VERT Verticalnet (MM)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

 

Filed by the Registrant þ

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

o   Preliminary Proxy Statement

o   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

þ   Definitive Proxy Statement

o   Definitive Additional Materials

o   Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

 

VERTICALNET, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

400 CHESTER FIELD PARKWAY

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA 19355

 

December 14, 2007

 

To our Shareholders:

 

You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the shareholders of Verticalnet, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, which we refer to as “Verticalnet” or “the Company”, to be held at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP located at 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. local time. Our Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on December 10, 2007, as the record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting. Notice of the special meeting and the related proxy statement are enclosed.

 

At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of October 25, 2007, among the Company, BravoSolution S.p.A., a corporation organized under the laws of Italy (“Parent”), and BravoSolution U.S.A., Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and the related Plan of Merger, and to approve the merger contemplated thereby.

 

The Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger provide for, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). As a result of the Merger, the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. If the Merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive: (i) $2.56 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax, for each share of our common stock you own; and (ii) $0.38750 or $0.26875 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax, for each share of our Series B Preferred Stock you own (determined in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger). Merger Sub is the sole owner of our Series C Preferred Stock and, if the Merger is completed, each such share of Series C Preferred Stock shall be cancelled and retired and shall not be entitled to receive any consideration.

 

If the Merger is completed, Verticalnet will continue its operations as a privately-held company owned by BravoSolution S.p.A. As a result of the Merger, Verticalnet shares will no longer be quoted on NASDAQ.

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and adopted the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger, and the transactions contemplated thereby and has determined that the Merger, the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company. Accordingly, our Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.

 

The proxy statement attached to this letter provides you with information about the proposed merger and the special meeting. We encourage you to read the entire proxy statement carefully because it explains the Merger and related matters, including the conditions to the completion of the Merger. You may also obtain more information about the Company from documents we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote is very important.  The Merger cannot be completed unless the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger are adopted and the Merger is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our capital stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting (assuming a quorum is present), and the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting, voting as a separate class (assuming a quorum is present).

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, it is important that your shares be represented. Accordingly, we urge you to vote, by completing, signing, dating and promptly returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Alternatively, you may vote through the Internet or by telephone as directed on the enclosed proxy card. If you receive more than one proxy card because you own shares that are registered differently, please vote all of your shares shown on all of your proxy cards.

 

Voting by proxy will not prevent you from voting your shares in person if you subsequently choose to attend the special meeting. If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please call Georgeson, Inc., which is assisting us, toll free at 888-605-7614.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the special meeting.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Nathanael V. Lentz
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved of the Merger, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Merger or the Merger Agreement or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the information contained in the accompanying proxy statement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DATED DECEMBER 14, 2007, AND IS BEING FIRST MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 14, 2007.

 

 

400 CHESTER FIELD PARKWAY
MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA 19355

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

SUMMARY

 

The following summary, together with the “Questions and Answers about the Special Meeting and the Merger”, highlights selected information from this proxy statement and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. Accordingly, we encourage you to read carefully this entire proxy statement (including its annexes), and the other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available to the public free of charge, before voting. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 55. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that item in this document.

 

Unless we otherwise indicate or unless the context requires otherwise: all references in this document to “Company,” “Verticalnet,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Verticalnet, Inc. and its subsidiaries; all references to “Parent” refer to BravoSolution S.p.A.; all references to “Merger Sub” refer to BravoSolution, U.S.A., Inc.; all references to “Merger Agreement” refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2007, among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, as it may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this document; all references to “Plan of Merger” refer to the Plan of Merger among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, as it may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is attached as Annex A-1 to this document; all references to the “Merger” refer to the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement; all references to “Merger Consideration” refer to the per share merger consideration of (i) $2.56 in cash without interest and less any required withholding tax, to be received by the holders of our common stock in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; and (ii) $0.38750 or $0.26875 in cash without interest and less any required withholding tax, to be received by the holders of our Series B Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

Parties to the Merger (page 14)

 

Verticalnet, Inc. , is a provider of On-Demand Supply Management solutions to companies ranging in size from mid-market to Global 2000. We provide a full scope of Supply Management software, services, and domain expertise in areas that include: Program Management, Spend Analysis, eSourcing, Contract Management, and Supplier Performance Management. Our solutions help our customers save money on the goods and services they buy. In addition to traditional software installation and application service provider hosting, we offer the majority of our software products in an “on-demand” delivery model. On-demand delivery enables our customers to pay a single annual fee that includes software license, maintenance, application hosting, customer/community support, and training. We believe that our on-demand delivery model mitigates the software implementation costs for our customers, and reduces the obstacles to a successful supply management initiative. In addition to implementation services, we also provide customers with supply management business process consulting, primarily in the areas of Spend Analysis and Advanced Sourcing, and offer custom software development for customers that desire to build additional supply management capabilities.

 

BravoSolution S.p.A. , or Parent, is a leading international provider of eSourcing solutions. Its mission is to generate value by supporting its clients in the improvement of procurement processes through innovative web-based technologies and services. Founded in Italy in June 2000 by the Italcementi Group, BravoSolution S.p.A combines professional expertise and technological excellence in the area of sourcing in order to deliver valuable results to its numerous customers worldwide. BravoSolution S.p.A has offices in London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome and Shanghai. In the United Kingdom, BravoSolution S.p.A is the sole approved provider of eSourcing Services under the Framework Agreement managed by an Executive Agency of the UK Treasury (OGC). BravoSolution S.p.A has a team of more than 250 professionals and has now managed over 70,000 online negotiations, totaling over $50 billion of spend.

 

BravoSolution U.S.A., Inc. , which we refer to as Merger Sub, is a Pennsylvania corporation formed for the sole purpose of completing the Merger with the Company. Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub has not conducted any activities to date other than activities incidental to its formation and activities undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Upon consummation of the proposed Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into Verticalnet and will cease to exist, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation.

 

The Merger (page 19)

 

On October 25, 2007, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation. We will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. You will have no equity interest in the Company or Parent after the effective time of the Merger and will not participate in any future earnings or growth of the Company.

 

At the effective time of the Merger:

 

 

The Special Meeting (page 15)

 

The special meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 starting at 10:00 a.m. local time at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP located at 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103.

 

Record Date, Voting Power and Quorum (page 15)

 

You are entitled to vote at the special meeting if you owned shares of the Company’s common stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock at the close of business on December 10, 2007, the record date for the special meeting. As of the record date, there were 2,542,309 shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote, consisting of 1,610,845 shares of Common Stock, 623,875 shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote subject to a voting cap as set forth in the Series B Statement of Designation, and 307,589 shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to vote subject to a voting cap as set forth in the Series C Statement of Designation. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of our outstanding capital stock (including Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock), and a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, entitled to vote at the special meeting will constitute a quorum.

 

Vote Required for Approval (page 16)

 

The adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our capital stock, including shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock (together, the “Preferred Stock”) and shares of Common Stock, that are entitled to vote at the special meeting (assuming a quorum is present) and by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, voting as a separate class (assuming a quorum is present).

 

Holders of all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock have entered into a Voting Agreement with Parent and the Company, as amended (the “Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which holders of our Series B Preferred Stock

that as of the record date represent 17.27% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting have agreed to vote all of their Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies, and holders of our Series B Preferred Stock that as of the record date represent 7.62% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting have agreed to grant an irrevocable proxy to the Company to vote their Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger and any other extraordinary corporate transaction, in a manner that the Company, acting through our Board of Directors, determines in its sole discretion. The Voting Agreement will terminate on the earliest to occur of (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (ii) the mutual written consent of Parent, the Company and each of the shareholders party to the Voting Agreement, and (iii) by each such shareholder upon the execution or granting of any amendment, modification, change or waiver with respect to the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Merger that results in a decrease in the merger consideration. The Voting Agreement assures that the separate class vote of our Series B Preferred Stock required for the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger, will be obtained at the special meeting. The full text of the Voting Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B . We encourage you to read the full text of the Voting Agreement in its entirety.

 

Also, as of the date of this proxy statement, all shares of Series C Preferred Stock are owned by Merger Sub and it is anticipated that Merger Sub will vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger.

 

If the proposal to adjourn our special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies is submitted to our shareholders for approval, such approval requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our capital stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter.

 

 

Simply attending the special meeting will not constitute revocation of a proxy. If you have instructed your broker to vote your shares, the above-described options for revoking your proxy do not apply and instead you must follow the directions provided by your broker to change these instructions.

 

Recommendation of Our Board of Directors (page 28)

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously:

 

 

For a discussion of the material factors considered by the Board of Directors in reaching their conclusions, see “The Merger — Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of Our Board of Directors” beginning on page 28.

 

Restrictions on Solicitation of Other Offers (page 42)

 

The Merger Agreement provides that beginning at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 19, 2007, which we refer to as the “No-Shop Period Start Date”, we will not, and we will ensure that our representatives do not:

 

 

Notwithstanding these restrictions, under circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement, if required in order to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, our Board of Directors may respond to certain unsolicited competing proposals. Also, under certain circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement, our Board of Directors may withdraw its recommendation in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, and the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an agreement with respect to a superior acquisition proposal. The Merger Agreement provides that through the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company was permitted to initiate, solicit and encourage (or “go shop”) an alternative acquisition proposal for the Company (including by way of providing information pursuant to a confidentiality agreement), and enter into and maintain discussions or negotiations concerning an alternative acquisition proposal for the Company. During this period, the Company engaged a financial advisor to facilitate the “go shop” process. This financial advisor and the Company contacted 16 parties, including financial and strategic buyers. However, these actions did not result in the Company receiving a superior proposal, see “The Merger — Background of the Merger” beginning on page 19.

 

Completion of the Merger (page 45)

 

We are working to complete the Merger as soon as possible. We anticipate completing the Merger during the first quarter of 2008. However, we cannot predict the exact timing of the Merger or whether the Merger will be completed. In order to complete the Merger, our shareholders must adopt the Merger Agreement and the other closing conditions under the Merger Agreement must be satisfied or waived.

 

Before we can complete the Merger, a number of conditions must be satisfied. These include:

 

 

 

Other than the conditions pertaining to the Company shareholder approval and the absence of legal prohibitions, either the Company, on the one hand, or Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, may elect to waive conditions to their respective performance and complete the Merger.

 

Termination of the Merger Agreement (page 46)

 

The Company, Parent and Merger Sub may agree in writing to terminate the Merger Agreement at any time without completing the Merger, even after the shareholders of Verticalnet have adopted the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Merger Agreement may also be terminated at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination Fee (page 47)

 

If the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to pay a termination fee to Parent in cash equal to the sum of:

 

 

We encourage you to read the full text of the Merger Agreement in its entirety.

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger to Our Shareholders (page 35)

 

Generally, the Merger will be taxable to our shareholders who are U.S. holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. holder of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock receiving cash in the Merger generally will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Common Stock or Series B Preferred Stock surrendered. You should consult your own tax advisor for a full understanding of how the Merger will affect your particular tax circumstances.

 

Interests of Verticalnet’s Directors and Officers in the Merger (page 31)

 

In considering the recommendation of our Board of Directors with respect to the Merger, you should be aware that certain of our directors and executive officers may be considered to have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder and that may present actual or potential conflicts of interest. Our Board of Directors was aware of these interests and considered that the interests may be different from or in addition to the interests of our shareholders generally, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and in determining to recommend that our shareholders vote for the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger, and for the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.

 

Procedure for Receiving Merger Consideration (page 48)

 

As soon as reasonably practicable after the effective time of the Merger, the exchange agent will mail a letter of transmittal and instructions to all Company shareholders. The letter of transmittal and instructions will tell you how to surrender your stock certificates or book-entry shares in exchange for the merger consideration. You should not return any share certificates you hold with the enclosed proxy card, and you should not forward your share certificates to the exchange agent without a letter of transmittal.

 

Market Price of Verticalnet Common Stock (page 52)

 

Our Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the trading symbol “VERT.” The closing sale price of Common Stock on October 25, 2007, which was the last trading day before the announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, was $5.61 per share. On December 10, 2007, the record date, the closing sale price of our Common Stock was $2.42 per share.

 

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal (page 53)

 

Under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (“PBCL”), holders of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock are not entitled to dissenters rights in connection with the proposed Merger. Under the PBCL, holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to dissenters rights in connection with the proposed Merger. As of the date of this proxy statement, all shares of Series C Preferred Stock are owned by Merger Sub and it is anticipated that Merger Sub will vote in favor of the Merger Agreement and the Merger.

 

Delisting and Deregistration of Common Stock (page 31)

 

If the Merger is completed, our Common Stock will be delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered under the Exchange Act and we will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of our Common Stock.

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER

 

The following questions and answers are intended to briefly address some commonly asked questions regarding the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the special meeting. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a Verticalnet shareholder. Please refer to the “Summary” and the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement, the annexes to this proxy statement and the other documents we file with the SEC that are available free of charge, which you should read carefully. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 55.

 

 

 

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

This proxy statement, and the documents to which we refer you to in this proxy statement, contain statements that are not historical facts and that are considered “forward-looking” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations about future events and financial performance with respect to our operations, the expected completion and timing of the Merger and other information relating to the Merger. Statements that include words such as “may,” “will,” “project,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue” or “pursue,” or other words or expressions of similar meaning, may identify forward-looking statements. You should be aware that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and certainties. Although we believe that the expectations underlying these forward looking statements are reasonable, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this proxy statement or elsewhere as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC.” In addition to other factors and matters contained in this document, these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, among others:

 

 

The foregoing sets forth some, but not all, of the factors that could impact our ability to achieve results described in any forward-looking statements. A more complete description of the risks applicable to us is provided in our filings with the SEC available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 55. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Investors also should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors and that neither this list nor the factors identified in our SEC filings should be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. We have no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this proxy statement.

 

THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER

 

Verticalnet, Inc.

400 Chester Field Parkway

Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

Tel. No. 610-240-0600

 

Verticalnet, Inc. , is a provider of On-Demand Supply Management solutions to companies ranging in size from mid-market to Global 2000. We provide a full scope of Supply Management software, services, and domain expertise in areas that include: Program Management, Spend Analysis, eSourcing, Contract Management, and Supplier Performance Management. Our solutions help our customers save money on the goods and services they buy. In addition to traditional software installation and application service provider hosting, we offer the majority of our software products in an “on-demand” delivery model. On-demand delivery enables our customers to pay a single annual fee that includes software license, maintenance, application hosting, customer/community support, and training. We believe that our on-demand delivery model mitigates the software implementation costs for our customers, and reduces the obstacles to a successful supply management initiative. In addition to implementation services, we also provide customers with supply management business process consulting, primarily in the areas of Spend Analysis and Advanced Sourcing, and offer custom software development for customers that desire to build additional supply management capabilities.

 

Detailed descriptions about the Company’s business and financial results are contained in our filings with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 55 of this proxy statement.

 

BravoSolution S.p.A and BravoSolution U.S.A., Inc.
Via Rombon, 11
20134 Milano

Tel. No. 011 35 02 2105-12346

 

BravoSolution S.p.A. , or Parent, is a leading international provider of eSourcing solutions. Its mission is to generate value by supporting its clients in the improvement of procurement processes through innovative web-based technologies and services. Founded in Italy in June 2000 by the Italcementi Group, BravoSolution S.p.A. effectively combines professional expertise and technological excellence in the area of sourcing in order to deliver valuable results to its numerous customers worldwide. BravoSolution S.p.A. has offices in London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome and Shanghai. In the United Kingdom, BravoSolution S.p.A. is the sole approved provider of eSourcing Services under the Framework Agreement managed by an Executive Agency of the UK Treasury (OGC). BravoSolution S.p.A. has a team of more than 250 professionals and has now managed over 70,000 online negotiations, totaling over $50 billion of spend.

 

BravoSolution U.S.A., Inc. , which we refer to as Merger Sub, is a Pennsylvania corporation formed for the sole purpose of completing the Merger with the Company. Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub has not conducted any activities to date other than activities incidental to its formation and in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting

 

The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of our Board of Directors for use at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. local time, or at any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. The special meeting will be held at the offices of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP located at 1701 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The Company intends to mail this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card on or about December 14, 2007 to all shareholders entitled to vote at the special meeting.

 

At the special meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2007, among the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub, as they may be amended from time to time, and the related Plan of Merger and to approve the merger of Merger Sub, with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (and to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies). Our shareholders must adopt the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger for the Merger to occur. If our shareholders fail to adopt the Merger Agreement, the Merger will not occur.

 

Verticalnet shareholders also may be asked to transact such other business as may properly come before the special meeting or any postponements of the special meeting. The Company does not expect a vote to be taken on any other matters at the special meeting. If any other matters are properly presented at the special meeting, however, the holders of the proxies, if properly authorized, will have the authority to vote on these matters in their discretion.

 

Verticalnet Board Recommendation

 

Our Board of Directors has unanimously approved and adopted the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and has determined that the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company. Accordingly, our Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.

 

Record Date, Voting Power and Quorum

 

Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2007 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting. On December 10, 2007, there were 2,542,309 shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding and entitled to vote, consisting of 1,610,845 shares of Common Stock, 623,875 shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote subject to the voting cap as set forth in the Series B Statement of Designation, and 307,589 shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to vote subject to the voting cap set as forth in the Series C Statement of Designation.

 

Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters properly coming before the special meeting.

 

Each share of Preferred Stock entitles its holder to vote on all matters properly coming before the special meeting in accordance with the terms of the respective Statements of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Preferred Stock, filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Series B and Series C Statements of Designation provide that each holder of Preferred Stock votes on an as- converted to Common Stock basis, provided, however, that each holder is not entitled to cast a number of votes in excess of the number determined by (i) dividing (A) the per-share purchase price paid with respect to such holder’s shares of Preferred Stock at the time such shares were originally acquired from the Company, by (B) the applicable closing bid price (adjusted for any stock dividends, stock splits or similar transactions after such date) for shares of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the business day immediately prior to the closing date of the purchase of the Preferred Stock, and (ii) multiplying that quotient by the number of shares of Preferred Stock currently held by such holder. Furthermore, in addition to the voting limitations set forth in the preceding

sentence, the Series B Statement of Designation provides that each holder of Series B Preferred Stock is not permitted to vote shares owned by such holder that would result in such holder being deemed to beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of 9.99% of the total number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding.

 

As of December 10, 2007, the record date for the special meeting, holders of shares of Preferred Stock, in accordance with the terms of the respective Statements of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Preferred Stock, represent 36.6% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting.

 

A quorum of holders of all our capital stock (including Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock) entitled to vote at the special meeting must be present for the special meeting to be held. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of all our capital stock (including Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock) outstanding and entitled to vote at the special meeting on the record date will constitute a quorum. Any shares of our Common Stock held in treasury by the Company are not considered outstanding for purposes of determining a quorum.

 

A quorum of holders of the Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting must be present for the class vote of the holders of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders representing a majority of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the special meeting on the record date will constitute a quorum for the class vote of the holders of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Certain of our directors, officers and shareholders, who beneficially own approximately 70% of our outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting, have agreed to vote all of their shares in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, which assures that the quorum for the class vote of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock will be obtained at the special meeting.

 

Vote Required for Approval

 

For us to complete the Merger, we need the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our capital stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting (assuming a quorum is present) and by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock that are entitled to vote at the special meeting, voting as a separate class (assuming a quorum is present).

 

In order for your capital stock to be included in the vote, you need to first determine if you are a registered shareholder (that is, if you hold your shares of capital stock in certificated form) or if you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee. If you are a registered shareholder, you must submit your proxy and vote your shares by returning the enclosed proxy card, marked, signed and dated, in the postage prepaid envelope provided, or by telephone or through the Internet, as indicated on the proxy card, or you may vote in person at the special meeting. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the separate voting instructions provided by the broker, bank or other nominee with the proxy statement.

 

Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote at the special meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, provided, however, that broker non-votes will only be treated as so present and entitled to vote if the shares covered by the broker non-vote are voted on a procedural matter at the special meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when, as is the case with respect to the vote regarding the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, brokers are prohibited from exercising discretionary authority in voting for beneficial owners who have not provided voting instructions. Because adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast by the holders of the capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting that are outstanding on the record date, and a majority of the votes cast by the holders Series B Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the special meeting that are outstanding on the record date, voting as a separate class, under the PBCL, failures to vote, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, are not considered votes “cast” and therefore will have no effect on the vote and will not be considered in determining whether the proposals have received the requisite shareholder vote.

Also, as of the date of this proxy statement, all shares of our Series C Preferred Stock (representing, as of the record date, 12.1% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting) are owned by Merger Sub and it is anticipated that Merger Sub will vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger, and in favor of the adjournment proposal.

 

Voting by Directors and Executive Officers

 

Holders of all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock have entered into a Voting Agreement with Parent and the Company, as amended (the “Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which holders of our Series B Preferred Stock that as of the record date represent 17.27% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting have agreed to vote all of their Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies, and holders of our Series B Preferred Stock that as of the record date represent 7.62% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting have agreed to grant an irrevocable proxy to the Company to vote their Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger and any other extraordinary corporate transaction, in a manner that the Company, acting through our Board of Directors, determines in its sole discretion.

 

The Voting Agreement will terminate on the earliest to occur of (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (ii) the mutual written consent of Parent, the Company and each of the shareholders party to the Voting Agreement, and (iii) by each such shareholder upon the execution or granting of any amendment, modification, change or waiver with respect to the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Merger that results in a decrease in the merger consideration. The full text of the Voting Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. We encourage you to read the full text of the Voting Agreement in its entirety. As a result of the Voting Agreement, the separate class vote involving only shares of our Series B Preferred Stock is assured.

 

Proxies; Revocation

 

Any Verticalnet shareholder of record entitled to vote may submit a proxy by mail, or through the Internet or by telephone as indicated on the proxy card, or may vote in person by appearing at the special meeting. If no instructions are indicated on your signed proxy card, your shares will be voted “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies, and in the discretion of the persons appointed as proxies on any other matters properly brought before the special meeting for a vote.

 

If you wish to change your vote and your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, you should follow the instructions of your broker, bank or other nominee regarding revocation or change of votes. If your broker, bank or other nominee allows you to submit a vote by telephone or through the Internet, you may be able to change your vote by submitting new voting instructions by telephone or through the Internet.

 

Any Verticalnet shareholder of record who executes and returns a proxy card (or submits a proxy via telephone or the Internet) may revoke the proxy at any time before it is voted in any one of the following ways:

 

 

Simply attending the special meeting will not constitute revocation of a proxy. If you have instructed your broker to vote your shares, the above-described options for revoking your proxy do not apply and instead you must follow the directions provided by your broker to change these instructions.

The Company does not expect that any matter other than the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and to approve the Merger (and to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies) will be brought before the special meeting. If, however, such a matter is properly presented at the special meeting or any postponement of the special meeting, the persons appointed as proxies will have discretionary authority to vote the shares represented by duly executed proxies in accordance with their discretion and judgment.

 

Please do NOT send in your share certificates with your proxy card.   If the Merger is completed, shareholders will be mailed a transmittal form following the completion of the Merger with instructions for use in effecting the surrender of certificates in exchange for the merger consideration.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

The Company is soliciting proxies in connection with the special meeting. The expenses of preparing, printing and mailing this proxy statement and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne by the Company. Additional solicitation may be made by telephone, facsimile, e-mail, in person or other contact by certain of our directors, officers, employees or agents, none of whom will receive additional compensation therefor. We will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable expenses for forwarding material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by others. We have also engaged Georgeson, Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting, and we estimate that we will pay them a fee of approximately $7,500, a nominal fee per shareholder contact and will reimburse them for reasonable administrative and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with such solicitation.

 

Attending the Special Meeting

 

In order to attend the special meeting in person, you must be a shareholder of record on the record date, hold a valid proxy from a record holder or be an invited guest of the Company. You will be asked to provide proper identification at the registration desk on the day of the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting.

 

Questions and Additional Information

 

If you have more questions about the Merger or how to submit your proxy, or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card or voting instructions, please contact the Company’s Investor Relations:

 

Verticalnet, Inc.
400 Chester Field Parkway
Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355
Telephone: (610) 240-0600

 

THE MERGER

 

Background of the Merger

 

From time to time, we have, with our legal and financial advisors, reviewed and evaluated strategic opportunities and alternatives.

 

In recent years, as disclosed in the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the Company’s liquid assets and expected cash flows from operations have not been sufficient to fund operations and financial commitments without raising additional capital. While the Company was historically successful in raising such additional capital through the sale of debt and equity securities in private placement transactions, each of these transactions imposed additional barriers to the Company’s growth.

 

On August 16, 2005, to support its working capital and debt repayment obligations, the Company issued and sold senior secured convertible promissory notes in an aggregate principal amount of $6.6 million and warrants to purchase common stock to various institutional investors. Pursuant to the terms of the convertible notes, the Company made monthly payments of principal and interest in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock. The issuance of common stock in payment of the obligations under the convertible notes placed downward pressure on the per share price of the Company’s common stock.

 

During the time period in which these convertible notes remained outstanding, the Company considered various capital raising transactions. The restrictive covenants and other limitations in the convertible notes and related agreements constrained the Company’s ability to raise future capital.

 

In light of the Company’s liquidity position, during the spring of 2006 at the recommendation of the Company’s management our Board of Directors decided to engage a financial advisor to explore various strategic transactions for the Company.

 

In April 2006, the Company engaged a financial advisor (the “First Advisor”). Following the engagement, the First Advisor approached various strategic and financial parties to gauge interest in pursuing a transaction with the Company.

 

During April 2006, the First Advisor and the Company prepared a Confidential Information Memorandum for use in soliciting third party bids to acquire the Company. Beginning in April 2006, at the direction of our Board of Directors and management, the First Advisor contacted approximately 48 parties, including financial and strategic potential buyers. In the following weeks, the Company, in conjunction with the First Advisor, distributed confidentiality agreements to 26 parties. Of these parties, the Company signed confidentiality agreements with, and distributed the Confidential Information Memorandum to, 11 potential buyers. The Company and the First Advisor entered into in-depth discussions with four of the parties that received the Confidential Information Memorandum.

 

On May 15, 2006, in order to raise working capital, the Company issued and sold a senior subordinated discounted promissory note, in the original principal amount of $5.3 million, in return for a payment of $4 million. The senior subordinated discounted promissory note and related agreements contained restrictive covenants and other limitations on the Company.

 

During the summer of 2006, one of the parties with whom the Company and the First Advisor held in-depth discussions (“Party A”) expressed interest in exploring a transaction in which Party A would acquire all of the Company’s outstanding shares of capital stock. Through the remainder of the summer of 2006, the Company, our Board of Directors, the First Advisor and the Company’s legal advisor, Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, LLP (“Morgan Lewis”), discussed the structure of a potential merger transaction with Party A. Party A and its advisors were granted access to certain of the Company’s due diligence materials through an online data room. Throughout the summer and early fall of 2006, Party A and its advisors reviewed the Company’s due diligence materials.

 

Party A initially informed the Company that based on its preliminary valuation analysis, it would acquire all of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock for a per share price approximately 20% above the then current market price. On September 8, 2006, the Company received a preliminary non-binding indication of interest from Party A to acquire the issued and outstanding capital stock for a price of $8.00 per share (as adjusted to reflect the

Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). The then current closing market price of our Common Stock on that date was $7.44 (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split).

 

Following Party A’s initial indication of interest, the market price for shares of our Common Stock decreased significantly. In September 2006, the Company and Party A, with their legal and financial advisors, began negotiating a definitive merger agreement to provide for the proposed transaction and a voting agreement in which certain of the Company’s directors and officers would agree to vote in favor of the transaction. Following substantial completion of its due diligence review, in late September 2006 Party A submitted a revised non-binding proposal to acquire all of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock for $3.20 per share (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). The then current market price of our Common Stock on that date was $5.30 (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). In response to Party A’s revised offer, our Board of Directors sought to reduce certain of the Company’s liabilities that would be incurred in connection with the proposed transaction in an effort to improve Party A’s per share offer for our Common Stock.

 

On October 13, 2006, Party A informed the Company that as a result of changes in Party A’s internal business rationale behind the proposed transaction, it was no longer interested in pursuing a transaction with the Company. However, Party A informed the Company that it would facilitate discussions between the Company and several financial buyers that were interested in pursuing transactions involving the Company and Party A. These discussions were ultimately unsuccessful, and on October 31, 2006, the Company concluded negotiations with Party A and the financial buyers.

 

Following the completion of discussions with Party A, the First Advisor continued to correspond with other interested parties.

 

During the fall of 2006 and continuing through January 2007, the First Advisor and the Company engaged in discussions with a financial buyer (“Party B”). Following the initial discussions, Party B and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement. Soon after entering into the confidentiality agreement, Party B and its advisors were granted access to certain of the Company’s due diligence materials. Throughout this period, Party B and its advisors reviewed the Company’s due diligence materials. Following its initial review of the due diligence materials, Party B submitted a preliminary non-binding proposal in which Party B would pay the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company between approximately $0.82 and $2.46 per share (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). Our Board of Directors determined that this valuation range was not acceptable and the Company ceased discussions with Party B. In early 2007, following the conclusion of the Company’s discussions with Party B, our Board of Directors terminated the engagement of the First Advisor.

 

During January 2007, the Company was contacted by a strategic buyer (“Party C”) regarding a transaction in which Party C would acquire all of the Company’s outstanding shares of capital stock. Throughout the winter and spring of 2007, representatives from the Company and Party C met to discuss a potential transaction. These discussions were of a preliminary nature and did not result in any agreement regarding terms of a potential transaction or an agreement to work toward a potential transaction. Following the initial discussions, Party C and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement. Soon after entering into the confidentiality agreement, Party C and its advisors were granted access to certain of the Company’s due diligence materials through an online data room. Throughout the winter and spring of 2007, Party C and its advisors reviewed the Company’s due diligence materials.

 

At the time of discussions with Party C, the Company’s level of liquid assets necessitated an additional capital raise. Given the uncertainty of discussions with Party C and other potential acquirors, in January 2007, the Company engaged a placement agent (the “Second Advisor”) to explore a $10 and $15 million equity financing transaction. After exploring interest from potential investors, the Second Advisor informed the Company that the interest among investors was less than originally estimated and it would need additional time to complete the financing transaction.

 

In March 2007, a financial advisor contacted the Company regarding a potential acquirer (“Party D”). Following the initial discussions, Party D and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement. Soon after entering into the confidentiality agreement, Party D and its advisors were granted access to certain of the

Company’s due diligence materials through an online data room. Throughout the spring of 2007, Party D and its advisors reviewed the Company’s due diligence materials.

 

In March 2007, Party D conveyed a preliminary non-binding proposal to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock for approximately $0.88 per share (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). The Company responded that it was not interested in pursuing a transaction at this per share price.

 

On May 8, 2007, an in-person regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of our Board of Directors was held. At this meeting, Nathanael V. Lentz (President and Chief Executive Officer) advised our Board of Directors regarding the status of discussions with Party C and Party D and the Company’s current liquidity position and the viability of continued operations without raising additional capital. Due to the delay in Party C’s formulation of an offer and the Company’s working capital requirements, our Board of Directors determined to proceed with the capital raising transaction being coordinated by the Second Advisor.

 

On May 15, 2007, Party C submitted a preliminary non-binding indication of interest to acquire all of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock for a per share price in the range of $3.20 to $4.00 (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). However, Party C informed the Company that it would first need to complete its due diligence review of the Company before it moved forward with the proposed transaction.

 

On May 15, 2007, the Company issued and sold junior unsecured notes to several investors, including members of our management and Board of Directors for $600,000. The junior unsecured notes were structured so that they would automatically convert on a dollar-for-dollar basis in the Company’s next equity financing transaction.

 

On June 1, 2007, the Company completed the financing transaction being coordinated by the Second Advisor and issued and sold 8,700,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock to several individual and institutional investors for a per share purchase price of $0.25. The aggregate purchase price of $2.175 million consisted of $1.575 million in cash and $600,000 of junior unsecured notes sold by the Company on May 15, 2007 that automatically converted into the Series B Preferred Stock on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The purchasers of the Series B Preferred Stock were also entitled to receive warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock, in an amount dependent upon the results of a shareholder vote to be held on certain proposals at the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to the Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to seek shareholder approval of certain proposals at its next annual meeting of shareholders, including proposals to enable all the Series B Preferred Stock to be convertible into shares of our Common Stock and to amend the our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock by at least 35,000,000 shares. In the event that the Company’s shareholders did not approve these proposals, the Company agreed to issue the purchasers warrants to purchase approximately 3,375,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the closing bid price on the day prior to the shareholders meeting. On August 16, 2007, the Company received shareholder approval of these proposals. Thus, in accordance with the Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, on August 17, 2007, the Company issued the purchasers warrants to purchase 543,750 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price per share equal to $2.64 and warrants to purchase 543,750 shares of our Common Stock with an exercise price per share equal to $5.60. The warrants were valued by the Company at $1,736,000 as of the date of the closing of the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

On June 1, 2007, a representative from Morgan Lewis contacted the Company regarding an inquiry received from Delzanno & Co. Inc. (“Delzanno”), a financial consultant to BravoSolution S.p.A. (“BravoSolution”). On June 2, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted a representative from Delzanno. This discussion centered on BravoSolution’s business objectives and the Company’s recent history and business objectives. Mr. Lentz agreed to participate in a conference call with members of BravoSolution’s senior management that would occur following the signing of a confidentiality agreement between the parties.

 

On June 7, 2007, BravoSolution and the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement, which, among other things, imposed confidentiality, standstill and non-solicitation obligations on the parties in connection with the evaluation of a possible transaction.

On June 8, 2007, Mr. Lentz participated in a conference call with a representative from Delzanno and members of BravoSolution’s senior management, including Federico Vitaletti (President) and Antonino Pisana (Chief Financial Officer). These discussions were of a preliminary nature regarding the nature of the Company’s business and did not result in any agreement regarding the terms of a potential transaction. The parties agreed on next steps in consideration of a possible transaction, including BravoSolution’s due diligence review of the Company and the need for meetings to be held between Mr. Lentz and other members of BravoSolution’s management team.

 

Beginning on June 11, 2007 and continuing throughout the summer and fall of 2007, BravoSolution and its advisors reviewed the Company’s due diligence materials.

 

On June 20, 2007, a representative from Party C informed Mr. Lentz that Party C was no longer interested in pursuing a transaction with the Company at this time.

 

On June 25, 2007, Mr. Lentz met with members of BravoSolution’s senior management, including Mr. Vitaletti, Mr. Pisana, Nader Sabbaghian (Managing Director — BravoSolution UK) and other executives, and a representative from Delzanno, in Milan, Italy. These discussions focused on the Company’s business and capital structure, structure of a potential transaction and BravoSolution’s business, objectives and strategies.

 

On June 26, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the Company’s liquidity position as well as on the status of discussions with Party C, Party D and BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors determined to continue discussions with all parties and to authorize Mr. Lentz to encourage Party D to submit a revised per share offer.

 

On June 28, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted the financial advisor for Party D. On June 29, 2007, Party D’s financial advisor informed Mr. Lentz that Party D was reconsidering its initial proposal.

 

Throughout the period of July 1 to July 25, 2007, Mr. Lentz engaged in a number of discussions with Party D and its financial advisor. The parties discussed the structure of a potential transaction although no agreements were reached on the material terms.

 

On July 17 and 18, 2007, a representative from Delzanno and Mr. Sabbaghian met with certain members of the Company’s senior management in Malvern, Pennsylvania. These discussions focused on the Company’s business, product development and customer relationships.

 

On July 25, 2007, Party D submitted a revised preliminary non-binding proposal to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock for $2.00 per share (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). Party D also submitted a draft acquisition agreement for the proposed transaction and requested an exclusivity period to move forward with its proposal. The closing of the transactions contemplated by Party D’s draft acquisition agreement was contingent upon, among other things, Party D’s receipt of third party financing to fund the payment of the acquisition consideration, members of the Company’s management agreeing to a 50% reduction in any severance or change in control benefits which they would otherwise have been entitled to receive in connection with the proposed acquisition, and the Company’s reduction of the amount of its accounts payables to less than $3 million.

 

On July 26, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted Party D and its financial advisor to discuss the terms of Party D’s proposal, and in particular the financing contingency contained in the draft acquisition agreement.

 

On July 30, 2007, BravoSolution submitted a preliminary non-binding proposal to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock for a per share price in the range of $2.40 to $3.20 (as adjusted to reflect the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split).

 

On July 31, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz advised our Board of Directors regarding the status of discussions with Party D and BravoSolution. Party D and BravoSolution, independently and unaware of the identity of the other, were permitted to make presentations to our Board of Directors. Party D’s Chief Financial Officer and financial advisor made its presentation. Mr. Vitaletti and a representative from Delzanno made a presentation on

behalf of BravoSolution. During the meeting our Board of Directors discussed the structure of each proposal with the applicable party and clarified certain terms and conditions of each proposal.

 

Following the presentations by Party D and BravoSolution, our Board of Directors convened a separate meeting to discuss the presentations. Our Board of Directors instructed Mr. Lentz to proceed with both parties; however, subject to confirmation of timing, structure and price of the proposed transaction and confirmation that BravoSolution would agree to provide immediate financing to support the Company’s short-term working capital needs, the Board of Directors requested that Mr. Lentz should focus the Company’s resources primarily on BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors also instructed Mr. Lentz to contact Party D’s financial advisor with regard to the Board’s objection to the third party financing contingency.

 

On July 31, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted Party D’s financial advisor to discuss the financing contingency and the per share price contained in Party D’s offer. Mr. Lentz informed Party D that the Company would not agree to a buyer financing contingency as a condition to the consummation of the transaction. Mr. Lentz also discussed the Company’s financial position and the need for any proposed transaction to include a bridge financing component to address the Company’s immediate short-term working capital needs.

 

Between August 1 and August 3, 2007, Mr. Lentz had numerous conversations with a representative from Delzanno with regard to the structure of the transaction. Mr. Lentz also discussed the Company’s financial position and the importance of a bridge financing component in the transaction structure. The representative from Delzanno informed Mr. Lentz that BravoSolution required an exclusivity period in order to move further with its proposal. BravoSolution previously indicated that it was considering structuring the proposed transaction as an asset purchase; however, at the insistence of our Board of Directors, BravoSolution communicated a willingness to consider an equity structure in which it would acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock.

 

On August 6, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with Party D and BravoSolution. Because Party D’s proposal included a price per share less than BravoSolution and since Party D had not responded to Mr. Lentz’s previous discussion about the removal of the financing contingency from its proposal, our Board of Directors focused its discussion on a potential transaction with BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors discussed BravoSolution’s request for exclusivity, and in agreement with the Company’s management, determined to agree to this request and proceed further in exclusive negotiations with BravoSolution.

 

On August 8, 2007, the Company entered into an exclusivity letter agreement with BravoSolution pursuant to which the Company agreed to negotiate exclusively with BravoSolution regarding a potential acquisition transaction until the close of business on September 28, 2007, subject to BravoSolution’s completion of due diligence and the parties agreement on the terms of a non-binding letter of intent. The exclusivity arrangement also provided that the Company would nonetheless be permitted to have discussions with interested parties with regard to a separate capital raising transaction.

 

On August 9, 2007, Mr. Lentz informed Party D that our Board of Directors had determined to consider other strategic alternatives.

 

Between August 13 and August 16, 2007, representatives from BravoSolution met with members of the Company’s management. These discussions centered on the Company’s core business and employees.

 

On August 13, 2007, BravoSolution and its advisors were granted access to the Company’s due diligence materials through an online data room. On or about this date, BravoSolution engaged Greenberg Traurig, LLP, as its primary legal counsel (“Greenberg”) and Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, as its special Pennsylvania counsel. At this time, BravoSolution’s representatives and financial and legal advisors met with members of the Company’s management in Malvern, Pennsylvania for due diligence discussions.

 

On August 30, 2007, Mr. Vitaletti and Mr. Lentz discussed the results of BravoSolution’s due diligence review and the terms of the proposed transaction. Later that day, Greenberg distributed a draft non-binding letter of intent that reflected the parties discussions to date, including BravoSolution’s per share price range of $2.40 to $3.20 that it would be willing to pay to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock. On

August 31, 2007, the Company entered into the non-binding letter of intent with BravoSolution that reflected a merger transaction in the proposed per share range.

 

On September 12 and September 13, 2007, Mr. Lentz met with members of BravoSolution’s advisors and senior management, including Mr. Vitaletti, in Milan, Italy. These discussions focused on the Company’s business, anticipated future performance and the current employee base.

 

On September 17, 2007, Greenberg distributed the initial draft of the merger agreement to Morgan Lewis and the Company. The merger agreement proposed that the transaction would be structured as a one-step merger.

 

On September 17, 2007, the Company received an unsolicited revised proposal from Party D to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock for $2.50 per share. Party D’s revised proposal included terms and conditions from its initial offer, including the requirements that the Company reduce the amount of its accounts payables to less than $3 million and that members of the Company’s senior management agree to a 50% reduction in any severance or change in control benefits which they would otherwise have been entitled to receive in connection with the proposed acquisition. On September 18, 2007, as required under the terms of the Company’s exclusivity arrangement with BravoSolution, the Company informed BravoSolution of the receipt of this proposal from Party D, without identifying Party D by name. In accordance with the terms of the exclusivity letter, the Company informed Party D’s financial advisor that it could not proceed further with its proposal at this time.

 

On September 18, 2007, the Company and BravoSolution discussed the overall structure of the proposed transaction, including that the per share price to be received by the holders of the Company’s capital stock (including common and Series B Preferred Stock) would be $2.56 per share.

 

On September 19, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with Party D and BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors agreed that management should continue its discussions with BravoSolution and seek an increase in the per share consideration to be received by shareholders in a potential transaction.

 

On September 19, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted a representative from Delzanno with regard to the proposed per share price of $2.56 per share. Mr. Lentz was advised that the $2.56 per share (for both common shareholders and Series B Preferred Stock shareholders) was BravoSolution’s final offer at that time. After receiving guidance from our Board of Directors, the Company agreed to proceed in discussions with BravoSolution at its per share offer.

 

During the week of September 21, 2007, the Company engaged in discussions with the Second Advisor with regard to a capital raising transaction, to address the Company’s long-term working capital needs to provide for business continuity. While these discussions were of a preliminary nature, the Company discussed that any such transaction would require a significant investment of over $10.0 million in order to adequately address the Company’s balance sheet requirements and ensure business continuity.

 

On September 25, 2007, Mr. Lentz contacted BravoSolution’s advisor to further discuss the Company’s need for an infusion of working capital. Mr. Lentz explained that the Company’s immediate short-term working capital needs would require funding during the period between signing and closing of the proposed transaction.

 

On September 25, 2007 a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz advised our Board of Directors regarding the status of discussions with BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors discussed the structure of the proposed transaction as well as BravoSolution’s position on the bridge financing.

 

On September 28, 2007, the board of directors of BravoSolution approved the structure of the transaction and instructed its advisors to proceed further with the transaction. On September 28, 2007, the Company agreed to an extension of the exclusive negotiation period with BravoSolution through October 9, 2007.

 

During the week of October 1, 2007, the Company’s executive officers, representatives from Morgan Lewis and Greenberg, and a representative from Delzanno discussed the terms of a proposed financing transaction to address the Company’s immediate short-term working capital needs. The parties agreed that the Company would issue a new series of preferred stock to BravoSolution. These shares of Series C Preferred Stock would be

convertible into common stock and would be entitled to vote on the proposed transaction, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s Statement of Designation of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series C Preferred Stock.

 

During this same period, the Company’s executive officers, representatives from Morgan Lewis and Greenberg, and a representative from Delzanno discussed the structure of the proposed transaction with respect to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the Company’s Statement of Designation of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2007, while the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock did not adjust in accordance with the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split, the conversion ratio that determined the number of shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock adjusted to account for the effect of the reverse stock split. The Series B Preferred Stock was initially convertible into shares of our Common Stock at a ratio of one-to-one (subject to adjustment in accordance with the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split); however, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock that are not members of our Board of Directors were entitled to receive a reduction in the conversion price, in the event that the Company did not achieve a subsequent financing transaction at or prior to December 31, 2007 in which the Company received gross proceeds of at least $3.825 million. In that case, the conversion price would be reduced, resulting in the Series B Preferred Stock converting into shares of our Common Stock on a one-for-one and two-thirds basis (subject to adjustment in accordance with the Company’s August 2007 1-for-8 reverse stock split). In BravoSolution’s previous proposals, the closing of the proposed transaction was structured such that it would close prior to December 31, 2007.

 

Following further discussions between the Company’s executive officers, representatives from Morgan Lewis and Greenberg, and a representative from Delzanno, BravoSolution revised its proposal such that it would agree to pay the holders of Series B Preferred Stock that are not members of our Board of Directors $0.38750 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with their agreeing to the terms of a voting agreement. This amount represents $3.10 per share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, assuming the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock prior to December 31, 2007.

 

The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are members of our Board of Directors would receive $0.26875 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Statement of Designation of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Because the Company entered into the Merger Agreement within six months from the closing date of the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger these holders were only entitled to receive this amount, which represents the product of $0.25 (the purchase price paid with respect to each share), and 1.075.

 

Under the proposed structure of the voting agreement, certain holders of Series B Preferred Stock would agree to vote in favor of the proposed transaction and waive certain rights including the adjustment to the conversion price and participation rights in connection with the Company’s proposed bridge financing transaction with BravoSolution.

 

During the week of October 7, 2007, Mr. Lentz discussed the terms and conditions of the proposed structure of the transaction with the lead outside holder of Series B Preferred Stock. Following these discussions, certain holders of Series B Preferred Stock agreed in principal to terms of the proposed transaction, subject to agreement on the formal documentation.

 

On October 10, 2007, the Company agreed to extend the exclusivity period with BravoSolution through October 23, 2007.

 

On October 16, 2007, Greenberg distributed a revised draft of the merger agreement to Morgan Lewis and the Company. The revised merger agreement reflected the changes resulting from the proposed agreement with the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock financing transaction.

 

On October 16, 2007, the Company distributed the initial draft of the disclosure schedules to the merger agreement to Greenberg.

On October 17, 2007, Morgan Lewis distributed the initial drafts of the Series C Preferred Stock financing agreements to Greenberg.

 

On October 18, 2007, Greenberg distributed the initial draft of the proposed voting agreement pursuant to which certain holders of Series B Preferred Stock, including certain members of our Board of Directors, would agree to waive certain rights and vote their shares in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and the approval of the merger.

 

During the week of October 19, 2007, numerous discussions were held between Morgan Lewis, the Company’s executive officers, Greenberg and a representative from Delzanno related to the merger agreement, the disclosure schedules, the voting agreement and the Series C Preferred Stock financing agreements. With respect to the merger agreement, these discussions included the scope of representations, warranties and covenants contained in the merger agreement, the conditions under which BravoSolution would be obligated to close the merger, our Board of Directors’ ability to consider alternative transactions and the amount of the termination fee that we would be obligated to pay to BravoSolution in the event that it were to accept an alternative transaction. Drafts of these documents were distributed among the parties.

 

During the course of these discussions, representatives of Morgan Lewis proposed that any definitive merger agreement should permit the board of directors to continue to actively solicit and consider competing offers for a period of time after the merger agreement was executed (a so-called “go shop” provision). In light of the recent volatility of the trading price of our Common Stock, the Company and our Board of Directors insisted on the inclusion of the “go shop” provision in the definitive merger agreement in order to further explore acquisition transactions following the signing of the definitive merger agreement. The parties agreed the Company would be permitted to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties through November 19, 2007. After this period, the Company would not be permitted to solicit other proposals and may not share information or have discussions regarding alternative proposals, except in certain circumstances. The parties agreed that the Company would be permitted to terminate the merger agreement under certain circumstances, including if our Board of Directors determined in good faith that it had received a superior proposal.

 

On October 19, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with BravoSolution. During the meeting a representative from Morgan Lewis reviewed the directors’ fiduciary duties in the context of the potential transaction. Our Board of Directors discussed the overall rationale for the proposed transaction, including the Series C Preferred Stock financing, as well as the history of negotiations with BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors also reviewed the strategic opportunities and alternative transactions considered throughout this process.

 

During the week of October 25, 2007, numerous discussions were held between Morgan Lewis, the Company’s executive officers, Greenberg and a representative from Delzanno related to finalizing the merger agreement, the disclosure schedules, the voting agreement and the Series C Preferred Stock financing agreements. Drafts of these documents were distributed between Morgan Lewis and Greenberg.

 

On October 25, 2007, a telephonic meeting of our Board of Directors was held at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. At this meeting, Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with BravoSolution. Our Board of Directors discussed the potential benefits of the proposed merger transaction with BravoSolution. After these discussions, our Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. That evening, the merger agreement, the voting agreement and the Series C Preferred Stock financing agreements were executed.

 

On October 26, 2007, the Company and BravoSolution issued press releases announcing the execution of the merger agreement and the terms of the proposed acquisition of the Company by BravoSolution.

 

On October 26, 2007, our Board of Directors held a telephonic meeting at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. Our Board of Directors determined that a special committee (the “Special Committee”) would coordinate the “go-shop” process on behalf of the Company. The Merger Agreement provided that, until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on November 19, 2007, the Company was permitted to initiate, solicit and encourage Acquisition Proposals (as defined below), and to enter into and maintain discussions or negotiations with

respect to Acquisition Proposals or otherwise cooperate with or assist or participate in or facilitate any inquiries, proposals, discussions or negotiations with respect to any such Acquisition Proposal (See “Terms of the Merger Agreement — Restrictions on Solicitations of Other Offers” beginning on page 42).

 

On October 29, 2007, the Special Committee and the Company engaged a financial advisor to facilitate the “go-shop” process (the “Third Advisor”). At the direction of the Special Committee, the Third Advisor and the Company contacted 16 parties, including financial and strategic potential buyers, and the Company contacted Party D. In the following days, the Company entered into a confidentiality agreement with one additional party (“Party E”) and entered into a new confidentiality agreement with Party D.

 

On November 9, 2007, the Company and the Third Advisor had a discussion with Party E. During this discussion, Party E stated that while it was interested in purchasing certain assets from the Company, it was not interested in pursuing a transaction to acquire all of the Company’s outstanding capital stock. The Company informed Party E that it was not interested in pursuing a transaction on these terms.

 

On November 12, 2007, at Party D’s request, the Company provided the disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement. Following the distribution of the disclosure schedules, Party D expressed its preliminary interest in pursuing a transaction to acquire all of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of capital stock. During the week of November 12, 2007, the Company engaged in discussions with Party D with regard to the terms and conditions of a potential proposal.

 

On November 14, 2007, our Board of Directors held a telephonic meeting at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. Mr. Lentz and Gregory G. Schott, Chairman of our Board of Directors on behalf of the Special Committee, updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with Party D. Our Board of Directors determined that the Company should continue to explore a potential transaction with Party D.

 

On November 15, 2007, Mr. Schott contacted Party D to further clarify the terms and conditions of its proposal. On November 16, 2007, Party D notified the Company in writing that while it needed to complete its review of the disclosure schedules and the Company’s due diligence materials, it was prepared to move forward with a transaction to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, in a transaction that Party D believed would constitute a Superior Proposal (as defined below).

 

On November 16, 2007, our Board of Directors held a telephonic meeting at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. Mr. Lentz and Mr. Schott updated our Board of Directors on the status of discussions with Party D. Following a detailed discussion of Party D’s proposal, our Board of Directors determined to advise BravoSolution that Party D was an “excluded party” under the Merger Agreement as Party D’s proposal was bona fide and was reasonably likely to result in a Superior Proposal (See “Terms of the Merger Agreement — Restrictions on Solicitations of Other Offers” beginning on page 42). Under the Merger Agreement, as a result of the excluded party determination, the Company was permitted to continue discussions with Party D until December 9, 2007. Following this meeting, the members of our Board of Directors convened an executive session to discuss Party D’s proposal.

 

On November 19, 2007, the Company provided written notice to BravoSolution of the excluded party determination with respect to Party D. Similarly, on November 19, 2007, the Company provided written notice to Party D that it had advised BravoSolution of the excluded party determination.

 

During the weeks of November 19, November 26 and December 3, 2007, Party D’s legal counsel submitted draft transaction documents to Morgan Lewis. Representatives from Party D’s legal counsel and Morgan Lewis discussed the terms and conditions of the transaction documents. During this period, Party D and its legal counsel requested and received certain additional due diligence information provided to BravoSolution.

 

On December 5, 2007, Party D contacted Mr. Lentz and stated that Party D declined to make a final definitive proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

 

On December 5, 2007, our Board of Directors held a telephonic meeting at which representatives from Morgan Lewis were present. Mr. Lentz updated our Board of Directors on the termination of discussions with Party D.

On December 10, 2007, the Company informed BravoSolution that Party D had not submitted a final definitive proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and was therefore no longer an “excluded party” under the Merger Agreement. As a result, the “go shop” process that was provided for by the Merger Agreement ended on December 10, 2007.

 

Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of Our Board of Directors

 

Our Board of Directors believes that the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger, the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company. In reaching this conclusion, the Board of Directors consulted with the Company’s management and legal advisors, and considered the short-term and long-term interests and prospects of the Company and its shareholders, employees, creditors, customers and other constituencies relevant under the PBCL. In reaching its determinations, the Board of Directors considered the following material factors and the potential benefits of the Merger, each of which it believed supported its decision (which are not listed in any relative order of importance):

 

 

 

 

The Board of Directors also considered and balanced against the potential benefits of the Merger a variety of risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the Merger. These factors included the following which are not listed in any relative order of performance:

 

 

In addition, our Board of Directors was aware of and considered the interests that certain of the Company’s Directors and Executive officers may have with respect to the Merger that differ from, or are in addition to, their interests as shareholders of the Company (see “Interests of Verticalnet’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” beginning on page 31).

 

Our Board of Directors considered all of the factors listed above as a whole and decided that in their totality such factors support the decision to approve, adopt and authorize the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated therein and to recommend that the shareholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies. The discussion of the information and factors considered by our Board of Directors is not intended to be exhaustive and may not include all of the factors considered by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors did not quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative or specific values to any of the above factors or the other factors it considered. In addition, our Board of Directors did not reach any specific conclusion on each factor considered, but conducted an overall assessment of these factors. Individual members of our Board of Directors may have given different weight to different factors.

 

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger, and “FOR” the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.

 

Plans for Verticalnet after the Merger

 

Parent has advised Verticalnet that, following the consummation of the Merger, it intends that Verticalnet will continue its current operations, except that Verticalnet will cease to be an independent public company and will instead be a subsidiary of Parent and its common stock will cease to be publicly traded. Following the consummation of the Merger, the registration of Verticalnet’s common stock and Verticalnet’s reporting obligation under the Exchange Act with respect to our common stock will be terminated upon application to the SEC. In addition, upon consummation of the Merger, Verticalnet common stock will no longer be listed on any exchange or quotation system, including NASDAQ, and price quotations will no longer be available. Verticalnet will not be subject to the obligations and constraints, and the related direct and indirect costs, associated with having publicly traded equity securities.

 

Certain Effects of the Merger

 

Effect on Capital Stock

 

If the Merger Agreement is approved by our shareholders and the other conditions to the completion of the Merger are either satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation. Upon the completion of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock, other than shares held by the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or their subsidiaries, will be converted into the right to receive $2.56 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. In addition, each issued and outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock will be converted into the right to receive either $0.38750 or $0.26875 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. Under the terms of the Company’s Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 31, 2007, and disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2007, because the Company entered into the Merger Agreement within six months from the closing date of the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are members of our Board of Directors and management are entitled to receive an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to $0.26875 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. In accordance with the Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, this amount represents the product of $0.25 (the purchase price paid with respect to each share), and 1.075. In connection with the Merger, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock that are not members of our Board of Directors are entitled to receive an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to $0.38750 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. This amount represents $3.10 per share of Common

Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, assuming the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock prior to December 31, 2007.

 

Our shareholders will be required to surrender their shares upon the completion of the Merger in exchange for such cash payments. After completion of the Merger, shareholders will not have the opportunity to liquidate their shares at a time and for a price of their own choosing. If all eligible shares are converted, the total merger consideration (excluding consideration to be paid to option holders) expected to be paid is approximately $4.5 million.

 

Each option, warrant or restricted stock unit to purchase our Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be cancelled (other than certain specified securities), and each holder of such option, warrant or restricted stock unit will be entitled to receive, in full settlement of such security, a cash payment equal to the product of the number of shares subject to such option, warrant or restricted stock unit, multiplied by the excess, if any, of (a) $2.56 per share less (b) the exercise or conversion price of such security, without interest and less any required withholding tax. The exercise price of all outstanding options to purchase shares of our Common Stock exceeds $2.56 per share. Thus, there will be no payments made by the Company with respect to such securities. The total amount expected to be paid in respect of warrants and restricted stock is approximately $14,300.

 

Effect on Listing; Registration and Status of Verticalnet Common Stock

 

Our Common Stock is registered as a class of equity securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VERT.” As a result of the Merger, Verticalnet will be a privately-held company, with no public market for its Common Stock. After the Merger, our Common Stock will cease to be traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), and price quotations with respect to sales of shares of our Common Stock in the public market will no longer be available. In addition, registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange Act will be terminated. This termination and the delisting of Verticalnet’s Common Stock from NASDAQ will make certain provisions of the Exchange Act inapplicable to Verticalnet as a stand-alone company, such as:

 

 

In addition, Verticalnet will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC after the effective time of the Merger.

 

Interests of Verticalnet’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

 

In considering the recommendation of our Board of Directors, you should be aware that some of Verticalnet’s directors and executive officers may be deemed to have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of Verticalnet’s shareholders generally. These interests may present them with actual or potential conflicts of interest, and these interests, to the extent material, are described below. Our Board of Directors was aware of these interests and considered that such interests may be different from or in addition to the interests of our shareholders generally, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement, the related Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and in determining to recommend that our shareholders vote for adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and the approval of the Merger.

Series B Preferred Stock

 

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, at the effective time of the Merger, outstanding shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock will be converted into the right to receive either $0.38750 or $0.26875 per share in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. Certain shares of Series B Preferred Stock are beneficially owned by members of our Board of Directors — Mr. Lentz, Michael J. Hagan and Mark L. Walsh. Under the terms of the Company’s Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2007, because the Company entered into the Merger Agreement within six months from the closing date of the sale of the Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger these holders are entitled to receive an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to $0.26875. In accordance with the Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, this amount represents the product of $0.25 (the purchase price paid with respect to each share), and 1.075.

 

The table below sets forth the amount that will be payable to Mr. Lentz, Mr. Hagan and Mr. Walsh following the effective time of the Merger with respect to shares of Series B Preferred Stock beneficially owned by the individual as of December 10, 2007.

 

 

 

 

Cash-Out of Stock Options

 

As of the record date, there were approximately 23,607 shares of our Common Stock subject to stock options granted under our equity compensation plans to current directors and executive officers. The Merger Agreement provides for the cancellation of options to purchase shares of our Common Stock (other than certain specified securities), to the extent outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger. Holders of such securities will receive from the Company an amount (without interest and less any required tax withholding), if any, in cash equal to the number of shares of our common stock subject to the option multiplied by the excess, if any, of $2.56 per share over the exercise price per share of our common stock underlying such security.

 

The exercise price of all outstanding options to purchase shares of our Common Stock, including those held by our directors and executive officers, exceeds $2.56 per share. Thus, there will be no payments made by the Company with respect to such securities.

 

Cash-Out of Restricted Stock Units

 

As of the record date, there were approximately 3,587 shares of our Common Stock represented by restricted stock units granted under our equity compensation plans held by our directors and executive officers. The Merger Agreement also provides for the cancellation of restricted stock units to purchase shares of our common stock, to the extent outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger. Holders of such securities will receive from the Company an amount (without interest and less any required tax withholding), if any, in cash equal to the number of shares of our common stock subject to the restricted stock unit multiplied by $2.56.

The table below sets forth the amount that will be payable to each of our directors and executive officers (before any applicable withholdings) following the effective time of the Merger with respect to restricted stock units held by the individual as of December 10, 2007.

 

 

Lentz Employment Agreement

 

In connection with the signing of the Merger Agreement, Parent required that the Company enter into an Employment Agreement (the “New Lentz Employment Agreement”) and Release (the “Release”) with Nathanael V. Lentz, Verticalnet’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lentz’s continued employment with the Company pursuant to the terms of the New Lentz Employment Agreement, as well as Mr. Lentz’s release of the Company from any and all claims, liabilities, demands or causes of action arising out of, or relating in any way to Mr. Lentz’s employment with the Company prior to the effective time of the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Release, were conditions precedent to Parent signing the Merger Agreement. The Company and Mr. Lentz entered into the Employment Agreement and Release, each dated as of October 25, 2007, which will become effective upon the closing of the Merger.

 

The New Lentz Employment Agreement provides for a base salary of $250,000 and has a term of two years, with automatic renewal for one year renewal terms unless either party gives at least one year advance notice of non-renewal. The Company may terminate the New Lentz Employment Agreement without cause with three month advance notice of termination. If Mr. Lentz is terminated without cause within one year from the effective time of the Merger, he will receive, in exchange for a mutual general release, continued medical benefits and the value of accrued vacation and bonus; however, Mr. Lentz is not entitled to receive any other severance payment. If Mr. Lentz is terminated without cause after one year from the effective time of the Merger, or if Mr. Lentz terminates his employment for “good reason” after one year from the effective time of the Merger, he will receive, in exchange for a mutual general release, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to one year of salary, and he will also receive continued medical benefits and the value of accrued vacation and bonus. The New Lentz Employment Agreement defines “good reason” as failure by the Company to cure any of the following events within 30 days after written notice that such an event has occurred: (1) Mr. Lentz being transferred more than 50 miles without consent (unless such transfer is not more than 250 miles and the Company pays reasonable moving expenses); (2) a material reduction of authority, duties, responsibilities or reporting relationship; or (3) any failure of the Company materially to comply with and satisfy the terms of the employment agreement. Mr. Lentz’s employment agreement provides for a cap to Mr. Lentz’s compensation if it produces a greater net benefit than an uncapped award would after accounting for the increased tax obligation resulting from being an excess parachute payment under sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The New Lentz Employment Agreement amends and restates the existing employment agreement, dated as of October 1, 2001, between Mr. Lentz and the Company, as amended (the “Old Lentz Employment Agreement”). Under the Old Lentz Employment Agreement, Mr. Lentz is entitled to base salary of $380,000, a portion of which has been deferred, as well as expanded severance benefits upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company. The New Lentz Employment Agreement reduces the severance benefits that Mr. Lentz would have been entitled to receive under the Old Lentz Employment Agreement. Mr. Lentz will receive, at the effective time of the

Merger, a lump sum cash payment in the amount of $760,000 (without interest and less any required tax withholding). This amount represents the severance payment Mr. Lentz would have otherwise been entitled to receive under the Old Lentz Employment Agreement in connection with the Merger, assuming that the Merger occurred on December 31, 2007.

 

Pursuant to the Release, Mr. Lentz will release the Company from any and all claims, liabilities, demands or causes of action arising out of, or relating in any way to Mr. Lentz’s employment with the Company prior to the effective time of the Merger.

 

The foregoing description of the New Lentz Employment Agreement and the Release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New Lentz Employment Agreement and the Release, which are attached to this proxy statement as Annex C and Annex D , respectively.

 

Christopher Kuhn and Jonathan Cohen Employment Agreements

 

Consummation of the Merger will constitute a change in control under employment agreements between Verticalnet and Christopher G. Kuhn (Vice President and General Counsel) and Jonathan T. Cohen (Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer).

 

If within one year from the effective time of the Merger, Mr. Cohen is terminated without cause or chooses to leave for “good reason,” then he will receive, in exchange for a mutual general release, a lump sum payment equal to his salary for six months and a pro rata portion of any bonus Mr. Cohen would have earned in the year of termination and the Company will pay healthcare coverage for six months. Mr. Cohen’s employment agreement provides for a cap to Mr. Cohen’s compensation if it produces a greater net benefit than an uncapped award would after accounting for the increased tax obligation resulting from being an excess parachute payment under sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. Mr. Cohen’s employment agreement defines “good reason” after a change of control as: (1) Mr. Cohen being transferred more than 50 miles without consent; (2) the Company taking any action resulting in Mr. Cohen not being a Vice President of the Company; (3) a material reduction of authority, duties, or responsibilities after reasonable notice and a chance to cure; (4) any failure of the Company materially to comply with and satisfy the terms of Mr. Cohen’s employment agreement; or (5) non-renewal of Mr. Cohen’s employment agreement by the Company.

 

If within one year from the effective time of the Merger, Mr. Kuhn is terminated without cause or chooses to leave for “good reason,” then he will receive, in exchange for a mutual general release, a lump sum payment equal to his salary for six months and a pro rata portion of any bonus Mr. Kuhn would have earned in the year of termination and the Company will pay healthcare coverage for six months. Mr. Kuhn’s employment agreement provides for a cap to Mr. Kuhn’s compensation if it produces a greater net benefit than an uncapped award would after accounting for the increased tax obligation resulting from being an excess parachute payment under sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code. Mr. Kuhn’s employment agreement defines “good reason” after a change of control as: (1) Mr. Kuhn being transferred more than 50 miles without consent; (2) the Company taking any action resulting in Mr. Kuhn not being a Vice President of the Company; (3) a material reduction of authority, duties, or responsibilities after reasonable notice and a chance to cure; (4) any failure of the Company materially to comply with and satisfy the terms of Mr. Kuhn’s employment agreement; or (5) non-renewal of Mr. Kuhn’s employment agreement by the Company.

 

Benefits on Qualifying Termination

 

The following table provides information regarding approximate cash amounts payable, or the approximate value of benefits to be provided, as a result of the Merger to Messrs. Lentz, Cohen and Kuhn in respect of: (i) lump-sum payments, other than accrued and unpaid salary, that will be provided to Messrs. Cohen and Kuhn under their employment agreements if a qualifying termination of employment occurs; and (ii) healthcare benefits that will be provided to Messrs. Lentz, Cohen and Kuhn under their employment agreements. For purposes of this table, it is assumed that the qualifying termination of employment event occurs on December 31, 2007:

 

Potential Future Employment

 

While Parent has requested, and been granted, the opportunity to begin discussions with the other executive officers regarding future employment following the effective time of the Merger, and expects to begin these discussions shortly, as of the date of this proxy statement, none of the other executive officers have entered into any agreement or understanding with Parent regarding employment after the effective time of the Merger.

 

Indemnification of Executive Officers and Directors

 

The Merger Agreement contains provisions relating to the indemnification of and insurance for Verticalnet’s directors and officers. Under the Merger Agreement, Parent has agreed that after the effective time of the Merger, it will cause Verticalnet to indemnify and hold harmless Verticalnet’s present and former officers for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the effective time of the Merger to the fullest extent provided under applicable law or provided under Verticalnet’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (in each case, as in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement), subject to any limitation imposed under applicable law.

 

Officers’ and Directors’ Insurance

 

Under the Merger Agreement, Parent as agreed to provide, or will cause the surviving corporation to provide, for a period of six (6) years following the effective time of the Merger, a commercially available run-off or tail policy with limits of $5 million, plus an additional $10 million in Side A coverage with zero retention to cover each party covered by the Company’s current officers and directors liability insurance policy on terms with respect to such coverage and amount no less favorable than those of the policy in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, provided however, that Parent will not be obligated to pay an aggregate premium in excess of 200% of the amount per annum that the Company paid in its last full fiscal year.

 

The foregoing summary of the indemnification of directors and executive officers and directors’ and executive officers’ insurance is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger to Our Shareholders

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to certain holders of our capital stock. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, referred to as the “Code” in this proxy statement, regulations promulgated under the Code, administrative rulings and pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service and court decisions now in effect. All of these authorities are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect so as to result in tax consequences different from those described below. We have not sought any ruling from the IRS with respect to statements made and conclusions reached in this discussion, and the statements and conclusions in this proxy are not binding on the IRS or any court. We can provide no assurances that the tax consequences described below will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if so challenged.

 

This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be applicable to a particular holder of our capital stock. In addition, this summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to holders of our capital stock who are subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, including, for example, banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt investors, S corporations, U.S. expatriates, dealers in securities, traders in securities who elect the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, regulated investment companies, mutual funds, controlled foreign corporations, holders who hold their capital stock as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, holders who own 5% or more of all our capital stock, holders who acquired our capital stock through the exercise of employee stock options or other compensatory arrangements, holders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code and holders who do not hold their shares of our capital stock as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.

 

This discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any holder of our capital stock who or which, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a

foreign partnership or a foreign estate or trust. In addition, this discussion does not address U.S. Federal estate or gift tax consequences of the Merger, or the tax consequences of the Merger under state, local, or foreign tax laws.

 

If a partnership or other passthrough entity (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our capital stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner that is a partnership and partners in such a partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger.

 

This summary is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for individual tax advice. Each holder of capital stock should consult the holder’s individual tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences of the Merger to such holder, including the application and effect of any state, local, foreign or other tax laws and the possible effect of changes to such laws.

 

Exchange of Capital Stock for Cash.   Generally, the Merger will be taxable to the holders of our capital stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A holder of our capital stock receiving cash in the Merger generally will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in our capital stock surrendered. Any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss if our capital stock is held as a capital asset at the effective time of the Merger. Any capital gain or loss will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss if the holder has held our capital stock for more than one year prior to the effective time of the Merger. If the holder has held our capital stock for one year or less prior to the effective time of the Merger, any capital gain or loss will be taxed as short-term capital gain or loss. Currently, most long-term capital gains for non-corporate taxpayers are taxed at a maximum federal tax rate of 15%. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. If a holder acquired different blocks capital stock at different times and different prices, such holder must determine the adjusted tax basis and holding period separately with respect to each such block of capital stock.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding.   Generally, holders of capital stock will be subject to information reporting on the cash received in the Merger unless such a holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient. In addition, under the U.S. federal backup withholding tax rules, the exchange agent will be required to withhold 28% of all cash payments to which a holder of capital stock is entitled in connection with the Merger unless such holder provides under penalties of perjury on a Form W-9 (or appropriate substitute form) a tax identification number, certifies that such holder is a U.S. person and that tax identification number is correct and that no backup withholding is otherwise required, and otherwise complies with such backup withholding rules. Each holder of capital stock should complete and sign the Form W-9 (or appropriate substitute form) included as part of the letter of transmittal and return it to the paying agent, in order to certify that the holder is exempt from backup withholding or to provide the necessary information to avoid backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from a payment to a holder of capital stock under these rules will be allowed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS.

 

HOLDERS OF VERTICALNET CAPITAL STOCK ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

Regulatory and Other Governmental Approvals

 

We are unaware of any material federal, state or foreign regulatory requirements or approvals required for the execution of the Merger Agreement or completion of the Merger.

 

TERMS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger which are attached as Annex A and Annex A-1 to this proxy statement. We urge you to read the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger carefully and in its entirety because they, and not this proxy statement, are the legal documents that govern the Merger.

 

General; The Merger

 

At the effective time of the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Merger Agreement and in accordance with the PBCL, Merger Sub will merge with and into Verticalnet and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will end. Verticalnet will be the surviving corporation in the Merger and will continue to be a Pennsylvania corporation after the Merger and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. All of the Company’s and Merger Sub’s properties, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises, and all of their debts, liabilities and duties, will become those of the surviving corporation. Following completion of the Merger, the Company’s common stock will be delisted from NASDAQ, deregistered under the Exchange Act, and no longer be publicly traded. The Company will be a privately held corporation and the Company’s current shareholders will cease to have any ownership interest in the Company or rights as Company shareholders. Therefore, such current shareholders of the Company will not participate in any future earnings or growth of the Company and will not benefit from any appreciation in value of the Company. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of Merger Sub will be the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the surviving corporation.

 

The directors of Merger Sub at the effective time of the Merger will, from and after the effective time of the Merger, be the initial directors of Verticalnet, as the surviving corporation. Our officers at the effective time of the Merger will, from and after the effective time of the Merger, be the initial officers of Verticalnet, as the surviving corporation. Our current officers are Nathanael V. Lentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan T. Cohen, Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and Christopher G. Kuhn, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

 

When the Merger Becomes Effective

 

Verticalnet and Merger Sub will file articles of merger with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the seventh (7th) business day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Merger Agreement, unless the parties agree to another date.

 

The Merger will become effective at the time the articles of merger are duly filed with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or at such other later date and time as Verticalnet and Parent agree and specify in the articles of merger.

 

If our shareholders approve the Merger Agreement, the Company and Parent intend to complete the Merger as soon as practicable thereafter. The merger is expected to be completed during its first fiscal quarter of 2008. Because the Merger is subject to certain conditions, the exact timing of the Merger cannot be determined.

 

Merger Consideration

 

 

Under the terms of the Company’s Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, filed by the Company with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on May 31, 2007, and disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 6, 2007, because the Company entered into the Merger Agreement within six months from the closing date of the sale

of the Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are members of our Board of Directors and management are entitled to receive an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to $0.26875 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. In accordance with the Statement of Designation with Respect to the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock, this amount represents the product of $0.25 (the purchase price paid with respect to each share), and 1.075. In connection with the Merger, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock that are not members of our Board of Directors are entitled to receive an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to $0.38750 in cash, without interest and less any required withholding tax. This amount represents $3.10 per share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, assuming the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock prior to December 31, 2007.

 

 

Treatment of Our Stock Options, Warrants and Restricted Stock Units

 

Upon completion of the Merger, each outstanding and unexercised stock option, warrant and restricted stock unit (whether vested or unvested) will be cancelled by the Company (other than certain specified securities), and each holder of such option, warrant or restricted stock unit will be entitled to receive, in full settlement of such security, a cash payment (without interest and less any required withholding taxes) equal to the product of:

 

 

Subject to any applicable withholding taxes, the payment for options, warrants and restricted stock units will be made, without interest, through our payroll systems or otherwise by the Company. Certain options and warrants will not be automatically cancelled upon completion of the Merger, as such securities cannot be cancelled by the Company without the consent of the holder.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company, Merger Sub and Parent, negotiated between the parties and made as of specific dates solely for purposes of the Merger Agreement, including setting forth the respective rights of the parties with respect to their obligation to complete the Merger. The representations and warranties are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules provided by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub in connection with the signing of the Merger Agreement, and may be subject to important limitations and qualifications as set forth in the Merger Agreement, including a contractual standard of materiality different from that generally applicable under federal securities laws. The confidential disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement were used for the purpose of allocating risk between the Company on one hand and Parent and Merger Sub on the other hand, rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, you should not rely on the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement as characterizations of the actual state of facts about the Company, Parent or Merger Sub.

 

The Merger Agreement contains a number of representations and warranties made by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub that relate to, among other things:

 

 

 

The Company’s representations and warranties relate to, among other things:

 

 

 

Parent and Merger Sub also make representations and warranties relating to the accuracy of information provided for this proxy statement and lack of liabilities or obligations of Merger Sub.

 

Many of our representations and warranties are qualified as to “materiality” or “material adverse effect.” For purposes of the Merger Agreement, “material adverse effect” means, with respect to the Company, any event, circumstance, change, development, condition or effect that is materially adverse to the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the ability of Parent to operate the business of the Company and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately after the closing (as a result of matters occurring prior to closing), other than any material adverse effect resulting from:

 

 

You should be aware that these representations and warranties are made by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub, may be subject to important limitations and qualifications agreed to by Parent and Merger Sub, may or may not be accurate as of the date they were made and do not purport to be accurate as of the date of this proxy statement. The representations and warranties of the parties to the Merger Agreement will expire upon the effective time of the Merger or the termination of the Merger Agreement.

 

Conduct of Our Business Pending the Merger

 

We have agreed to restrictions on the operation of the business of the Company and our subsidiaries until either the effective time of the Merger or the termination of the Merger Agreement. In general, we have agreed to conduct business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact the present business organization and keep available the services of all officers, employees and consultants who are integral to the current operation of the business of the Company and our subsidiaries.

 

In addition, we have agreed that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, we are restricted from and must prevent any of our subsidiaries from, without Parent’s prior written consent:

 

 

 

Parent and Merger Sub are restricted from taking any action that would, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede their ability to consummate the Merger.

 

Shareholders Meeting

 

The Merger Agreement requires us, as soon as reasonably practicable, to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of our shareholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger. Except to the extent otherwise required in order to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, our Board of Directors is required to recommend that our shareholders vote in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related

Plan of Merger and to approve the Merger, and to use its reasonable best efforts to have the Merger Agreement, the Related Plan of Merger and the Merger adopted and approved by our shareholders.

 

Restrictions on Solicitations of Other Offers

 

Until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 19, 2007, or the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company, our subsidiaries and our representatives were permitted to:

 

 

On the No-Shop Period Start Date we agreed that we would notify Parent in writing of:

 

 

Except as may have related to any excluded party, after the No-Shop Period Start Date we agreed that we would not, and we would not authorize or permit any of our subsidiaries or representatives to:

 

 

In addition, we agreed that after the No-Shop Period Start Date we would immediately cease and terminate with all persons any such solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiations existing at such time, unless the person was an excluded party.

 

Notwithstanding the aforementioned restrictions, at any time prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by our shareholders, the Company or our Board of Directors is permitted to provide access to our properties, books and records and provide other information and data in response to a request for such information or data or to engage in discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, a third party to the extent that:

 

 

In such cases, the Company (a) will not, and will not allow its representatives to, disclose any material non-public information to such person without entering into a confidentiality agreement that contains provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the confidentiality agreement entered into with Parent, and (b) will promptly provide to Parent any material non-public information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries provided to such other person which was not previously provided or made available to Parent or Merger Sub.

 

Furthermore, if, at any time prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger by our shareholders, our Board of Directors (a) determines in good faith, after consultation with its legal counsel and financial advisors, that an Acquisition Proposal which did not result from a material breach of the provisions described in the previous paragraphs is a Superior Proposal and (b) determines in good faith, after consultation with its legal counsel, that such action is required in order for our Board of Directors to

act in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, we may terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal, but only if:

 

 

We have also agreed that following the No-Shop Period Start Date, we will:

 

 

As set forth in the Merger Agreement:

 

 

Other Covenants

 

Indemnification and Insurance

 

The Merger Agreement contains provisions relating to the indemnification and insurance for Verticalnet’s directors and officers, such that, after the effective time of the Merger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercially Reasonable Efforts Covenant

 

The Company, Parent and Merger Sub have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to complete the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

Shareholder Litigation

 

We have agreed to keep Parent informed of, and cooperate with Parent in connection with, any shareholder action against the Company and/or its officers or directors relating to the Merger, provided, however, that we will not agree to any settlement in connection with such shareholder action without Parent’s prior written consent.

Certain Other Covenants

 

The Merger Agreement contains additional mutual covenants, including covenants relating to preparation of this proxy statement, cooperation regarding filings with governmental and other agencies and organizations and obtaining any governmental or third-party consents or approvals, public announcements and further assurances.

 

Conditions to the Completion of the Merger

 

Mutual Closing Conditions

 

The obligations of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or before the effective time of the Merger of the following conditions:

 

 

Additional Closing Conditions for the Benefit of Parent and Merger Sub

 

The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to complete the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or before the effective time of the following additional conditions:

 

 

Additional Closing Conditions for the Benefit of the Company

 

The obligation of the Company to complete the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or before the effective time of the following additional conditions:

 

 

Employee Benefit Matters

 

The Merger Agreement contains provisions relating to the benefit entitlements of Company employees after the effective time of the Merger. Each company employee will be credited with his or her years of service with the Company, our subsidiaries and affiliates prior to the consummation of the Merger for purposes of vesting and eligibility under any benefit plans covering company employees after the effective time of the Merger. In addition, each Company employee is immediately eligible to participate in any employee benefit plan provided after the effective time of the Merger to the extent that the Company employee was enrolled in a comparable benefit plan prior to the Merger.

 

With respect to any employee benefit plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits in which any such employee first becomes eligible to participate, on or after the effective time of the Merger Parent will: (i) waive all pre-existing conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements, and (ii) provide credit towards any deductible or out-of-pocket expense maximum under any such plans for out-of-pocket amounts expended by such employee under the employee plans during the current plan year.

 

For a more detailed description of other employee-related matters, see “The Merger — Interests of Verticalnet’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger,” beginning on page 31 of this proxy statement.

 

Termination of the Merger Agreement

 

The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time before the effective time of the Merger, whether before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by our shareholders, in any of the following ways:

 

(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company,

 

(b) by either Parent or the Company if:

 

 

(c) by Parent if:

 

 

(d) by the Company if:

 

 

If the Merger Agreement is validly terminated, the Agreement will become void without any liability on the part of any party other than the payment of a termination fee in certain circumstances discussed below. However, the provisions of the Merger Agreement relating to the non-survival of representations, warranties and agreements, termination fees and expenses, governing law, succession and assignment and jurisdiction and waiver of jury trial, will continue in effect notwithstanding termination of the Merger Agreement. In addition, no termination will relieve any party of any liability or damages resulting from any breach by that party.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

The Merger Agreement generally provides that each party will pay its own fees and expenses in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, whether or not the Merger is completed.

 

Termination Fees Payable by Verticalnet

 

We have agreed to pay Parent a termination fee (the sum of 5.99% of the Company’s enterprise value and the Parent’s transaction expenses) if any of the following payment events occur:

 

 

 

In addition, we have also agreed to pay all documented, out of pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, consultants and other advisors, incurred by Parent or Merger Sub in connection with entering into the Merger Agreement and acts and documents relating thereto, provided, however, that if a termination fee is payable, then we may reduce the amount of the termination fee to be paid by the amount of any expense reimbursement.

 

If Verticalnet fails promptly to pay any of the termination fees described above, Verticalnet also agrees to pay any costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the other party in connection with any legal enforcement action for payment of the termination fees described above with interest on such unpaid amounts at the prime lending rate, as published in the Wall Street Journal, calculated on a daily basis from the date such amounts were required to be paid on the date of actual payment.

 

Amendments; Waivers

 

Any provision of the Merger Agreement may be amended or waived before the effective time of the Merger if, but only if, the amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to the Merger Agreement or, in the case of a waiver, by each party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided that, after approval of the Merger Agreement by our shareholders and without their further approval, no amendment or waiver that requires shareholder approval under applicable law or NASDAQ rules may be made without such approval.

 

Exchange and Payment Procedures

 

Before the Merger is effective, Parent will select a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to Verticalnet to act as payment agent and make payment of the merger consideration as described above. At or prior to the effective time of the Merger, Parent will deposit with the payment agent the cash sufficient to pay the per share merger consideration to the equity holders entitled to receive such consideration.

 

As of the effective time of the Merger and following conversion into the right to receive the merger consideration, the Company will close its stock transfer books. After that time, there will be no further transfer of shares of Verticalnet common stock on such transfer books.

Promptly following the effective time of the Merger, the surviving corporation will cause the payment agent to send you a letter of transmittal and instructions advising you how to surrender your certificates in exchange for the per share merger consideration. The payment agent will pay you your per share merger consideration after you have (1) surrendered your stock certificates to the payment agent (or, if such shares of Verticalnet common stock are held in book-entry or other uncertificated form, upon the entry through a book-entry transfer agent of the surrender of such shares of Verticalnet common stock on a book-entry account statement) and (2) provided to the payment agent your duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may be reasonably required by Parent. Interest will not be paid or accrue in respect of the per share merger consideration. The surviving corporation will reduce the amount of any per share merger consideration paid to you by any required withholding taxes. You should not forward your stock certificates to the payment agent without a letter of transmittal, and you should not return your stock certificates with the enclosed proxy card.

 

If any cash deposited with the payment agent is not claimed within six months following the closing of the Merger, such cash will be returned to the surviving corporation upon demand, and after such transfer, any shareholders of Verticalnet who have not properly surrendered their stock certificates may look only to the surviving corporation for payment of the merger consideration.

 

If you have lost your certificate, or if it has been stolen or destroyed, if required by the surviving corporation, you will be required to provide an affidavit to that fact and post a bond in a reasonable amount that the surviving corporation directs as indemnity against any claim that may be made against Parent, the payment agent or the surviving corporation in respect of such certificate.

 

Lost Certificates

 

If any Certificate representing the Company’s securities (“Certificate”) is lost, stolen or destroyed, the exchange agent will deliver the applicable merger consideration due in respect of the shares formerly represented by that Certificate if:

 

 

Unclaimed Amounts

 

Any portion of the exchange fund which remains undistributed to our shareholders for six (6) months after the effective time of the Merger will be delivered by the exchange agent to Parent upon demand, and any of our shareholders who have not previously surrendered their Certificates will be entitled to look only to Parent and the surviving corporation for payment of the merger consideration due in respect of the shares formerly represented by their Certificates. None of Parent, Merger Sub or Verticalnet will be liable to any former Verticalnet shareholder for any merger consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

 

VOTING AGREEMENT

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of the voting agreement among Parent, the Company and the holders of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock entered into concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, and then amended and restated on November 20, 2007 (as amended, the “Voting Agreement”). This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Voting Agreement. The Voting Agreement, attached as Annex B , contains the complete terms of that agreement and shareholders should read it carefully and in its entirety.

 

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, each holder of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company entered into a Voting Agreement with Parent. All of these shareholders other than Michael J. Hagan and Michael P. McNulty (the “Group One Shareholders”) have agreed to vote the shares of our capital stock owned by them in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and the approval of the Merger and in favor of the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies. As of the date of the Voting Agreement, the Group One Shareholders were the beneficial owners with respect to 842,179 shares of our Common Stock in the aggregate (representing 4,679 shares of our Common Stock held directly, and 837,500 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 6,700,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock). As of the record date, the Group One Shareholders are entitled to vote 17.27% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.

 

Each of the Group One Shareholders also agreed, until any termination of the Voting Agreement, to vote these shares of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock held by each such shareholder against the following actions:

 

 

Each of the Group One Shareholders has irrevocably granted to, and appointed Parent and its designees, as such shareholder’s proxy and attorney-in-fact to vote all of such shareholder’s shares of Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock in accordance with the above description. Notwithstanding the foregoing proxy, Parent shall not have and exercise any voting rights under the Voting Agreement if such voting rights when taken together with voting rights already exercisable by Parent or Merger Sub with respect to any other shares of capital stock of the Company would allow Parent to have voting rights with respect to 20% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock of the Company. We refer to any such excess shares as the “Excess Shares”. Parent has irrevocably granted to, and appointed the Company, as Parent’s proxy and attorney-in-fact to vote all the Excess Shares in a manner that the Company, acting through its Board of Directors, determines in its sole discretion.

 

Furthermore, Michael J. Hagan and Michael P. McNulty (the “Group Two Shareholders”) have agreed to grant an irrevocable proxy to the Company to vote their Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, in connection with the Merger and any other extraordinary corporate transaction, in a manner that the Company, acting through our Board of Directors, determines in its sole discretion. As of the date of the Voting Agreement, the Group Two Shareholders were the beneficial owners with respect to 254,393 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate (representing 4,393 shares of Common Stock held directly, and 250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 2,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock). As of the record date, the Group Two Shareholders are entitled to vote 7.62% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.

In connection with the Voting Agreement, all signatory shareholders to the Voting Agreement further agreed not to:

 

 

In addition, under the Voting Agreement, the Group One Shareholders have agreed to the treatment of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock contemplated by the Merger Agreement, to waive its right to seek appraisal and to waive its right to convert each such shareholder’s shares into common stock.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Voting Agreement provides that it will not restrict a director or officer of Verticalnet from taking any action in his capacity as a director or officer necessary for him to comply with his fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company.

 

In addition, each shareholder party to the Voting Agreement (other than the Group Two Shareholders and any shareholder who is also a director or officer of the Company) has agreed that for so long as the Voting Agreement is in effect, they will not, nor will they authorize or permit any representative to, knowingly solicit, initiate or encourage any alternative Acquisition Proposal or participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with or provide any information relating to the Company to any person making an alternative Acquisition Proposal.

 

The proxies granted by the Group One Shareholders and Group Two Shareholders are irrevocable until the termination of the Voting Agreement and will automatically terminate upon the termination of the Voting Agreement. The Voting Agreement terminates on the earlier to occur of (i) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (ii) the written agreement of the parties to terminate, or (iii) at the option of any shareholder upon the execution of any amendment, modification, change or waiver with respect to the Merger Agreement that results in a decrease in the merger consideration.

 

PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS

 

Except as described under “The Merger — Background of the Merger” beginning on page 19 of this proxy statement, there have not been any negotiations, transactions or material contacts during the past two years concerning any merger, consolidation, acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of any class of Verticalnet’s securities, election of Verticalnet’s directors or sale or other transfer of a material amount of Verticalnet’s assets (i) between Verticalnet or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and Verticalnet, Parent and Merger Sub, their respective executive officers, directors, members or controlling persons, on the other hand, (ii) between any affiliates of Verticalnet, or (iii) between Verticalnet and its affiliates, on the one hand, and any person not affiliated with Verticalnet who would have a direct interest in such matters, on the other hand.

 

MARKET PRICES OF COMMON STOCK

 

Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “VERT” The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices per share of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market for the periods indicated. On June 12, 2006, we effected a one-for-seven reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, and on August 16, 2007, we effected a one-for-eight reverse split of our outstanding shares of Common Stock. All references to market prices of our Common Stock below reflect the results of the reverse stock splits.

 

 

The Company has not declared or paid any dividend on its Common Stock.

 

The closing sale price of our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market on October 25, 2007, which was the last trading day before we announced the Merger, was $5.61. On December 10, 2007, the last trading day before this proxy statement was printed, the closing price for our Common Stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $2.42. You are encouraged to obtain current market quotations for the Common Stock in connection with voting your shares.

 

As of December 10, 2007, the last trading day before this proxy statement was printed, there were approximately 831 registered holders of shares of Verticalnet common stock.

 

Shareholders should obtain a current market quotation for Verticalnet Common Stock before making any decision with respect to the Merger.

 

DISSENTERS RIGHTS

 

Under Section 1571 of the PBCL, the holders of any class or series of shares of a corporation are not entitled to exercise dissenters rights if the shares of the corporation are listed on a national securities exchange. Consequently, since our Common Stock is currently listed on NASDAQ, which is a national securities exchange, the holders of our Common Stock will not have the right to exercise dissenters’ rights in connection with the proposed Merger.

 

Section 1571 of the PBCL further provides that holders of any preferred or special class of securities will be granted dissenters rights, even if they otherwise would be denied such rights under the provision described above, unless the holders of the preferred or special class of securities are granted the right to vote separately as a class to approve the proposed transaction. Because the holders of Series B Preferred are entitled to vote separately as a class to approve the proposed transaction, holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock are not entitled to dissenters rights in connection with the proposed Merger. Furthermore, certain holders of Series B Preferred Stock have waived dissenters rights under the Voting Agreement.

 

Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to dissenters rights in connection with the proposed Merger; however, as of the date of this proxy statement all shares of Series C Preferred Stock are owned by Merger Sub and Merger Sub is expected to vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger and in favor of the adjournment proposal.

 

If the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger are adopted and the Merger is completed, holders of Verticalnet’s Common Stock and Preferred Stock who voted against the adoption of the Merger Agreement will be treated the same as shareholders who voted for the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger and their shares will automatically be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration.

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

We may ask our shareholders to vote on a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to a later date to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and approve the Merger. We currently do not intend to propose adjournment at our special meeting if there are sufficient votes to adopt the Merger Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and approve the Merger. If the proposal to adjourn our special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies is submitted to our shareholders for approval, such approval requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our capital stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter.

 

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.

 

meeting of shareholders must deliver the proposal to the Secretary of Verticalnet at 400 Chester Field Parkway, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355:

 

 

In addition, our bylaws require that we be given advance notice of shareholder nominations for election to our Board of Directors. Such nominations for the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, other than those made by or on behalf of the Board of Directors, shall be made by notice in writing delivered or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested to the Secretary, in accordance with our by-laws. Our by-laws also require that such notice contain certain additional information. Copies of our by-laws can be obtained without charge from the Secretary.

 

 

Annex A

 

Merger Agreement

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
BRAVOSOLUTION S.P.A.,
BRAVOSOLUTION U.S.A., INC.,
and
VERTICALNET, INC.
Dated as of October 25, 2007

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 25, 2007 (this “ Agreement ”), by and among BravoSolution S.p.A., a corporation organized under the laws of Italy (“ Parent ”), BravoSolution U.S.A., Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), and Verticalnet, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “ Company ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”) has (i) approved and adopted this Agreement and the related Plan of Merger (the “ Plan of Merger ”; in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ), (ii) resolved to recommend that the shareholders of the Company approve this Agreement and the related Plan of Merger, and (iii) declared fair and in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders this Agreement and the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, at the Closing, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the holder thereof, (i) each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Company Common Stock ”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares held directly or indirectly by the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, will be converted into the right to receive $2.56 per share in cash, without interest (the “ Common Consideration ”), and (ii) each outstanding share of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock (the “ Series B Preferred Stock ”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares held directly or indirectly by the Company, will be converted into the right to receive either $0.38750 or $0.26875 per share in cash (in accordance with Section 1.09 below), without interest (the “ Series B Consideration ” and, together with the Common Consideration, the “ Merger Consideration ”);

 

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub have approved the Merger, this Agreement and the Plan of Merger;

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, Merger Sub has agreed that on October 31, 2007 it will acquire from the Company, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement, to be dated as of such date, by and between the Company and Merger Sub, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Series C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement ”), 322,007 shares of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock (the “ Series C Preferred Stock ”) having the rights, preferences, privileges and limitations set forth in the Description and Designation of Series C Preferred Stock attached as Exhibit A to the Statement with Respect to Shares of Series C Preferred Stock of the Company to be dated as of such date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Statement of Designation ”), at an aggregate subscription price of $824,337.92 (the “ Series C Purchase Price ”);

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Parent and Merger Sub’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain holders of the Company’s capital stock (representing on the date hereof approximately 28% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities (but without taking into account the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock)), have entered into a voting agreement with the Company, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “ Voting Agreement ”), pursuant to which, in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, each such holder has agreed, among other things, to vote such holder’s Shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement in accordance with and subject to the terms set forth in the Voting Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Nathanael Lentz, has agreed to (i) enter into a new employment agreement with the Company, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “ Employment Agreement ”), but which shall only go into effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) enter into a mutual release agreement with the Company, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “ Release ”), but which shall only go into effect immediately prior to the Effective Time;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a duly authorized signatory of Radcliffe SPC, Ltd. (“ Radcliffe ”) delivered to the Company and Parent a waiver (in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G ) (the “ Radcliffe Waiver ”) of any rights Radcliffe may have to any portion of the Series C Purchase Price; and

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to constitute the plan of merger required by Section 1922 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (the “ PBCL ”) for the Merger.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

THE MERGER

 

Section  1.01   The Merger .   Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, in accordance with the PBCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease by virtue of the Merger, and the Company, as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation ”), shall by virtue of the Merger continue its existence under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

Section  1.02   Closing .   Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.01 , the closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) will take place at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the seventh Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable Law) of the conditions (excluding conditions that, by their terms, cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, but subject to the satisfaction or, where permitted, waiver of those conditions as of the Closing) set forth in Article 8 , unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto (the date of the Closing, the “ Closing Date ”). The Closing shall be held at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, The Met Life Building, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York, unless another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

 

Section  1.03   Effective Time .   On the Closing Date, the parties shall file with the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the Articles of Merger (the “ Articles of Merger ”). The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Articles of Merger have been accepted for record by the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or at such subsequent date and time as Parent and the Company shall agree and as shall be specified in the Articles of Merger in accordance with the relevant provisions of the PBCL (the date and time the Merger becomes effective being the “ Effective Time ”).

 

Section  1.04   Effect of the Merger .   From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 1929, and any other applicable provisions, of the PBCL and this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, license, authority and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest entirely in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

 

Section  1.05   Articles of Incorporation .   At the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of the Company shall be amended and restated to read in its entirety as the articles of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and as so amended shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time, until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

Section  1.06   Bylaws .   The bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect at the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

Section  1.07   Directors; Officers .   The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and, unless otherwise directed in writing by Parent, the officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each

case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the PBCL and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

Section  1.08   Effect on Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock .   At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof:

 

(a) Each share of Company Common Stock held by the Company as treasury stock and each share of Company Common Stock and (when issued) Series C Preferred Stock owned directly or indirectly by Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, if any, shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no payment or distribution shall be made or delivered with respect thereto.

 

(b) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any such shares issued upon conversion of (when issued) the Series C Preferred Stock or the Series B Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined) as set forth in Section 1.09 , but excluding shares cancelled pursuant to Section 1.08(a) ) shall be converted into the right to receive the Common Consideration, without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding. Each such share shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented such share (a “ Common Stock Certificate ”) shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such share, except the right to receive the Common Consideration, without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding.

 

(c) Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(d) If prior to the Effective Time, the Company should split, combine or otherwise reclassify any of the Shares, or pay a stock dividend or other stock distribution in any of the Shares, or otherwise change any of the Shares into any other securities, or make any other such stock dividend or distribution in capital stock of the Company in respect of any of the Shares, then the Merger Consideration payable for any of such Shares pursuant to this Section 1.08 or to Section 1.09 will be appropriately adjusted to reflect such split, combination, dividend or other distribution or change.

 

Section  1.09   Effect on Series B Preferred Stock .   At the Effective Time by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof:

 

(a) Each share of Series B Preferred Stock held by the Company as treasury stock and each share of Series B Preferred Stock owned directly or indirectly by Parent or Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, if any, shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no payment or distribution shall be made or delivered with respect thereto.

 

(b) Each share of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by the Investor Purchasers (as such term is defined in the Company’s Description and Designation of Series B Preferred Stock) shall be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive $0.38750 per share in cash, without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding.

 

(c) Each share of Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by the Non-Investor Purchasers (as such term is defined in the Company’s Description and Designation of Series B Preferred Stock) shall be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive $0.26875 per share in cash, without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding.

 

(d) Each such share of Series B Preferred Stock shall cease to be outstanding and shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented such share (a “ Series B Certificate ”) shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such share, except the right to receive the Series B Consideration, without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding.

Section  1.10   Treatment of Options, Warrants and RSUs .

 

(a) Except as provided on Schedule 1.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each option (a “ Company Option ”) granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1996 Equity Compensation Plan, Tigris Corporation 1998 Stock Option Program, Verticalnet, Inc. 1999 Equity Compensation Plan, 1999 Isadra Nonqualified Plan, Atlas Commerce 1999 Long Term Incentive Plan, Equity Compensation Plan for Employees (1999), 2000 Equity Compensation Plan, 1999 Long Term Incentive Plan and 2006 Omnibus Equity Company Compensation Plan (collectively, the “ Company Plans ”), warrant (a “ Company Warrant ”), and restricted stock unit (an “ RSU ”, and together with the Company Options and the Company Warrants, the “ Company Securities ”) to purchase shares of Company Common Stock, to the extent outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether vested or unvested), will at the Effective Time be cancelled and the holder of such Company Security will, in full settlement of such Company Security, receive from the Company an amount (without interest and subject to any required Tax withholding), if any, in cash equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise or conversion price per share of Company Common Stock underlying such Company Security multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Security; provided that the aggregate amount of such payment shall be rounded down to the nearest whole cent. If the applicable exercise or conversion price of any Company Security equals or exceeds the Merger Consideration, such Company Security shall be cancelled without payment of additional consideration, and all rights with respect to such Company Security shall terminate as of the Effective Time. Parent shall pay, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to pay, the consideration payable under this Section 1.10 in respect of each Company Security as soon as practicable following the Effective Time. The holders of Company Securities shall have no further rights in respect of any Company Securities from and after the Effective Time.

 

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall (i) adopt such resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary in order to effectuate the actions contemplated by Section 1.10(a) prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) use commercially reasonable best efforts to adopt such resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary in order to terminate each Company Plan or other agreement or instrument representing Company Securities (an “ Instrument ”), in each case without paying any consideration or incurring any debts or obligations on behalf of the Company, Parent or the Surviving Corporation other than as set forth in Section 1.10(a) ; provided that such resolutions and actions shall expressly be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and shall be of no effect if this Agreement is terminated.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

 

Section  2.01   Exchange Fund .   At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit with a bank or trust company designated by Parent and reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the “ Exchange Agent ”), in trust for the benefit of holders of Shares and Company Securities (in each case which are not to be cancelled pursuant to Sections 1.08(a) , 1.09 and 1.10 ), for exchange in accordance with Sections 1.08 , 1.09 and 1.10 , the cash to be paid pursuant to this Agreement in exchange for outstanding Shares and Company Securities. Any cash deposited with the Exchange Agent, and any interest or other distributions thereon, shall hereinafter be referred to as the “ Exchange Fund .”

 

Section  2.02   Exchange Procedures .   As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent will send to each record holder of a Certificate or Instrument, (a) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates or Instruments shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates or Instruments to the Exchange Agent and shall be in a form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (b) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Instruments in exchange for the Merger Consideration. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, each holder of a Certificate or Instrument, upon surrender of a Certificate or Instrument to the Exchange Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a check in the amount equal to the per share cash amount of the Merger Consideration (after giving effect to any required Tax withholdings) with respect to which the holder of such Certificates or such Instruments is entitled under

Sections 1.08 , 1.09 or 1.10 , as appropriate. The Exchange Agent shall accept such Certificates or Instruments upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash payable upon due surrender of the Certificates or Instruments. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Shares or Company Securities that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration with respect to such Shares or Company Securities shall be paid to such a transferee only if the Certificate or Instrument representing such Shares or Company Securities is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable stock transfer or other Taxes have been paid.

 

Section  2.03   No Further Ownership Rights in Shares and Company Securities .   The Merger Consideration paid upon conversion or exchange of Shares or Company Securities in accordance with the terms of Article 1 and this Article 2 shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Shares or Company Securities.

 

Section  2.04   Termination of Exchange Fund .   Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates or Instruments for six (6) months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Surviving Corporation or otherwise on the instruction of the Surviving Corporation, and any holders of Certificates or Instruments who have not theretofore complied with this Article 2 shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation and Parent (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws) for the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares or Company Securities formerly represented thereby to which such holders are entitled pursuant to Sections 1.08 , 1.09 and 1.10 .

 

Section  2.05   No Liability .   None of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any Merger Consideration from the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

 

Section  2.06   Lost Certificates or Instruments .   If any Certificate or Instrument shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate or Instrument to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate or Instrument or other documentation (including an indemnity in customary form) reasonably requested by Parent, the Exchange Agent will deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate or Instrument the applicable Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares or Company Securities formerly represented thereby.

 

Section  2.07   Withholding Rights .   Each of the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation and Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares or Company Securities and any such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“ Treasury Regulations ”), or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Shares or Company Securities in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be.

 

Section  2.08   Further Assurances .   At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

Section  2.09   Stock Transfer Books .   At the close of business, New York time, on the day the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers of Shares or Company Securities thereafter on the records of the Company. From and after the Effective Time, the

holders of Certificates and Instruments shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares or Company Securities formerly represented thereby, except as otherwise provided herein or by applicable Law. On or after the Effective Time, any Certificates or Instruments presented to the Exchange Agent or Parent for any reason shall be converted into the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares or Company Securities formerly represented thereby in accordance with Sections 1.08 , 1.09 and 1.10 .

 

ARTICLE 3

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in reasonable detail in (i) the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the “ Form 10-K ”) filed with the SEC on April 2, 2007 and any amendments thereto filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement (other than disclosures in the “Risk Factors” sections thereof or any such disclosures included in such filings that are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature) (it being agreed that such disclosures shall not be exceptions to Sections 3.04 , 3.05 and 3.06(a )), or (ii) the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to Parent by the Company prior to entering into this Agreement (the “ Company Disclosure Schedule ”) (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection only to the extent that the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent; provided that no such disclosure shall be deemed to qualify Section 3.09(a)(i) or Section 5.01 unless expressly set forth in Section 3.09(a)(i) or Section 5.01, as applicable, of the Company Disclosure Schedule), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:

 

Section  3.01   Corporate Organization .   Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite corporate power to own its properties and assets and to conduct its business as now conducted. Copies of the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws, together with all amendments thereto to the date hereof (the “ Company Organizational Documents ”) and the organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company, with all amendments thereto to the date hereof, have been made available to Parent, and such copies are accurate and complete as of the date hereof.

 

Section  3.02   Qualification to Do Business .   Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or partnership (as the case may be) and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section  3.03   No Conflict or Violation .   The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement does not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of any Company Organizational Documents or any of the organizational documents of the Subsidiaries of the Company, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referenced in Section 3.04(a)-(c) and receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval, violate any provision of applicable Law, or (c) violate or result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) upon any of the assets, properties or rights of either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or result in or give to others any rights of cancellation, modification, amendment, acceleration, revocation or suspension of any of such note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, contract, agreement, instrument or obligation thereunder, or of any Licenses and Permits, except with respect to clauses (b) and (c), for any violations, breaches, conflicts or other occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section  3.04   Consents and Approvals .   No consent, waiver, authorization or approval of any Governmental Entity, and no declaration or notice to or filing or registration with any Governmental Entity, is required in

connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the performance by the Company or its Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder or thereunder, except for: (a) applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Securities Act ”) and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”) and the rules and regulations of NASDAQ; and (b) the consents, waivers, authorizations or approvals of any Governmental Entity set forth on Section 3.04 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

 

Section  3.05   Authorization and Validity of Agreement .   The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Plan of Merger, the Voting Agreement, the Statement of Designation (when filed in accordance with the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement), the Employment Agreement, the Radcliffe Waiver and all agreements and instruments related thereto (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”) and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the Company Board and all other necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, other than the approval and adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast by all shareholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon at a meeting at which a quorum is present (the “ Company Shareholder Approval ”), and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (subject to the filing of the Statement of Designation (when filed in accordance with the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement)). This Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub and the other parties thereto (as applicable), shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to (a) the effect of bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law) and (c) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

Section  3.06   Capitalization and Related Matters .

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 120,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 35,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Company Preferred Stock ”). On the date hereof:

 

(i) 1,617,625 shares of Company Common Stock are issued and outstanding, including 6,780 restricted shares of Company Common Stock (“ Restricted Stock ”),

 

(ii) 8,700,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, all of which are designated Series B Preferred Stock,

 

(iii) 1,173 shares of Company Common Stock are held by the Company as treasury shares; no shares of Company Preferred Stock are held by the Company as treasury shares,

 

(iv) an aggregate of 112,427 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Company Plans, and of such shares

 

(A) 70,953 shares of Company Common Stock are subject to issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Options, and

 

(B) 6,780 shares of Company Common Stock are subject to issuance pursuant to outstanding Restricted Stock and RSU grants, and

 

(v) an aggregate of 1,385,178 shares of Company Common Stock are reserved and available for issuance upon the exercise of Company Warrants.

 

Other than the Company Plans, there is no plan or other Contract providing for the grant of options, securities or other rights exercisable or exchangeable for or into shares of Company Common Stock by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No shares of Company Common Stock are owned by any Subsidiary of the Company.

Section 3.06(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list as of the date hereof, of (x) all outstanding Company Options, the number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other capital stock) subject thereto, the grant dates, expiration dates and exercise prices thereof, the names of the holders thereof and whether or not each holder is a current employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and whether or not such Company Option is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code, (y) all outstanding shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs, the number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other capital stock) subject thereto (as applicable), the grant dates, the dates any forfeiture or repurchase conditions lapse, any repurchase prices and the names of the holders thereof and whether or not each holder is a current employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (z) all outstanding Company Warrants, the number of shares of Company Common Stock (or other capital stock) subject thereto, the issuance dates, the maturity or expiration dates, the exercise or conversion prices and the names of the holders thereof. All outstanding Company Stock Options, shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs are evidenced by written award agreements, in each case in the forms set forth in Section 3.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and no award agreement relating to any outstanding Company Stock Option, Restricted Stock or RSU contains terms that are inconsistent with such forms. Copies of all Instruments evidencing Company Warrants have been made available to Parent prior to the date hereof.

 

(b) On the date hereof, no shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, any such stock, interests or securities, or any options, warrants, shares of deferred stock, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation or depreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, “phantom” stock awards or other calls or rights to acquire or receive any such stock, interests or securities, or other rights that are linked in any way to the value of the Company Common Stock or the value of the Company or any part thereof, were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Except as expressly permitted under Section 5.01(a)(i) of this Agreement, since the date hereof, there have been no issuances by the Company of shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, any such stock, interests or securities, or any options, warrants, shares of deferred stock, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation or depreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, “phantom” stock awards or other calls or rights to acquire or receive any such stock, interests or securities, or other rights that are linked in any way to the value of the Company Common Stock or the value of the Company or any part thereof.

 

(c) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and all shares which are issuable pursuant to the Company Plans shall be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call or put option, right of first offer or refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the PBCL, the Company Organizational Documents or any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound. Except as set forth in Section 3.06(a) , there are no (i) bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) securities or other instruments or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, the value of which is based upon or derived from any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company or which has or which by its terms may have at any time (whether actual or contingent) the right to vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote (whether generally in the election of Company directors or in respect of any other matter for which holders of Company Common Stock are entitled to vote as a matter of Law or pursuant to the Company Organizational Documents). Except as set forth in Section 3.06(a) , there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights or Contracts of any kind to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right or Contract. With respect to the Company Options, (A) each Company Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (B) each grant of a Company Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Company Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the Company Board (or

a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required shareholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (C) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable Laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of NASDAQ, (D) the per share exercise price of each Company Option was not less than the fair market value of a share of Company Common Stock on the applicable date of grant of such Company Option and (E) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company SEC Reports in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable Laws. Except as set forth in Section 3.06(a) and except for the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock and RSUs or except pursuant to the cashless exercise, if any, or Tax withholding provisions under which the Company Options, Restricted Stock and RSUs were granted, there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (I) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of, o r other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (II) vote or dispose of any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting agreements with respect to any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements or voting trusts with respect to any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All outstanding Company Securities may by their terms be treated in accordance with Sections 1.08 , 1.09 and 1.10 .

 

(d) The Company has registered the Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of the Exchange Act and is in full compliance with all reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and all NASDAQ requirements for the continued listing and quotation of the Company Common Stock on the NASDAQ, including applicable corporate governance requirements. On August 31, 2007, the Office of General Counsel of the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Hearings issued a final written decision granting the Company’s request for continued listing on the NASDAQ, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no threat of the termination or discontinuance of the eligibility of the Common Stock for such listing.

 

(e) No appraisal or dissenters rights are available to the holders of the Shares pursuant to Section 1571 of the PBCL.

 

Section  3.07   Subsidiaries .   Each Subsidiary of the Company is listed on Exhibit 21 of the Form 10-K. Other than such Subsidiaries, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, owns or holds any rights to acquire, any capital stock or any other securities, interests or investments in any other Person.

 

Section  3.08   Company SEC Reports .

 

(a) Since December 31, 2003, the Company and its Subsidiaries have filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis, each registration statement, prospectus, definitive proxy statement or information statement, form, report, schedule and other document (together with all amendments thereof and supplements thereto) required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or comparable foreign Law or regulation with the SEC or any comparable foreign regulatory authority or exchange (as such documents have since the time of their filing been amended or supplemented, the “ Company SEC Reports ”). As of their respective dates, after giving effect to any amendments or supplements thereto filed prior to the date hereof, the Company SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable, and (ii) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a 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. Each of the Company SEC Reports, at the time of its filing, complied, or if not yet filed, when so filed will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, applicable to the Company SEC Reports. As of the date of this Agreement, (i) there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC staff with respect to the Company SEC Reports, and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company SEC Reports is the subject of ongoing review, comment or investigation by the SEC. None of the Subsidiaries of the Company are, or have been, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, the notes, if any, thereto) included in the Company SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto and except with respect to unaudited statements as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and fairly present (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements included therein, to normal year-end adjustments (that will not be material) and the absence of complete footnotes) the consolidated financial position of the Company or its predecessor and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods then ended.

 

Section  3.09   Absence of Certain Changes or Events .

 

(a) Since June 30, 2007, there has not been:

 

(i) any Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii) any loss, damage, destruction or other casualty to the material assets or properties of either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(iii) any material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except for any such change required by reason of a concurrent change in GAAP; or

 

(iv) any loss of the employment, services or benefits of the chief executive officer of the Company and members of the Company’s senior management who report directly to such chief executive officer.

 

(b) Since June 30, 2007, each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has operated in the ordinary course of its business and consistent with past practice and has not:

 

(i) incurred any material obligation or liability (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise);

 

(ii) failed to discharge or satisfy any Lien or pay or satisfy any material obligation or liability (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), other than Permitted Liens and liabilities being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided;

 

(iii) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) any of its material assets, properties or rights;

 

(iv) sold or transferred any of its material assets, or cancelled any material debts or claims or waived any material rights;

 

(v) disposed of any patents, trademarks or copyrights or any patent, trademark or copyright applications;

 

(vi) defaulted on any material obligation;

 

(vii) granted any increase in the compensation or benefits of its key employees other than increases in the ordinary course of business not exceeding 2% of the key employee’s annual compensation then in effect or entered into any employment, change of control, retention or severance agreement or arrangement with any of them;

 

(viii) contractually committed to make any capital expenditure for any periods after the date hereof or additions to property, plant and equipment used in its operations other than ordinary repairs and maintenance in excess of $50,000 in the aggregate;

 

(ix) laid off any significant number of its employees;

 

(x) received notice from any domestic or international distributor of its intention to terminate its relationship or contract with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or had any such relationship or contract terminated by any such distributor;

 

(xi) discontinued the offering or the development of any material services or product;

 

(xii) incurred any obligation or liability for the payment of severance benefits;

(xiii) declared, paid, or set aside for payment any dividend or other distribution in respect of any shares of its or its Subsidiaries’ capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, any shares of its or its Subsidiaries’ capital stock, membership interests or other securities, or agreed to do so;

 

(xiv) made or suffered any amendment or termination of any Customer Contract, modified or waived any material debts or claims held by it, other than in the ordinary course, or waived any right of material value, whether or not in the ordinary course;

 

(xv) made any payment to any shareholder or other Affiliate of the Company with respect to any indebtedness owed to such shareholder or other Affiliate; or

 

(xvi) entered into any agreement or made any commitment to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section  3.10   Tax Matters .

 

(a) (i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed when due with the appropriate governmental entities all Tax Returns it was required by applicable Law to file; (ii) all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects; (iii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely paid all Taxes (except for Taxes which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings) due with respect to the taxable periods covered by such Tax Returns and all other Taxes due and owing by the Company and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any tax return); and (iv) any liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for Taxes not yet due and payable, or which are being contested in good faith, has been provided for on the financial statements of the Company in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent correct and complete copies of all federal, state, local and foreign Income Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since May 31, 2002.

 

(c) There is no material Action now pending with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax, nor has any material claim for additional Tax been asserted in writing by any taxing authority since May 31, 2002. Since May 31, 2002, no claim has been made in writing by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not filed a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction.

 

(d) (i) There is no outstanding request for any extension of time for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay any Taxes or file any Tax Returns; (ii) there has been no waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is currently in force; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Tax-sharing, Tax indemnity, Tax allocation, pre-filing, or advance pricing agreement or similar arrangements, whether written or unwritten, providing for the payment of Taxes, payment for Tax losses, entitlements to refunds or similar Tax matters.

 

(e) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all material Taxes required to be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party.

 

(f) The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

 

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has elected at any time to be treated as an S corporation within the meaning of Sections 1361 or 1362 of the Code or under any comparable state or local Tax provision.

 

(h) None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to include in a taxable period ending after the Closing taxable income attributable to income that accrued in a prior taxable period as a result of the installment method of accounting, the completed contract method of accounting, the long-term contract method of accounting, the cash method of accounting or Section 481 of the Code or comparable provisions of state or local Tax Law, or for any other reason.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person, or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(j) There is no material Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, affecting any of the assets, properties or rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure or alleged failure to pay any Tax.

 

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of an affiliated group (within the meaning of Code § 1504(a)) filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company) or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a partner for Tax purposes with respect to any joint venture, partnership, or other arrangement or contract which is treated as a partnership for Tax purposes, or (ii) owns a single member limited liability company which is treated as a disregarded entity.

 

(m) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction identified as a “reportable transaction” or “listed transaction” for purposes of Code Section 6707A(c) or Treasury Regulations Sections 1.6011-4(b)(2) or 301.6111-2(b)(2).

 

(l) None of the Subsidiaries is an expatriated entity (as defined in Section 7874(a)(2)(A) of the Code) or a surrogate foreign corporation (within the meaning of Section 7874(a)(2)(B) of the Code).

 

Section  3.11   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities; Closing Indebtedness; and Company Transaction Expenses .

 

(a) There are no material liabilities or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances that could be reasonably expected to result in such a liability or obligation, other than (a) liabilities or obligations disclosed and provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2007 included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period then ended or (b) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since June 30, 2007. Neither of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is directly or indirectly liable upon or with respect to (by discount, repurchase agreements or otherwise), or obliged in any other way to provide funds in respect of, or to guarantee or assume, any material debt, obligation or dividend of any Person.

 

(b) Section 3.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all loan or credit agreements, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments pursuant to which any indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $50,000 is outstanding or may be incurred and the respective principal amounts outstanding thereunder as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 3.11(b) , “indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind to such Person, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (iv) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (v) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding obligations of such Person or creditors for raw materials, inventory, services and supplies incurred in the ordinary course of business), (vi) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person, (vii) all obligations of others secured by any lien on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (viii) all obligations of such Person under interest rate or currency hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (ix) all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, and (x) all guarantees and arrangements having the economic effect of a guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person. All of the outstanding indebtedness of the type described in this Section 3.11(b) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be prepaid by the Company or its Subsidiary at any time without the consent or approval of, or prior notice to, any other Person, and without payment of any premium or penalty.

(c) The aggregate amount of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, consultants and other advisors, incurred by the Company in connection with the entering into of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the carrying out of any and all acts contemplated hereunder and thereunder (“ Company Transaction Expenses ”) shall not exceed $500,000, unless any excess over $500,000 is directly attributable to all such out-of-pocket costs and expenses that are incurred by the Company in connection with the review by the SEC of, and clearance of all SEC comments on, the Proxy Statement.

 

Section  3.12   Real Property .

 

(a) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has ever held fee ownership of any real property. Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all leases, licenses (for real property), subleases and occupancy agreements, together with all amendments thereto, in which either of the Company or its Subsidiaries has a leasehold interest or similar occupancy rights, whether as lessor or lessee (each, a “ Lease ” and collectively, the “ Leases ”; the property covered by Leases under which either of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a lessee is referred to herein as the “ Leased Real Property ”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contract (other than a Lease) with the lessor of any of the Leased Real Properties, which gives such lessor any right to terminate or adversely alter the terms of the Lease to which such lessor is a party. The Company or its Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession of, the Leased Real Property pursuant to the Leases. No option has been exercised under any of such Leases, except options whose exercise has been evidenced by a written document, a true, complete and accurate copy of which has made available to Parent with the corresponding Lease. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not require the consent or approval of the other party or parties to the Leases.

 

(b) With respect to each Lease, (i) such Lease is in full force and effect, (ii) all rents, required deposits and additional rents due to date pursuant to each Lease have been paid in full, (iii) the Company has not prepaid rent or any other amounts due under a Lease more than thirty (30) days in advance, and (iv) no party has any rights of offset against any rents, required security deposits or additional rents payable under such Lease. As of the date hereof, no Lease has been materially modified or amended.

 

(c) None of the Leased Real Property is subject to any option, lease, sublease, license or other agreement granting to any Person or entity any right to the use, occupancy or enjoyment of such property or any portion thereof or to obtain title to all or any portion of such property.

 

(d) All material improvements, systems, equipment, machinery and fixtures on the Leased Real Property are in good operating condition and repair and generally are adequate and suitable in all material respects for the present and continued use, operation and maintenance thereof as now used, operated or maintained. All improvements on the Leased Real Property constructed by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary were constructed, to the Knowledge of the Company, in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws, ordinances and regulations affecting such Leased Real Property, including but not limited to the American with Disabilities Act.

 

(e) Each parcel of Leased Property is a separate lot for real estate tax and assessment purposes (and no other real property is included in such tax parcel), there are no Taxes, assessments, fees, charges or similar costs or expenses imposed by any Taxing Authority, association or other entity having jurisdiction over such real property or portion thereof (collectively, the “ Real Estate Impositions ”) that are delinquent, and there is no pending or threatened increase or special assessment or reassessment of any such Real Estate Impositions.

 

Section  3.13   Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries .

 

(a) The assets, properties and rights of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries constitute all of the assets, properties and rights which are used in the operation of their business as currently conducted. There are no material assets, properties, rights or interests of any kind or nature that either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been using, holding or operating in their business prior to the Closing that will not be used, held or owned by each of the Company or its Subsidiaries immediately following the Closing.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens, to, or a valid leasehold interest under enforceable leases in, all of its material assets, properties and rights.

Section  3.14   Intellectual Property .

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own all right, title and interest in and to, or have valid and enforceable licenses to use, possess, distribute and/or dispose of all the Intellectual Property, and such Intellectual Property represents all intellectual property rights necessary for the conduct of their business as and where conducted on the date hereof or contemplated to be conducted on the Closing Date or in relation to any product under development by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the execution of this Agreement, or the other Transaction Documents nor the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will affect any rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Intellectual Property. There are no conflicts with or infringements of any Intellectual Property by any third party, including by any current or former employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as and where conducted on the date hereof or contemplated to be conducted on the Closing Date or in relation to any product under development by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) does not conflict with, violate, misappropriate, misuse or infringe any proprietary or intellectual property right of any third party. There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries: (a) alleging any such conflict, violation, misappropriation, misuse or infringement with any third party’s proprietary or intellectual property rights; or (b) challenging the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ ownership or use of, or the validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property.

 

(b) Section 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and current list of all (i) registrations, certificates, applications, filings or other material documents issued by, filed with, or recorded by, any Governmental Entity pertaining to the Intellectual Property (“ Registered Intellectual Property ”) as of the date hereof and the owner of record, date of application or issuance, and relevant jurisdiction as to each and (ii) any works of authorship in which Company has material, unregistered copyrights (e.g., software applications developed by or on behalf of the Company). All Registered Intellectual Property is owned by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. All Registered Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, unexpired, and all renewal fees and other maintenance fees that have fallen due on or prior to the Closing have been paid, and, except as set forth on Section 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no actions or fees of any kind are due within 120 days of the Closing Date. No Registered Intellectual Property is the subject of any Action before any governmental, registration or other authority in any jurisdiction. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents will not (i) alter, impair or result in the termination of any Intellectual Property, or (ii) result in the creation of any material Lien with respect to any of the Intellectual Property owned or otherwise held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(c) Section 3.14(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of all agreements (whether written or oral) pertaining to Intellectual Property as of the date hereof, except for agreements pertaining to commercially available, off-the-shelf software which has a value of less than $2,000. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all agreements pertaining to the Intellectual Property, and are not under any obligation to pay royalties or other payments in connection with any agreement, nor restricted from assigning its rights respecting Intellectual Property, such rights including the right to sue and obtain damages for past and future infringements thereof, nor will the Company or its Subsidiaries otherwise be, as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, in breach of any agreement relating to the Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is in material default of any such agreement.

 

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any claim of a violation, infringement, misuse or misappropriation by any third party (including any employee , former employee or consultant of the Company or its Subsidiaries) of its rights to, or in connection with, any Intellectual Property, which claim is pending. Except with respect to provisions consistent with the Company’s past practice in Software license agreements with customers of the Company made in the normal course of business, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any agreement to indemnify any other Person against any charge of infringement of any Intellectual Property.

 

(e) The Company has taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of its Intellectual Property. All current and former employees, consultants, contractors and other third parties of the Company or its Subsidiaries who have contributed to the creation, design, review, evaluation or development of

any Intellectual Property on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have executed written agreements (i) requiring them to maintain the confidentiality of such Intellectual Property to the extent that it consists of confidential information and/or trade secrets; and (ii) disclosing to the Company or its Subsidiaries (as applicable) the creation of any inventions; and (iii) assigning to the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, all right, title and interest in and to any inventions and any other Intellectual Property created by such employees or consultants in conjunction with their work for or on behalf of the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, no such employee or consultant is in breach of any such agreements.

 

Section  3.15   Software .

 

(a) Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all operating and applications computer software programs and databases used, manufactured, distributed, sold, licensed or marketed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, or which are under development by the Company and currently scheduled for release within six months from the date hereof, that are material to the conduct of their business (collectively, the “ Software ”). The Software listed on Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule performs materially in accordance with the written specifications and documentation of the Company with respect to the specific Software sold or licensed by the Company to its end users, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no third party has asserted any claim of a breach of any warranty made, expressly or impliedly, by the Company. None of the Software nor any use thereof, conflicts with, infringes upon or violates any intellectual property or other proprietary right of any other Person and, no Action with respect to any such infringement or violation is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not purchased any material amount of telecommunications equipment without procuring a software license for the imbedded software in such equipment nor is the Company or its Subsidiaries subject to any claim for failing to procure such a license.

 

(c) Section 3.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth all software or other material that is distributed as “free software”, “open source software” or under a similar licensing or distribution model (“ Open Source Materials ”) that is included in any Software or other Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or that is otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any way, and describes the manner in which such Open Source Materials were used (such description shall include whether (and, if so, how) the Open Source Materials were modified and/or distributed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). Except as explicitly set forth in Section 3.15(c ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not (i) incorporated Open Source Materials into, or combined Open Source Materials with, any Software or other Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) distributed Open Source Materials in conjunction with any Software or other Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iii) used Open Source Materials that create, or purport to create, obligations for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any of its/their Software or Intellectual Property rights or grant, or purport to grant, to any third party, any rights or immunities under any Software or Intellectual Property (including using any Open Source Materials that require, as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of such Open Source Materials that other software incorporated into, derived from or distributed with such Open Source Materials be (A) disclosed or distributed in source code form, (B) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works, or (C) be redistributable at no charge).

 

(d) The Software is free of all viruses, worms, trojan horses and other material known contaminants and does not contain any bugs, errors or problems of a material nature that would disrupt its operation or have an adverse impact on the operation of other software programs or operating systems. The Company and its Subsidiaries have the right to use all software development tools, library functions, compilers, and other third party software that are material to the business of the Company or that are required to operate or modify the Software.

 

(e) Except pursuant to Software maintenance and license agreements with customers of the Company made in the normal course of business and as set forth on Section 3.15(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have any obligation owing to any third party to maintain, modify, improve or upgrade any of the Software.

(f) The Company has not disclosed the source code for any Software to any Person nor has the Company granted to any Person to use such source code, other than to those Persons identified in Section 3.15(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

 

Section  3.16   Licenses and Permits .

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all right, title and interest in and to each of their respective material licenses, permits, franchises, registrations, authorizations and approvals issued or granted to any of the Company or its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Entity (the “ Licenses and Permits ”) and has taken all necessary action to maintain such Licenses and Permits. The Licenses and Permits are sufficient and adequate in all material respects to permit the continued lawful conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and none of the operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries are being conducted in a manner that violates in any material respects any of the terms or conditions under which any License and Permit was granted.

 

(b) Each License and Permit has been duly obtained, is valid and in full force and effect, and no petition, action, investigation, notice of violation or apparent liability, notice of forfeiture, order to show cause, complaint, or Action seeking to revoke, reconsider the grant of, cancel, suspend, declare invalid or modify any of the Licenses and Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened before any Governmental Entity. No notices have been received by and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no claims have been filed against the Company or its Subsidiaries alleging a failure to hold any Licenses or Permits.

 

Section  3.17   Government Contracts .

 

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contracts with any Governmental Entity.

 

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been suspended or debarred from bidding on Contracts or subcontracts for any Governmental Entity, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has any suspension or debarment action been threatened or commenced.

 

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been, nor is now being, audited or investigated by any Governmental Entity, or the inspector general or auditor general or similar functionary of any Governmental Entity, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has an audit or investigation been threatened.

 

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material dispute pending before a contracting office of, nor any current claim pending against, any Governmental Entity, relating to a Contract.

 

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, with respect to any government Contract, received a cure notice advising the Company that it is or was in default under such Contract.

 

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has submitted any inaccurate, untruthful, or misleading cost or pricing data, certification, bid, proposal, report, claim, or any other information relating to a Contract to any Governmental Entity that would be contrary in any material respect to any applicable Laws.

 

(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, no employee, agent, consultant, representative, or Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in receipt or possession of any competitor or government proprietary or procurement sensitive information related to the business of the Company of any of its Subsidiaries under circumstances where there is reason to believe that such receipt or possession is unlawful or unauthorized.

 

Section  3.18   Compliance with Law; Sarbanes-Oxley Act .

 

(a) The operations of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been conducted in accordance in all material respects with applicable Laws. Since December 31, 2004, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received notice of any violation (or any investigation with respect thereto) of any such Laws or other legal requirement, and none of the Company or its Subsidiaries is in material default with respect to any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity, applicable to any of its assets, properties or operations. To the Knowledge of the Company, no legislative or regulatory proposal or other proposal for a change in any applicable Law or the interpretations thereof has been adopted or is pending which could materially adversely affect the Company or its Subsidiaries or the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(b) Except as permitted by the Exchange Act, including Sections 13(k)(2) and (3) or rules of the SEC, since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has made, arranged or modified (in any material way) any extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to any executive officer or director of the Company.

 

(c) The Company maintains (i) disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15, as applicable, under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company is recorded and reported on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s filings with the SEC and other public disclosure documents and (ii) a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15, as applicable, under the Exchange Act) designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP which includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the asset of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management of the Company, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company has disclosed, based on the most recent evaluation of its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer prior to the date hereof, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (x) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of its internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information (and has identified for the Company’s auditors and audit committee of the Company Board any material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting) and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company has made available to Parent (i) a summary of any such disclosure made by management to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee since December 31, 2004 and (ii) any communication since December 31, 2004 made by management or the Company’s auditors to the audit committee required or contemplated by the audit committee’s charter or professional standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Since December 31, 2004, no material written complaints from any source regarding questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters have been received by the Company. No attorney representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, material breach of fiduciary duty or similar material violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors or agents to the Company’s chief legal officer, audit committee (or other committee designated for the purpose) of the Company Board or the Company Board pursuant to the rules adopted pursuant to Section 307 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(d) The Company has made available to Parent a summary of all complaints or observations relating to other matters made since December 31, 2004 through the Company’s “whistleblower hot-line” or equivalent system for receipt of employee complaints or observations regarding possible violations of Law by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective employees in respect of such employee’s employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

(e) The Company’s or any Subsidiary’s operation of any web sites used in connection with the business, and content thereof and data processed, collected, stored or disseminated in connection therewith, do not violate any applicable Law, the applicable Laws of any other jurisdiction, including Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and any Person’s right of privacy or publicity.

 

Section  3.19   Litigation .   There are no material civil, criminal, judicial or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations, investigations, inquiries, audits or other proceedings (each, an “ Action ”) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against, or brought by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their officers or directors involving or relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the material assets, properties or rights of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or subject to the provisions

of any material judgment, settlement, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Entity imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, assets or properties.

 

Section  3.20   Material Contracts .

 

(a) Section 3.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of all Contracts as of the date hereof.

 

(b) Each Contract is in full force and effect, valid, binding and enforceable against the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of the Company, against the other parties thereto in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) the effect of bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has performed all obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default or delinquent in performance, status or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, any Contract, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, except as, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has sent no notices of default under any Contract, which default remains uncured, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Contract is in material default in respect thereof, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default. The Company has made available to Parent or its representatives true and complete originals or copies of all the Contracts.

 

(c) A “ Contract ” means any agreement, contract or commitment, oral or written, to which either of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound constituting:

 

(i) an agreement that would be required to be filed by the Company as a “material agreement” pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act or disclosed by the Company on a Current Report on Form 8-K or that if terminated or subject to a default by any party thereto, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;