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser Group in
respect of any and all Claims or Losses incurred by the Purchaser Group, in
connection with any or all of the following:
(a) Any
breach of any representation or warranty made by such Seller in this Agreement
or any Collateral Document; and
(b) The
breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation of such
Seller contained in this Agreement or any Collateral Documents, including,
without limitation, the covenants set forth in Article 9 of this
Agreement.
10.4 Limitations on Seller
Indemnification. The indemnification provided for in Sections
10.2 and Section 10.3 shall be subject to the following limitations and
conditions:
(a) Neither
Esch or Krassner, nor any other Sellers, shall have any obligation to indemnify
or hold harmless any of the Purchaser Group with respect to any Claims or Losses
under Sections 10.2 and 10.3 until the sum of all such Claims and Losses exceeds
Two Hundred Fifty Thousand ($250,000) (the “Seller
Basket”), at which point Esch and Krassner will indemnify and hold
harmless the Purchaser Group in respect of all Claims and Losses in any amount;
provided that breaches of Section 3.14(b), Section 3.14(c), Section 3.20(b) or
Section 3.26 shall not be subject to the Seller Basket; provided further that
Claims or Losses covered under Section 10.2(d) shall not be subject to the
Seller Basket.
(b) Neither
Esch or Krassner shall in any event be liable to indemnify or hold harmless the
Purchaser Group in an amount greater than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) each
in the aggregate; provided that Claims or Losses covered under Section 10.2(d)
shall not be subject to the foregoing cap.
(c) No
Seller (other than the Control Sellers) shall in any event be liable to
indemnify or hold harmless any of the Purchaser Group in an amount greater than
one-eighth of the aggregate consideration received by such Seller from
Purchaser.
10.5 Indemnification by
Purchaser. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article
10, Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sellers and their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and shareholders
(collectively, the “Seller
Group”) in respect of any and all Claims and Losses reasonably incurred
by the Seller Group, in connection with any or all of the
following:
(a) Any
breach of any representation or warranty made by Purchaser or Merger Sub in this
Agreement or any Collateral Document; and
(b) The
breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation of Purchaser
or Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or any Collateral
Documents.
10.6 Limitations on Purchaser
Indemnification. The indemnification provided for in Section
10.5 shall be subject to the following limitations and conditions:
(a) The
Purchaser shall have no obligation to indemnify or hold harmless any Seller with
respect to any Claims or Losses until the sum of all such Claims and Losses
exceeds Two Hundred Fifty Thousand ($250,000), at which point the Purchaser will
indemnify and hold harmless the Seller Group in respect of all Claims and Losses
in any amount; provided that Claims or Losses relating to those certain matters
numbered 2 and 3 on Schedule 5.6 shall not be subject to the foregoing Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand ($250,000) basket threshold.
(b) The
Purchaser shall in any event not be liable to indemnify or hold harmless the
Seller Group in an amount greater than Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) in the
aggregate; provided that Claims or Losses relating to those certain matters
numbered 2 and 3 on Schedule 5.6 shall not be subject to the foregoing Four
Million Dollars ($4,000,000) cap threshold.
(c) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, in the event that any Seller has a valid
indemnification claim under Section 10.5(a) of this Agreement for which the
applicable Loss arises from, or relates to, a Loss incurred or sustained by
Purchaser (a “Purchaser Value
Loss”), a Seller shall only be entitled to recover such Seller’s pro rata
share of such Purchaser Value Loss based on its pro rata ownership of Purchaser
following the Closing.
10.7 Claims for
Indemnification.
(a) (i)
In the event that any Claim shall be asserted by any party hereto in respect of
which payment may be sought under Section 10.1 of this Agreement, the party
seeking indemnification hereunder shall promptly cause written notice of the
institution or assertion of such Claim, detailing with reasonable specificity
the nature and a reasonable estimate of the amount of such damages or of such
Claim that is covered by this indemnity, to be forwarded to the indemnifying
party (and shall permit such indemnifying party to have access to such books and
records as necessary for the indemnifying party to evaluate the Claim and
determine whether it is required to indemnify the indemnified party), who shall
within thirty (30) Business Days of receipt of such written notice, notify the
party asserting such Claim as to whether the indemnifying party accepts, rejects
or needs more time to investigate such indemnification obligation and
(ii) in the event that any Claim shall be asserted by any Third Party in
respect of which payment may be sought under Article 10 of this Agreement, the
indemnified party shall promptly cause written notice of the institution or
assertion of such Claim, detailing with reasonable specificity the nature and a
reasonable estimate of the amount of such damages or of such Claim that is
covered by this indemnity, to be forwarded to the indemnifying
party. If the indemnifying party agrees that the indemnification
obligations set forth in this Article 10 apply to it with respect to a
particular Third Party Claim (without taking into account the Seller Basket in
Section 10.4(a) or the threshold amount in Section 10.6(a)), the indemnifying
party, at its election and subject to Section 10.7(e) below, shall have the
absolute and exclusive right to defend against, contest (in a forum of its
choice), appeal, negotiate, settle, compromise or otherwise deal with such Claim
(each of such actions for the purposes of this Section 10.7 being referred to as
“defending” a Claim or the “defense” of a Claim), and shall have the right, at
its sole option and expense, to be represented by counsel of its choice, which
must be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and the indemnified
party agrees to cooperate fully with such defense. If the
indemnifying party notifies the indemnified party that more time is needed to
investigate, the indemnifying party may proceed under the prior sentence for a
period not to exceed sixty (60) Business Days in total, at which time it must
decide to defend or reject the indemnifications. During the second
period of thirty (30) Business Days, any out of pocket costs incurred by the
indemnified party prior to a decision to accept the indemnification obligation
and to defend such claim shall be added to the indemnification
obligation. If the indemnifying party elects to defend such Claim, it
shall within thirty (30) Business Days of the written notice in the first
sentence of this Section 10.7(a) (or sooner, if the nature of the Claim so
requires) notify the indemnified party of its intent to do so.
If the
indemnifying party elects to defend such Third Party Claim, the indemnified
party may be present at all meetings and Legal Proceedings, at his or its own
expense, but may not participate in the defense of such Claim; provided however,
that the indemnifying party shall not pay for separate counsel for the
indemnified parties, unless (i) the indemnified party is requested by the
indemnifying party to participate in any meeting or Legal Proceeding, or
(ii) in the reasonable written opinion of counsel to the indemnified party,
a conflict or potential conflict exists between the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party that would make separate representation advisable; provided further that
the indemnifying party shall not be required to pay for more than one such
counsel in any single jurisdiction for all indemnified parties in connection
with any Claim. If the indemnifying party (A) elects not to
defend such Third Party Claim, (B) fails to notify the indemnified party of
its election as herein provided, or (C) contests its obligation to
indemnify the indemnified party for such Losses under this Agreement after the
expiration of any period provided in the prior paragraph to further investigate
a Claim, the indemnified party may defend such Claim. If the
indemnified party so defends any Third Party Claim and such Third Party Claim is
ultimately determined to be a Claim for which such party was entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Article 10, then the indemnifying party shall
promptly reimburse the indemnified party for the reasonable expenses of
defending such Claim upon submission of periodic bills. The parties
hereto agree to cooperate fully with each other in connection with any
Claim. Each party shall provide the other party, copies of all
notices, correspondence, or other communications received by that party with
respect to the determination of the Claim promptly upon receipt thereof but in
any event within five (5) Business Days of receipt.
(b) After
any final Order shall have been rendered by a court, arbitration board or
administrative agency of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of the time
in which to appeal therefrom, or a settlement shall have been consummated, or
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have arrived at a
mutually binding Agreement with respect to a Claim hereunder, the indemnified
party shall forward to the indemnifying party notice of any sums due and owing
by the indemnifying party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter
and the indemnifying party shall be required to pay all of the sums so due and
owing to the indemnified party.
(c) Subject
to clause (i) below of this paragraph (c), in the case of any amount
payable to any indemnified party pursuant to Article 10 hereof, the indemnified
party shall forward to the indemnifying party notice of any sums due and owing
by the indemnifying party pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such matter
and the Claim shall be satisfied as follows:
(i) In
the case of any amount payable to the Purchaser Group, the indemnifying party
shall be required to pay all of the sums so due and owing to the Purchaser Group
by wire transfer of immediately available funds within thirty (30) days after
the date of such notice; provided that, following the issuance of an auditor’s
opinion in connection with, and upon completion of, Purchaser’s fiscal year 2008
audit and the full satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core Increase
pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof (by way of a cash payment or the repurchase of
Seller Restricted Shares, in either case actually effected in accordance
therewith), at the
election of the applicable indemnifying party (or if the indemnifying party
otherwise defaults on the payment when due, at the election of Purchaser), all
or the relevant portion of an indemnification amount payable to the Purchaser
Group may be satisfied by forfeiture of any remaining Seller Restricted Shares
subject to the provisions of the Escrow Agreement (or by return of any other
Purchaser Stock then held by such indemnifying Party without restriction), which
stock shall be deemed to have a cash value equal to its Market Value as of the
date of forfeiture (or return) as applicable. In no event shall the
exhaustion of Seller Restricted Shares limit the amount otherwise required to be
paid by an indemnifying party pursuant to this Article 10.
(ii) In
the case of any amount payable to the Seller Group, the indemnifying party shall
be required to pay all of the sums so due and owing to the Seller Group by wire
transfer of immediately available funds within thirty (30) days after the date
of such notice.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 10.7 to the contrary, the failure of
the indemnified party to give reasonably prompt notice of any Claim shall not
release, waive or otherwise affect the indemnifying party’s obligations with
respect thereto except to the extent that the indemnifying party can demonstrate
actual loss and prejudice as a result of such failure.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 10.7, no indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any Third Party Claim effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If the
indemnifying party shall have the exclusive authority to defend such Third Party
Claim under this Section 10.7, and the indemnified party nevertheless shall
settle such Third Party Claim without the consent of indemnifying party (not to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the indemnifying party shall have no
liability with respect to such settlement. The indemnifying party
shall not settle any Third Party Claim without the consent of the indemnified
party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless (1)
the settlement involves purely a monetary amount, (2) the settlement fully and
unconditionally releases the indemnified party and (3) the indemnifying party is
obligated to pay 100% of the liability in connection with such Third Party
Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall
not settle any Third Party Claim related to Tax matters without the consent of
the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).
(f) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 10.7 to the contrary, any Claim for indemnification
pursuant to this Article 10 based on a breach of a representation, warranty or
covenant that survives the Closing for a finite period must be asserted on or
before the date of the expiration of such finite period for such Claim to be
enforceable; provided that, if a good faith estimate of Losses in connection
with such Claim is provided on or before the applicable deadline, the precise
amount of Losses in connection with such Claim may be adjusted following such
deadline.
(g) After
it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article 10,
such indemnified party shall have the right to offset any amounts for which it
is entitled to indemnification under this Article 10 as an indemnified party
against any amounts otherwise payable by such indemnified party to indemnifying
party (or his Affiliate) under this Agreement, including under Article
2. Any offset hereunder shall be in addition to any other offset(s)
permitted under this Agreement. In the event that a indemnified party
determines to offset any amount pursuant to this Article 10, such indemnified
party shall provide the applicable other indemnify party or parties with a good
faith calculation of the amount of the Losses to be offset at the time the
applicable payment under this Agreement is made. In the event that
the indemnification Claim to which the offset applies is later resolved in a
manner favorably to the other party (i.e., in an amount less than the amount
that was offset), the offsetting party shall promptly make an appropriate
payment to the applicable party or parties to reflect the difference between the
amount that was offset and the amount at which the applicable indemnification
Claim was resolved.
10.8 Treatment of Indemnity
Payments. The parties agree to treat any indemnity payment
made pursuant to this Article 10 as an adjustment to the Aggregate Purchase
Price or the Merger Consideration, as applicable.
10.9 Calculation of
Losses. Subject to the other provisions of this Article
10:
(a) Insurance. Purchaser
agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue an insurance claim that
is available with respect to Losses for a matter for which an indemnification
claim has been asserted, and any insurance proceeds (net of (i) any
increase in premiums payable by the indemnified party directly attributable to
the event giving rise to the claim and (ii) expenses incurred in pursuing
any such insurance recovery) actually received by any indemnified party with
respect to any Losses for a matter for which an indemnification claim has been
asserted shall reduce the amount payable to such indemnified party under the
indemnification provisions of this Article 10 with respect to such
matter.
(b) Tax
Benefits. In case any event shall occur that would otherwise
entitle any party to assert a Claim for indemnification hereunder, no Loss shall
be deemed to have been sustained by such party to the extent of any net Tax
benefit actually realized, received or credited by such party with respect
thereto, as determined by Purchaser in good faith; provided that, in calculating
whether a net Tax benefit was actually realized, received or credited, Purchaser
shall assume that all items of deduction other than the applicable Loss for
which an indemnity payment is to be made hereunder shall first be used to
determine the Tax liability of the Purchaser for the Tax year in which the
relevant Loss arises and, if the item of deduction (or portion thereof) with
respect to such Loss is not allowed in such Tax year applying the limitations of
the foregoing provision, then such item of deduction (or any portion thereof)
shall be deemed used in the first succeeding Tax year following such
year that such item is allowed applying the foregoing ordering rules for such
other Tax years. In the event the Sellers disagree with any net Tax
benefit determined by Purchaser pursuant to Section 10.9, the Sellers shall
deliver to Purchaser a written notice (a “Dispute Notice”) setting forth such
disagreements within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Control Sellers from
Purchaser of the determination of such net Tax benefit. If the
Sellers do not deliver a Dispute Notice to Purchaser by such date, the Sellers
shall be deemed to have accepted Purchaser’s calculation of such net Tax
benefit. Purchaser and Seller shall endeavor in good faith to resolve
any matters set forth in a Dispute Notice by mutual agreement. If,
within thirty (30) days after the Sellers deliver a Dispute Notice, the
Purchaser and Sellers are unable to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution of
the matters set froth in a Dispute Notice, then Purchaser and the Sellers each
shall provide RSM McGladrey with their respective determination of the net Tax
benefit and such supporting documentation and information as RSM McGladrey may
request. RSM McGladrey shall make an independent determination of the
net Tax benefit that, assuming compliance with the previous clause, shall be
final and binding on the Sellers and the Purchaser. The Sellers and
the Purchaser shall each pay one-half (1/2) of the fees, costs and expenses of
RSM McGladrey in connection with the foregoing.
10.10 Exclusive
Remedy. The parties agree that, following Closing, the
provision of this Article 10 shall be the exclusive remedy (other than specific
enforcement or other equitable remedies) for any alleged breach of any provision
of this Agreement or any Collateral Document, absent fraud or intentional
breach.
ARTICLE
11
TAX
MATTERS
11.1 Allocation. For
purposes of this Agreement, any Taxes of a Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any
of their Subsidiaries for a period which includes but does not end on the
Closing Date shall be allocated between the portion of the period through and
including the Closing Date and the balance of the period based on an interim
closing of the books as of the close of the Closing Date, provided, however, that any
real property or personal property taxes and any annual exemption amounts shall
be allocated based on the relative number of days in the pre-Closing portion and
the balance of the period.
11.2 Tax
Returns.
(a) Sellers
shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) and file (or cause to be filed) on a
timely basis any income Tax Returns with respect to an LLC for taxable periods
ending on or prior to the Closing Date. From and after the Closing,
each LLC shall provide the Sellers (and their representatives) with access to
its Books and Records and personnel to enable the Sellers to prepare such Tax
Returns, and shall take whatever action may be necessary to allow the Sellers to
file such Tax Returns on behalf of the LLC. Such Tax Returns shall be
prepared on a basis consistent with the prior income Tax Returns prepared for
the LLC. Copies of such Tax Returns shall be presented promptly to
the Buyer. In the case of any Tax refund or credit received by or on
behalf of any Wilhelmina Transferred Company with respect to a period ending on
or prior to the Closing Date or with respect to any period which begins before
and ends after the Closing Date (but only with respect to the period ending on
the Closing Date), the Purchaser shall pay an amount equal to such refund or
credit to the Sellers who owned a portion of such Wilhelmina Transferred Company
(on a pro-rata basis) promptly after its receipt as an adjustment to the Merger
Consideration or Aggregate Purchase Price, as applicable.
(b) From
and after the Closing, no Wilhelmina Transferred Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may (and the Purchaser shall not permit any Wilhelmina Transferred
Company or any of its Subsidiaries) to file any amended Tax Return, carryback
claim or other adjustment with respect to a Tax period of such Wilhelmina
Transferred Company that ended before the Closing Date, without the prior
written consent of each of the Sellers, which consent shall not be unreasonably
denied.
11.3 Transfer
Taxes. Any sales, use, transfer or similar Tax imposed with
respect to the Merger or sale of a Wilhelmina Transferred Company (other than
the Company) pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne equally by the Purchaser,
on one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand. The Purchaser shall
duly and timely prepare (or cause to be prepared) any Tax Returns that be
required with respect to such Taxes, and shall furnish a copy thereof to the
Sellers for their review and comments at least 10 days prior to the due
date. The Purchaser and the Sellers shall try to resolve any
differences with respect to such Tax Returns in good faith prior to
filing. Upon filing any such Tax Return, the Sellers shall pay to the
Purchaser in cash an aggregate amount equal to one-half of the Tax, if any,
shown to be due on such Tax Return as filed. Promptly after filing,
the Purchaser shall furnish the Sellers with a copy of such Tax Returns as
filed, together with proof of payment of the Taxes shown thereon to be
due. The Purchaser, on one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand,
shall each be entitled to one-half of any refund with respect to such Taxes, and
shall each bear one-half of any additional transfer Tax that may be
due. Any audit, examination, contest or other proceeding with respect
to any such Tax or Tax Return shall be controlled jointly by the Purchaser, on
one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand.
ARTICLE
12
POST
CLOSING COVENANTS
12.1 Public
Announcements. Neither the Purchaser, Merger Sub, the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies nor any Seller shall issue any public report,
statement, press release or similar item or make any other public disclosure
with respect to the substance of this Agreement prior to the consultation with
and approval of the other parties; provided, however, that the Purchaser
may make a public disclosure if on the advice of Purchaser’s counsel it is
required by Law or the rules of the Securities Exchange Commission or other
regulatory agency to make such disclosure.
12.2 Assistance in
Defense. In the event that, after the Closing Date, any of the
parties hereof shall require the participation of another party hereto and/or
any officers or employees employed by another party hereto to aid in the
investigation, defense or prosecution of a Legal Proceeding or Claims, and so
long as there exists no conflict of interest between such parties, each of them
shall make themselves and such officers and employees reasonably available to
participate in such investigation, defense or prosecution; provided, that the party
requiring the participation of such other party and/or officers and employees
shall pay all reasonable out of pocket costs, charges and expenses arising from
such participation.
12.3 Further
Cooperation.
(a) From
and after the Closing Date, the Sellers shall execute and deliver such documents
and take such other actions as the Purchaser reasonably request to fully
consummate the Contemplated Transactions and the Purchaser shall execute and
deliver such documents and take such other actions as the Sellers may reasonably
request to fully consummate the Contemplated Transactions. In
addition, the Sellers shall provide or cause to be provided, and the Purchaser
shall provide or cause to be provided, such written information with respect to
themselves, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such other
documents, certificates or instruments, and take or cause to be taken such
actions as the Purchaser or the Sellers, as the case may be, or any auditor of
either or the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies reasonably deems necessary or
desirable to complete any audit of the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies’
consolidated financial statements, the Purchaser’s or any Seller’s financial
statements or tax returns or in connection with any Laws applicable thereto,
including federal or state securities laws.
12.4 Post Closing Reimbursement
of Expenses. Following the Closing, Purchaser shall reimburse
Esch and Krassner for reasonable out of pocket travel and entertainment expenses
incurred by them in connection with the identification and negotiation by them
of Approved Acquisition Targets. “Approved
Acquisition Targets” shall mean model or talent management companies
which are potential acquisition targets for Purchaser; provided that such
targets, and the active role of Esch and Krassner in connection with pursuing
such targets, are expressly authorized by Purchaser’s Board of Directors and
confirmed in writing (or email) to Esch or Krassner by a member of Purchaser’s
Board or Directors following such authorization. For this purpose,
subject to the next sentence, the Company’s potential acquisition of the
agencies or other entities set forth on Schedule 12.4 (provided that such
agencies or entities meet the acquisition criteria specifically approved by
Purchaser’s Board of Directors after the Closing) shall initially be considered
Approved Acquisition Targets during 2008 and 2009. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Purchaser may, at its election (and in consultation with Esch and
Krassner with respect to any acquisition target introduced by Esch, Krassner or
any of their affiliates, including the entities set forth on Schedule 12.4)
determine that the services of Esch and/or Krassner or their affiliates are not,
or no longer, necessary with respect to the pursuit of any Approved Acquisition
Target, in which case Purchaser shall have no reimbursement obligation with
respect to any subsequently incurred expenses. Esch and Krassner
shall inform Purchaser prior to any particular “trip”, meeting or related event
regarding any particular Approved Acquisition Target in which they are involved
and provide Purchaser a reasonable estimate of the travel and entertainment
expenses associated therewith.
12.5 Reorganization. Following
the Merger, none of the Purchaser, the Company, nor any of their Affiliates
shall take any action (or fail to take any action) that could result in the
Merger failing to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.
ARTICLE
13
TERMINATION
13.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing as follows:
(a) at
the election of the Purchaser, if any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1
or 7.3 shall become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived in
writing by Purchaser;
(b) at
the election of the Control Sellers, if any of the conditions set forth in
Section 7.1 or 7.2 shall become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have
been waived in writing by Control Sellers;
(c) at
the election of the Purchaser, if it is not in material breach of its
obligations under this Agreement if any Seller or any of the Wilhelmina
Transferred Companies has breached any material representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (including the Schedules and
Exhibits) such that the conditions set forth in Section 7.3 hereof would not be
satisfied and such breach cannot be or has not been cured by the earlier of
(i) thirty (30) days after written notice thereof to Control Sellers or
(ii) the Closing Date;
(d) at
the election of the Control Sellers, if they or any Sellers are not in material
breach of its respective obligations under this Agreement and the Purchaser has
breached any material representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained
in this Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits) such that the
conditions set forth in Section 7.2 hereof would not be satisfied and such
breach cannot be or has not been cured by the earlier of (i) thirty (30)
days after written notice thereof to the Purchaser or (ii) the Closing
Date;
(e) at
the election of the Control Sellers or the Purchaser, if any Order permanently
enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Closing is issued and shall
have become final and non-appealable;
(f) at
the election of Purchaser if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
(a) December 20, 2008, provided Purchaser does not receive comments from the SEC
with respect to the Proxy Statement, or (b) February 15, 2009 in the event
Purchaser does receive comments from the SEC with respect to the Proxy
Statement; provided
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.1(f)
shall not be available to Purchaser if its actions or failure to act has been a
principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or
before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this
Agreement;
(g) at
the election of the Control Sellers if the Closing shall not have occurred on or
before (a) December 20, 2008, provided Purchaser does not receive comments from
the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement, or (b) February 15, 2009 in the
event Purchaser does receive comments from the SEC with respect to the Proxy
Statement; provided
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.1(g)
shall not be available to the Company and the Control Sellers if their or any of
the Sellers’ actions or failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted
in the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date and such action or
failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;
(h) at
the election of the Control Sellers or the Purchaser, if (i) the
Stockholder Meeting (including any adjournments and postponements thereof) shall
have been duly held and completed and the shareholders of Purchaser shall have
voted on the Matters and (ii) the Charter Approval and the Authorized
Capital Approval shall not have been obtained at such meeting;
(i) at
the election of the Control Sellers, if the Board of Directors of Purchaser
shall have effected a Change in Recommendation in a manner adverse to the
Sellers and the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies; or
(j) at
any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by mutual written consent of the
Purchaser, on the one hand, and Wilhelmina Transferred Companies and the Control
Sellers, on the other hand.
13.2 Survival. If
this Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to Section 13.1 and the
Contemplated Transactions are not consummated as described above, this Agreement
shall become null and void and of no further force and effect, and there shall
be no liability of the Purchaser, on the one hand, or the Sellers and the
Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, on the other hand, to the other except
liability arising out of an intentional breach of this Agreement or fraud, in
which case, except as specified in Section 13.3 below, the aggrieved party shall
be entitled to all rights and remedies available at law or in
equity.
13.3 Expense
Reimbursement. In the event that either Purchaser or the
Control Sellers validly terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 13.1(h) or
13.1(i), Purchaser shall pay to the Control Sellers such Control Sellers’
Transaction Expenses up to a maximum of $150,000 (the “Transaction
Expense Payment”) within 10 days of the termination of this Agreement
under Sections 13.1(h) or 13.1(i); provided that Control Sellers have
theretofore delivered to Purchaser reasonable documentation supporting the
amount of such payment. The Transaction Expense Payment shall be the
Sellers’ sole and exclusive remedy in the event of a termination pursuant to
Sections 13.1(h) or 13.1(i), and the Purchaser shall have no further liability
with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to the
Sellers or the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies (provided that nothing herein
shall release Purchaser from liability for intentional breach or
fraud).
ARTICLE
14
MISCELLANEOUS
14.1 Notices. All
notices, documents or other deliverables required to be given, sent or delivered
to any of the parties to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been sufficiently given, sent or delivered, subject to the further
provisions of this Article 14, for all purposes when presented personally to
such party or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
with proper postage prepaid, or any United States national overnight delivery
service, with proper charges prepaid, set forth above, to such party at its
address set forth below:
(a) If
to the Sellers, to the applicable Seller at the address set forth on Exhibit
A.
with a
copy to:
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
345 Park
Ave
New York,
New York 10583
Telephone:
(212) 407-4937
Facsimile:
(212) 407-4990
Attn:
Lloyd L. Rothenberg
and a
copy to:
Strassburger
McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky
Four
Gateway Center, Suite 2200
444
Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh,
PA 15222
Attn: H.
Yale Gutnick
(b) If
to Purchaser:
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
Telephone:
(214) 661-7488
Facsimile: (214)
661-7475
Attn: Evan
Stone
with a
copy to:
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park
Avenue Tower
65 East
55th
Street
New York,
NY 10022
Telephone:
(212) 451-2300
Facsimile:
(212) 451-2222
Attn:
Steve Wolosky
Such
notice shall be deemed to be received when delivered if delivered personally, or
the next Business Day after the date sent if sent next Business Day service by a
United States national overnight delivery service which requires signatures of
recipients upon delivery and provides tracking service, or three (3) Business
Days after the date mailed by certified or registered mail. Any
notice of any change in such address shall also be given in the manner set forth
above. Whenever the giving of notice is required, the giving of such
notice may be waived in writing by the party entitled to receive such
notice.
14.2 No Third Party
Beneficiaries. Except as is otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create any
rights in or confer any benefits upon any Person other than the parties
hereto.
14.3 Schedules and
Exhibits. All schedules and exhibits attached to this
Agreement are incorporated by reference into this Agreement for all
purposes. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references
herein to “Schedule” or “Exhibit” are references to the schedules and exhibits
attached to this Agreement. A disclosure of an item in one Schedule
shall not be a disclosure under any other Schedule, unless so noted specifically
on such Schedule.
14.4 Entire Agreement;
Amendment. This Agreement, the Collateral Documents and any
other documents, instruments or other writings delivered or to be delivered
pursuant to this Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior
agreements, understandings, and negotiations, whether written or oral, with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. None of the terms
and provisions contained in this Agreement can be changed without a writing
signed by all parties hereto. No party has made any representations
or warranties other than those that have been provided in this
Agreement.
14.5 Section and Paragraph
Titles. The Section and paragraph titles used in this
Agreement are for convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the
contents or substance of any such Section or paragraph. Unless the
context otherwise requires, all references herein to “Section” or “Article” are
references to the sections and articles of this Agreement.
14.6 Binding Effect; No
Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement and their respective heirs,
personal representatives, and successors and permitted assigns. No
party hereto shall have the right to assign this Agreement without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto; provided, however, that Purchaser may
assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Purchaser without the consent of the other parties hereto provided
that no such assignment shall relieve Purchaser of its obligations under this
Agreement.
14.7 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including by means of
facsimile, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original
instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
14.8 Purchaser
Reliance. Each Seller hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints each of the Control Sellers, individually, as its Representative (each
a “Representative”)
and as its true and lawful agent and attorneys-in-fact with full power and
authority to act, including full power of substitution, in its name and on its
behalf with respect to all matters arising from or in any way relating to this
Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby, to (i) represent, act
for and on behalf of, and bind each of the Sellers in the performance of all of
their obligations arising from or relating to this Agreement and Contemplated
Transactions (including any other agreements incident thereto), including
(A) the execution and delivery of the Escrow Agreement and Registration
Rights Agreement and any certificate or Contract required under this Agreement
to be delivered by the Sellers at the Closing and (B) the making,
negotiation and settlement of Claims of either the Purchaser or the Sellers for
indemnification pursuant to Article 10 of this Agreement; (ii) accept
delivery from the Purchaser of any payments under this Agreement and to
distribute such payments in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(iii) give and receive notices and receive service of process under or
pursuant to this Agreement; (iv) represent, act for, and bind each of the
Sellers in the performance of all of their obligations arising from or related
to indemnification in Article 10, including, without limitation, in any
arbitration or litigation in respect thereof; (v) waive any conditions to
the Sellers’ obligation to close, (vii) amend this Agreement pursuant to
Section 14.4 and (viii) perform any and all other duties and acts
contemplated to be performed by the Representative as set forth in this
Agreement and in any of the other Transaction Documents. This
appointment of agency and this power of attorney is coupled with an interest and
shall be irrevocable and shall not be terminated by any Seller or by operation
of law, whether by the death or incapacity of any Seller that is an individual,
termination of any trust or estate, the dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy
or any corporation, partnership or other entity or the occurrence of any other
event, and any action taken by the Representative shall be as valid as if such
death, incapacity, termination, dissolution, liquidation, bankruptcy or other
event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Representative shall
have received any notice thereof. Any change in the designation of
such Representative shall not be deemed effective until the actual receipt of
notice by the Purchaser. The Representative hereby accepts such
appointment. Purchaser shall be entitled to rely on any election or
determination under this Agreement communicated to Purchaser by either Esch or
Krassner under circumstances in which Esch or Krassner reasonably represents
that the other has approved or consented to such election or
determination.
14.9 No Reliance on Control
Sellers or Wilhelmina Transferred Companies. The decision of
each Seller to sell securities pursuant to this Agreement has been made by such
Seller independently of the Control Sellers and independently of any
information, materials, statements or opinions as to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement or any Collateral Document that may have been made or given by
the Control Sellers, the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies, any other Seller or
any representative or agent of the foregoing, and neither the Control Sellers,
the Wilhelmina Transferred Companies or any other Sellers shall have any
liability to any other Seller relating to or arising from any such information,
materials, statements or opinions (except as may be expressly provided in a
written agreement, if any) between or among Sellers.
14.10 Severability. Any
provision of this Agreement (other than those contained in Article 9 of this
Agreement, in which case, Section 9.5 of this Agreement shall govern with
respect to the invalidity, unenforceability, or illegality of any such
provision) that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or such provision, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.
14.11 Governing Law; Consent to
Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE
LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH
OF THE COMPANY, THE PURCHASER AND THE SELLERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE
EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL AND SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE
COMPANY, THE PURCHASER AND THE SELLERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW (A) ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER
HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH
COURT; AND (B) ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING HAS BEEN
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
14.12 Waiver of Jury
Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE PURCHASER AND THE SELLERS
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL RIGHTS TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON
CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
14.13 Waiver. No
provision of this Agreement shall be considered waived unless such waiver is in
writing and signed by the Party that benefits from the enforcement of such
provision. No waiver of any provision in this Agreement, however,
shall be deemed a waiver of a subsequent breach of such provision or a waiver of
a similar provision. In addition, a waiver of any breach or a failure
to enforce any term or condition of this Agreement shall not in any way affect,
limit, or waive a Party’s rights under this Agreement at any time to enforce
strict compliance thereafter with every term and condition of this
Agreement.
14.14 Time of the
Essence. Time is of the essence in the performance of this
Agreement and all dates and periods specified in this Agreement.
[The
remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Sellers, the Purchaser, and the Company have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first written above.
|
COMPANY:
|
|
|
|
WILHELMINA
INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean Patterson |
|
|
Name:
|
Sean
Patterson |
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
WILHELMINA
– MIAMI, INC.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean Patterson |
|
|
Name:
|
Sean
Patterson |
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
WILHELMINA
ARTIST MANAGEMENT LLC
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean Patterson |
|
|
Name:
|
Sean
Patterson |
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
WILHELMINA
LICENSING LLC
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean Patterson |
|
|
Name:
|
Sean
Patterson |
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
WILHELMINA
FILM & TV PRODUCTIONS LLC
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Sean Patterson |
|
|
Name:
|
Sean
Patterson |
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
PURCHASER:
|
|
|
|
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Mark Schwarz |
|
|
Name:
|
Mark
Schwarz |
|
|
Title:
|
Acting
Chief Executive Officer |
|
MERGER
SUB:
|
|
|
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WILHELMINA
ACQUISITION CORP.
|
|
|
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By:
|
/s/
Evan Stone |
|
|
Name:
|
Evan
Stone |
|
|
Title:
|
Vice
President |
CONTROLLING
SELLERS:
|
/s/
Dieter
Esch |
|
Name:
|
Dieter
Esch
|
|
LOREX
INVESTMENTS AG
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Peter Marty |
|
|
Name:
|
Peter
Marty |
|
|
Title:
|
Board
of Directors |
|
/s/
Brad
Krassner |
|
Name:
|
Brad
Krassner
|
|
KRASSNER
FAMILY INVESTMENTS, L.P
|
|
|
|
By:
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/s/
Brad
Krassner |
|
|
Name:
|
Brad
Krassner |
|
|
Title:
|
General
Partner |
OTHER
SELLERS:
|
|
|
/s/
Sean
Patterson |
|
Name:
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Sean
Patterson
|
|
|
|
Name:
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Kevin
Garnett
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Dieter
Esch, his attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Glenn
Damota
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Dieter Esch |
|
|
Dieter
Esch, his attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Serge
Massat
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Dieter Esch |
|
|
Dieter
Esch, his attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Dieter Esch |
|
|
Dieter
Esch, his attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Eve
Gianni
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
Dieter
Esch, her attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Marlene
Wallach
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Dieter Esch |
|
|
Dieter
Esch, her attorney-in-fact
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Corey
Preston
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Dieter Esch |
|
|
Dieter
Esch, his attorney-in-fact
|
Annex
B
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of August 25,
2008, by and among New Century Equity Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation
(including any successor thereto, the “Company”) and Dieter Esch (“Esch”), Lorex
Investments AG (“Lorex”), Brad Krassner (“Krassner”) and the Krassner Family
Investments, L.P. (the “Krassner L.P.”) (each of Esch, Lorex, Krassner and the
Krassner L.P., a “Selling Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Selling
Shareholders”) and Sean Patterson (“Sean Patterson”).
R E C I T
A L S:
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Selling
Shareholders, together with the Company, Wilhelmina International, Ltd.
(“Wilhelmina International”) and certain entities affiliated with Wilhelmina
International, are entering into an Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), which
Purchase Agreement provides, among other things, for the sale of the outstanding
equity interests of certain Wilhelmina International affiliated entities to New
Century;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, upon the Closing the Selling
Shareholders will be beneficial owners of shares of common stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”, and shares of Common Stock issued
to Selling Stockholders under the Purchase Agreement, the “Seller NCEH
Shares”);
WHEREAS,
as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the
Selling Shareholders have required that certain matters be agreed and set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS,
this Agreement shall become effective upon, and only upon, the effectiveness of
the Closing under the Purchase Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual promises and
covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending
to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Article
1
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to
them in the Purchase Agreement.
As used
herein, the following terms shall have the following respective
meanings:
1.1 “Commission”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other successor
federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
1.2 “Common
Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
1.3 “Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar
federal statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all
as the same shall be in effect at the time.
1.4 “Holders”
shall mean and include a Selling Shareholder and any Affiliated permitted
transferee thereof who holds Registrable Securities of record.
1.5 “Priority
Securities” shall mean (1) Registrable Securities and (2) shares of Common Stock
or other securities subject to contractual registration rights (other than
pursuant to this Agreement) of stockholders of the Company similar to the rights
of the Selling Shareholders.
1.6 “Register,”
“registered” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing
and filing with the Commission a registration statement in compliance with the
Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering by the Commission of the
effectiveness of such registration statement.
1.7 “Registrable
Securities” means any and all shares of Common Stock (i) that were issued
to the Selling Shareholders or Patterson in connection with the
Closing and (ii) issued or issuable with respect to the Common Stock referred to
in clause (i) above upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reclassification, exchange, merger or other similar event; provided that
Registrable Securities shall exclude any and all Seller Restricted Shares (as
defined in the Purchase Agreement) until such time as such shares shall have
been released to the relevant Selling Shareholder without restriction pursuant
to the terms of the Escrow Agreement. The term “Registrable
Securities” shall also exclude in all cases, however, such shares of Common
Stock (i) following their sale by a Holder to the public pursuant to a
registered offering or pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) sold in a private
transaction in which the Holder’s registration rights under this Agreement are
not assigned.
1.8 “Registration
Expenses” shall mean all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the
Company in complying with Articles 2, 3 and 5 hereof, including, without
limitation, all registration, qualification and Commission, National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., stock exchange and other filing fees, printing
expenses, duplication expenses relating to copies of any registration statement
or prospectus delivered to any Holders, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of
legal counsel for the Company, fees and disbursements of the Company’s
accountants and blue sky fees and expenses. Registration Expenses
shall be distinct from Selling Expenses.
1.9 “Rule
144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other successor rule or
regulation then in effect.
1.10 “Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal
statute and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the
same shall be in effect at the time.
1.11 “Selling
Expenses” shall mean all underwriting, selling broker or dealer manager fees,
discounts and selling commissions applicable to the Registrable Securities
registered on behalf of the Holders.
Article
2
REQUIRED
REGISTRATION
2.1 Request
for Registration.
(a) At
any time following the one year anniversary of the Closing Date, Esch or
Krassner may make a written request to the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act covering all or part of the Registrable
Securities then held by such Selling Shareholder and his respective
Affiliates. No later than 30 days following its receipt of such
written request (the “Demand Registration Filing Date”), the Company will
prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement under the
Securities Act covering all of the Registrable Securities requested to be
included therein, and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain the effectiveness of such registration as soon as practicable as would
permit or facilitate the resale and distribution of all securities requested to
be registered. If, however, the Company shall furnish to the
requesting Selling Shareholder a certificate signed by the Chief Executive
Officer (or the Chairman of the Board of Directors) of the Company prior to the
Demand Registration Filing Date stating that, in the good faith judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the
Company and its shareholders (and/or such applicable transaction) for such
registration statement to be filed by reason of a material pending transaction
(including a financing transaction, whether a primary or resale distribution) or
the Company has determined in good faith, after consultation with outside
counsel, that the filing of a registration request would require the disclosure
of material information which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for
preserving as confidential, then the Company shall have the right to defer such
filing for a period of not more than 90 days after the Demand Registration
Filing Date. Such registration statement shall contain (unless the
requesting Selling Shareholder hereunder otherwise directs) substantially the
“Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the
provisions of Section 2.1(b), the requesting Selling Shareholder may revoke any
registration request made pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) and/or withdraw
securities from an applicable registration.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary:
(i) a
registration shall be deemed to have been effected (and demand right therefore
exercised pursuant to Section 2.1(a)) if the applicable registration has become
effective, unless it results in a (A) Limited Registration (as defined in
Section 2.2(c)) or (B) a Failed Registration (as defined
below);
(ii)
the Company shall be obligated to effect only one (1) registration pursuant to
Section 2.1(a) requested by Krassner and only (1) registration pursuant to
Section 2.1(a) requested by Esch; provided that if any registration is commenced
pursuant to this Section 2.1 and is not consummated due to the revocation of the
initial request by Krassner or Esch, as applicable, at least ten (10) business
days prior to the anticipated effective date of the relevant registration (such
revocation of a registration request not to occur more than one time in the case
of each of Krassner and Esch) (a “Failed Registration”), such Failed
Registration shall not be deemed to constitute a registration under this Section
2.1 and the relevant requesting Selling Shareholder shall retain his one (1)
demand right pursuant to this Section 2.1 (it being understood that, subject to
Section 2.1(b)(i), a demand right shall have been deemed exercised in the event
of any other revocation of registration request under this Section 2.1);
and
(iii) without
limiting the provisions of clauses (i) and (ii), the Company shall be obligated
to effect only one (1) registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 (whether
requested by Esch or Krassner) in any nine (9) month period (i.e., the Company
shall have no obligation to file a registration statement at the request of a
Selling Shareholder until nine (9) months have elapsed following the
effectiveness of any prior registration of the Company).
2.2 Underwriting.
(a) The
resale distribution of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration
statements referred to in Section 2.1 above shall be effected by means of the
method of distribution reasonably selected by the shareholder participants
holding a majority in interest of the Priority Securities that have been
properly elected to be included in the relevant registration (the “Majority in
Interest”). Subject to the foregoing, the Majority in Interest may
also change the resale distribution method from time to time (subject to
amendment of the registration statement at the expense of the relevant
shareholder participants as required to describe such changes). If
such distribution is effected by means of an underwriting, the right of any
Holder to registration pursuant to this Article 2 shall be conditioned upon such
Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided
herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no registration
requested pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be effected by means of an underwriting
unless the anticipated gross proceeds from such underwritten transaction exceed
$12,500,000 (twelve million five hundred thousand dollars).
(b) If
such distribution is effected by means of an underwriting, the Company (together
with Esch and/or Krassner, as applicable, and their respective Affiliates, if
either is proposing to distribute securities held by him or his Affiliates
through such underwriting) shall enter into an underwriting agreement in
customary form with a managing underwriter of regional or national recognized
standing selected for such underwriting by a Majority in Interest and approved
by the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld); provided,
however, that the liability of each Holder thereunder shall in no event exceed
an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder
and his Affiliates.
(c) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article 2, if the managing underwriter determines
that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the Company shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities,
and the number of shares of securities to be included in the underwriting shall
be allocated (i) first, among the holders of Priority Securities, pro rata
according to the number of Priority Securities that have been properly elected
to be included in the relevant registration , and (ii) second, in the event that
the number of shares that the managing underwriter believes may be underwritten
has not been reached pursuant to (i), pro rata according to the number of other
securities offered to be included in such underwriting. Subject to
the foregoing, primary shares may be included in any registration requested
pursuant to Section 2.1.
(d)
In the event that, as a result of the “cutback” provisions of Section 2.2(c), a
Selling Shareholder making a “demand” request pursuant to Section 2.1 is unable
to register more than sixty six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
Registrable Securities which such Selling Shareholder has properly requested to
be registered pursuant to such demand in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement (such limited registration, a “Limited Registration”), then the
requesting Holder shall not be deemed to have made such “demand” request and,
notwithstanding the effectiveness of the applicable registration, shall preserve
its one “demand” right for later use for purposes of Section 2.1, subject in all
cases to the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For
the avoidance of doubt, Holders holding vested options or restricted shares of
Common Stock (including any Seller Restricted Shares) may not include such
securities in any demand registration under this Article 2 (and shall not
exercise demand rights with respect thereto or request their inclusion effective
as of a later date) until such time as the underlying shares of Common Stock are
held directly and without restriction.
Article
3
COMPANY
REGISTRATION
3.1 Notice
of Registration to Selling Shareholders. If at any time or from time
to time from and after the date hereof and ending on the eighth anniversary of
the date hereof, the Company shall determine to register any of its securities,
either for its own account or the account of any security holder or holders,
other than (i) a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form
S-8 (or any successor form) or relating to a dividend reinvestment plan, stock
option plan or other compensation plan, (ii) a registration on Form S-4 (or any
successor form) or other registration in connection with mergers, acquisitions,
exchange offers or similar transactions, (iii) a registration on any form that
does not permit secondary sales or (iv) a registration relating solely to
a subscription offering or a rights offering, the Company
will:
(a) promptly
give to Esch and Krassner written notice thereof; and
(b) include
in such registration (and any related qualification under blue sky laws or other
compliance), and in any underwriting involved therein, all of the Registrable
Securities specified in a written request, made within 15 days after receipt of
such written notice from the Company described in Section 3.1(a), by Esch
and Krassner (on their own behalf and on behalf of their respective
Affiliates), but only to the extent that the original issuance or resale
distribution of such Registrable Securities is not already covered by an
effective registration statement under Article 2 above.
3.2 Underwriting.
(a) If
the registration of which the Company gives notice is for an offering involving
an underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Selling Shareholders as part of
the written notice given pursuant to Section 3.1(a). In such event,
the right of the Selling Shareholders to registration pursuant to this Article 3
shall be conditioned upon a Selling Shareholder’s participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Selling Shareholder’s Registrable
Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. Esch
and Krassner, as applicable, together with any participating Affiliates (and
together with the Company), shall enter into an underwriting agreement in
customary form with the managing underwriter selected for such underwriting
solely by the Company; provided, however, that the liability of a Selling
Shareholder thereunder shall in no event exceed the lesser of (i) the Selling
Shareholder’s pro-rata portion of the liability based on the Selling
Shareholder’s shares sold in the offering as compared to the total number of
shares sold in the offering, and (ii) an amount equal to the net proceeds from
the offering received by such Selling Shareholder and his
Affiliates.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article 3, if the managing underwriter determines
that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the Company shall so advise the Selling Shareholders, and the
number of shares of Common Stock to be included in such registration shall be
allocated as follows: (i) first, for the account of the Company, all
shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Company; and (ii) second, for
the account of any Selling Shareholders and any other shareholders of the
Company participating in such registration who have contractual rights to be
included in such registration similar to the rights of the Selling Shareholders,
the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included in the
registration by such Selling Shareholders and such other shareholders in
proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective number of shares that
are proposed to be offered and sold by the Selling Shareholders and such other
shareholders at the time of filing the registration statement; provided that, if
the Company is effecting a registration pursuant to a demand request of a
shareholder other than a Selling Shareholder, clause (i) of this subsection
shall be deemed to cover the shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by such
other shareholder and clause (ii) of this subsection shall include, on a basis
pari passu with any shareholders who have contractual rights to be included in
such registration similar to the rights of the Selling Shareholders, any shares
proposed to be sold by the Company. No Registrable Securities
or other shares of Common Stock excluded from the underwriting in this Article 3
by reason of the underwriters’ marketing limitation shall be included in such
registration.
(c) If
a participating Selling Shareholder disapproves of the terms of any underwriting
under this Article 3, such Selling Shareholder exercising rights pursuant to
this Article 3 may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company
and the managing underwriter. Any securities excluded or withdrawn
from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration; provided that
the Company may determine, at its election, to increase, on a pro
rata basis for the securities of shareholders then included in the registration
(giving effect to the withdrawal), the number of shares of the other
shareholders participating in the registration.
(d) The
Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated
by the Company under this Article 3 prior to the effectiveness of such
registration, whether or not a Selling Shareholder has elected to include
Registrable Securities in such registration; provided that a Selling Shareholder
shall have the right to convert such registration into a demand registration
covered by Section 2.1 hereof.
(e) For
the avoidance of doubt, Holders holding vested options or restricted shares of
Common Stock (including any Seller Restricted Shares) may not include such
securities in any piggyback registration under this Article 3 (and shall not
exercise piggyback rights with respect thereto or request their inclusion as of
a later date) until such time as the underlying shares of Common Stock are held
directly and without restriction.
(f) Patterson
(and Derek Fromm, to the extent he becomes the owner of any Registrable
Securities) shall have “piggyback” rights under this Article 3 commensurate with
(and subject to the same limitations and restrictions) as the rights of the
Selling Shareholders with respect to Registrable Securities held by
Patterson. Patterson shall be deemed a “Holder” for purposes of
Article 4, 5 and 6 to the extent he participates any registration by virtue of
such rights.
Article
4
EXPENSES
OF REGISTRATION
All
Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to Articles 2, 3 and 5 hereof, the
reasonable fees of one counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities (up to
a maximum of $10,000) in the case of a registration in which a Holder
participates and any other similar out of pocket expenses incurred by any Holder
or Holders pursuant to any applicable underwriting agreement in connection with
a registration hereunder shall, in each case, be borne by the
Company. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities
registered on behalf of a Holder shall be borne by such Holder.
Article
5
REGISTRATION
PROCEDURES
(a) In
the case of each registration effected by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company will keep each Holder advised in writing as to the
initiation of each registration and as to the completion thereof. The
Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect or cause
such registration to permit the sale of the Registrable Securities covered
thereby by the Holders thereof in accordance with the intended method or methods
of distribution thereof described in such registration statement. In
connection with any registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company
shall:
(i) prepare
and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such
Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective;
(ii) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary
to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement pursuant
to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions
applicable to the form of such registration statement (provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obliged to maintain the effectiveness of such
registration statement longer than through the earlier of (A) six months
following the effective date of such registration statement and (B) such time as
all Registrable Securities registered thereunder have been sold pursuant to such
registration statement), and furnish to the Holders of the Registrable
Securities covered thereby copies of any such supplement or amendment prior to
its use and/or filing with the Commission;
(iii) promptly
notify the Holders whose Registrable Securities are to be included in a
registration statement hereunder, the sales or placement agent, if any, therefor
and the managing underwriter of the securities being sold, and confirm such
advice in writing, (A) when such registration statement or the prospectus
included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed and, with respect to such registration statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
such registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, (C) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (D) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to
a registration statement or related prospectus or related information or (E) if,
at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act, such registration statement or prospectus, or any document incorporated by
reference in any of the foregoing, contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made. In the case of clause (E),
the Company shall promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such
registration statement to correct such untrue statement or
omission;
(iv) use
its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto or of any order suspending or preventing the
use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Registrable
Securities included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction
at the earliest practicable date;
(v) furnish
to each Holder of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration
statement hereunder, each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and each
underwriter, if any, thereof, without charge, a conformed copy of such
registration statement and any amendment and supplement thereto (in each case
including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference) and such number
of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including
each preliminary prospectus, any summary prospectus and any free writing
prospectus), and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Holder, agent, if
any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder, sold by such
agent or underwritten by such underwriter and to permit such Holder, agent and
underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act;
(vi) use
its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) register or qualify the Registrable
Securities to be included in such registration statement under such other
securities laws or blue sky laws of such states of the United States or the
District of Columbia as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority
of such Registrable Securities participating in such registration, each
placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the managing underwriter, if any,
thereof, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with
such laws at all times during the period described in Section 5(a)(ii) above,
and (C) take any and all such actions as may be reasonably necessary to enable
such Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the
disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided,
however, that in order to fulfill the foregoing obligations under this Section
5(a)(vi), the Company shall not (unless otherwise required to do so in any
jurisdiction) be required to (1) qualify generally to do business as a foreign
company or a broker-dealer, (2) execute a general consent to service of process
or (3) subject itself to taxation;
(vii) furnish,
at the request of the Holders of a majority of such Registrable Securities
participating in such registration, on the date that such Registrable Securities
are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such securities are being sold
through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through
underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such
securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel
representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and
substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public
offering and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders,
addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to such Holders and (ii) a letter,
dated as of such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the
Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified
public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and
reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the Holders, addressed to
the underwriters, if any, and, if permitted by applicable accounting standards,
to such Holders; and
(viii) otherwise
use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission in connection with any registration
hereunder.
(b) The
Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish in writing to the Company such
information regarding such Holder and such Holder’s method of distribution of
such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request or as is required to be included in any registration statement filed
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Each such Holder agrees to
notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in
information previously furnished by such Holder to the Company or of the
occurrence of any event as a result of which any prospectus relating to such
registration contains an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such
Holder or the distribution of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any
material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Registrable
Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to
correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such
prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Holder or the distribution of
such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement or a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they
were made.
(c) Each
of the Holders shall comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to disposition of the Registrable Securities to be included in any
registration statement filed by the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, in connection with any offering of securities of the
Company (including without limitation any offering contemplated by Article 2 or
Article 3 of this Agreement), each Holder agrees that if such shareholder’s
Registrable Securities are included in the applicable registration, it will
consent and agree to comply with any “hold back” restriction relating to shares
of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company then owned by such Holder
(and his controlled Affiliates), that may be reasonably requested by the
underwriter(s) or placement or other selling agent(s) of such offering, not to
exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, provided, however, that such Selling
Shareholder need not enter into any such arrangement unless each of the
Company’s principal officers and its directors and Newcastle Partners, L.P. (and
their controlled Affiliates, if any) enter into agreements that contain
substantially the same “hold back” restrictions and/or agreements (it being
understood that this proviso shall not apply if a board designee of a Selling
Shareholder refuses to enter into such arrangement). Without
limitation to the foregoing, each Holder shall, upon the request of such
underwriter(s) or agent(s), agree not to effect any public sale or distribution,
including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, of any Registrable Securities, and not
effect any such public sale or distribution of any other equity security of the
Company or of any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
any equity security of the Company (in each case, other than as part of such
underwritten public offering) during the thirty days prior to, and during the
one hundred eighty (180) day period beginning on, the effective date of such
registration statement.
Article
6
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 The
Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners
and affiliates, such Holder’s legal counsel and independent accountants, if any,
each person controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, each underwriter, if any, and each person who controls any
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act against all
claims, losses, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney
fees)(or actions in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in
settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any registration statement or prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Securities Act or any state securities laws
applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction by the Company in
connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and will
reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers, directors and partners, such
Holder’s legal counsel and independent accountants, each such underwriter and
each person who controls any such underwriter for any legal and other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any
such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense,
claim, loss, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based on any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Holder expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto.
6.2 Each
Holder (and Esch and Krassner, as the case may be, on behalf of his affiliated
Holders) will, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the
securities as to which such registration, qualification or compliance is being
effected, severally indemnify the Company, each of its directors, officers,
partners and Affiliates, their respective legal counsel and independent
accountants, each underwriter, if any, of the Company’s securities covered by
such a registration statement, each person who controls the Company or such
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each
other such Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners, legal counsel and
independent accountants, if any, and each person controlling such Holder within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all claims, losses,
damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) (or
actions in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in
settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any such registration statement or prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company, such Holders, such
directors, officers, partners, legal counsel, independent accountants,
underwriters and control persons for any legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such
claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or
omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement or
prospectus or amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Holder (or Esch and/or
Krassner on behalf thereof) regarding such Holder and/or such Holder’s method of
distribution expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement thereto; provided, however, that the obligations of
each Holder (and Esch and/or Krassner, as applicable, on behalf thereof)
hereunder shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds to such Holder
and of Registrable Securities sold pursuant to such registration
statement.
6.3 Each
party entitled to indemnification under this Article 6 (the “Indemnified Party”)
shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the
“Indemnifying Party”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge
of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the
Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation
resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall
conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be approved by the
Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld,
conditioned or delayed). The Indemnified Party may participate in
such defense at such party’s expense; provided, however, that the Indemnifying
Party shall bear the expense of such defense of the Indemnified Party if
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential conflicts of interest. The failure of any
Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Agreement, unless and only to
the extent such failure is materially prejudicial to the ability of the
Indemnifying Party to defend the action. No Indemnifying Party, in
the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of
each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by
the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all
liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
6.4 If
the indemnification provided for in Section 6.1 or 6.2 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party, then each Indemnifying Party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a
result of the expenses, claims, losses, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to in Section 6.1 or 6.2, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and the Holders of Registrable Securities (or Esch and/or Krassner, as
applicable, on behalf of affiliated Holders) on the other hand in connection
with statements or omissions which resulted in such expenses, claims, losses,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Holders of Registrable Securities (or Esch and/or Krassner, as applicable, on
behalf of affiliated Holders) and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue
statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6.4 were to be
determined by pro rata allocation (even if all Holders of Registrable Securities
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to in the first sentence of this Section 6.4. The amount paid by an
Indemnified Party as a result of the expenses, claims, losses, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to in the
first sentence of this Section 6.4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any claim, action or proceeding which is the subject
of this Section 6.4. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The obligations of Holders of Registrable
Securities (or Esch and/or Krassner, as applicable, on behalf of affiliated
Holders) to contribute pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be several in
proportion to the respective amount of Registrable Securities sold by them and
their Affiliates pursuant to a registration statement, and shall be limited to
an amount equal to the net proceeds to each such Holder of Registrable
Securities and his Affiliates sold pursuant to such registration
statement.
Article
7
RULE 144
REPORTING
With a
view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the
Commission that may at any time permit the sale of securities of the Company to
the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its commercially
reasonable efforts to (i) make and keep public information regarding the Company
available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, at all times
after the date hereof; and (ii) file with the Commission in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act, in each case until the earlier of (A) six months after such
date as all of the Registerable Securities may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 or
any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as all of the Registerable
Securities shall have been sold by the Holders.
Article
8
TRANSFER
OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The
rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities under Sections
2.1 and 2.2 of this Agreement, together with all related rights and obligations,
may be assigned by a Holder to an Affiliate of such Holder; provided, however,
that (A) the right to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities under
Section 2.1 may only be held by one person or entity with respect to the
Registrable Securities owned by him or it, (B) the transferor shall furnish to
the Company written notice of the name and address of such transferee or
assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are
being assigned prior to such transfer and (C) such transferee shall agree
in writing to be subject to all applicable restrictions set forth in this
Agreement. In each case, such rights may only be transferred together
with the underlying Registrable Securities in a transfer permitted by the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Subject to the
foregoing provision, any such permitted transferee or assignee shall be deemed a
Holder hereunder.
Article
9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Governing
Law; Forum. The laws of the State of New York shall govern the
interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement,
regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of
law. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to submit to the
personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the State of New
York, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court, and agrees not to bring any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each of the
parties to this Agreement agrees not to assert in any action or proceeding
arising out of relating to this Agreement that the venue is improper, and waives
any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding
so brought and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required
of any other party with respect thereto. Each of the parties hereto
waives any right to request a trial by jury in any litigation with respect to
this Agreement and represents that counsel has been consulted specifically as to
this waiver.
9.2 Effectiveness;
Termination.
(a) This
Agreement shall become effective upon the Closing of the transactions under the
Purchase Agreement. In no event shall this Agreement be effective, nor shall any
rights or obligations hereunder apply, prior to the Closing.
(b) This
Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder (other than Article 6 which
shall survive) shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) eight (8) years following
the date hereof or (b) at such time as the Selling Shareholders and their
Affiliates no longer hold any Seller NCEH Shares.
9.4 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire
understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subject
matter hereof.
9.5 Notices.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be made
in writing and shall be deemed given (i) when made if made by hand delivery,
(ii) one business day after being deposited with an overnight courier if made by
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, (iii) on the date indicated on the
notice of receipt if made by first-class mail, return receipt requested or (iv)
on the date of confirmation of receipt of transmission by facsimile, addressed
as follows:
(a) if
to the Company, at
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75230
Facsimile:
(214) 661-7475
Attention: Chief
Financial Officer
with a
copy to:
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park
Avenue Tower
65 East
55th
Street
New York,
NY 10022
Facsimile: (212)
451-2222
Attention: Steve
Wolosky, Esq.
(b) if
to a Holder, to the address reflected on the records of the Company, or such
other address or addresses as shall have been furnished in writing by such party
to the Company and to the other parties to this Agreement.
9.6 Severability. The
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of one or more of the provisions of
this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the
validity, legality or enforceability of this Agreement, including any such
provision, in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
9.7 Titles
and Subtitles. The titles of the articles, sections and subsections
of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.
9.8 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, but all of which together constitute one instrument.
9.9 Amendment
and Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented in any respect only by written agreement by the Company and Holders
representing at least a majority of the Registrable Securities, voting together
as a single class; provided, that no such amendment shall unfairly discriminate
against a particular Holder relative to the other Holders. Any action
taken by the Holders, as provided in this Section 9.9, shall bind all
Holders.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto affixed their
signatures.
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NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
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By:
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/s/
Mark Schwarz |
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Name:
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Mark
Schwarz |
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Title:
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Acting
Chief Executive Officer |
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LOREX
INVESTMENTS AG
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By:
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/s/
Peter Marty |
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Name:
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Peter
Marty |
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Title:
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Board
of Directors |
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KRASSNER
FAMILY INVESTMENTS, L.P
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By:
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/s/
Brad Krassner
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Name:
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Brad
Krassner
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Title:
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General
Partner |
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ANNEX
A
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We are
registering the shares offered by this prospectus on behalf of the selling
shareholders. The selling shareholders, which as used herein includes donees,
pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common
stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this
prospectus from a selling shareholder as a gift, pledge, partnership
distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in
shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on
which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These
dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of
sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices
determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
The
selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when
disposing of shares or interests therein:
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·
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
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block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
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purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
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an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
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privately
negotiated transactions;
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·
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through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions,
whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
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broker-dealers
may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such
shares at a stipulated price per
share;
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·
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a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
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·
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
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The
selling shareholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest
in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default
in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties
may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this
prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or
other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling
shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest
as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling
shareholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other
circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in
interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
In
connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling
shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common
stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling
shareholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The
selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such
transaction).
The
aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholders from the sale of the common stock
offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or
commissions, if any. Each of the selling shareholders reserves the
right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in
whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or
through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this
offering.
The
selling shareholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open
market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933,
provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that
rule.
The
selling shareholders and any broker-dealers that act in connection with the sale
of securities might be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, and any commissions received by such
broker-dealers and any profit on the resale of the securities sold by them while
acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions
under the Securities Act of 1933.
To the
extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the
selling shareholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices,
the names of any agent, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable commissions or
discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an
accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus.
In order
to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common
stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may
not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption
from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.
We have
advised the selling shareholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation
M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the
activities of the selling shareholders and their Affiliates. In
addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or
amended from time to time) available to the selling shareholders for the purpose
of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of
1933. The selling shareholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act.
We have
agreed to indemnify the Selling shareholders against liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and state securities laws, relating
to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.
We have
agreed with the selling shareholders to keep the registration statement that
includes this prospectus effective until the earlier of (1) six months following
the effective date of registration statement and (2) such time as all shares of
common stock covered by this prospectus have been sold.
Annex
C
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”)
is entered into as of the 25th day of August, 2008, by and between New Century Equity Holdings
Corp., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and Newcastle Partners,
L.P., a Texas limited partnership (the “Purchaser”).
R E C I T A L S
:
WHEREAS, concurrently
herewith, the Company is entering into an acquisition transaction to purchase
Wilhelmina International, Inc. and its affiliated companies (collectively, the
“Wilhelmina
Companies”) pursuant to an Agreement dated the date hereof between the
Company, the Wilhelmina Companies and the equityholders (the “Sellers”)
of the Wilhelmina Companies (such agreement, the “Wilhelmina
Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Company will
require additional financing (the “Additional
Financing”) to
complete the transactions contemplated by the Wilhelmina Agreement under its
terms; and
WHEREAS, in connection with
entering into the Wilhelmina Agreement, the Sellers have (i) expressed the
desire for certainty with respect to completion of the transactions contemplated
by the Wilhelmina Agreement and (ii) opposed the inclusion of a financing
contingency in the Wilhelmina Agreement in favor of the Company;
and
WHEREAS, in these
circumstances, in order to facilitate a successful closing under the
Wilhelmina Agreement, the Company has also sought to secure prior to execution
of the Wilhelmina Agreement the Additional Financing; and
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires
to (i) purchase $3,000,000 of shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of the
Company (“Common
Stock”) at the Closing (as defined below) and (ii) commit to provide an
additional $2,000,000 in equity financing for a period of six (6) months
following the Closing, in each case at a per share price equal to NCEH Book
Value Per Share (for purposes of this Agreement, NCEH Book Value Per Share shall
have the same meaning as defined in the Wilhelmina Agreement, provided that
clause (b) of the definition set forth in the Wilhelmina Agreement shall be
excluded); and
WHEREAS, an independent
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has been formed to review,
negotiate and approve the terms of such Additional Financing pursuant to this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises hereinafter set
forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION
1. AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE; COMMITMENT
1.1 Sale and
Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the
Closing, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the
Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to (x) $3,000,000 divided by (y) NCEH Book Value Per Share (the
“Shares”)
for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000 (the “Purchase
Price”).
1.2 Commitment. In
addition, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Purchaser commits to
purchase, at the Company’s election from time to time and at any time at or
following the Closing, up to an aggregate of $2,000,000 (the “Commitment
Amount”) in shares of Common Stock at a price per share equal to NCEH
Book Value Per Share (any such shares purchased and sold, “Additional
Shares”); provided that Purchaser shall have no obligation to purchase
any shares of Common Stock (whether or not any Additional Shares were previously
purchased and sold) on or following the date that is six (6) months following
the Closing (the “Commitment End
Date”). The period between Closing and the Commitment End Date
is referred to as the “Commitment
Period.”
1.3 Rights. Any
issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock to the Purchaser under this
Agreement shall also include the associated share purchase rights issued under
the Rights Agreement dated as of July 10, 2006 between the Company and The Bank
of New York Trust Company (the “Rights”),
on a one-for-one basis.
SECTION
2. CLOSING, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT
2.1 Closing of the Shares
Purchase. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares
hereunder (the “Closing”) shall take place
substantially concurrently with the closing of the transactions under the
Wilhelmina Agreement, or at such other time or place as the Company and the
Purchaser may mutually agree (the date of the Closing, the “Closing
Date”). At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, the Company will issue, sell and deliver to the Purchaser the Shares,
against payment of the Purchase Price by certified check or wire transfer of
immediately available funds. At that time, the Company and the
Purchaser shall also execute and deliver the registration rights agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”).
2.2 Additional
Closings. The closing of each purchase and sale of Additional
Shares, if any, pursuant to the Purchaser’s commitment under Section 1.2 (each
an “Additional
Closing”) shall take place no later than five Business Days (as defined
below) following the Company’s delivery of written notice to Purchaser
specifying the number of Additional Shares the Company elects to sell to
Purchaser (not to exceed an aggregate of $2,000,000 in shares at the per share
price of NCEH Book Value Per Share with respect to all such Additional
Closings). At each Additional Closing, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Company will issue, sell and deliver to the Purchaser the
applicable number of Additional Shares, against payment of the purchase price by
certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds. The
date of each Additional Closing shall be a Business Day. In this
Agreement, a “Business
Day” is any Monday through Friday other than a day on which banks in the
State of Texas are authorized to be closed.
SECTION
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The
Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser, as
follows:
3.1 Organization, Good Standing and
Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. The Company’s only active subsidiaries are the subsidiaries
listed on Schedule 3.1
(the “Subsidiaries”). Except
as indicated on Schedule
3.1, each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of
the Company and the Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and authority
to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as
presently conducted. The Company has all requisite corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, when executed, the
Registration Rights Agreement (together with this Agreement and any other
document or agreement executed by parties hereto in connection with any purchase
and sale of Additional Shares hereunder, the “Transaction
Documents”), to issue and sell the Shares and Additional Shares (if any)
and to carry out the provisions of the Transaction Documents. Each of
the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified and authorized to do
business, or registered as a foreign corporation, and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its activities and of its properties
(both owned and leased) makes such qualification necessary, except for those
jurisdictions in which failure to be so qualified or registered would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company and the Subsidiaries or their business,
taken as a whole.
3.2 Capitalization. The
Company is authorized to issue 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which
53,883,872 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 or in the
Company’s current, quarterly, annual and other periodic filings (the “SEC
Reports”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”),
there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire any of the
Company’s capital stock, or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable
for the Company’s capital stock or for securities themselves convertible,
exercisable or exchangeable for the Company’s capital stock (together, “Convertible
Securities”). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 or in the SEC
Reports or pursuant to this Agreement or the Wilhelmina Agreement, the Company
has no agreement or commitment to sell or issue any shares of capital stock or
Convertible Securities. All issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, (ii) are fully paid and
nonassessable, (iii) are free from any preemptive and cumulative voting rights
and (iv) were issued pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with
the Commission and applicable state securities authorities or pursuant to valid
exemptions under federal and state securities laws. Except as set
forth on Schedule 3.2
or in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding rights of first refusal or proxy
or shareholder agreements of any kind relating to any of the Company’s
securities to which the Company is a party or as to which the Company has
received written notice. When issued hereunder, the Shares and
Additional Shares (if any) will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable,
and will be free of any liens or encumbrances; provided, however, that the Shares and
Additional Shares (if any) may be subject to restrictions on transfer under
state and/or federal securities laws as set forth herein or as otherwise
required by such laws at the time a transfer is proposed.
3.3 Authorization; Binding Obligations.
All corporate action on the part of the Company and its directors
(including a special committee of independent directors) necessary for the
authorization of the Transaction Documents and the performance of all
obligations of the Company hereunder and thereunder at the Closing, including
the authorization, sale, issuance and delivery of the Shares and Additional
Shares (if any), has been taken, and no further corporate action is required to
be taken. The Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered,
will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as limited by (i)
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of
general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and (ii) general
principles of equity, including those that restrict the availability of
equitable remedies, and except that the enforceability of indemnification
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable
laws and public policy. The issuance and sale of the Shares and
Additional Shares (if any) are not and will not be subject to any preemptive
rights or rights of first refusal.
3.4 No Conflicts. The
execution and delivery of, and the performance of and compliance with the
transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents, including the issuance
and sale of the Shares and Additional Shares (if any), will not, with or without
the passage of time or giving of notice or both, conflict with, constitute a
violation or default under, or result in the creation of any mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance or charge upon any of the properties or assets of the Company
or any Subsidiary pursuant to, (i) the Company’s currently effective Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws, (ii) any provision of any mortgage, indenture,
contract, agreement or instrument to which it is party or by which it is bound,
(iii) any judgment, decree, order, writ, statute, rule or regulation applicable
to the Company or any Subsidiary or any permit, license, authorization or
approval applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except (in the case of
(ii) and (iii)) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities,
condition (financial or otherwise), or results of operations of the Company and
the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
3.5 Reporting
Status. The Company has filed all documents that the Company
was required to file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange
Act”), during
the 12 months preceding the date of this Agreement. The SEC Reports
complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as
of their respective filing dates, and the information contained therein as of
the date thereof did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
3.6 No Material Adverse
Change. Since March 31, 2008, and except as disclosed in the
SEC Reports, there has not been any material adverse change in the business,
assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), or results of
operations of the Company.
3.7 Private
Offering. Assuming the truth and accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 4, the
offer, sale and issuance of the Shares and Additional Shares (if any) will be
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities
Act”), and will be exempt from registration and qualification under the
registration, permit or qualification requirements of the State of
Texas.
3.8 No General Solicitation.
Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or
their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general
advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in
connection with the offer or sale of the Shares and Additional Shares (if
any).
3.9 Acknowledgment Regarding the
Purchaser's Role. The Company acknowledges that the Purchaser is not
acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar
capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by the Purchaser or any of
its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the
Purchaser’s purchase of the Shares and Additional Shares (if
any). The Company further represents to the Purchaser that the
Company's decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely
on the independent evaluation by the Company and its
representatives.
SECTION
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER
The
Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company, and agrees, as
follows:
4.1 Investment
Representations. The Purchaser understands that neither the
offer nor the sale of the Shares or Additional Shares (if any) has been
registered under the Securities Act. The Purchaser also understands
that the Shares and Additional Shares (if any) are being offered and sold
pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in the Securities Act based
in part upon the Purchaser’s representations contained in the
Agreement. The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants as
follows:
(a) Purchaser Bears Economic Risk.
The Purchaser has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in
private placement transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company
so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in
the Company and has the capacity to protect its own interests. The
Purchaser must bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares and
Additional Shares (if any) indefinitely unless the Shares or Additional Shares
(if any), as the case may be, are subsequently registered pursuant to the
Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available. Except
as may be contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement (when executed), the
Purchaser has no present intention of selling or otherwise transferring the
Shares or Additional Shares (if any) or any interest therein. The
Purchaser understands that there is no assurance that any exemption from
registration under the Securities Act will be available and that, even if
available, such exemption may not allow the Purchaser to transfer all or any
portion of the Shares or Additional Shares (if any) under the circumstances, in
the amounts or at the times the Purchaser might propose.
(b) Acquisition for Own
Account. Except as may be contemplated by the Registration
Rights Agreement (when executed), the Purchaser is acquiring the Shares and
Additional Shares (if any) for the Purchaser’s own account for investment only,
and not with a view towards their public distribution.
(c) Purchaser Can Protect Its
Interest. By reason of its, or of its management’s business or
financial experience, the Purchaser has the capacity to protect its own
interests in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and
the Registration Rights Agreement. Further, the Purchaser is aware of
no publication of any advertisement or general solicitation in connection with
the transactions contemplated in the Agreement.
(d) Accredited
Investor. The Purchaser is an accredited investor within the
meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(e) Residence. The
Purchaser is organized under the laws of the State of Texas and its principal
office is located in the State of Texas.
(f) Rule 144. The
Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, when issued, the Shares and Additional
Shares (if any) must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently
registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is
available. The Purchaser has been advised or is aware of the
provisions of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits
limited resale of shares purchased in a private placement subject to the
satisfaction of specified conditions.
(g) Access To
Information. The Purchaser has had an opportunity to discuss
the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with the Company’s
management and to review the Company’s facilities. The Purchaser
acknowledges that the Company has given the Purchaser access to the corporate
records and accounts of the Company, has made its officers and representatives
available for interview by the Purchaser and has furnished the Purchaser with
all documents and other information requested by the Purchaser to make an
informed decision with respect to the purchase of the Shares and Additional
Shares (if any).
4.2 Transfer Restrictions. The
Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, when issued, the Shares and Additional
Shares (if any) are subject to restrictions on transfer and will bear
restrictive legends.
4.3 Organization;
Authorization; Binding Obligations. The Purchaser
is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Texas. The Purchaser has all requisite
limited partnership power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
the Registration Rights Agreement and any other Transaction Documents and to
carry out its obligations under the provisions of such
documents. This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and
any other Transaction Documents, when executed and delivered, will be valid and
binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in
accordance with their respective terms, except as limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general
application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and (ii) general
principles of equity, including those that restrict the availability of
equitable remedies, and except that the enforceability of the indemnification
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable
laws and public policy.
SECTION
5. CONDITIONS FOR CLOSING
5.1 Conditions to each party’s
obligations with respect to the Shares. The obligation of each
party to close the purchase and sale of the Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions at or prior to
Closing:
(a) The
conditions to the Company’s obligations to close the transactions under the
Wilhelmina Agreement shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company, to the extent
capable of being waived under law), and the closing of the transactions under
the Wilhelmina Agreement shall occur substantially concurrently with the Closing
hereunder.
(b) There
shall not be any law, regulation or order enacted, entered, promulgated,
enforced or issued by any governmental authority or court or other legal
restraint preventing, prohibiting or rendering illegal the consummation of the
transactions under this Agreement.
(c) There
shall not be any legal proceedings or order seeking to restrain or to invalidate
the transactions contemplated hereunder, which, if resolved unfavorably, could
reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Purchaser
or the Company (giving effect to the closing of the transactions under the
Wilhelmina Agreement).
5.2 Conditions to the Company’s
obligations with respect to the Shares. The obligation of the
Company to close the sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement is
subject to satisfaction of the following conditions at or prior to
Closing:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Article 4 of this
Agreement (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein
regarding materiality or a material adverse effect) shall be true and correct as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and
as of such date, except for changes contemplated by this Agreement (unless any
such representation or warranty is made only as of a specific date, in which
event such representation or warranty shall be true and correct only as of such
specific date); provided, that this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied
unless all such failures of the representations and warranties to be true and
correct, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
prevent or materially delay the closing of the transactions under this
Agreement.
(b) The
Purchaser shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations
under this Agreement.
(c) The
Purchaser shall have executed and delivered to the Company at the Closing the
Registration Rights Agreement and any other Transaction Documents required of
the Purchaser to be executed and delivered at the Closing.
5.3 Conditions to Purchaser’s obligations
with respect to the Shares. The obligation of Purchaser to
close the purchase of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement is subject to
satisfaction of the following conditions at or prior to Closing:
(a) The
Company shall have executed and delivered to the Purchaser at the Closing the
Registration Rights Agreement and any other Transaction Documents
required of the Company to be executed and delivered at the
Closing.
(b) The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Article 3 of this
Agreement (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein
regarding materiality or a material adverse effect) shall be true and correct as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and
as of such date, except for changes contemplated by this Agreement (unless any
such representation or warranty is made only as of a specific date, in which
event such representation or warranty shall be true and correct only as of such
specific date); provided, that this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied
unless all such failures of the representations and warranties to be true and
correct, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), or results of operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) The
Company shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations under
this Agreement.
5.4 Conditions to Purchaser’s obligations
with respect to Additional Shares. The obligation of the
Purchaser to close the sale of any Additional Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions as of the
date of each Additional Closing:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Article 3 of this
Agreement (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein
regarding materiality or a material adverse effect) shall be true and correct as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of the applicable Additional
Closing as though made on and as of such date, except for changes contemplated
by this Agreement (unless any such representation or warranty is made only as of
a specific date, in which event such representation or warranty shall be true
and correct only as of such specific date); provided, that this condition shall
be deemed to be satisfied unless all such failures of the representations and
warranties to be true and correct would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), or results of
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) The
Company shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations under
this Agreement.
(c) The
conditions set forth in Section 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) shall be satisfied as of the
date of the applicable Additional Closing.
5.5 Conditions to the Company’s
obligations with respect to Additional Shares. The obligation
of the Company to close the sale of any Additional Shares as contemplated by
this Agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions as of the
date of each Additional Closing:
(a) The
representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Article 4 of this
Agreement (disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein
regarding materiality or a material adverse effect) shall be true and correct as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of the applicable Additional
Closing as though made on and as of such date, except for changes contemplated
by this Agreement (unless any such representation or warranty is made only as of
a specific date, in which event such representation or warranty shall be true
and correct only as of such specific date); provided, that this condition shall
be deemed to be satisfied unless all such failures of the representations and
warranties to be true and correct, would, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the closing of the
transactions under this Agreement.
(b) The
Purchaser shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations
under this Agreement.
(c) The
conditions set forth in Section 5.1(b) and 5.1(c) shall be satisfied as of the
date of the applicable Additional Closing.
SECTION
6. COVENANTS
6.1 Use of
Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of
the Shares to fund the purchase price to acquire the Wilhelmina Companies and
the proceeds from the sale of the Additional Shares (if any) for other general
corporate purposes.
6.2 No Integrated
Offering. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries, their
affiliates or any person acting on their behalf will make any offers or sales of
any security or solicit any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that
would require registration of any of the Shares or Additional Shares (if any)
under the Securities Act or cause the offering of the Shares or Additional
Shares (if any) to be integrated with other offerings.
6.3 Further
Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be
done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as
the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
7. MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to conflicts of law principles.
7.2 Termination. If the
Closing under this Agreement has not occurred, this Agreement shall terminate
upon termination of the Wilhelmina Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, the commitment set forth in Section 1.2 shall
terminate as of the Commitment End Date.
7.3 Survival. The
representations and warranties made herein shall survive the Closing for a
period of two (2) years following the Closing Date; provided that the
representations set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.3 and 4.3 shall survive
indefinitely. The covenants and agreements contained herein shall survive in
accordance with their terms. All statements as to factual matters contained in
any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of either party
pursuant hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
deemed to be representations and warranties by that party hereunder solely as of
the date of such certificate or instrument.
7.4 Successors and
Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the
provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties hereto
and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be
a holder of the Shares or Additional Shares (if any) from time to
time. A party shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party;
provided that the Purchaser may assign some or all of its rights hereunder
without the consent of the Company to an affiliate of Purchaser.
7.5 Entire
Agreement. The Transaction Documents and the other documents
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and
thereof, and neither party shall be liable or bound to the other in any manner
by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements, except as
specifically set forth herein and therein.
7.6 Severability. The
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of one or more of the provisions of
this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the
validity, legality or enforceability of this Agreement, including any such
provision, in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
7.7 Amendment and
Waiver. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and any
provision hereunder may be waived, only upon the written consent of the Company
and the Purchaser.
7.8 Notices. All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be made in
writing and shall be deemed given (i) when made if made by hand delivery, (ii)
one business day after being deposited with an overnight courier if made by
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, (iii) on the date indicated on the
notice of receipt if made by first-class mail, return receipt requested or (iv)
on the date of confirmation of receipt of transmission by facsimile, addressed
as follows:
(a) if
to the Company, at
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
Facsimile:
(214) 661-7475
Attention: Chief
Financial Officer
with a
copy to:
Gardere
Wynne Sewell LLP
1601 Elm
Street, Suite 3000
Dallas,
TX 75201-4761
Facsimile:
(214) 999-3683
Attention:
Alan J. Perkins, Esq.
(b) if
to the Purchaser, in care of:
Newcastle
Partners, L.P.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
TX 75201
Facsimile: (214)
661-7475
Attention: Evan
D. Stone, Esq.
7.9 Indemnification. Each
party (as such, the “Indemnifying
Party”) agrees to indemnify and hold the other party (as such, the “Indemnified
Party”) harmless against any loss, liability, damage or expense
(including reasonable legal fees and costs) that the Indemnified Party may
suffer, sustain or become subject to as a result of or in connection with the
breach by the Indemnifying Party of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement of the Indemnifying Party contained in any of the Transaction
Documents; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be
required hereunder for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Indemnified Party or breach by the Indemnified Party of any of its
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. In case
any such third-party action is brought against the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate in and assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and after
notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible for
any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense thereof; provided, that if the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more
legal defenses available to the Indemnified Party which conflict in any material
respect with those available to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party
shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of the
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall reimburse the Indemnified
Party for that portion of the fees and expenses of one counsel retained by the
Indemnified Party.
7.10 Interpretation. The
titles of the sections and subsections of the Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and are not to be considered in construing this
Agreement. In this Agreement, (a) “including”
does not denote or imply any limitation, and (b) “person”
refers to any individual or any legal entity or organization.
7.11 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be delivered via facsimile or other means of electronic
communication, and may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one
instrument.
[Signature
page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have hereunto affixed their signatures.
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
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|
Newcastle
Partners, L.P.
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|
|
By:
Newcastle Capital Management, L.P.
|
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its
General Partner
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By
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/s/
John Murray |
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By
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/s/
Mark Schwarz |
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Its
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
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Its
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
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Annex D
MUTUAL
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This
MUTUAL SUPPORT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of August 25, 2008 (the
“Effective Date”) is entered into by and among Newcastle Partners, L.P.
(“Newcastle”), Dieter Esch (“Esch”), Lorex Investments AG (“Lorex”), Brad
Krassner (“Krassner”) and the Krassner Family Investments, L.P. (“Krassner
L.P.”) (each of Esch, Lorex, Krassner and the Krassner L.P., a “Selling Party”
and, collectively, the “Selling Parties”).
WHEREAS,
concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Selling
Parties, together with New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (including any
successor thereto, “New Century”), Wilhelmina International, Ltd. (“Wilhelmina
International”) and certain persons and entities affiliated with New Century and
Wilhelmina International, are entering into an agreement (the “Purchase
Agreement”), which Purchase Agreement provides, among other things, for the
merger of Wilhelmina International with a subsidiary of New Century and the sale
of the outstanding equity and/or membership interests of entities affiliated
with Wilhelmina International to New Century;
WHEREAS,
as of the date hereof, Newcastle is the beneficial owner of such number of
shares of common stock of New Century, par value $.01 (the “NCEH Common Stock”),
opposite Newcastle’s name set forth on Exhibit I hereto (shares of NCEH Common
Stock beneficially owned by Newcastle, the “Newcastle NCEH
Shares”);
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, upon the Closing (as defined in
the Purchase Agreement) the Selling Parties will be beneficial owners of shares
of NCEH Common Stock (shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Selling
Parties and any of their Affiliates at any time following the Closing, the
“Seller NCEH Shares”);
WHEREAS,
as a material inducement and condition to their respective willingness to enter
into the Purchase Agreement and/or this Agreement, the Selling Parties and
Newcastle have required that certain matters be agreed and set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS,
capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings attributed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements set forth below,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
|
A.
|
Newcastle
and each of the Selling Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable
efforts to cause their representatives on the Board of Directors of New
Century to vote to nominate and recommend the election of the following
persons to be members of the Board of Directors at each meeting of New
Century’s Board of Directors, and at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, relating to the
nomination of directors:
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|
1.
|
Three
NP Representatives. An “NP Representative” means (i) Mark E.
Schwarz (“Schwarz”), (ii) any then current employee of Newcastle,
Newcastle Capital Management, L.P. or their affiliated investment funds or
management companies (the individuals described in this clause
(ii), combined with Schwarz, the “Newcastle Employee Representatives”) and
(iii) any other individual designated in writing by Newcastle as an “NP
Representative”.
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|
2.
|
One
Esch Representative. The “Esch Representative” means (i) with
respect to an individual to be elected at the annual meeting, an
individual (who may be Esch) designated in writing by Esch or (ii) with
respect to an individual to be appointed to fill any vacancy on the Board
of Directors caused by the removal of the Esch Representative, an
individual (who may be Esch) designated in writing by Esch;
and
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|
3.
|
One
Krassner Representative. The “Krassner Representative” means
(i) with respect to an individual to be elected at the annual meeting, (a)
an individual (who may be Krassner) designated in writing by Krassner or
(b) if no such designation was made, Derek Fromm, or (ii) with respect to
an individual to be appointed to fill any vacancy on the Board of
Directors caused by the removal of the Krassner Representative, an
individual (who may be Krassner) designated in writing by
Krassner. The “Seller Representative” shall mean either the
Esch Representative or the Krassner Representative and the “Seller
Representatives” shall mean both the Krassner Representative and the Esch
Representative.
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|
B.
|
In
the event that New Century’s Board of Directors will name persons to its
Board of Directors without stockholder approval, Newcastle and each of the
Selling Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to
cause their representatives on the Board of Directors of New Century to
vote to name directors such that the composition of the Board of Directors
includes the persons provided for in Section
IA. In the event of a vacancy on New Century’s Board of
Directors caused by the death, incapacity, resignation or removal of an
individual designated pursuant to Section IA and which the Board of
Directors will fill, Newcastle and each of the Selling Parties agree to
use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause their representatives
on the Board of Directors of New Century to vote to appoint a director
designated by the relevant party who would be entitled to select the
nominee pursuant to Section IA.
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|
C.
|
Each
party designating a nominee to New Century’s Board of Directors pursuant
to Section IA shall provide written notice to New Century of its
designation at least ten (10) days prior to the date the New Century Board
of Directors is scheduled to make such
nominations.
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|
D.
|
For
a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date, the parties hereto
agree that they will vote to, and that they will use their commercially
reasonable efforts to cause their representatives to the New Century Board
of Directors to, vote to maintain the size of its Board of Directors at no
more than nine (9) persons, unless the NP Representatives, the Esch
Representatives and the Krassner Representatives agree that the Board of
Directors can be expanded in excess of nine (9). The parties
understand and agree that the size of the New Century Board of Directors
as of the closing of the transactions under the Purchase Agreement shall
be seven (7) or eight (8) (as determined by New
Century).
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|
E.
|
The
provisions of this Section I shall become effective only upon the
occurrence of the Closing
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II.
|
Voting of Newcastle
NCEH Shares for Stockholder
Approvals.
|
|
A.
|
Newcastle
hereby agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) at any meeting of the
stockholders of New Century, and at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, all of the
Newcastle NCEH Shares which Newcastle and its affiliates have the right to
so vote in favor of the Stockholder Approvals (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) and any actions required in furtherance
thereof.
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|
B.
|
In
addition, from the Effective Date hereof and until the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section X, Newcastle hereby agrees to vote (or cause
to be voted) at any meeting of the stockholders of New Century, and at any
adjournment or adjournments thereof, or pursuant to any action by written
consent in lieu of a meeting, all of the Newcastle NCEH Shares which
Newcastle and its affiliates have the right to so vote against, and agrees
to cause the NP Representatives to vote against, any action or agreement
that could reasonably be expected to result in a breach in any material
respect of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other
obligation of New Century under the Purchase Agreement or any other
material binding agreement entered into in connection
therewith.
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|
C.
|
In
furtherance of Newcastle’s agreement above, Newcastle hereby irrevocably
(until the Closing Date) grants to, and appoints, Derek Fromm (agent for
the Selling Parties) and any designee of the Selling Parties, as
Newcastle’s attorney, agent and proxy, with full power of substitution, to
vote and otherwise act with respect to all of Newcastle’s Newcastle NCEH
Shares at any meeting of the stockholders of New Century (whether annual
or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting), and in
any action by written consent of the stockholders of New Century, on the
matters and in the manner specified in Section II-A and Section II-B
above. THE
FOREGOING PROXY AND POWER OF ATTORNEY ARE IRREVOCABLE (UNTIL THE CLOSING
DATE) AND COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST SUFFICIENT IN LAW TO SUPPORT AN
IRREVOCABLE PROXY. If the transactions under the
Purchase Agreement are consummated, the proxy set forth in this Section
II-C shall be revoked and shall terminate as of the Closing Date; provided
that the foregoing shall not affect the obligations set forth in Section
II-B above. The obligations set forth in Section II-A shall
terminate as of the Closing Date.
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|
D.
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit
the rights and obligations of any officer of Newcastle in his capacity as
a director of New Century from taking any action in his capacity as a
director of New Century that the New Century’s Board of Directors is
expressly permitted to take pursuant to the terms of the Purchase
Agreement, and no such action taken by an officer of Newcastle in any such
capacity shall be deemed to constitute a breach of any provision of this
Agreement.
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III.
|
Voting of Sellers’
NCEH Shares Consistent with Article
I-A.
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|
A.
|
At
any vote of the stockholders of New Century (whether at any meeting, or at
any adjournment or adjournments thereof, or pursuant to any action by
written consent in lieu of a meeting) pursuant to which New Century
directors are to be elected, each Selling Party agrees to vote (or cause
to be voted) all Seller NCEH Shares which such Selling Party has the right
to vote in favor of the required number of NP Representatives, Esch
Representatives and Krassner Representatives pursuant to Article I-A or,
if the entire Board is not then up for election, in favor of the
applicable individual(s) such that the composition of the Board of
Directors would include the required number of NP
Representatives, Esch Representatives and Krassner Representatives
pursuant to Article I-A.
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|
B.
|
Selling
Parties shall vote, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Seller Representatives and any other representative thereof to so
vote, in favor of (a) the nomination and/or appointment of individuals to
the Board of Directors in a manner consistent with the provisions of
Section I-A above and (b) if Newcastle so requests in writing to the
Selling Parties, the calling of a meeting or other action to effect the
removal of such NP Representative(s) requested by Newcastle, in any New
Century Board of Directors meeting in which any Selling Party, the Seller
Representative or any other representative of Selling Party has a
vote.
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|
1.
|
At
any vote of the stockholders of New Century (whether at any annual,
special or other stockholder meeting, or at any adjournment or
adjournments thereof, or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting)
pursuant to which a NP Representative is to be removed, each Selling Party
agrees to vote all Seller NCEH Shares which such Selling Party has the
right to so vote in favor of the removal of such individual, if Newcastle
votes its Newcastle NCEH Shares in favor of such
removal.
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|
2.
|
The
Selling Parties shall not propose, and shall use their respective
commercially reasonable efforts not to permit (and shall vote all Seller
NCEH Shares against), any amendment to New Century’s Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws or the adoption of any other corporate measure,
which frustrates or circumvents the purpose or intent of the foregoing
provisions of this Section III, including but not limited to any amendment
that conflicts with or otherwise restricts any provisions of this Section
III. The Selling Parties further agree not to seek to advise, encourage or
influence (or form, join or in any way participate in any “group” or act
in concert with) any other Person with respect to the voting of any New
Century voting securities in a manner that frustrates or circumvents the
purpose or intent of this Section
III.
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|
D.
|
Any
vote required to be cast or consent required to be executed pursuant to
this Section III shall be cast or executed in accordance with the
applicable procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly
counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present (if
applicable) and for purposes of recording the results of that vote or
action by written consent.
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|
E.
|
The
provisions of this Section III shall be effective only upon the occurrence
of the Closing.
|
IV.
|
Voting of Newcastle
NCEH Shares Consistent with Article
I-A.
|
|
A.
|
At
any vote of the stockholders of New Century (whether at any meeting, or at
any adjournment or adjournments thereof, or pursuant to any consent in
lieu of a meeting) pursuant to which New Century directors are to be
elected, Newcastle agrees to vote (or cause to be voted) all Newcastle
NCEH Shares which Newcastle has the right to so vote (i) in favor of the
required number of NP Representatives, Esch Representatives and Krassner
Representatives pursuant to Article I-A or, if the entire Board is not
then up for election, in favor of the applicable individual(s) such that
the composition of the Board of Directors would include the required
number of NP Representatives, Esch Representatives and Krassner
Representatives pursuant to Article
I-A.
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|
B.
|
Newcastle
shall vote, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the NP
Representatives and any other representative thereof to so vote, in favor
of (a) the nomination and/or appointment of individuals to the Board of
Directors in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section I-A above
and (b) if a Selling Party so requests in writing to Newcastle, the
calling of a meeting or other action to effect the removal of the
representative of such Selling Party requested by such Selling Party, in
any New Century Board of Directors meeting in which Newcastle, the NP
Representatives or any other representative of Newcastle has a
vote.
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|
1.
|
At
any vote of the stockholders of New Century (whether at any annual,
special or other stockholder meeting, or at any adjournment or
adjournments thereof, or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting)
pursuant to which any individual that was an Esch Representative or a
Krassner Representative at the time of his election to the Board of
Directors is to be removed, Newcastle agrees to vote all Newcastle NCEH
Shares which Newcastle has the right to so vote in favor of the removal of
such individual, if Esch or Krassner, as applicable, votes in favor of
such removal.
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|
2.
|
Newcastle
shall not propose, and shall use its respective commercially reasonable
efforts not to permit (and shall vote all Newcastle NCEH Shares against),
any amendment to New Century’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or
the adoption of any other corporate measure, which frustrates or
circumvents the purpose or intent of the foregoing provisions of this
Section IV, including but not limited to any amendment that conflicts with
or otherwise restricts any provisions of this Section
IV. Newcastle further agree not to seek to advise, encourage or
influence (or form, join or in any way participate in any “group” with or
act in concert with) any other Person with respect to the voting of any
New Century voting securities in a manner that frustrates or circumvents
the purpose or intent of this Section
IV.
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|
D.
|
Any
vote required to be cast or consent required to be executed pursuant
hereto shall be cast or executed in accordance with the applicable
procedures relating thereto so as to ensure that it is duly counted for
purposes of determining that a quorum is present (if applicable) and for
purposes of recording the results of that vote or
consent.
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|
E.
|
The
provisions of this Section IV shall be effective only upon the occurrence
of the Closing.
|
V.
|
Representations and
Warranties of Newcastle. Newcastle represents and
warrants to the Selling Parties as
follows:
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|
A.
|
Binding
Agreement. Newcastle is a limited partnership duly
formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Texas. Newcastle has the capacity to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Newcastle and the consummation by Newcastle of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
action of Newcastle, and no other action or proceedings are necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
Newcastle and the consummation by Newcastle of the transactions
contemplated hereby. Newcastle has duly and validly executed
and delivered this Agreement and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of Newcastle, enforceable against Newcastle in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable
principles.
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|
B.
|
No
Conflict. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Newcastle, the consummation by Newcastle of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the performance by Newcastle of its obligations
hereunder nor the compliance by Newcastle with any provisions hereof, will
(i) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under (A) its partnership or
limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or
(B) any material contract, agreement, instrument, commitment,
arrangement or understanding to which Newcastle is a party, or result in
the creation of any Lien with respect to Newcastle’s Newcastle NCEH
Shares, (ii) violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation, writ,
judgment, injunction or decree applicable to Newcastle or the
Newcastle NCEH Shares or (iii) require any consent, authorization or
approval with respect to Newcastle of any Person, including any
Governmental Authority, except in the case of clause (i)(B), (ii) or (iii)
for violations, breaches or defaults that would not in the aggregate
materially impair the ability of Newcastle to perform its obligations
hereunder.
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|
C.
|
Ownership of
Shares. Newcastle is the “beneficial owner” (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, which meaning will apply for all
purposes of this Agreement) of the Newcastle NCEH Shares listed opposite
Newcastle’s name on Exhibit I hereto, free and clear of any Liens
(including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose
of such Newcastle NCEH Shares), except as may exist by reason of this
Agreement or pursuant to applicable law. Except as provided for
or disclosed in this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the
transactions and other agreements contemplated hereby and thereby, there
are no outstanding options or other rights to acquire from Newcastle, or
obligations of Newcastle to sell or to dispose of, any Newcastle NCEH
Shares held by Newcastle or other equity interests of any kind in New
Century. As of the date of this Agreement, the number of shares
set forth opposite Newcastle’s name on Exhibit I hereto represents all of
the shares of capital stock of New Century beneficially owned by
Newcastle.
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|
D.
|
The
representations and warranties of New Century in the Purchase Agreement
are true and correct in all material respects as of the date
hereof.
|
VI.
|
Representations and
Warranties of the Selling Parties. Each Selling Party
represents and warrants to Newcastle as
follows:
|
|
A.
|
Binding
Agreement. Such Selling Party, if it is not a natural
person, is a limited partnership, limited liability company or other
business entity duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State or territory of its formation. Such
Selling Party has the capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Selling Party and the
consummation by such Selling Party of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action of such
Selling Party, and no other action or proceedings are necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
such Selling Party and the consummation by such Selling Party of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Such Selling Party has duly
and validly executed and delivered this Agreement and this Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Selling Party,
enforceable against such Selling Party in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and by general equitable
principles.
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|
B.
|
No
Conflict. Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by such Selling Party, the consummation by such Selling Party of
the transactions contemplated hereby, the performance by such Selling
Party of its obligations hereunder nor the compliance by such Selling
Party with any provisions hereof, will (i) result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under (A) its partnership or limited liability company agreement
or other organizational documents (if such Selling Party is not a natural
person) or (B) any material contract, agreement, instrument,
commitment, arrangement or understanding to which such Selling Party is a
party, or result in the creation of any Lien with respect to such Selling
Party’s Shares, (ii) violate or conflict with any law, rule, regulation,
writ, judgment, injunction or decree applicable to such Selling
Party or such Selling Party’s Shares or (iii) require any consent,
authorization or approval with respect to such Selling Party of any
Person, including any Governmental Authority, except in the case of clause
(i)(B), (ii) or (iii) for violations, breaches or defaults that would not
in the aggregate materially impair the ability of such Selling Party to
perform its or his obligations
hereunder.
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VII.
|
Transfer and Other
Restrictions.
|
|
A.
|
Prohibited Transfers by
Newcastle Prior to Closing. Prior to the Closing,
Newcastle agrees not to sell, sell short, transfer (including gift),
pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose (whether by sale,
liquidation, dissolution, dividend, distribution or otherwise) of, or
enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with
respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or other
disposition of, any Newcastle NCEH Shares or any interest contained
therein (each a “Transfer”) other than pursuant to this Agreement, unless
the Person to which such Newcastle NCEH Shares are to be Transferred
expressly agrees to be bound by this Agreement in a written instrument in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Selling
Parties.
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|
B.
|
Other Prohibited Transfers by
Newcastle. At any time this Agreement remains in effect,
Newcastle agrees not to:
|
|
1.
|
grant
any proxies or power of attorney or enter into a voting agreement or other
arrangement relating to the matters covered by Section II or Section IV,
with respect to any Newcastle NCEH Shares other than this
Agreement;
|
|
2.
|
deposit
any Newcastle NCEH Shares into a voting trust;
or
|
|
3.
|
knowingly,
directly or indirectly, take or cause the taking of any other action that
would restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of Newcastle’s
obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby, excluding
any bankruptcy filing.
|
|
C.
|
Certain Prohibited Transfers
by Selling Parties. At any time this Agreement remains
in effect, each Selling Party agrees not
to:
|
|
1.
|
grant
any proxies or power of attorney or enter into a voting agreement or other
arrangement relating to the matters covered by Section III hereof, with
respect to any Seller NCEH Shares other than this
Agreement;
|
|
2.
|
deposit
any Seller NCEH Shares into a voting trust;
or
|
|
3.
|
knowingly,
directly or indirectly, take or cause the taking of any other action that
would restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such Selling
Party’s obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby,
excluding any bankruptcy filing.
|
|
D.
|
Additional
Shares. In the event (i) of any stock dividend, stock
split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of
shares of capital stock of New Century on, of or affecting any parties’
shares of New Century or (ii) any party hereto shall become the beneficial
owner or record owner of any additional shares of capital stock of New
Century, or other securities entitling the holder thereof to vote or give
consent with respect to the matters set forth in Sections I-IV, then the
terms of this Agreement shall apply to the shares of capital stock or
other securities of New Century held by the applicable party immediately
following the effectiveness of the events described in clause (i), or such
party becoming the beneficial or record owner thereof, as described in
clause (ii), as the case may be. Newcastle and each Selling
Party hereby agree to promptly notify the other of any new New Century
shares acquired by such party after the date
hereof.
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|
1.
|
If,
following the Closing Date and until the first registration statement
containing Registrable Securities (as that term is defined the
Registration Rights Agreement, by and among New Century and the Selling
Parties, dated the date hereof) is declared effective (the “Registration
Trigger Date”), Newcastle or any of its affiliates desires to transfer,
directly or indirectly, any Newcastle NCEH Shares to a third-party
purchaser in a transaction or series of related transactions involving the
transfer of NCEH Shares owned by Newcastle or its affiliates
representing in the aggregate at least twenty percent (20%) of the shares
held by Newcastle at such time, Newcastle shall first give not less than
twenty (20) calendar days prior written notice to each of the Selling
Parties (the “Co-Sale Members”). Such notice (the “Co-Sale
Notice”) shall set forth the terms and conditions of such proposed
transfer, including the name of the proposed transferee, the number of
shares proposed to be sold (the “Co- Sale Shares”), the purchase price per
share proposed to be paid therefor and the payment terms and type of
transfer to be effectuated.
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|
2.
|
Within
ten (10) calendar days of delivery of the Co-Sale Notice by Newcastle,
each Co-Sale Member shall, by written notice to Newcastle, have the
opportunity and right to sell to the proposed transferee in such proposed
transfer (upon the same terms and conditions as Newcastle, subject to
Section 7-E(1)) up to that number of shares of NCEH Common Stock owned by
such Co-Sale Member as shall equal the product of (x) a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of Co-Sale Shares and the denominator of
which is the aggregate number of shares of NCEH Common Stock owned of
record by Newcastle as of the date of the Co-Sale Notice, multiplied by
(y) the number of shares of NCEH Common Stock owned of record by such
Co-Sale Member as of the date of the Co-Sale Notice. Such
written notice shall state the aggregate number of shares of NCEH Common
Stock that such Co-Sale Member proposes to include in such
Transfer.
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|
3.
|
If
any Co-Sale Member exercises its rights pursuant to this Section 7-E, then
Newcastle will attempt to obtain the same agreements and commitments from
the proposed transferee for the benefit of any such Co-Sale Member as
Newcastle obtained from the proposed transferee in respect of its transfer
of shares. To the extent Newcastle cannot obtain such
agreements and commitments from such proposed transferee, Newcastle and
the Co-Sale Members shall reduce the number of shares being sold by
Newcastle and Co-Sale Members such that Newcastle and the Co-Sale Members
sell a number of shares as is determined by multiplying (x) a fraction,
the numerator of which is equal to the number of shares each applicable
person (whether Newcastle or a Co-Sale Member) owns and the denominator of
which is the aggregate of the number of NCEH shares owned by Newcastle and
any Co-Sale Members that elected to participate in such Co-Sale times (y)
the total number of shares that such proposed transferee is in fact
acquiring from Newcastle and Co-Sale
Members.
|
|
4.
|
The
rights under this Section 7-E shall terminate on the Registration Trigger
Date.
|
VIII.
|
Public
Announcements.
|
The
parties shall not issue, or cause the publication of, any press release or other
public announcement with respect to the terms of this Agreement without the
prior approval of the other parties hereto, except to the extent required by law
or by any listing agreement with, or the policies of, a national securities
exchange and, in any such event, after reasonable prior notice to the other
party hereto.
IX.
|
Specific
Enforcement.
|
The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any
of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the
terms hereof or were otherwise breached and that each party shall be entitled to
specific performance of the terms hereof in addition to any other remedy which
may be available at law or in equity. The prevailing party in any
legal proceeding based upon this Agreement shall be entitled to reasonable
attorneys’ fees and court costs, in addition to any other recoveries allowed by
law.
|
A.
|
This
Agreement shall terminate (the “Termination Date”) on the earlier to occur
of (i) the date that a termination occurs pursuant to any two of the
following three sections: XIB(i), XIB(ii) and XIB(iii), (ii)
upon the written agreement of the Selling Parties and Newcastle to
terminate this Agreement or (iii) termination of the Purchase
Agreement.
|
|
B.
|
The
rights and obligations of the parties hereto under Sections
I, III and IV shall terminate to the extent provided in the
following clauses: (i) with respect to the rights and obligations of (or
with respect to) Esch, Lorex and the Esch Representative (including but
not limited Esch’s right to designate the Esch Representative pursuant to
Article I-A and any requirements of the other parties to vote for, or
cause their representatives or designees to vote for, the nomination or
election of any representative of Esch to New Century’s Board of Directors
pursuant to Articles III and IV), on the date that Esch and his Affiliates
own, in the aggregate, less than 5% of the outstanding shares of NCEH
Common Stock, (ii) with respect to the rights and obligations of (or with
respect to) Krassner, the Krassner L.P. and the Krassner Representative
(including but not limited Krassner’s right to designate the Krassner
Representative pursuant to Article I-A and any requirements of the other
parties to vote for, or cause their representatives or designees to vote
for, the nomination or election of any representative of Krassner to New
Century’s Board of Directors pursuant to Articles III and IV), on the date
that Krassner and his Affiliates own, in the aggregate, less than 5% of
the outstanding shares of NCEH Common Stock, and (iii) with respect to the
rights and obligations of (or with respect to) Newcastle and the NP
Representatives, the date Newcastle and its Affiliates own less than 5% of
the outstanding shares of NCEH Common Stock (including but not limited
Newcastle’s right to designate the NP Representatives pursuant to Article
I-A and any requirements of the other parties to vote for, or cause their
representatives or designees to vote for, the nomination or election of
any representative of Newcastle to New Century’s Board of Directors
pursuant to Articles III and IV).
|
|
C.
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no termination of this Agreement (or obligations hereunder)
in accordance with this Section X shall relieve any party from liability
for any intentional or material breach of its obligations hereunder
committed prior to such
termination.
|
All
notices, requests, demands, waivers and other communications required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement to any party hereunder shall be in
writing and deemed given if addressed as provided below (or at such other
address as the addressee shall have specified by notice actually received by the
addressor) and if either (a) actually delivered in fully legible form, to such
address, (b) in the case of any nationally recognized express mail service, one
(1) day shall have elapsed after the same shall have been deposited with such
service, or (c) if by fax, on the day on which such fax was sent, provided that
a copy is sent the same day by overnight courier or express mail
service.
If to any
of the Selling Parties, to the applicable Selling Party at the address set forth
on Exhibit
A:
with a
copy to:
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
345 Park
Ave
New York,
New York 10583
Telephone:
(212) 407-4937
Facsimile:
(212) 407-4990
Attn:
Lloyd L. Rothenberg
And a
copy to:
Strassburger
McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky
Four
Gateway Center, Suite 2200
444
Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh,
PA 15222
Attn: H.
Yale Gutnick
If to
Newcastle:
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75230
Attention:
Evan Stone, Esq.
Tel:
214.661.7473
Fax:
214.661.7475
with a
copy to:
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park
Avenue Tower
65 East
55th Street
New York,
NY 10022
Attention:
Steve Wolosky, Esq.
Tel:
212.451.2300
Fax:
212.451-2222
To the
extent any Affiliates of any of the parties hereto own shares of NCEH Common
Stock, such persons shall be deemed to be required to vote such shares of NCEH
Common Stock in the same manner as its Affiliate that is a party to this
Agreement.
For the
avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement will prevent any party from
transferring its NCEH Common Stock after the Closing.
This
Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein)
constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except upon the
execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties
hereto.
This
Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise without the
prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except that Newcastle may
assign its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliate of
Newcastle. This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by each party and such party’s respective heirs,
beneficiaries, executors, representatives and permitted
assigns.
This
Agreement may be executed by facsimile and in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware (regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under
applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof).
Any term
or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity
or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any
other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as
to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as
is enforceable.
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.
Each
party shall, upon request of the other parties hereto, execute and deliver any
additional documents and take such actions as may reasonably be necessary to
carry out the provisions hereof.
With
regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement,
time is of the essence.
All
rights and remedies under this Agreement are cumulative, not exclusive, and
shall be in addition to all rights and remedies available to any party at law or
in equity.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
undersigned on the day and year first written above.
|
NEWCASTLE
PARTNERS, L.P.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Mark Schwarz |
|
|
Name:
|
Mark
Schwarz |
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Office, Newcastle Capital Management, L.P., its General
Partner |
|
/s/
Dieter Esch |
|
Name: Dieter
Esch
|
|
LOREX
INVESTMENTS AG
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Peter Marty |
|
|
Name:
|
Peter
Marty |
|
|
Title:
|
Board
of Directors |
|
/s/
Brad Krassner |
|
Name: Brad
Krassner
|
|
KRASSNER
FAMILY INVESTMENTS, L.P.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Brad Krassner |
|
|
Name:
|
Brad
Krassner |
|
|
Title:
|
General
Partner |
Exhibit I to the Mutual
Support Agreement
Shareholder
|
Shares
of Common Stock
|
|
|
Newcastle
Partners, L.P.
|
19,381,000
|
Annex E
This
Escrow Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of _____________ __, 2008 is
entered into between [Dieter
Esch (“Esch”), Lorex Investments AG, a Swiss corporation], [Brad Krassner (“Krassner”), Krassner
Family Investments L.P.] ([“Lorex” together with Esch]
[“Krassner L.P.” together with Krassner], the “Seller”), New Century
Equity Holdings Corp. (including any successor thereto, “New Century”), and
Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP, a New York limited liability
partnership, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”).
WHEREAS,
Seller and New Century, together with Wilhelmina International, Ltd., a New York
corporation (“Wilhelmina International”), certain entities affiliated with
Wilhelmina International and other equity holders of Wilhelmina International,
entered into an agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), which Purchase Agreement
provides, among other things, for the merger of Wilhelmina International with
and into a subsidiary of New Century and the sale of the outstanding equity
interests of Wilhelmina International affiliated entities to New
Century;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, as consideration thereunder,
Seller shall be issued shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of New
Century (“Seller NCEH Shares”) at the Closing;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, Seller is required to enter
into this Agreement with respect to ____________ Seller NCEH Shares issued to
Seller at Closing (such Seller NCEH Shares, inclusive of Designated Matter
Holdback Shares, including any securities issued in substitution thereof, the
“Seller Restricted Shares”); and
WHEREAS,
capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings attributed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements set forth below,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment. New
Century and Seller hereby appoint Olshan Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky
LLP as escrow agent upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
and Escrow Agent accepts such appointment under the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement. Seller also hereby irrevocably constitutes
and appoints the Escrow Agent as his attorney-in-fact and agent for the term of
this Agreement to execute with respect to the Escrow Property (as hereinafter
defined) all documents necessary or appropriate to complete any transaction
herein contemplated.
2. Deposit. Seller
hereby irrevocably authorizes New Century to deposit with the Escrow Agent a
certificate or certificates evidencing the Seller Restricted Shares to be held
hereunder. All shares, certificates representing shares, other
property, stock powers or other instruments of transfer and cash required to be
deposited with the Escrow Agent pursuant hereto shall be referred to herein as
the “Escrow Property.” Any cash shall be deposited in a
non-interest-bearing account.
3. Rights of Sellers in Seller
Restricted Shares.
(a) Voting Rights as
Stockholders. The Seller Restricted Shares shall be considered
issued and outstanding shares of New Century. During the Escrow
Period, subject to the provisions of the Mutual Support Agreement and, except as
herein provided, Seller shall retain all rights as a stockholder of New Century
including, without limitation, the right to vote the Seller Restricted
Shares.
(b) Transfer. Seller
and New Century agree that during the Escrow Period the Seller Restricted Shares shall not be sold, exchanged,
assigned, gifted, encumbered, pledged, mortgaged, set over, hypothecated,
transferred or otherwise disposed of, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, or
by operation of law (collectively, a “Transfer”) by Seller, except with the
express written consent of New Century (which consent shall reference the
provisions of this Agreement). Except for a Transfer permitted
pursuant to the express terms of this Agreement including, without limitation, a
Transfer covered by Section 7 of this Agreement, any purported and attempted
Transfer of any Seller Restricted Shares or other Escrow Property while held in
escrow under this Agreement shall be void ab initio, and such Seller
Restricted Shares shall thereupon become immediately repurchasable by New
Century from Seller for $.0001 (one hundredths of one penny) per
share. Seller agrees that the Seller Restricted Shares shall not be
included in any registration (and shall not qualify as “registrable securities”
or securities for which any demand or piggy back rights under any registration
rights agreement may be exercised) until such time as the underlying shares are
released to Seller pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and no restrictions
apply thereto.
(c) Dividends and Other
Distributions in Respect of the Seller Restricted
Shares. During the Escrow Period, all dividends payable in
stock, cash or other non-cash property (“Dividends”) shall be delivered to the
Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the
term “Seller Restricted Shares” shall be deemed to include the non-cash
Dividends distributed thereon, if any.
(d) Dividends on Dissolution or
Liquidation. In the event of dissolution of New Century, or
the partial or complete liquidation of all or substantially all of its assets,
or in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency, the Seller Restricted Shares shall
participate in, on a pro rata basis, with all other shares in any distribution
dividend. This Section 3(d) shall apply equally in the event of a
merger or consolidation, or sale of assets. The amount per share
shall be adjusted in the event of a stock split or reclassification of
shares.
4. Repurchase
Rights.
(a) Upon
written instructions executed by New Century and delivered to the Escrow Agent
(and copied to Seller) that a Core Decrease is required pursuant to Section 2.6
of the Purchase Agreement, unless Seller has raised an objection in
compliance with Section 2.6 of the Purchase Agreement, in which case upon
resolution of such objections pursuant to Section 2.9 of the
Purchase Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall promptly, in accordance with such
written instructions, (i) release the applicable Escrow Property and (ii)
execute such transfer documents to make effective a repurchase by New Century of
Seller Restricted Shares consistent with the provisions of Section 2.6 of the
Purchase Agreement. Such written instructions shall include, without
limitation (i) a statement that a Core Decrease has been determined pursuant to
Section 2.6 of the Purchase Agreement; (ii) the dollar amount of such Core
Decrease; (iii) a statement that either (A) Seller has failed to timely make (or
cause to be made) his required cash payment of the Core Decrease in accordance
with Section 2.6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, or (B) Seller elects to have the
Seller Restricted Shares owned by him repurchased in lieu of his respective
portion of the cash payment of the Core Decrease, (iv) the aggregate dollar
amount and number of Seller Restricted Shares, of Seller to be released by the
Escrow Agent and repurchased by New Century, (v) a statement that any objections
raised have been resolved in accordance with Section 2.9 of the Purchase
Agreement and (vi) the designee of New Century that will execute any applicable
transfer forms and receive the Seller Restricted Shares being
repurchased. Following completion of New Century’s fiscal year
2008 audit and full satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core Increase
pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Purchase Agreement (by way of a cash payment or
the repurchase of Seller Restricted Shares, in either case actually effected in
accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement), the Escrow Agent shall
release to Seller all but $500,000 (or such lesser amount as remains in escrow
following the foregoing repurchase) of Seller Restricted Shares previously
issued to Seller (valued at the greater of (1) NCEH Book Value Per Share and (2)
the Market Value of Purchaser Stock as of the applicable release
date).
(b) Upon
written instructions executed by New Century and delivered to the Escrow Agent
(and copied to Seller) that a Total Divisional Loss and/or an Excess Divisional
Loss exists as provided in Section 2.8 of the Purchase Agreement, unless Seller
has raised an objection in compliance with Section 2.8 of the Purchase
Agreement, in which case upon resolution of such
objections pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Purchase Agreement, the Escrow
Agent shall promptly, in accordance with such written instructions, (i) release
the applicable Escrow Property and (ii) execute such transfer documents to make
effective a repurchase of Seller Restricted Shares consistent with the
provisions of Section 2.8 of the Purchase Agreement. Such written
instructions shall include, without limitation (i) a statement that a Total
Divisional Loss and/or an Excess Divisional Loss exists as provided in Section
2.8 of the Purchase Agreement; (ii) the dollar amount of such Total Divisional
Loss and/or Excess Divisional Loss; (iii) the aggregate dollar amount and number
of Seller Restricted Shares of Seller to be released by the Escrow Agent and
repurchased by New Century; (iv) a statement that any objections raised have
been resolved in accordance with Section 2.9 of the Purchase Agreement and (v)
the designee of New Century that will execute any applicable transfer forms and
receive the Seller Restricted Shares being repurchased.
(c) Upon written instructions executed by
New Century and delivered to the Escrow Agent (and copied to Seller) that the
Designated Matter Post Closing Amount exceeds the Designated Matter Cash
Deduction, unless Seller has unless Seller has raised an objection in
compliance with Section 2.6 of the Purchase Agreement, in which case upon
resolution of such objections pursuant to Section 2.9 of the
Purchase Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall promptly, in accordance with such
written instructions, (i) release the applicable Escrow Property and (ii)
execute such transfer documents to make effective a repurchase of Designated
Holdback Shares consistent with the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Purchase
Agreement. Such written instructions shall include, without
limitation (i) a statement that the Designated Matter Post Closing Amount
exceeds the Designated Matter Cash Deduction as provided in Section 2.16 of the
Purchase Agreement; (ii) the dollar amount of such excess; (iii) the aggregate
dollar amount and number of Designated Holdback Shares of Seller to be released
by the Escrow Agent and repurchased by New Century; and (iv) the designee of New
Century that will execute any applicable transfer forms and receive the
Designated Holdback Shares being repurchased. If not theretofore
repurchased, any remaining Designated Matter Holdback Shares of Seller shall be
released no later than 90 days following the later of (i) final settlement with
respect to the matter set forth on Schedule 10.2(d) under the heading “Program
Amounts” and (ii) full satisfaction of any required Core Decrease or Core
Increase pursuant to Section 2.6 of the Purchase Agreement. In no
event shall Purchaser repurchase any Designated Matter Holdback Shares included
in the Seller Restricted Shares other than in respect of the matters set forth
on Schedule 10.2(d) of the Purchase Agreement.
(d) In
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated the foregoing
Sections 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c), Escrow Agent is authorized and directed (i) to
date and execute the stock assignment form or forms necessary for the transfer
of any Seller Restricted Shares to New Century, (ii) to fill in on such
form or forms the number of Seller Restricted Shares being transferred, and
(iii) to otherwise make effective the applicable transfer in accordance
with the foregoing.
(e) In
no event shall New Century’s failure to repurchase Seller Restricted Shares
pursuant to the foregoing Section 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c) operate as a waiver of its
repurchase rights hereunder; provided that New Century shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to repurchase Seller Restricted Shares in
accordance with the procedures set forth above in a reasonably timely manner
following any final determination that New Century is entitled to repurchase
Seller Restricted Shares.
5. Purchase Agreement
Indemnification.
(a) At
any time and from time to time during the Claims Period (defined below), New
Century may deliver to the Escrow Agent any number of written notices (each, an
“Indemnification Notice”), with a copy of such Indemnification Notice to the
Seller, (i) stating that New Century may be entitled to indemnification pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement (an “Indemnification Claim”), (ii) stating New
Century’s good faith estimate of the amount of Losses (the “Claim Amount”) with
respect to such Indemnification Claim or if the maximum amount of Losses cannot
reasonably be estimated by New Century, a statement to that effect, and (iii)
specifying the nature of such Indemnification Claim in reasonable
detail.
(b) As
soon as practicable, but in no event later than five Business Days, following
receipt by the Escrow Agent of written instructions signed by each of the
representatives of New Century and the Seller as set forth herein directing the
Escrow Agent to release the Claim Amount (or any other amount mutually agreed
upon by such parties) (a “Payment Authorization”), the Escrow Agent shall pay to
New Century the amount set forth in such Payment Authorization from the Escrow
Property. At the election of New Century, all or the relevant portion
of an Claim Amount payable to New Century may be satisfied by forfeiture of any
remaining Seller Restricted Shares which stock shall be deemed to have a cash
value equal to its Market Value as of the date of forfeiture (or return) as
applicable.
(c) The
claims period under this Agreement shall begin on the date following the
issuance of an auditor’s opinion in connection with, and upon completion of, New
Century’s fiscal year 2008 audit and terminate on the Final Claim Date (the
“Claims Period”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, prior to the close of
business on the Final Claim Date (defined below), the Buyer has properly
submitted an Indemnification Claim hereunder and such Indemnification Claim
shall not have been finally resolved or disposed of at such date, such
Indemnification Claim shall continue to survive and shall remain a basis for
payment hereunder until such Indemnification Claim is finally resolved or
disposed of in accordance with the terms hereof. For the purposes of
this agreement, “Final Claim Date” shall mean the last date on which New Century
can bring a claim for indemnification for that particular claim under the
Purchase Agreement. In no event shall the exhaustion of Seller
Restricted Shares or other Escrow Property limit the amount otherwise required
to be paid by an indemnifying party pursuant to Article 10 of the Purchase
Agreement.
6. Termination. This
Agreement shall terminate sixty (60) days following the occurrence of either (i)
a repurchase of any Seller Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 4(b) or (ii)
the payment by New Century of an Earnout Payment; provided that, if any
Indemnification Claim for which New Century as a right of offset remains
outstanding as of the date applicable in clause (i) or (ii), this Agreement
shall terminate upon the resolution of all such outstanding Indemnification
Claims. In the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clauses
(i) or (ii) and any Seller Restricted Shares or other Escrow Property remain in
the escrow under this Agreement at such time, such remaining shares (or, if
Section 7 applies, any excess cash after giving effect to the provisions
thereof) shall be released to Seller. Upon termination of this
Agreement, all restrictions contained in this Agreement with respect to the
released shares shall lapse and terminate. The period commencing on
the date of this Agreement and ending on the date of termination hereof shall be
referred to herein as the “Escrow Period”.
7. Extraordinary
Transactions. In the event that, prior to the termination of
this Agreement, New Century consummates a merger or business combination or
similar transaction pursuant to which the Seller Restricted Shares are converted
to cash or another form of consideration, this Agreement shall continue in
effect, and New Century (or New Century’s successor) shall continue to have the
rights set forth in Section 4 hereof; provided that (i) if the Seller Restricted
Shares were converted to cash in such transaction, in lieu of New Century making
applicable repurchase, Seller shall irrevocably forfeit to New Century an amount
of cash equal to (i) the Core Decrease (in the case of Section 4(a)) or the
Total Divisional Loss or the Excess Divisional Loss, as applicable (in the case
of Section 4(b)), up to the Residual Escrow Cap or (ii) if the Seller
Restricted Shares were converted to some other form of consideration, New
Century (or New Century’s successor) shall be entitled to re-purchase (for a
purchase price per share appropriately adjusted to reflect the exchange of
consideration in the transaction) the same ratable portion of such other
consideration as New Century would have repurchased of Seller Restricted Shares
assuming no transaction had occurred. In any transaction in which an
election with respect to consideration can be made, Seller shall elect the cash
alternative to the maximum extent permitted.
8. Other
Agreements. In the event that any of the terms or provisions
of any other agreement between any of the parties hereto conflict or are
inconsistent with any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms
and provisions of this Agreement shall govern and control in all respects with
respect to the subject matter hereof, unless such conflict or inconsistency is
between this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement, in which case the Purchase
Agreement shall govern.
9. Language Concerning the
Escrow Agent. To induce the Escrow Agent to act hereunder, it
is further agreed by New Century and Seller that:
(a) The
Escrow Agent shall not be under any duty to give the Escrow Property any greater
degree of care than it gives its own similar property.
(b) This
Escrow Agreement expressly sets forth all the duties of the Escrow Agent with
respect to any and all matters pertinent hereto. No implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Escrow Agreement against the Escrow
Agent. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by the provisions of any
agreement among the other parties hereto except this Escrow
Agreement.
(c) If
the Escrow Property is attached, garnished, or levied upon under the order of
any court, or the delivery thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by the order of
any court, or any other order, judgment or decree shall be made or entered by
any court affecting the Escrow Property, the Escrow Agent is hereby expressly
authorized to obey and comply with all writs, orders or decrees so entered or
issued, whether with or without jurisdiction. The Escrow Agent shall
not be liable to any of the parties hereto or their successors by reason of
compliance with any such writ, order or decree notwithstanding such writ, order
or decree being subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or
vacated. The Escrow Agent may, in its sole and absolute discretion,
deposit the Escrow Property or so much thereof as remains in its hands with the
United States District Court whose jurisdiction includes New York County, New
York, or the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, if
appropriate, and interplead the parties hereto. Upon so depositing such property
and filing its complaint in interpleader, the Escrow Agent shall be relieved of
all liability under the terms hereof as to the property so deposited and shall
be entitled to recover in such interpleader action from the other parties hereto
its reasonable attorneys' fees and related costs and expenses incurred in
commencing and prosecuting such action and furthermore, the parties hereto for
themselves and their successors and assigns, do hereby submit themselves to the
jurisdiction of such courts and do hereby appoint the then clerk, or acting
clerk, of such courts as their agent for the service of all process in
connection with such proceedings.
(d) In
case the Escrow Agent becomes involved in any dispute or litigation in
connection with this Agreement, it shall have the right to retain counsel, and
shall have a lien on the Escrow Property for up to one-half of the amount of all
reasonable and necessary costs, attorneys' fees, charges, disbursements and
expenses in connection with such litigation, and shall be entitled to reimburse
itself for such expenses out of the Escrow Property. If up to
one-half of the amount of the Escrow Agent's fees, costs, expenses, or
reasonable attorneys’ fees provided for herein are not promptly paid by Seller,
the Escrow Agent shall have the right to reimburse itself therefor from the
Escrow Property held hereunder for any amount remaining unpaid by Seller.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall be under
no duty to monitor or enforce compliance by New Century or Seller with any term
of provision of the Purchase Agreement.
(e) The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any order, judgment, certification,
demand, notice, instrument or other writing delivered to it hereunder without
being required to determine the authenticity or the correctness of any fact
stated therein or the propriety or validity or the service
thereof. The Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any instrument or
signature believed by it to be genuine and may assume that any person purporting
to give receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in
connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do
so.
(f) The
Escrow Agent may act pursuant to the advice of counsel with respect to any
matter relating to this Escrow Agreement and shall not be liable for any action
taken or omitted in accordance with such advice.
(g) The
Escrow Agent does not have any interest in the Escrow Property deposited
hereunder but is serving as escrow holder only and having only possession
thereof. New Century and Seller shall jointly pay or reimburse the
Escrow Agent upon request for any transfer taxes or other taxes relating to the
Escrow Property incurred in connection herewith and shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Escrow Agent from any amounts that it is obligated to pay in the
way of such taxes. This paragraph and paragraphs (c), (d) and (l)
shall survive notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the
resignation of the Escrow Agent.
(h) The
Escrow Agent makes no representation as to the validity, value, genuineness or
the collectability of any security or other document or instrument held by or
delivered to it.
(i) The
Escrow Agent shall not be called upon to advise any party as to the wisdom in
selling or retaining or taking or refraining from any action with respect to any
securities or other property deposited hereunder.
(j) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent (and any successor Escrow
Agent) may at any time resign as such by delivering the Escrow Property to any
successor Escrow Agent jointly designated by the other parties hereto in
writing, or to any court of competent jurisdiction, whereupon the Escrow Agent
shall be discharged of and from any and all further obligations arising in
connection with this Agreement. The resignation of the Escrow Agent
will take effect on the earlier of (i) the appointment of a successor (including
a court of competent jurisdiction) or (ii) the day that is thirty (30) days
after the date of delivery of its written notice of resignation to the other
parties hereto. If at that time the Escrow Agent has not received a designation
of a successor Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility after that
time shall be to safekeep the Escrow Property until receipt of a designation of
successor Escrow Agent or a joint written disposition instruction by the other
parties hereto or a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(k) The
Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility for the contents of any writing of any
third party contemplated herein as a means to resolve disputes and may rely
without any liability upon the contents thereof.
(l) New
Century and Seller agree to reimburse the Escrow Agent for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Escrow Agent in
performance of its duties hereunder (including reasonable fees and
expenses). Up to one-half of any fees or expenses of the Escrow Agent
or its counsel which are not paid as provided for herein may be taken from the
Escrow Property, provided however that any such reduction in the Escrow Property
shall be applied to reduce any amounts owed by Seller pursuant to Section
9(l).
(m)
No printed or other matter in any language (including without limitation
prospectuses, notices, reports and promotional material) that mentions the
Escrow Agent’s name or the rights, powers or duties of the Escrow Agent shall be
issued by the other parties hereto or on such parties’ behalf unless the Escrow
Agent shall first have given its specific prior written consent
thereto.
(n) This
Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, heirs,
administrators and representatives and shall not be enforceable by or inure to
the benefit of any third party except as provided in paragraph (j) with respect
to a resignation by the Escrow Agent. No party, other than the Escrow
Agent, may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Escrow Agreement
without the written consent of the other parties.
(o) The
other parties hereto hereby authorize the Escrow Agent, for any securities held
hereunder, to use the services of any United States central securities
depository it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the Depository
Trust Company and the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.
10. Exculpation and
Indemnification.
(a) The
obligations and duties of the Escrow Agent are confined to those specifically
set forth in this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall not be subject
to, nor be under any obligation to ascertain or construe the terms and
conditions of any other instrument, whether or not now or hereafter deposited
with or delivered to the Escrow Agent or referred to in this Agreement, nor
shall the Escrow Agent be obligated to inquire as to the form, execution,
sufficiency, or validity of any such instrument nor to inquire as to the
identity, authority, or rights of the person or persons executing or delivering
same.
(b) The
Escrow Agent shall not be personally liable for any act that it may do or omit
to do hereunder in good faith and in the exercise of its own best
judgment.
(c) The
Seller and New Century hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Escrow Agent, and its partners, directors, officers,
employees, and agents, from and against all costs, damages, judgments,
reasonable attorneys’ fees (whether such attorneys shall be regularly retained
or specifically employed), expenses, obligations and liabilities of every kind
and nature that the Escrow Agent, and its partners, directors, officers,
employees, and agents, incur, sustain, or are required to pay in connection with
or arising out of this Agreement, unless the aforementioned results from the
Escrow Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, and to pay the
Escrow Agent on demand the amount of all such costs, damages, judgments,
attorneys’ fees, expenses, obligations, and liabilities. The costs and expenses
of enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid one-half by New Century
and one-half by Seller. The foregoing indemnities in this paragraph
shall survive the resignation or substitution of the Escrow Agent or the
termination of this Agreement.
11. Notice. Any
notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be
deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United
States Post Office, by registered or certified mail with postage and fees
prepaid, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the
following addresses, or at such other addresses as a party may designate by ten
days’ advance written notice to each of the other parties hereto.
|
NEW
CENTURY:
|
Notices
to New Century shall be sent to
the
following address:
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75230
Facsimile:
(214) 661-7475
Attn: [ ]
|
|
|
|
|
SELLER:
|
Notices
to Seller shall be sent to the
following
address:
[____________]
|
|
ESCROW
AGENT
|
Notices
to the Escrow Agent, shall be
sent
to the
following address:
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig & Wolosky LLP
Park
Avenue Tower
65
East 55th Street
New
York, NY 10022
Attn: Steve
Wolosky
|
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) Benefit and
Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the
prior written consent of the others.
(b) Waiver. Either
Seller or New Century may (i) extend the time for the performance by the other
of any obligation or other act of any other party hereto or (ii) waive
compliance by the other with any agreement or condition contained
herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth
in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound
thereby. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or
condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition, of this Agreement. The
failure of any party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute
a waiver of any of such rights.
(c) Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by the party
against which enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, extension or
discharge is sought.
(d) Tax
Reporting. Seller shall be responsible for reporting and
payment of all taxes with respect to the Seller Restricted Shares (or any cash
or securities in lieu thereof) held by the Escrow Agent under this
Agreement.
(e) Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and
provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect
so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement is not affected in any manner adverse to any
party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement be consummated as
originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
(f) Time for Performance and
Notices. Whenever under the terms hereof the time for giving a
notice or performing an act falls on a Saturday, Sunday or banking holiday, such
time shall be extended to the next Business Day.
(g) Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and shall be
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York
governing contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State, without
reference to any choice-of-law principles of the laws of such state. If any
provision herein shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of
competent jurisdiction or as a result of future legislative or administrative
action, such holding or action shall be strictly construed and shall not affect
the validity or the enforceability of any other provision herein. The parties
hereto agree that any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any
provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this
Agreement shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York or any New York State court sitting in New York County, so
long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such
suit, action or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this
Agreement shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the
State of New York, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom)
in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or
that any such suit, action or proceeding which is brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such suit,
action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether
within or without the jurisdiction of any such court.
(h) Waiver of Trial By Jury;
Service of Process. Each party agrees that service of process
on such party as provided in Section 11 shall be deemed effective service of
process on such party. To the fullest extent not prohibited by
applicable law, which cannot be waived, each of the parties hereby knowingly,
voluntarily, intentionally and irrevocably waives any and all right to a trial
by jury in any action or proceeding to enforce or defend any right, power,
remedy or defense arising out of or related to this Agreement.
(i) Non-Exclusive
Remedy. Nothing herein, including without limitation, any
termination of this Agreement, shall in any manner limit or restrict New
Century's rights to take action directly against Seller under applicable law
(including pursuant to any contract rights under the Purchase Agreement or
otherwise).
(j) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, by facsimile or other
electronic transmission, with the same effect as if the signatures on all
counterparts were on the same instrument.
(k) Headings. The
headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for ease of
reference only and do not evidence the intentions of the parties.
(l) Counsel. The
Escrow Agent has acted as legal counsel for New Century and may continue to act
as legal counsel for New Century from time to time, notwithstanding its duties
as the Escrow Agent hereunder. Seller and New Century consent to the
Escrow Agent in such capacity as legal counsel for New Century and waive any
claim that such representation represents a conflict of interest on the part of
the Escrow Agent. New Century and Seller understand that the Escrow
Agent is relying explicitly on the foregoing provision in entering into this
Agreement.
(m) USA Patriot Act
Compliance. To help the government fight the funding of
terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial
institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each
person who opens an account. For a non-individual person such as a
business entity, a charity, a trust or other legal entity the Escrow Agent will
ask for documentation to verify its formation and existence as a legal
entity. The Escrow Agent may also ask to see financial statements,
licenses, identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming
authority to represent the entity or other relevant
documentation. The Seller and New Century each agrees to provide all
such information and documentation as to themselves as requested by Escrow Agent
to ensure compliance with federal law.
[Signature
Page Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
undersigned on the day and year first written above.
NEW
CENTURY:
|
|
New
Century Equity Holdings Corp.
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
|
|
SELLER:
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
ACKNOWLEDGED
AND
|
AGREED:
|
|
ESCROW
AGENT:
|
|
Olshan
Grundman Frome Rosenzweig
|
&
Wolosky LLP
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Annex F
FORM
OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
Pursuant
to Section 242 of the
General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
______________________
It is
herby certified that:
|
1.
|
The
name of the corporation is New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (the
“Corporation”).
|
|
2.
|
The
Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby
amended by amending and restating Article I thereof in its entirety as
follows:
|
“ARTICLE I.
NAME
The name
of the corporation (the “corporation”) is WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL,
INC.”
|
3.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation was proposed, approved and deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and directed to be considered and voted upon
at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (the “Annual
Meeting”).
|
|
4.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors
and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital
stock of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting, a meeting duly called and
held upon notice on [·], 2009 in accordance
with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
and the Bylaws of the Corporation.
|
|
5.
|
The
effective time of the amendment herein certified shall be the date of
filing.
|
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its Chief Executive Officer this
[·] day of [·], 200[·].
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
FORM
OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
Pursuant
to Section 242 of the
General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
______________________
It is
herby certified that:
|
1.
|
The
name of the corporation is New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (the
“Corporation”).
|
|
2.
|
The
Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby
amended by amending and restating Article IV, Section 4.1 thereof in its
entirety as follows:
|
|
|
“4.1 Total Number of Shares of
Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of
stock that the corporation shall have authority to issue is two hundred
sixty million (260,000,000). Of such shares, (i) two hundred
fifty million (250,000,000) shall be common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (“Common Stock”), and (ii) ten million (10,000,000) shall be
preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred
Stock”).”
|
|
3.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation was proposed, approved and deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and directed to be considered and voted upon
at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (the “Annual
Meeting”).
|
|
4.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors
and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital
stock of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting, a meeting duly called and
held upon notice on [·], 2009 in accordance
with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
and the Bylaws of the Corporation.
|
|
5.
|
The
effective time of the amendment herein certified shall be the date of
filing.
|
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its Chief Executive Officer this
[·] day of [·], 200[·].
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
FORM
OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
Pursuant
to Section 242 of the
General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
______________________
It is
herby certified that:
|
1.
|
The
name of the corporation is New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (the
“Corporation”).
|
|
2.
|
The
Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby
amended by adding the following new Article IV, Section
4.5:
|
|
|
“4.5 Reverse Stock
Split. Effective at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on [·], 200[·] (the “Effective
Time”), each [·]
([·]) shares of
the corporation’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Old Common
Stock”) shall automatically and without any action on the part of the
respective holders thereof be combined and reclassified into one (1) share
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “New Common Stock”) (and
such combination and reclassification, the “Reverse Stock
Split”). Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, no
fractional shares of New Common Stock shall be issued in connection with
the Reverse Stock Split and the corporation shall not recognize on its
stock record books any purported transfer of any fractional share of New
Common Stock. In lieu of issuing fractional shares in
connection with the Reverse Stock Split, each holder shall be issued one
full share of New Common Stock. Each stock certificate that
immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Old Common
Stock shall, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without
the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number
of whole shares of New Common Stock into which the shares of Old Common
Stock represented by such certificate shall have been reclassified;
provided, however, that each holder of record of a certificate that
represented shares of Old Common Stock shall receive upon surrender of
such certificate a new certificate representing the number of whole shares
of New Common Stock into which the shares of Old Common Stock represented
by such certificate shall have been reclassified. From and
after the Effective Time, the term “New Common Stock” as used in this
paragraph shall mean Common Stock as otherwise used in this Amended and
Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.”
|
|
3.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation was proposed, approved and deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and directed to be considered and voted upon
at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (the “Annual
Meeting”).
|
|
4.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors
and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital
stock of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting, a meeting duly called and
held upon notice on [·], 2009 in accordance
with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
and the Bylaws of the Corporation.
|
|
5.
|
The
effective time of the amendment herein certified shall be the date of
filing.
|
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its Chief Executive Officer this
[·] day of [·], 200[·].
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
FORM
OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
Pursuant
to Section 242 of the
General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
______________________
It is
herby certified that:
|
1.
|
The
name of the corporation is New Century Equity Holdings Corp. (the
“Corporation”).
|
|
2.
|
The
Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is hereby
amended by amending and restating Article VIII, Section 8.2 thereof in its
entirety as follows:
|
|
|
“8.2
Annual Election of Board
of Directors. Directors shall be elected at each annual
meeting of stockholders of the corporation and each director shall hold
office until the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding said
director’s election, and until said director’s successor is elected and
qualified, or until the earlier of said director’s death, resignation or
removal.”
|
|
3.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation was proposed, approved and deemed advisable by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and directed to be considered and voted upon
at the 2008 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (the “Annual
Meeting”).
|
|
4.
|
The
amendment of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors
and by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the capital
stock of the Corporation at the Annual Meeting, a meeting duly called and
held upon notice on [·], 2009 in accordance
with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
and the Bylaws of the Corporation.
|
|
5.
|
The
effective time of the amendment herein certified shall be the date of
filing.
|
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its Chief Executive Officer this
[·] day of [·], 200[·].
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Title:
|
Annex G
FORM
OF
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO
THE
BYLAWS
OF
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
______________________
In
accordance with Article IX of the Bylaws of New Century Equity Holdings Corp.
(the “Corporation”), by the affirmative vote of the holders of in excess of
sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the shares
of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
voting together as a single class, the Bylaws of the Corporation are hereby
amended, for the sole purpose of declassifying the organization of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation, as follows:
1. Article
III, Section 3.2 of the Corporation’s Bylaws shall be deleted in its entirety
and be replaced by a new Article III, Section 3.2 to read as
follows:
3.2 A
director need not be a stockholder, a citizen of the United States or a resident
of the State of Delaware. Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to
the provisions of Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the
rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over
the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect additional
directors under specified circumstances, the number of the directors of the
Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the board of directors, but
shall not be less than three.
Directors
shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and
each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders next
succeeding said director’s election, and until said director’s successor is
elected and qualified, or until the earlier of said director’s death,
resignation or removal. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for
the election of directors shall be given in the manner provided in Section 3.16
of this Article III of these Bylaws.
2. Article
III, Section 3.3 of the Corporation’s Bylaws shall be deleted in its entirety
and be replaced by a new Article III, Section 3.3 to read as
follows:
3.3 Except
as otherwise provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of Article
IV of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of
any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances,
newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of
directors and any vacancies on the board of directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even
though less than a quorum of the board of directors. Any director elected in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until the next annual
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and until such director’s
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in
the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall shorten the
term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of any class or
series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or
upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances, any director
may be removed from office, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the
voting power of all the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
DATED:
[·], 2009
____________________________
Name:
Title:
Annex
H
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
(FORMERLY
KNOWN AS BILLING CONCEPTS CORP.)
AUDIT
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHARTER
I. PURPOSE
The
primary function of the Audit Committee of New Century Equity Holdings Corp.
(Corporation) is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight
responsibilities by reviewing: the financial reports and other financial
information provided by the Corporation to any governmental body or the public;
the Corporation's Systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting,
legal compliance and ethics that management and the Board have established; and
the Corporation's auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes
generally. Consistent with this function, the Audit Committee should encourage
continuous improvement of, and should foster adherence to, the Corporation's
policies, procedures and practices at all levels. The Audit Committee's primary
duties and responsibilities are to:
Serve as
an independent and objective party to monitor the Corporation's financial
reporting process and internal control system.
Review
and appraise the audit efforts of the Corporation's independent
accountants.
Provide
an open avenue of communication among the independent accountants, financial and
senior management and the Board of Directors.
The Audit
Committee will primarily fulfill these responsibilities by carrying out the
activities enumerated in Section IV of this Charter.
II. COMPOSITION
The Audit
Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as determined by the
Board, each of whom shall be independent directors, and free from any
relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the
exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee. Any of
the following would be considered to impair a director's
independence:
o A
director who is an employee or has been an employee during the past three
years.
o A
director who accepts compensation in excess of $60,000 from the Corporation or
any of its affiliates during the previous fiscal year, other
than compensation for board service, benefits under a tax-qualified retirement
plan, or non-discretionary compensation.
o A
director who is a partner in, a controlling shareholder or executive officer of
any for-profit business organization to which the Corporation made or received
payments in any of the past three years that exceed 5% of the Corporation's or
business organization's consolidated gross revenues for that year, or $200,000,
whichever is greater. Payments resulting solely from investments in the
Corporation's securities need not be considered for this purpose.
o A
director who is employed as an executive of another corporation where any of
the Corporation's executives serve on that corporation's compensation
committee.
o A
director who is an immediate family member of an individual who has been an
executive officer of the Corporation or its affiliates during the past
three years.
All
members of the Committee shall be financially literate, and at least one member
of the Committee shall have accounting or related financial management
expertise. Committee members may enhance their familiarity with finance and
accounting by participating in educational programs conducted by the Corporation
or an outside consultant. The members of the Committee shall be elected by the
Board at the annual organizational meeting of the Board or until their
successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Unless a Chair is elected by the
full Board, the members of the Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote
of the full Committee membership.
III. MEETINGS
The
Committee shall meet at least three times annually, or more frequently as
circumstances dictate. As part of its job to foster open communication, the
Committee should meet at least annually with management and the independent
accountants in separate executive sessions to discuss any matters that the
Committee or each of these groups believe should be discussed privately. In
addition, the Committee or at least its Chair should be available as requested
by the independent accountants or management to discuss any issues related to
the Corporation's quarterly financials prior to filing its Form
10-Q.
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES
AND DUTIES
To
fulfill its responsibilities and duties the Audit Committee shall:
DOCUMENTS/REPORTS
REVIEW
1. Review
and update this Charter periodically, at least annually, as conditions
dictate.
2. Review
the Corporation's annual financial statements and any reports or other financial
information submitted to any governmental body, or the public, including any
certification, report, opinion, or review rendered by the independent
accountants.
INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS
3. Recommend
to the Board of Directors the selection of the independent accountants, and
review the scope of work to be performed by the independent accountants in
connection with both the
annual audit and the quarterly reviews. On an annual basis, the Committee should
review and discuss with the accountants all significant relationships the
accountants have with the Corporation to determine the accountants'
independence.
4. Review
the performance of the independent accountants and approve any proposed
discharge of the independent accountants when circumstances
warrant.
5. Periodically
consult with the independent accountants out of the presence of management about
internal controls and the fullness and accuracy of the Corporation's financial
statements.
FINANCIAL
REPORTING PROCESSES
6. In
consultation with the independent accountants, review the integrity of the
organization's financial reporting processes, both internal and
external.
7. Consider
the independent accountants' judgments about the quality and appropriateness of
the Corporation's accounting principles as applied in its financial
reporting.
8. Consider
and approve, if appropriate, major changes to the Corporation's auditing and
accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent accountants
or management.
PROCESS
IMPROVEMENT
9. Establish
regular and separate systems of reporting to the Audit Committee by each of
management and the independent accountants regarding any significant judgments
made in management's preparation of the financial statements and the view of
each as to the appropriateness of such judgments.
10. Following
completion of the annual audit, review with each of management and the
independent accountants any significant difficulties encountered during the
course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access
to required information.
11. Review
any significant disagreement among management and the independent accountants in
connection with the preparation of the financial statements.
12. Review
with the independent accountants and management the extent to which changes or
improvements in financial or accounting practices, as approved by the Audit
Committee, have been implemented. (This review should be conducted at an
appropriate time subsequent to implementation of changes or improvements, as
decided by the Committee.)
ETHICAL
AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE
13. Establish,
review and update periodically a Code of Ethical Conduct and ensure that
management has established a system to enforce this Code.
14. Review
management's monitoring of the Corporation's compliance with the Corporation's
Ethical Code, and ensure that management has the proper review system in place
to ensure that the Corporation's financial statements, reports and other
financial information disseminated to governmental organizations, and the
public, satisfy legal requirements.
15. Review,
with the Corporation's counsel, legal compliance matters including corporate
securities trading policies.
16. Review
with the Corporation's counsel, any legal matter that could have a significant
impact on the Corporation's financial statements.
17. Perform
any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Corporation's By-laws and
governing law, as the Committee or the Board deems necessary or
appropriate.
PROXY
NEW
CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP.
200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400
Dallas,
Texas 75201
(214)
661-7488
2008
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
February
5, 2009
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned, a stockholder of New Century Equity Holdings Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), does hereby appoint Mark E. Schwarz and John P.
Murray, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and proxies with full
power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned,
to vote all of the shares of common stock of the Company that the undersigned
would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2008 annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company to be held at the Company's offices located at 200
Crescent Court, Suite 1400, Dallas, Texas 75201 on February 5, 2009 at 11:00
a.m., local time, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual
Meeting”), in accordance with the instructions provided herewith. The
undersigned hereby revokes any proxy or proxies previously given by the
undersigned to vote at the Annual Meeting.
IF
PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED AND
IN THE DISCRETION OF THE HEREIN NAMED ATTORNEYS AND PROXIES OR THEIR SUBSTITUTES
WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
THAT ARE UNKNOWN TO THE COMPANY A REASONABLE TIME BEFORE THIS SOLICITATION. IF NO SUCH
DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR”
PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 AND 8 AND “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR
NOMINEES AS SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL 6 SHOWN ON THE REVERSE.
A
MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 7 AND 8 AND “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES AS SET FORTH
IN PROPOSAL 6. THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4 ARE CONDITIONED
UPON THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 1.
This
proxy will be valid until the sooner of one year from the date indicated below
and the completion of the Annual Meeting.
IMPORTANT:
PLEASE SIGN, DATE, FOLD AND MAIL THIS
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY!
CONTINUED
AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE
ý Please mark vote as in
this example
Proposal No. 1 – The
Acquisition Proposal
To
approve the Company’s acquisition of Wilhelmina International, Ltd. and its
affiliated entities.
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 2 – The Name
Change Proposal
To
approve and adopt an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) to change the Company’s
name from “New Century Equity Holdings Corp.” to “Wilhelmina International,
Inc.”
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 3 – The
Capitalization Proposal
To
approve and adopt an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock from 75,000,000 to
250,000,000.
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 4 – The Reverse
Stock Split Proposal
To grant
authority to the Company’s Board of Directors to effect at any time prior to
December 31, 2009 a reverse stock split of the Company's common stock at a ratio
within the range from one-for-ten to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio to be
set at a whole number within this range to be determined by the Company’s Board
of Directors in its discretion.
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 5 – The
Declassification Proposal
To
approve and adopt an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation and the
Company’s Bylaws to provide for the annual election of directors.
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 6 – The
Director Proposal
To elect
the following directors to the Company’s Board of Directors:
6(a) – if both the Acquisition
Proposal and the Declassification Proposal are approved, to elect the following
seven nominees
to serve as directors until the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of the
Company and until their successors are duly elected and qualify:
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES ¨
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
|
James
Risher
|
|
WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES
¨
|
John
Murray*
|
|
|
Evan
Stone*
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT
¨
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk*
|
|
(See
instruction below)
|
Derek
Fromm*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instruction:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee,
mark “FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT” and
write
that
nominee’s name in the space provided above.
|
*
|
Election
conditioned on the consummation of the Company’s acquisition of Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. and its affiliated
entities.
|
6(b) – if the Acquisition
Proposal is not approved and the Declassification Proposal is approved, to elect
the following three nominees to
serve as directors until the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company
and until their successors are duly elected and qualify:
|
|
|
Mark
E. Schwarz
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES ¨
|
Jonathan
Bren
|
|
|
James
Risher
|
|
WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES
¨
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT
¨
|
|
|
(See
instruction below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instruction:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee,
mark “FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT” and write
that
nominee’s name in the space provided
above.
|
6(c) – if the Acquisition
Proposal is approved and the Declassification Proposal is not approved, to elect
the following five nominees to
serve as directors until the expiration of their respective terms, in accordance
with the Class designation indicated below, and until their successors are duly
elected and qualify:
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Risher
|
|
II
|
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES ¨
|
John
Murray*
|
|
II
|
|
|
|
Evan
Stone*
|
|
III
|
|
|
WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES
¨
|
Dr.
Hans-Joachim Bohlk*
|
|
III
|
|
|
|
Derek
Fromm*
|
|
I
|
|
|
FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT
¨
|
|
|
|
|
|
(See
instruction below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instruction:
To withhold authority to vote
for
any individual nominee, mark “FOR
ALL
NOMINEES EXCEPT” and write that
nominee’s
name in the space provided above.
|
*
|
Election
conditioned on the consummation of the Company’s acquisition of Wilhelmina
International, Ltd. and its affiliated
entities.
|
6(d) – if neither the
Acquisition Proposal nor the Declassification Proposal is approved, to elect the
following nominee to serve as a director until the expiration of his term, in
accordance with the Class designation indicated below, and until his successor
is duly elected and qualifies:
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Risher
|
|
II
|
|
|
FOR NOMINEE ¨
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WITHHOLD FOR NOMINEE
¨
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposal No. 7 – The Auditor
Proposal
To ratify
the appointment of Burton McCumber & Cortez, L.L.P. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008.
¨ FOR ¨
AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Proposal No. 8 – The
Adjournment Proposal
To
adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit
further solicitation and voting of proxies if, based upon the tabulated vote at
the time of the Annual Meeting, any of the foregoing proposals have not been
approved.
¨ FOR ¨ AGAINST ¨ ABSTAIN
Dated:
_______________________
_____________________________
Signature of Stockholder
_____________________________
Signature of Stockholder (if held jointly)
NOTE: Please sign
exactly as your name or names appear hereon. When signing as
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please indicate the
capacity in which signing. When signing as joint tenants, all parties
in the joint tenancy must sign. When a proxy is given by a
corporation, it should be signed with full corporate name by a duly authorized
officer.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE, FOLD AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY, USING
THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.