Exhibit 2.1
Share and Asset Purchase Agreement
dated as of February 18, 2006
by and between
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc., Klybeckstrasse 141, CH 4057 Basel, Switzerland
(hereinafter the Seller)
and
Huntsman International LLC (Huntsman), 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
RM 2526 Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH, registered AG München HRB 160194, Germany (whose name is currently being changed to Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH (Huntsman Germany), Land-Au 30, 94469 Deggendorf, Germany
(Huntsman and Huntsman Germany hereinafter collectively referred to as the Buyer)
(Seller and Buyer each a Party, and together the Parties)
relating to
the sale and purchase of Ciba Groups Textile Effects Business
Table of Contents
1. |
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Definitions |
10 |
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2. |
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Object of Sale | License | Consideration |
10 |
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2.1 |
Sale and Transfer of Shares |
10 |
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2.2 |
Purchase of Assets And Assumption of Liabilities |
11 |
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2.2.1 |
Sale and Transfer of Assets |
11 |
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2.2.2 |
Assumption of Obligations and Liabilities |
16 |
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2.3 |
License |
19 |
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2.3.1 |
Patents | IT Intellectual Property Rights |
19 |
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2.3.2 |
Trademarks |
20 |
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2.4 |
Consideration |
21 |
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2.5 |
Net Working Capital and Net Debt Adjustment |
22 |
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2.5.1 |
Closing Balance Sheet |
22 |
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2.5.2 |
Adjustments |
25 |
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2.5.3 |
Payment of the Net Working Capital Adjustment and the Net Debt Adjustment on the basis of the Final Closing Balance Sheet |
26 |
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2.6 |
Allocation of Purchase Price |
26 |
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3. |
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Actions Prior to Closing |
28 |
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3.1 |
General |
28 |
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3.2 |
Filings and Submissions |
28 |
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3.3 |
Closing Memorandum |
28 |
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3.4 |
Monthly Financial Data for the TE Segment |
28 |
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3.5 |
Inventor Compensation |
29 |
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4. |
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Closing |
29 |
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4.1 |
Date and Place |
29 |
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4.2 |
Conditions Precedent to Closing |
29 |
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4.2.1 |
Conditions to Obligations of Each Party |
29 |
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4.2.2 |
Conditions to Obligations of Buyer |
30 |
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4.2.3 |
Condition to Obligations of Seller |
31 |
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4.2.4 |
Waiver of Non-satisfied Conditions |
31 |
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4.2.5 |
Right of Termination |
32 |
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4.2.6 |
Deferred Closing | Deferred Closing Balance Sheet |
32 |
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4.3 |
Closing Actions |
36 |
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4.3.1 |
Actions by Seller |
36 |
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4.3.2 |
Actions by Buyer |
37 |
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4.3.3 |
Joint Actions by the Parties |
37 |
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5. |
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Representations and Warranties |
38 |
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5.1 |
Representations and Warranties of Seller |
38 |
2
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5.2 |
Representations and Warranties of Buyer |
38 |
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5.3 |
Exclusive Representations and Warranties |
38 |
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6. |
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Remedies |
39 |
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6.1 |
Remedies of Buyer |
39 |
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6.1.1 |
Sellers Right to Cure and Sellers Liability |
39 |
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6.1.2 |
Notice of Breach |
39 |
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6.1.3 |
Term of Representations and Warranties |
40 |
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6.1.4 |
Exclusion of Liability |
41 |
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6.1.5 |
Third Party Claims |
42 |
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6.2 |
Remedies of Seller |
44 |
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6.3 |
Exclusive Remedies |
44 |
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7. |
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Conduct of Business between Signing and Closing |
44 |
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7.1 |
General |
44 |
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7.2 |
Access to the TE Business |
44 |
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7.3 |
Restricted Actions |
44 |
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7.4 |
Additional Actions |
47 |
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7.4.1 |
Certain Covenants of Seller |
47 |
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7.4.2 |
Additional Actions by the Parties |
48 |
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7.4.3 |
Internal Controls |
49 |
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8. |
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Separation | Shape I, II and III |
50 |
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8.1 |
General Principles Applicable to Separation |
50 |
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8.2 |
Separation and Know How |
50 |
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8.3 |
Separation Costs |
50 |
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8.4 |
Transitional Agreements | Excluded Plant Lease Agreements |Termination of Intra-Group Agreements |
51 |
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8.5 |
Shape I, Shape II and Shape III |
52 |
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9. |
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Indemnities |
53 |
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9.1 |
Indemnification by Seller |
53 |
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9.2 |
Indemnification by Buyer |
53 |
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9.3 |
Tax |
54 |
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9.4 |
Environment |
56 |
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9.4.1 |
Identified Sites |
56 |
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9.4.1.1 |
Environmental Investigations |
56 |
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9.4.1.2 |
Sellers Liability for Material Existing Contamination |
57 |
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9.4.2 |
Leased Sites |
59 |
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9.4.3 |
HF Site |
61 |
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9.4.4 |
Sellers Liability for Off-Site Releases |
62 |
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9.4.5 |
Sellers Liability for Non-compliance |
63 |
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9.4.6 |
Insurance |
63 |
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9.4.7 |
Environmental Liability of the Parties |
64 |
3
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9.4.8 |
Reallocation of Liabilities |
64 |
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10. |
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Other Covenants |
64 |
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10.1 |
Press Releases and Other Public Announcements |
64 |
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10.2 |
Termination of Commitments |
65 |
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10.3 |
Transfer | Change of Control Clauses |
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of the Transferred TE Contracts |
66 |
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10.4 |
Change of Control Clauses of Contracts to Which a TE Company is a Party |
68 |
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10.5 |
Assignment of Trademarks With the Consent of a Third Party Only |
69 |
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10.6 |
Recording of Assignment |
69 |
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10.7 |
Corporate Name, Trademarks and Domain Names |
70 |
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10.8 |
Third Party Infringements of Transferred Patents |
71 |
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10.9 |
Transferring Employees | Pension and Benefit Plans |
71 |
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10.10 |
Document Retention and Access |
71 |
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10.11 |
Non-Competition |
72 |
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10.12 |
Audited Financials | Inter-Company Trade Balances |
73 |
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10.13 |
No Recourse Against Directors |
74 |
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10.14 |
Further Assurances |
75 |
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10.15 |
Transfer of Specific Documents |
75 |
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10.16 |
Set-off Rights |
75 |
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11. |
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Limitations on Sellers Liability |
76 |
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12. |
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Taxes, Costs, Expenses and Interest |
77 |
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12.1 |
Taxes |
77 |
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12.1.1 |
VAT |
77 |
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12.1.2 |
Other Taxes |
78 |
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12.1.3 |
Tax Returns | Tax Audits and Cooperation in Other Tax Matters |
78 |
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12.1.4 |
Disputes |
80 |
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12.2 |
Costs and Expenses |
80 |
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12.3 |
Interest |
80 |
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13. |
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General Provisions |
81 |
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13.1 |
Effect on Third Parties |
81 |
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13.2 |
Notices |
81 |
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13.3 |
Entire Agreement |
83 |
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13.4 |
Amendments and Waivers |
83 |
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13.5 |
No Assignment |
83 |
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13.6 |
Severability |
84 |
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13.7 |
Confidentiality |
84 |
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13.8 |
Certain Audit Rights |
86 |
4
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13.9 |
Execution |
86 |
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13.10 |
Headings |
86 |
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14. |
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Governing Law and Dispute Settlement |
86 |
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14.1 |
Governing Law |
86 |
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14.2 |
Dispute Resolution |
87 |
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14.2.1 |
Discussions between Chief Executive Officers |
87 |
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14.2.2 |
Arbitration |
87 |
5
Table of Schedules | Annexes
Number of Schedule |
|
Name of Schedule | Annex |
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A |
|
TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets | TE Income and Expense Statement |
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1 |
|
Definitions |
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2.1 |
|
Share Seller Companies |
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2.2.1(a) |
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Asset Seller Companies |
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2.2.1(a)(i) |
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Transferred TE Trademarks |
|
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2.2.1(a)(ii) |
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Transferred TE Patents |
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2.2.1(a)(iii) |
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Transferred TE Domain Names |
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2.2.1(a)(iv) |
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Transferred TE Product Registrations |
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2.2.1(a)(vi) |
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Transferred TE Marketing and Promotional Documents |
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2.2.1(a)(vii) |
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Transferred TE Real Property |
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2.2.1(a)(viii) |
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Transferred TE Leases |
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2.2.1(a)(ix) |
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Transferred TE Tangible Property |
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2.2.1(a)(xv) |
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Transferred TE Contracts |
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2.2.1(b)(i) |
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Excluded Trademarks |
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2.2.1(b)(ii) |
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Excluded Patents |
|
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2.2.1(b)(iii) |
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Excluded Domain Names |
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2.2.1(b)(v) |
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Excluded Tangible Property |
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2.2.1(b)(viii) |
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Real Property Basel (not being transferred) |
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2.2.1(b)(ix) |
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Excluded Plants |
|
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2.2.1(b)(x) |
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Hang Tag Agreements |
|
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2.2.1(b)(xiv) |
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Excluded Contracts |
|
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2.3.1(a) |
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Shared Patents |
|
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2.3.1(d) |
|
Back License |
|
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2.3.2(a) |
|
Licensed Trademarks and Domain Names |
|
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2.3.2(b) |
|
CIBA Trademarks (License | Registrations) |
|
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2.5.1(a) |
|
Net Working Capital | Net Debt |
6
2.5.1(b)(1) |
|
Closing Balance Sheet |
|
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2.5.1(b)(2) |
|
Ciba Group Controllers Manual |
|
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2.6(a) |
|
Allocation of Purchase Price |
|
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4.2.1(a)(1) |
|
Governmental Approvals |
|
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4.2.1(a)(2) |
|
Material Third Party Governmental Approvals |
|
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4.2.2(d) |
|
Key Assets |
|
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5.1 |
|
Sellers Representations and Warranties |
|
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Annex 5.1.1(g) |
Constitutional and Corporate Documents of TE Companies |
|
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Annex 5.1.2(e) |
Historical Financial Information |
|
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Annex 5.1.8(a) |
Owners of Transferred TE Real Property |
|
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Annex 5.1.8(b) |
TE Companies Real Property |
|
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Annex 5.1.9 |
TE Companies Tangible Property |
|
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Annex 5.1.11(b)(1) |
TE Companies Trademarks |
|
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Annex 5.1.11(b)(2) |
Consent Letters, Coexistence and Prior Right Agreements |
|
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Annex 5.1.11(c) |
TE Companies Patents |
|
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Annex 5.1.11(l) |
Licenses |
|
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Annex 5.1.12(b) |
TE Key Personnel |
|
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Annex 5.1.13(a) |
Material Contracts |
|
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Annex 5.1.13(d) |
Customers | Suppliers |
|
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Annex 5.1.18 |
Facilities |
|
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Annex 5.1.20 |
List of Environmental Reports, Studies and Investigations |
|
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Annex 5.1.22(b) |
Employment Terms | Material Plans |
|
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Annex 5.1.27 |
Data Site |
5.2 |
|
Buyers Representations and Warranties |
|
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|
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|
6.1.4 |
|
Disclosure Letter |
7
7.1 |
|
Permitted Actions | Restricted Actions |
|
|
|
7.3(t) |
|
TE Business Plan |
|
|
|
7.4.1(b) |
|
Disclosed Agency Agreements |
|
|
|
8.1(a) |
|
Carve-out Book and Draft High Level Implementation Plan |
|
|
|
8.3(b) |
|
IT Service Agreement |
|
|
|
8.4(a) |
|
Term Sheets TE Ancillary Agreements |
|
|
|
8.4(b) |
|
Term Sheets Ciba Ancillary Agreements |
|
|
|
8.4(c) |
|
Term Sheet Excluded Plant Lease Agreements |
|
|
|
8.5(a) |
|
Shape I, Shape II and Shape III |
|
|
|
9.4.1.1 |
|
Identified Sites |
|
|
|
9.4.2 |
|
Leased Sites |
|
|
|
9.4.3(a) |
|
Sellers Earthquake Proposal (as submitted to Basel authorities) |
|
|
|
10.2 |
|
Undertakings |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
TE Companies Contracts with Change of Control Clauses |
|
|
|
10.5 |
|
Material Prior Rights Agreements |
|
|
|
10.9 |
|
Transferring Employees | Pension | Other Benefits (US and non-US) |
|
|
|
10.12 |
|
Inter-company Trade Balances Between the Ciba Group and the TE Business |
8
WHEREAS
(A) Seller conducts a chemical business comprising the development, manufacturing and marketing of dyes and chemical products used in or for the benefit of the Textile Franchise, including as reflected in the audited carve-out balance sheet as at September 30, 2005 (the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets) and the unaudited pro-forma TE income and expense statement, covering the period from January 1, 2005, ending on September 30, 2005 (the TE Income and Expense Statement), each in the form attached hereto as Schedule A, including the respective rights, assets, contracts and liabilities specified in Article 2.1 and Article 2.2 and the Transferring Employees, but excluding the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities, as such business continues to be conducted by Seller in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the TE Business).
(B) The TE Business is fully integrated in the Ciba Groups chemical business.
(C) Seller desires to sell, and Buyer desires to buy, subject to the terms and conditions of this Share and Asset Purchase Agreement (together with its Schedules and Annexes, the Agreement), the TE Business.
(D) Seller and Buyer intend to closely cooperate as from the date hereof to separate the TE Business from the Ciba Group on the basis of the High Level Implementation Plan (as defined in this Agreement and amended in accordance with Article 8.1).
(E) In those countries or markets in which the Ciba Group is operating the respective part of the TE Business on the basis of agreements with independent third parties acting as distributors or agents, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Buyer intends to continue to operate such part of the TE Business on the basis of the relevant agreements following the Closing Date.
9
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in Schedule 1.
10
11
12
13
The Parties agree that Seller shall deliver, no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, where required, updates to the Schedules referred to in the foregoing subparagraphs to reflect changes that have occurred following the date hereof in the ordinary course of business and consistent with Article 7.3 below.
14
15
(the assets, contracts and agreements set forth in this Article 2.2.1(b), collectively the Excluded Assets);
are not part of the sale and purchase contemplated hereunder, are excluded from the Transferred TE Assets and shall, except as otherwise provided in the Excluded Plant Lease Agreements as set forth in Schedule 8.4(c), remain the exclusive property of Seller on, before and after the Closing Date.
For the avoidance of doubt, the use of any Intellectual Property Rights or Know How by businesses retained by the Ciba Group in the context of supplying the TE Business with products used for manufacturing or selling products in the Textile Franchise under any supply agreements (but not, for purposes of this sentence, the use of any Intellectual Property Rights or Know How under any toll manufacturing agreements by which Seller or its Affiliates manufacture(s) certain products for Buyer and its Affiliates for the benefit of the TE Business) shall not be considered for the determination of the Transferred TE Assets, the scope of any licenses or the scope of any non-assertion obligations under this Agreement, and such Intellectual Property Rights and Know How shall be part of the Excluded Assets.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Subject to the limitations set forth in Article 2.5.2(c), if the aggregate of the adjustments under Article 2.5.2 results in a reduction in the Preliminary Consideration, Seller shall pay to Buyer the amount of such reduction, and if the aggregate of the adjustments under Article 2.5.2 results in an increase in the Preliminary Consideration, Buyer shall pay to Seller the amount of such increase, in each case in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Party receiving payment within five (5) Business Days after the final and binding determination pursuant to Article 2.5.1, plus interest accrued thereon between the Closing Date and the date of payment at the rate set forth in Article 12.3(a).
26
27
Unless specifically otherwise provided herein, the Parties undertake to use their commercially reasonable best efforts to procure that:
The Parties shall fully cooperate and promptly inform each other of any relevant actions taken prior to the Closing Date.
The Parties shall undertake their respective commercially reasonable best efforts to make all filings and submissions required pursuant to Article 4.2.1(a) within thirty (30) Business Days as from the date of this Agreement or such shorter period of time as required by applicable law. Where a filing or submission is the legal responsibility of both Parties, no Party shall make any filings or submissions without the prior consent of the other Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Where a filing or submission is the legal responsibility of only one Party, such Party shall duly cooperate with and consult the other Party in preparing any filing or submission.
At least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Sellers legal counsel shall prepare, in cooperation with Buyers legal counsel, a closing memorandum which describes the closing actions pursuant to Article 4.3.
Seller hereby undertakes to provide Buyer, on a monthly basis, financial information for the Ciba Groups TE Segment consisting of a summary of net sales, profits and losses, balance sheet and cash flow of the TE Segment, both current and year-to-date, with a reasonable comparison to the previous year period, such financial information (the Monthly Financials) to be delivered by the twentieth (20th) Business Day of the month following the reference period of such financial data until the Closing Date and until each Local Closing Date in relation to the business and assets to which such Local Closing Date relates.
28
Seller shall undertake commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain a written release from any employee who is not a Transferring Employee for and in relation to any inventor compensation relating to the TE Business pursuant to the laws of Germany or Austria.
The respective obligations of the Parties hereto to effect the transactions contemplated under this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or (where permitted) waiver, on or by September 30, 2006 or such other date as the Parties may agree (the Long Stop Date), of the following conditions:
29
The respective obligations of Buyer to effect the transactions contemplated under this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver, on or by the Long Stop Date, of the following conditions:
30
The respective obligations of Seller to effect the transactions contemplated under this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver, on or by the Long Stop Date, of the following conditions:
The Parties shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to inform each other forthwith upon becoming aware of any fact or matter which could reasonably be expected to constitute a breach or non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Articles 4.2.1, 4.2.2 or 4.2.3; provided, however, that the failure to so inform the other Party shall not affect either Partys ability not to close in the event of the non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Articles 4.2.1, 4.2.2 or 4.2.3. The Parties shall enter into good faith negotiations on how to resolve the relevant issues and, without prejudice to any other provision of this Agreement, each Party shall be entitled to seek to cure at its own expense any such breach or non-satisfaction. At any time prior to the Closing Date, (a) Seller and Buyer may jointly waive in writing in whole or in part the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 4.2.1, (b) Buyer may waive in writing in whole or in part the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 4.2.2, and (c) Seller may waive in writing in whole or in part the conditions to Closing set forth in Article 4.2.3.
31
32
employees, contracts, liabilities and permits (each a Local Closing) shall occur at a month end (or if such month end is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day) following the Closing Date on which such assets, shares, employees, contracts, liabilities and permits can be transferred (such date a Local Closing Date).
33
34
provided, however, that the amounts due under this Article 4.2.6(h) shall not become payable, if, taking into account the aggregate of the adjustments pursuant to this Article 4.2.6(h) with retroactive effect, the collar set forth in Article 2.5.2(c) were not to have been exceeded. Any amount previously paid by a Party on the account of the Net Working Capital and Net Debt adjustments under Article 2.5.3 which, applying the test set forth in the preceding sentence, would not have become payable, shall be repaid to the other Party within five (5) Business Days after the final and binding determination pursuant to Article 4.2.6(e), plus interest accrued thereon between the Closing Date and the date of repayment at the rate set forth in Article 12.3(a).
35
sensible in light of the particular circumstances and the relevant timing of such deferred closings. Each Party shall consider in good faith any proposals made by the other Party with the aim of facilitating the adjustment procedures in light of the actual circumstances and timing of a deferred closing, provided such proposed alternatives are economically equivalent to the adjustments set out herein.
At the Closing Date, Seller shall, and shall cause the Share Seller Companies and the Asset Seller Companies (as the case may be) to:
36
At the Closing Date, Buyer shall:
At the Closing Date, the Parties shall:
37
Document, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail (unless expressly agreed otherwise by the Parties); it being understood that nothing in this proviso shall be interpreted as impairing those parts of the Transfer Documents that are necessary to effect the transfer of the relevant TE Assets in accordance with the requirements of applicable local laws; and
Subject to the limitations set forth in Articles 6 and 11, Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that the representations and warranties set forth in Schedule 5.1 are true and accurate at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date, and at and as of each subsequent Local Closing Date with respect to the subject matter of the Local Closing, except that those representations and warranties that are explicitly made as of a specific date shall be true and accurate as of such date only.
Subject to the limitations set forth in Article 6, Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller that the representations and warranties set forth in Schedule 5.2 are true and accurate at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date, and at and as of each subsequent Local Closing Date with respect to the subject matter of the Local Closing, except that those representations and warranties that are explicitly made as of a specific date shall be true and accurate as of such date only.
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that, other than as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Transfer Documents and the documents, instruments and agreements associated therewith or incidental thereto, Seller does not make any representations and warranties as to budgets, business plans, forward-looking statements and other projections of a financial, technical or business nature relating to the TE Business.
With respect to a misrepresentation or a breach of a warranty notified by Buyer to Seller pursuant to Article 6.1.2, Seller shall have the right, within a reasonable period of time not exceeding thirty (30) Business Days after receipt of the Notice of Breach, to put Buyer and|or its Affiliates in the same position in which it would have been if no misrepresentation or breach of warranty had occurred. If, and to the extent, such cure cannot be effected, or is not effected within such time period, Buyer shall be entitled to claim damages payable to Buyer or, if Buyer so directs, to the Buyers Affiliates, in the amount which is necessary to establish the state described in such representation or warranty, including, without limitation, reasonable costs, fees, disbursements and expenses of attorneys, experts (including technical consultants and contractors), or accountants of Buyer and its Affiliates, but excluding lost profits and punitive damages.
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practicable after Buyer or any of its Affiliates, including, after the Closing Date, the TE Companies, have received any such submission, decision or order but in any event within such period as will afford Seller a reasonable opportunity to respond to such submission or to lodge a timely appeal or other challenge against such decision or order.
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provided, however, that any representation or warranty that would otherwise terminate in accordance with this Article 6.1.3 will continue to survive if a Notice of Breach has been duly and timely given under Article 6.1.2 until the related claim for misrepresentation or breach of warranty has been satisfied or resolved as provided for in Article 14.2; provided further, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyers claim (other than third party claims subject to Article 6.1.5) shall in any event be precluded unless Buyer initiates arbitration proceedings pursuant to Article 14.2.2 within twenty-four (24) months of the date of the Notice of Breach (the Preclusion Period). Such preclusion shall only become effective if Seller sixty (60) Business Days before the expiration of the Preclusion Period gives notice in writing (the Preclusion Notice) to Buyer of its imminent expiration. Any delay by Seller in giving the Preclusion Notice shall cause the Preclusion Period to be extended until the date on which the full sixty (60) Business Days, calculated from Sellers actual (delayed) Preclusion Notice, have expired.
The Parties agree to replace the statute of limitations set forth in article 210 CO by the survival periods set forth in this Article 6.1.3, it being understood that at the expiry of any such survival periods, as the case may be, extended by the Preclusion Period, any claim for misrepresentation or breach of warranty pursuant to this Article 6 shall be deemed null and void (verwirkt), without any need for defense or objection on the part of Seller.
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reasonable attorneys and other advisers and experts fees and disbursements, then:
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The provisions of Article 6.1 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to any misrepresentation or breach of warranty by Buyer.
The remedies in this Article 6 for misrepresentations and breach of warranties pursuant to Article 5 and Schedules 5.1 and 5.2 shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, the remedies provided for under statutory law and|or case law. Except for the remedies provided for in Article 9, which shall not be limited by this Article 6.3, all other remedies for misrepresentation or breach of warranty, including, but not limited to, the right to rescind this Agreement following the Closing Date, shall not apply and are hereby explicitly waived. In particular, and without limitation to the foregoing, the Parties hereto explicitly waive (i) any and all rights pursuant to articles 192 et seq. and 197 et seq. CO and any rights of similar nature, including article 97 et seq. CO, (ii) the right of contract rescission under article 205 CO, and (iii) the right to challenge the validity of this Agreement for fundamental error under article 23 et seq. CO.
Unless otherwise provided herein or as set forth in Schedule 7.1, at all times from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, Seller shall procure that the TE Business continues to be operated as a going concern, in the ordinary course and consistent with prior practice.
Subject to any constraints under applicable law, Seller shall procure that Buyer shall be given reasonable access during ordinary business hours after the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date to the management, legal and financial advisers and auditors and the documents of the TE Business, Seller and Sellers Affiliates to the extent this is reasonably required for Buyer or its advisers in the context of this Agreement and the actions contemplated hereunder.
Unless specifically provided in this Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 7.1, Seller and its Affiliates shall not, and shall procure that the TE Business (including each TE Company and, for purposes of this clause, the Excluded Plants) shall not, without prior written consent of Buyer (or, if applicable laws, in particular merger control laws, do not so permit, without prior
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consultation of Buyer) do, or agree to do, any of the following from the date of this Agreement through to the Closing Date:
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business;
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 7.3 or any other provision in this Agreement, Seller shall have the right to use cash and cash equivalents held by Panyu, Shenzhen and Qingdao, respectively, to repay any of the respective third party debt owed by such TE Companies.
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agreements (and any related side letters) entered into by Seller or its Affiliates since January 1, 2005 and prior to the date of the Agreement (all of such agency, marketing and distribution agreements being listed in Schedule 7.4.1(b) and collectively referred to herein as the Disclosed Agency Agreements).
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Compliant Agreements is not, and will not be, as of the Closing Date, in full compliance with the Relevant Compliance Rules (such agreements being referred to herein as the Designated TE Assets), (ii) a list of such Designated TE Assets, and (iii) with respect to each of the Designated TE Assets, a letter from a reputable law firm in the relevant jurisdiction providing such firms view that the Designated TE Assets fail to comply with the Relevant Compliance Rules. The Designated TE Assets shall become Excluded Assets pursuant to this Agreement and shall not be conveyed by Seller to Buyer at or after Closing. Provided that Closing occurs, any Non-Compliant Agreements (or the part relating to the TE Business) shall be terminated by Seller as promptly as reasonably possible following the Closing Date at no cost or other liability for Buyer.
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The Parties acknowledge that it may be difficult for the various Persons involved to distinguish clearly between Transferred TE Know How and other Know How retained by the Ciba Group. Seller undertakes not to, and to cause its Affiliates not to, make any claims against Buyer or any of its Affiliates based on the use by Buyer or any of its Affiliates (other than in the businesses of the Ciba Group as of the Closing Date) of any of the Ciba Groups Know How (including chemical documentation) other than the Transferred TE Know How to the extent that such Know How was available to or within the TE Business at the Closing Date or at any time before the Closing Date. Buyer undertakes not to, and to cause its Affiliates not to, make any claims against Seller or any of its Affiliates based on the use by Seller or any of its Affiliates other than in the Textile Franchise of any of the Transferred TE Know How (including TE Chemical Documentation) to the extent that such Know How was available to the Ciba Group (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the TE Business) at the Closing Date.
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receiving the TE Assets, the Transferring Employees and Assumed TE Liabilities and the subsequent integration of such assets, employees, contracts and liabilities into Buyer and|or any of its Affiliates shall be borne by Buyer, unless otherwise stated in this Agreement.
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Schedules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) with respect to each of the Ancillary Agreements for execution by the Parties, or their designated Affiliates, on the Closing Date.
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timetable for the scope and implementation of such Additional Restructuring Actions; provided, however, that Seller shall only expend costs with respect to the Additional Restructuring Actions upon the mutual written agreement of the Parties regarding the specific amount and timing of the expenditure of such costs (the Approved Restructuring Costs). If, however, the Parties do not agree on the timing and expenditure of such costs, no costs on Additional Restructuring Actions shall be expended by Seller prior to Closing and there shall be no reduction in the Restructuring Deduction. Except for the implementation of the Additional Restructuring Actions as mutually agreed between the Parties pursuant to this Article 8.5(b), it shall be agreed and understood that any restructuring actions under Shape III (other than those identified in Schedule 8.5(a)) shall, subject to the Restructuring Deduction, be the full responsibility of Buyer.
(d) During the time period between the signing of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Seller shall keep Buyer reasonably informed of all Approved Restructuring Costs paid in connection with the Additional Restructuring Actions. At least ten (10) Business days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Buyer with a written statement setting forth detailed financial information regarding the amount of Approved Restructuring Costs actually paid by the Seller, together with such supporting documentation as Buyer shall reasonably request.
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relating in any way to the Assumed TE Liabilities.
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Buyer for, all refunds and credits of all Taxes with respect to the TE Companies and the Transferred TE Assets for which Buyer is responsible under this Agreement.
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9.4.1.1 Environmental Investigations
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the Closing Date, Seller shall be exclusively responsible for such notice.
9.4.1.2 Sellers Liability for Material Existing Contamination
(a) Seller shall, subject to the terms of this Article 9.4.1.2, be liable to Buyer for the costs and expenses of the remedial actions (the Covered Remedial Actions) incurred at any time following the Closing Date, subject to Article 9.4.7, in connection with the Material Existing Contamination, if the remedial actions are required to comply with Environmental Laws as applicable and in force on or any time following the Closing Date, where either (x) governmental authorities require such remedial action, or (y) Buyer has reasonable grounds to believe, after providing notice to and considering the comments of Seller, that such remedial actions are necessary to protect the health and safety of exposed or affected persons or to prevent environmental harm prohibited by Environmental Laws.
(b) The following procedures shall apply to the Covered Remedial Actions:
(i) the Covered Remedial Actions shall (x) not establish compliance or cleanup standards beyond what is legally required under Environmental Laws applicable and in force on or any time following the Closing Date, as lawfully interpreted by the competent governmental or judicial authority, or, in the absence of clearly applicable standards, beyond what is reasonably necessary to protect the health and safety of exposed or affected persons or to prevent environmental harm prohibited by Environmental Laws; (y) be cost effective, taking into account the ongoing operation of (and operational limitations of) the affected facility; and (z) be reasonably proportional to the effects of the Material Existing Contaminations, consistent with the legal and other requirements referenced in clause (x) above;
(ii) with respect to Covered Remedial Actions, Seller and Buyer shall consult with each other in good faith and generally conduct themselves in a commercially reasonable manner and in particular comply with the following:
(1) any Covered Remedial Action to be conducted shall be commenced according to an action plan established by Buyer in accordance with any applicable Environmental Laws (the Remedial Action Plan); the Remedial Action Plan shall identify the planned measures and contain a good faith estimate of the costs to be incurred. Seller shall have the right to review and comment on such Remedial Action Plan before its implementation and to propose changes to the Remedial Action Plan or specific measures provided for therein. Buyer shall take reasonable account of Sellers comments and proposals in relation thereto;
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(2) Buyer shall give Seller the opportunity to be involved in determining the method and scope of any Covered Remedial Action; provided, however, that any such involvement shall not prevent the Covered Remedial Action from being implemented in accordance with Article 9.4.1.2(b)(i) and in compliance with the Environmental Laws applicable in the respective jurisdiction;
(3) Buyer shall give Seller reasonable opportunity, by giving reasonable prior written notice, to attend and participate in any material meetings or conference calls with the competent authorities with respect to the Covered Remedial Actions;
(4) Buyer shall provide Seller with copies of all reports, correspondence, analytical results and other relevant documentation with respect to the Covered Remedial Actions; and
(5) Buyer shall provide Seller a reasonable opportunity of at least twenty-five (25) Business Days (unless exigent circumstances otherwise require) to review and comment on drafts of any Remedial Action Plan or other material submission to governmental authorities or third parties with respect to the Covered Remedial Actions. Buyer shall take reasonable account of Sellers comments in relation thereto;
(iii) subject to the reimbursement of costs and expenses pursuant to the allocations set forth herein, Buyer shall have the right and obligation, after reasonable consultation with Seller and without prejudice to its other rights or obligations hereunder, to take such action as is reasonably necessary to respond to actual or threatened emergencies at or affecting the Identified Sites.
(c) Upon any change in use of any Identified Site of the TE Business, or divestiture by Buyer of any Identified Site or any asset related thereto to a third party (including an Affiliate of Buyer), Sellers liability under this Article 9.4.1.2 shall only continue to the extent such change or divestiture does not materially adversely affect Sellers position under this Article 9.4.1.2. To the extent of such adverse effect on Sellers position under this Article 9.4.1.2, Sellers liability hereunder relating to the Identified Site shall cease to be effective and Buyer shall indemnify Seller and each of its Affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless against, any liability resulting thereof.
(d) In no event shall Seller be liable for costs and expenses for remedial actions to the extent such actions are required by more stringent standards under the Environmental Laws as in force at the Closing Date which become applicable only as a result of a change in use of any Identified Site by Buyer or any of its Affiliates, including, as from
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the Closing Date, the TE Companies, to a use substantially different from that of the TE Business as conducted at the Closing Date.
(e) Buyer shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates, including the TE Companies, not to, conduct, authorize or suffer any testing, sampling, probing, removal, excavation, digging, plowing or other disturbance of soil or any subsurface media located at or under the Identified Sites, except (i) with the prior written approval of Seller (which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) to the extent reasonably necessary for or incidental to any construction, expansion, demolition or refurbishment works at any of the Identified Sites, (iii) to the extent reasonably necessary for or incidental to the proper operation of the TE Business, or (iv) to the extent reasonably necessary to comply with any applicable laws.
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being implemented in compliance with the Environmental Laws applicable in the respective jurisdiction;
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and the Lease End Date, shall be considered Buyer Material Existing Contamination for purposes of this Article 9.4.2. Data collected after the Lease End Date shall not be included in the Baseline Reports unless the Parties agree otherwise. The scope of the Environmental Investigations shall be determined by Seller in cooperation with Buyer, including appropriate quality assurance|quality control requirements. Factual data gathered by the Environmental Expert which meets such quality assurance|quality control requirements shall be accepted by the Parties as evidence of the condition of the respective Leased Site at the time the data was collected; provided, however, that nothing in this subparagraph (d) shall be interpreted as precluding the admission/consideration of any additional relevant and material evidence regarding Buyer Material Existing Contamination. Buyer shall, subject to the terms of this Article 9.4.2, be liable to Seller for the costs and expenses of the remedial actions incurred at any time following the Lease End Date in connection with the Buyer Material Existing Contamination, to the extent provided in the Excluded Plant Lease Agreements.
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adjacent or nearby properties, such as the Tivona project. Seller shall undertake its commercially reasonable best efforts to have this risk assessment completed prior to Closing and submitted both to Buyer and the authorities (Gesundheitsdepartement Basel-Stadt|Kontrollstelle für Chemie und Biosicherheit). The costs for the risk assessment will be shared equally between Seller and Buyer;
Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, and Buyers Affiliates, officers, agents and employees, against and from all claims, liabilities, losses and expenses suffered or incurred at any time arising from or in connection with any release, prior to the Closing Date, by or from any part of the TE Business at any location other than Identified Sites, of any Dangerous Substance into the environment. For avoidance of doubt, Sellers liability to Buyer for the
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costs and expenses of remedial actions relating to Identified Sites and Leased Sites shall be exclusively governed by Articles 9.4.1.2 and 9.4.2, respectively.
Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, as of the Closing Date, the TE Business will not be insured under any insurance policies maintained by Seller or any of its Affiliates, except (i) in the case of claims made policies (including those relating to the health, life or property of any personnel), to the extent that a claim has been reported prior to the Closing Date and relates to the TE Business and (ii) as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties. From and after the Closing Date, Seller shall have no obligation of any kind to maintain any form of insurance covering the TE Business; provided, however, that Seller shall reasonably cooperate with Buyer to permit the TE Business to have the benefit of reasonable uninterrupted insurance coverage.
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If any court, tribunal, governmental entity or other legal authority imposes any liability on either Party pursuant to Environmental Laws or Health and Safety Laws that is substantially different from the manner in which the liability is allocated between the Parties pursuant to this Article 9.4, then the Party subject to the increased liability shall be reimbursed by the other Party to the extent necessary to restore the allocation of liabilities under this Article 9.4.
Following the date of this Agreement until ten (10) Business Days after (x) the Closing Date or (y) termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 4.2.5, all public announcements or press releases issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall only be published after Buyer and Seller shall have consulted and agreed on the contents of such public announcements or press releases. Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict or prohibit:
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so long as the disclosing Party is obligated to do so in accordance with this Article, any other provision of this Agreement or applicable law).
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the instructions of Buyer. Buyer shall indemnify Seller and its Affiliates for, and hold each of them harmless against, all claims and liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, the fiduciary performance by Seller or its Affiliates arising out of or in connection with Buyers non-proper performance of the Deferred Undertakings.
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Date, Seller and Buyer shall, from and after the Closing Date, and for a period of one (1) year from the Closing Date (or such longer period as Buyer shall, in its reasonable discretion, designate) continue to cooperate and use commercially reasonable efforts to effect transfer or assignment of such Transferred TE Contract to provide Buyer or its designated Affiliates with such rights. In respect of any Transferred TE Contract, until an assignment in accordance with Article 10.3(a) or (b) to Buyer, or an Affiliate designated by Buyer, has taken place, Seller shall hold the benefit of the Transferred TE Contract for Buyer from the Closing Date and in so acting shall:
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except to the extent attributable to the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of Seller or its Affiliates and in the event of a failure of such indemnity, Seller and each of its Affiliates shall cease to be obligated under this Agreement with respect to the Transferred TE Contract which is the subject of such failure.
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performance or failure to perform, except to the extent attributable to the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of Seller or its Affiliates, and in the event of a failure of such indemnity, Seller and each of its Affiliates shall cease to be obligated under this Agreement with respect to the contract which is the subject of such failure.
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70
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required by law, and subject to the attorney-client privilege, Buyer shall procure that the TE Business shall afford Seller and its advisers reasonable access, upon prior notice during normal business hours, to such directors, officers, employees, advisers, offices, properties, agreements, records, books and affairs of the TE Business, and shall provide copies of such information, as Seller may reasonably request in connection with:
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How or other material information in the Textile Franchise; or
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver to Buyer financial statements for the TE Business for each of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 calendar years, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP (the Prior Year Financials). Such financial statements will be accompanied by an audit opinion from E&Y, such opinion to be unqualified except that it may include language to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared from separate records of the TE Business, may not reflect the assets and liabilities and the results, respectively, as if the TE Business had been operated separately, and include certain allocations made by the Ciba Group.
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(b) As soon as practicable after the Closing Date and, in any event no later than sixty (60) Business Days following the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver to Buyer unaudited financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as applied by the Ciba Group Controllers Manual, for the time period from December 31, 2005 through the Closing Date, along with financial statements with respect to TE Business for the same period in the preceding year.
(c) If Closing occurs more than sixty (60) Business Days after March 31, 2006, Seller shall deliver, at Closing, to the Buyer, unaudited financial statements with respect to the TE Business in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as applied by the Ciba Group Controllers Manual, for the three months ended March 31, 2006, along with financial statements for the same period in the preceding year. In respect of the period from March 31, 2005 through the Closing Date, subparagraph (b) above shall apply.
(d) All financial information delivered pursuant to this Article 10.12 shall meet the requirements of Regulation S-X, Section 210.3-05 of the Federal Securities Laws of the United States of America. All cost incurred in connection with the preparation and establishment of the such financial information shall be shared equally between Buyer and Seller. Seller shall undertake commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain any consent by E&Y required to use the information provided pursuant to this Article 10.12 for reporting purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the Net Working Capital and Net Debt adjustments set forth in Article 2.5, the Final Closing Balance Sheet and the Final Local Closing Balance Sheets, respectively, shall be final and binding on the Parties, regardless of whether there are any inconsistencies with any of the Prior Year Financials.
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relevant shareholders or other stakeholders to vote, in favor of an unconditional discharge to the directors and officers of each of the TE Companies in connection with their respective conduct of the business of the TE Companies in the period up to the Closing Date, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence of the director and officer concerned.
At any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, at Buyers reasonable request, Seller shall (i) execute such other instruments of sale and transfer; (ii) provide such materials and information; and (iii) take such other actions in order to effectively transfer to Buyer or its designated Affiliates, all of the TE Assets, and, to the full extent permitted by law, to put Buyer or its designated Affiliates in actual possession and operating control of the Transferred TE Assets.
Each of Buyer and Seller shall not be entitled to set-off any of its claims it may have against the other Party, or otherwise withhold the proper payment of, any amount payable under this Agreement or any agreements pursuant hereto, regardless of whether such claim has arisen under, or in connection with, this Agreement or otherwise.
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Any amount paid by Buyer pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be taken into account, with retrospective effect, in ascertaining whether the limitations set forth in Article 11(a) and (b) are exceeded. Any amount previously paid by Seller in respect of any claim which would not otherwise have been payable as a consequence of this paragraph shall be repaid immediately.
Seller shall be responsible for and will pay any VAT (or equivalent Tax) levied in connection with this Agreement, subject to the conditions below:
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TE Shares or the Transferred TE Assets are situated, in particular where such sale and transfer is regarded, for purposes of the applicable VAT legislation, as a transfer of all or part of the assets of a business as a going concern. Seller shall, if requested by Buyer, appeal any determination of the competent VAT authority that such sale and transfer is taxable if the VAT at issue exceeds CHF 100,000.
Without prejudice to Article 10.6, all registration and transfer taxes and fees, stamp duties or Taxes (including the Swiss securities transfer stamp tax (Umsatzabgabe)), notaries or governmental charges (other than VAT, goods and services Tax, sales and use Tax (or equivalent Tax)) resulting from or relating to the transfer of the TE Business and any transactions contemplated under this Agreement shall be shared equally between the Parties.
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Return and determinations to reflect reasonable comments received from Seller. No later than five (5) days prior to the due date of such Tax Return, Seller shall pay to Buyer the Taxes shown as due on such finalized Tax Return that are attributable to the period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date (reduced by the portion, if any, of such Taxes reflected in Net Working Capital and Net Debt and thus subject to the adjustments set forth in Article 2.5). Upon receipt thereof Buyer shall cause the Tax Return to be filed and the Taxes shown due on such Tax Return to be paid.
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Buyer shall have exclusive control over and responsibility to conduct any contest for any taxable period commencing on or after the Closing Date. Buyer shall not enter into any agreement in compromise or settlement of such contest, which could adversely affect any Taxes with respect to the TE Companies or the Transferred TE Assets for any period up to and including the Closing Date without the written consent of Seller. Seller shall not be liable for any portion of any settlement of any contest relating to such Taxes without their written consent.
Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, including, but not limited to Article 8.3, each Party shall bear its own costs and expenses (including advisory fees) incurred in the negotiation, preparation and completion of this Agreement.
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five (5) Business Days before the date the relevant payment is due, at 11:00 a.m. CET) + 50 basis points per annum, calculated on a 30|360 basis.
All notices or other communications to be given under or in connection with the Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be delivered by (a) personal delivery, (b) registered mail (return receipt requested), (c) a nationally recognized courier, such as Federal Express, DHL or UPS, or (d) facsimile followed by registered mail to the following addresses:
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if to Seller to: |
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. |
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with a copy to: |
Homburger Rechtsanwälte |
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and a copy to: |
Dufour
Advokatur |
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if to Buyer to: |
Huntsman International LLC |
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with a copy to: |
Huntsman International LLC |
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with a copy to: |
RM 2526 Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH,
registered AG |
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with a copy to: |
Huntsman (Europe) BUBA |
or such other address as any of the Parties may notify to the other Parties in accordance with the above.
All notices delivered in person shall be deemed to have been delivered to, and received by, the addressee and shall be effective on the date of personal delivery; notice by registered mail or courier shall be deemed effective on the date it was deposited in the mail or delivered to the courier. Notices delivered by facsimile shall be deemed delivered to, and received by, the addressee and effective on the date received.
This Agreement, including the Schedules, Annexes and any other documents referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and written agreements or understandings of the Parties relating hereto, including (without limitation) the Confidentiality Agreement dated October 4, 2005 between Seller and Huntsman Corporation. All references to this Agreement shall be deemed to include the Schedules and Annexes hereto.
This Agreement may only be modified or amended by a document signed by all Parties hereto. Any provision contained in this Agreement may only be waived by a document signed by the Party waiving such provision.
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Buyer and such Transferee against Seller following such transfer;
provided, however, that such assignment of any Sellers SAPA Obligation shall only become effective if: (x) the Buyer delivers to Seller a full and complete copy of its or its Affiliates agreement or agreements with the Transferee (including all annexes, schedules and side letters thereto), (y) the Transferee delivers to the Seller a duly executed written statement agreeing to submit, in the event of a dispute in relation to Sellers SAPA Obligations, to the dispute resolution set out in Article 14.2;
and provided further, that: (x) Sellers liability for Sellers SAPA Obligations shall not be increased or otherwise materially and adversely affected in any manner as a result of such assignment, (y) the Buyer shall not be entitled to assign Sellers SAPA Obligations herein to more than three (3) Persons, and (z) the Transferee shall not be entitled to assign any such benefit to any third Person, in both (y) and (z) without the prior written consent of Seller.
(b) Following any assignment or transfer in accordance with Article 13.5(a):
(c) Save as provided in this Article 13.5, the Parties shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any third party without the prior written consent of Seller (if the assignment is proposed to be undertaken by Buyer) or Buyer (if the assignment is proposed to be undertaken by Seller).
Should any part or provision of this Agreement be held to be invalid or unenforceable by any competent arbitral tribunal, court, governmental or administrative authority having jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain valid. In this case, the Parties shall endeavor to negotiate a substitute provision that best reflects the economic intentions of the Parties without being unenforceable, and shall execute all agreements and documents required in this connection.
Each Party hereto will neither use nor disclose, and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates, and their respective representatives and advisers to neither use
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or disclose (i) unless either (x) compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process (including, without limitation, in connection with obtaining the necessary Governmental Approvals of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby) or by other requirements of law or regulations derived therefrom or (y) such disclosure is required by the rules of any stock exchange where the shares of a Party or its Affiliates are traded, or (ii) unless disclosed in an action or proceeding brought by a Party hereto in pursuit of its rights or in the exercise of its remedies hereunder, all documents and information concerning the other Party or any of its Affiliates furnished to it by such Party or its representatives and advisers in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent that such documents or information can be shown to have been:
provided, however, that following the Closing Date the foregoing restrictions will not apply to Buyers use of documents and information concerning the TE Business furnished by Seller hereunder and all such documents and information will, for purposes of this Article 13.7, be treated, following the Closing Date, as documents and information concerning Buyer and furnished to Seller.
In the event the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, upon the request of the other Party, each Party hereto will, and will cause its Affiliates and their respective representatives and advisers to, promptly (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after such request) return or cause to be returned all copies of documents and information, including, but not limited to, (i) the Disclosure Letter and (ii) the documents and information furnished pursuant to Article 7.2, furnished by the other Party in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except for one (1) copy that may be retained by each adviser to either Party hereto for the files which they are required to keep in their capacity as professional advisers and which shall be kept strictly confidential in accordance with the terms of this Article 13.7.
At the Closing, Seller shall (A) provide Buyer true and complete copies of all confidentiality agreements that Seller or its advisers have concluded with other potential buyers of the TE Business, (B) provide Buyer a reasonably detailed summary of confidential information (relating to the TE Business) provided to bidders for the TE Business, including data site records, and (C) where permitted, assign such agreements to Buyer or an Affiliate designated by Buyer. Following the Closing, Seller shall provide Buyer all support reasonably requested
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by Buyer (at no cost to Seller and its Affiliates), in particular, but not limited to, powers of attorney and authorizations, to enforce such agreements.
Upon reasonable prior written notice to Seller, Buyer shall have the right (at its own cost) to access, with its designated representatives and during ordinary business hours, (a) Sellers and its Affiliates records and data as the Buyer may reasonably request to review the correctness of any invoice issued by the Seller or its Affiliates to Buyer or its Affiliates in relation to any Ancillary Agreement, the IT Service Agreement or Excluded Plant Lease Agreements, provided that such audit shall not unduly interfere with the conduct of the Sellers and its Affiliates business operations, or (b) Sellers and its Affiliates records and data, and the records and data of Merrill Corporation, who operated the electronic data room, as reasonably requested by Buyer in order for Buyer to fully review and audit the operation of the electronic data room, including complete details regarding the loading of documents onto such data site and the dates and nature of any amendments, substitutions or additions to documents in the electronic data room.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
The headings contained in this Agreement (including the Schedules and Annexes hereto) are for reference purposes only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provision hereof.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Switzerland (excluding the Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods, dated April 11, 1980).
86
In case of a dispute arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement (or subsequent amendment thereof), and prior to commencing any arbitration proceedings, the Parties shall enter into settlement discussions involving the Chief Executive Officer on each of Sellers and Buyers side. If any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement is not settled by the Parties respective Chief Executive Officers within fifteen (15) Business Days of the matter in dispute being referred to them, then the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Article 14.2.1.
87
In witness whereof, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers in duplicate as of this day of February, 2006 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. |
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/s/ Michael Jacobi |
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/s/ Thomas Koch |
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Michael Jacobi |
Thomas Koch |
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Chief Financial Officer |
Head Group Services Law & |
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Huntsman International LLC |
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/s/ Peter Huntsman |
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Peter Huntsman |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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RM 2526 Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH |
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/s/ Paul G. Hulme |
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Paul G. Hulme |
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Geschäftsführer |
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88
Definitions
As used in this Agreement in capitalized form, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
Additional Restructuring Actions shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.5(b).
Adjustment Date shall mean the Closing Date or, if the Closing Date does not fall on the last day of a month, then the Adjustment Date shall mean the last day of the month in which the Closing occurs.
Affiliate shall mean with respect to a Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person. Control shall be deemed to exist if a Person (either alone or together with its Affiliates) owns more than half of the voting rights or equity capital of a Person, or is otherwise able to exercise a controlling influence over another Person; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, Matlin Patterson Global Opportunity LP (and any other entity managed by Matlin Patterson Gobal Advisors LLC) shall not be considered an Affiliate of the Buyer.
Agreement shall mean this Share and Asset Purchase Agreement, including all Schedules, Annexes and related documents hereto.
Allowances shall mean any offering, promising or giving of any undue pecuniary or other advantage, whether directly or through intermediaries, to a public official or any other person who owns, directs or works for private sector entities, for that official, that third party or anyone else, in order to obtain or retain (x) business (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the granting of any lawful and proper rebates, discounts and similar price concessions) or (y) improper advantage in the conduct of business, or (ii) relating to tax evasion as applicable to matters described in clause (i).
Ancillary Agreements shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.4(b).
Applicable U.S. Laws shall mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States, as amended.
Appraiser shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(d).
Approved Restructuring Costs shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.5(b).
Asset Seller Companies shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a).
1
Assumed TE Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.2(a).
Basel Site shall mean the buildings, structures and improvements, including the fixtures contained in such buildings, structures and improvements and the appurtenances relating thereto, being transferred to Buyer under Article 2.2.1(a)(viii) and specified in Schedule 2.2.1(a)(viii).
Baseline Report shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.1(a).
Business Day shall mean a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or any other day on which the commercial banks in Basel, Zurich and Salt Lake City are not open for general business.
Buyer shall mean the legal entity designated as Buyer on the cover page to this Agreement.
Cap shall have the meaning set forth in Article 11(b).
Carve-out Book shall mean the document attached hereto as Schedule 8.1(a).
CC shall mean the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB), as amended.
CHF shall mean Swiss francs, being the lawful currency of Switzerland.
Ciba Ancillary Agreements shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.4(b).
Ciba Group Controllers Manual shall mean the document attached hereto as Schedule 2.5.1(b)(2).
Ciba Group shall mean the Seller and all of its Affiliates.
CIBA Trademarks shall mean all Trademarks containing the term CIBA, including the Trademarks listed in Schedule 2.3.2(b).
Closing shall mean the consummation of the closing actions set forth in Article 4.3.
Closing Balance Sheet shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(a)(i).
Closing Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.1(a).
CO shall mean the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), as amended.
2
Compliance Actions shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.2(d).
Covered Remedial Actions shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.2(a) and shall include monitoring and related investigative activities as well as corrective actions.
Dangerous Substances shall mean any substance or material, whether in solid, gas, liquid or any other form, the deposition or emission of which into the ground, water or air is prohibited by, or subject to remediation under, Environmental Laws.
Data Site shall have the meaning set forth in Section 27 of Schedule 5.1.
Designated TE Assets shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.2(c).
Designated Employees shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.2(c).
De Minimis Amount shall have the meaning set forth in Article 11(a).
Deductible Amount shall have the meaning set forth in Article 11(a).
Deferred Undertaking shall have the meaning set forth in Article 10.2(c).
Disclosed Agency Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.1(b).
Disclosure Letter shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.4.
Distribution Laws shall mean any laws and regulations restricting or prohibiting Allowances.
E&Y shall mean Ernst & Young Ltd., 8000 Zurich, Switzerland.
Employment Litigation shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16 of Schedule 5.1.
Environmental Expert shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.1(a).
Environmental Investigations shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.1(a).
Environmental Laws shall have the meaning set forth in Section 20(a) of Schedule 5.1.
Environmental Licenses shall have the meaning set forth in Section 20(c) of Schedule 5.1.
Excess Use shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.3(d).
3
Excluded Assets shall mean the assets enumerated in Article 2.2.1(b).
Excluded Contracts shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(b)(xiv).
Excluded Domain Names shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(b)(iii).
Excluded Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.2(b).
Excluded Patents shall have the meaning set forth in 2.2.1(b)(ii).
Excluded Plant Lease Agreements shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.4(c).
Excluded Plants shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(b)(ix).
Excluded Trademarks shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(b)(i).
Expanded TE Franchise shall mean (i) the Textile Franchise and (ii) any other post-extrusion processing techniques or technologies other than detergents and laundry applications that are applied onto natural or synthetic Fabrics by an original manufacturer.
Fabrics shall mean any kind of woven, non-woven, foamed, elastomeric, knitted (as in macramé), knotted or tufted material, any hybrid thereof, including fibres, filaments, yarns and composites of more than one material, natural and manufactured, and products for which such textiles are principal raw materials including but not limited to threads, cords, ropes, braids, drapable materials, organized and disorganized fibres, woven, non-woven and knitted fabrics, lace, nets and embroidery; hosiery, knitwear and made-up apparel; household textiles, soft furnishings and upholstery; carpets and other floor coverings; membranes and filter membranes, leather and synthetic leather.
Facilities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 18(a) of Schedule 5.1.
Fairly Disclosed shall mean a disclosure of fact in the Disclosure Letter disclosed in the manner required by the Disclosure Letter and which allowed Buyer and its advisers to reasonably identify and assess the specific impact of such fact on (i) any representation or warranty of Seller, and (ii) the business operations and prospects of the TE Business.
Filings shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.1(a).
Final Closing Balance Sheet shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(a)(i).
4
Final Local Closing Balance Sheet shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.6(e)(i).
Freely Available Cash and Cash Equivalents shall mean all foreign cash and foreign cash equivalents held in foreign jurisdictions that (i) is freely and immediately available for repatriation, (ii) is not subject to exchange controls enforced by local authorities, and (iii) is not otherwise restricted in being transferred to affiliated companies whether or not as a repayment of debt, a dividend, a return of capital or some form of payment. For the avoidance of doubt, Freely Available Cash and Cash Equivalents does not include any foreign cash or foreign cash equivalents held by Panyu, Shenzhen or Qingdao in excess of the amounts indicated in Schedule 2.5.1(a), section B, footnote 1.
Governmental Approvals shall have the meaning set forth Article 4.2.1(a).
Governmental Authorizations shall mean any consent, license, registration, authorization or permit issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any governmental or regulatory body or pursuant to applicable law.
Health and Safety Laws shall mean all laws and regulations applicable at the relevant time for the protection of the health and safety of the workforce of the TE Business employed at the production sites of the TE Business.
HF Site shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.3(b).
High Level Implementation Plan shall mean the document attached hereto in Schedule 8.1(a).
Huntsman shall have the meaning set forth on the cover page to this Agreement.
Huntsman Germany shall have the meaning set forth on the cover page to this Agreement.
ICC shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(d).
Identified Sites shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.1(a).
Indemnified Claim shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.5.
Indemnified Tax Claim shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.3(e).
Intellectual Property Rights shall mean Patents, Trademarks, copyrights, design rights, rights in databases, domain names and other intellectual property rights (but excluding
5
Know How), whether registered or not.
Inventory shall mean raw materials, in process materials and finished products.
IT Service Agreement shall mean the document attached hereto as Schedule 8.3(b).
Key Assets shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.2(d).
Key Persons shall mean each of the members of the Executive Committee of Seller and the following individuals: All members of the Board of Directors of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc., Brendan Cummins, Michael Jacobi, Niklaus Meier, Martin Riediker, Eric Marohn, Thomas Koch, Reiner Löffler, Steffen Mezger, Andreas Missy, Daniel Petitpierre, Dorothea Seckler, Peter Otto, Davor Bedekovic, Steven Gray, Rune Jervidalo, Kent Kvaal, William Yau, Michael Effing, Kurt Huber, Günter Fritz, Anton Lindner, Leslie Currie, Mark Wright, Peter Kroepfli, Wilhelm Inderbitzin, Mark Mapp, Andreas Weber, Marc Deschamps, Robin Price, Thomas Jakopp, Michele Perregaux Bucher, Dieter W. Grieshaber, Roland Stoerr.
Know How shall mean proprietary or confidential information technology, data, trade secrets, methods or procedures of technical nature.
KPMG shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(d).
Lease End Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.2(d).
Leased Sites shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.2.
Licensed Patent shall mean any Patent licensed under this Agreement by Seller to Buyer or by Buyer to Seller.
Licensee shall mean any Party being granted a license by the other Party under this Agreement.
Licensor shall mean any Party granting a license to the other Party under this Agreement.
Lien shall mean any lien, charge, mortgage, encumbrance, security interest or other third party right (whether in rem or in personam), irrespective of whether such Lien arises under any agreement, covenant, other instrument, the mere operation of statutory or other laws or by means of a judgment, order or decree of any court, judicial or administrative authority, and shall also mean any approval or consent required from a third party to the exercise or full vesting of a right or title by or in Buyer or its designated Affiliates.
6
Litigation shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15 of Schedule 5.1.
Local Adjustment Date shall mean the Local Closing Date or, if the Local Closing Date does not occur on the last day of a month, then the Local Adjustment Date shall mean the last day of the month in which the Closing occurs.
Local Closing shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.6(a).
Local Closing Balance Sheet shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.6(e)(i).
Local Closing Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.6(a). Where this Agreement refers to Closing Date only, this shall mean, with respect to those TE Assets, Transferring Employees and the Assumed TE Liabilities in respect of which Closing has been deferred and where the context so requires, Local Closing Date.
Long Stop Date shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.1.
Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred where:
(i) a change in the assets, liabilities or financial position of the TE Business has occurred which fundamentally and lastingly impairs the value of the TE Business taken as a whole; and
(ii) the Parties did not and could not reasonably be expected to have taken into account such change at the date of this Agreement; and
(iii) it would be unconscionable in light of all circumstances, including the adjustments under Article 2.5, for the Parties to continue to be bound by this Agreement;
provided, however, that the following shall not be deemed a Material Adverse Effect:
(A) a change that results from conditions generally affecting the world economy;
(B) a change that results from conditions generally affecting the chemical industry, the textile industry or the securities markets;
(C) a change that results from currency exchange rate developments;
(D) a change that results from the announcement or the pendency of this Agreement;
(E) a change that results directly from actions taken by a Party in connection with
7
satisfying its obligations hereunder; or
(F) a change that results from facts and circumstances Fairly Disclosed in the Disclosure Letter.
Material Contamination shall mean any contamination at an Identified Site with Dangerous Substances that is equal to or exceeds applicable contamination limits as defined by applicable Environmental Laws authorizing the competent authorities to order further investigations of, or cleanings at, the Identified Site.
Material Contracts shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13 of Schedule 5.1.
Material Existing Contamination shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.1(a).
Material Third Party Consents shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.2.1(a).
Materiality Condition shall mean that Seller can transfer to Buyer control over assets (including assignment or grant to Buyer of all permits and licences required for ownership or operation of such assets) that (i) represent at least 80 % percent of (i) all assets (other than the Key Assets) reflected in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets and (ii) generate at least 80 % percent of the gross revenues of all assets (other than the Key Assets). For purposes of determining of whether control within the meaning of the preceding sentence has been transferred, any transitional services or any licensing scheme under the TE Ancillary Agreements shall be taken into account. With respect to distribution services, Seller shall be required to render such services if either the regulatory licenses necessary to operate the TE Business in the respective country have not been transferred or obtained and no interim licenses have been granted or IT separation as contemplated in Schedule 8.1(a) has not been effected. Seller shall be required to provide such financial information to Buyer as Buyer may reasonably request in order for Buyer to be able to verify that the Materiality Condition has been satisfied.
Monthly Financials shall have the meaning set forth in Article 3.4.
Net Debt shall mean the aggregate of Freely Available Cash and Cash Equivalents and the financial liabilities line items with respect to the TE Companies, including any unfunded pension plan and post retirement liabilities of the Transferring Employees, all set forth in Schedule 2.5.1(a).
Net Working Capital shall mean the aggregate of the current assets and current liabilities line items (excluding any tax liabilities or assets), all set forth in Schedule 2.5.1(a).
8
New Agency Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.2(a).
Non-Compliant Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.2(a).
Notice of Breach shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.2(a).
Notice of Disagreement shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.5.1(c).
Panyu shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(ii).
Party or Parties shall have the meaning set forth on the cover page to this Agreement.
Patents shall mean all issued or reissued patents and pending applications in all jurisdictions, together with any renewals, extensions, corrections, substitutions, re-registrations, re-examinations, continuations, continuations-in-part or divisional applications and any patents issuing thereon.
Permitted Lien shall mean (i) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law and Liens for Taxes with respect to an obligation or liability that is not yet due or delinquent and that may thereafter be paid without penalty, (iii) any minor imperfection of title or similar Lien or encumbrance which could not reasonably be expected to have a material effect, (iv) any Lien created pursuant to any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations under which are capitalized on the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets, and (v) any Lien created to secure purchase money indebtedness that is an Assumed TE Liability.
Person shall mean any natural person, corporation, general or limited partnership, business trust, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization doing business, a government or any department or agency thereof, a joint venture or any other person or entity doing business.
Pfersee shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(i).
Policies shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14 of Schedule 5.1.
Pre-Closing Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.2(b).
Pre-Closing Liability Amount shall mean the sum of all amounts up to CHF 15,000,000 owed by Seller to Buyer or its Affiliates attributable to claims for misrepresentation or breach of warranties reflected in the update to the Disclosure Letter.
9
Preclusion Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.3.
Preclusion Period shall have the meaning set forth in Article 6.1.3.
Preliminary Consideration shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.4(b).
Prior Year Financials shall have the meaning set forth in Article 10.12(a).
Protected Activity shall have the meaning set forth in Article 10.11(a).
Purchase Price shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.4(a).
Qingdao shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(iv).
Relevant Compliance Rules shall have the meaning set forth in Article 7.4.1(a).
Relevant Rules shall mean any Distribution Laws .
Remedial Action Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.1.2(b)(ii)(1).
Restructuring Deduction shall mean CHF 42,000,000 minus any Approved Restructuring Costs to the extent such Approved Restructuring Costs are (i) approved by the Buyer and (ii) actually paid by Seller in implementation of Additional Restructuring Actions after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date in accordance with Article 8.5.
Retained Shape Costs shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.5(a).
Retained Tax Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.3(a).
Risk Management Actions shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9.4.3(c).
Seller shall mean the legal entity designated as Seller on the cover page to this Agreement.
Sellers SAPA Obligation shall have the meaning set forth in Article 13.5(a).
Shape I and II shall mean the restructuring programs initiated in 2004 and 2005, respectively, relating to the TE Business and other businesses of the Seller, as and to the extent identified in Schedule 8.5(a).
Shape III shall mean the restructuring program described in the TE Business Plan, as and to the extent identified in Schedule 8.5(a).
10
Share Seller Companies shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a).
Shared Patents shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.3.1(a).
Shenzhen shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(iii).
Swathi shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(v).
Tangible Property shall mean all furniture, furnishings, fixtures, equipment (including motor vehicles), computers, office equipment and appurtenances, tools, machinery and supplies.
Tax Return(s) shall mean all declarations that, with respect to the TE Business, are required to be filed in respect of Taxes.
Taxes shall mean all tax liabilities, including income taxes (personal or corporate), capital taxes, stamp duties (both on the issuance and on the transfer of securities), withholding taxes, value added taxes, sales and use tax, goods and services taxes, customs duties, business taxes, capital gains taxes, property taxes, real estate taxes, transfer taxes and all other taxes, duties, levies, fees and charges payable to any competent taxing authority in any jurisdiction, as well as any interest, penalties, costs and expenses resulting from or arising out therefrom or relating thereto.
TE shall mean Textile effects.
TE Ancillary Agreements shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8.4(a).
TE Assets shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a).
TE Business shall have the meaning set forth in Recital (A).
TE Business Plan shall mean the business plan of the TE Business set forth in Schedule 7.3(t).
TE Chemical Documentation shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(xi).
TE Companies shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.1(a)(v).
TE Companies Patents shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) of Schedule 5.1.
TE Companies Real Property shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b) of Schedule 5.1.
11
TE Companies Tangible Property shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9 of Schedule 5.1.
TE Companies Trademarks shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) of Schedule 5.1.
TE Employee Benefit Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 22 of Schedule 5.1.
TE Income and Expense Statement shall mean the unaudited, pro-forma TE income and expense statement, covering the period from January 1, 2005, ending on September 30, 2005, attached hereto as Schedule A, as adjusted to reflect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
TE Intellectual Property Rights shall mean all of the Transferred TE Trademarks, the Transferred TE Patents, the Transferred TE Domain Names, the Transferred TE Know How, the TE Companies Trademarks, the TE Companies Patents, the TE Know How and the Shared Patents.
TE Financial Records shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(xiv).
TE Key Personnel shall mean the employees of the TE Business set forth in Annex 5.1.12.
TE Know How shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) of Schedule 5.1.
TE Patents shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) of Schedule 5.1.
TE Segment shall mean the Ciba Groups textile effects segment as such segment is presented in the Ciba Group Annual Report 2005.
TE Shares shall mean the shares of the TE Companies held by the Share Seller Companies identified in Schedule 2.1.
TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets shall mean the audited consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of the TE Business as at September 30, 2005, attached hereto as Schedule A.
TE Trademarks shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) of Schedule 5.1.
Textile Franchise shall mean (i) any post-extrusion processing techniques or technologies that are applied onto a natural or synthetic Textile fibre by an original manufacturer for use in any Textile application, and (ii) the post-extrusion topical treatment of non-woven materials using techniques, dyes and chemicals previously applied to Textiles (but excluding, for the
12
avoidance of doubt, the treatment of non-drapable applications of wood, paper and pulp); and (iii) MAXILON® and UVITEX® products and the aqueous application thereof; provided, however, that (x) detergents and laundry applications; and (y) pre-extrusion processing techniques or technologies other than those using MAXILON® or UVITEX® products, shall be excluded from (i), (ii) and (iii).
Textile shall mean any kind of woven, knitted, knotted (as in macramé) or tufted material, including fibres, filaments and yarns, natural and manufactured, and products for which such textiles are principal raw materials, including, but not limited to, threads, cords, ropes and braids; woven, knitted fabrics for the applications listed, lace, nets, and embroidery; hosiery, knitwear and made-up apparel; household textiles, soft furnishings and upholstery; carpets and other floor coverings.
Trademarks shall mean trade names, business names, trade dress rights, registered and unregistered trademarks and service marks and logos, and any applications therefor, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations and like intellectual property rights.
Transfer Documents shall have the meaning set forth in Article 4.3.3(b).
Transferee shall have the meaning set forth in Article 13.5(a).
Transferred TE Assets shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a).
Transferred TE Contracts shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(xv).
Transferred TE Domain Names shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(iii).
Transferred TE Governmental Authorizations shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(x).
Transferred TE Know How shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(v).
Transferred TE Leases shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(viii).
Transferred TE Marketing and Promotional Documents shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(vi).
Transferred TE Patents shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(ii).
Transferred TE Product Registrations shall have the meaning set forth in
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Article 2.2.1(a)(iv).
Transferred TE Real Property shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(vii).
Transferred TE Tangible Property shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(ix).
Transferred TE Trademarks shall have the meaning set forth in Article 2.2.1(a)(i).
Transferring Employees shall have the meaning set forth in Schedule 10.9.
Transition Period shall mean twelve (12) months following the Closing Date, plus such additional time as Seller may reasonably approve at the request of Buyer.
Undertakings shall have the meaning set forth in Article 10.2(a).
U.S. GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States of America.
VAT shall mean Value Added Tax.
14
Share Seller Companies
Company Name |
|
Country |
|
Shareholder |
|
Holding1 |
|
Ciba Spezialitätenchemie Pfersee GmbH |
|
Germany |
|
Ciba Spezialitätenchemie Holding Deutschland GmbH |
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guangdong Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. |
|
China |
|
Ciba Specialty Chemicals (China) Ltd. |
|
70 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc. |
|
25 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shenzhen Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. |
|
China |
|
Ciba Specialty Chemicals (China) Ltd. |
|
85 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qingdao Ciba Dyes Co., Ltd. |
|
China |
|
Ciba Specialty Chemicals (China) Ltd. Ciba Specialty Inc. |
|
84 10 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swathi Organics & Specialties Private Limited |
|
India |
|
Ciba Specialty Chemicals (India) Limited |
|
21.89 |
% |
15
A. Net Working Capital
Net Working Capital shall consist of the balance sheet items set forth below:
Account |
|
Account Description |
|
Amount as per |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
||
100030 |
|
Accounts receivables trade 3rd pty |
|
|
|
339 133 |
|
100040 |
|
Provisions for bad debts / doubtful accounts |
|
|
|
-37 022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
plus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories |
|
|
|
|
|
||
100080 |
|
Inventories Raw material |
|
48 329 |
|
|
|
100090 |
|
Inventories Work in Progress and Finish Goods |
|
277 110 |
|
|
|
100100 |
|
Provisions for slow mowing inventories |
|
|
|
-11 156 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
plus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
||
100110 |
|
Other current assets 3rd pty |
|
|
|
21 835 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
|
|
|
||
100540 |
|
Accounts payable trade 3rd pty |
|
|
|
111 182 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
||
100600 |
|
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
46 165 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
equals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Working Capital |
|
|
|
480 882 |
|
Notwithstanding the above, Net Working Capital shall not include any (a) Excluded Liabilities and (b) any provisions and reserves in relation to Excluded Liabilities.
16
B. Net Debt
Net Debt consists of the following balance sheet items set forth below:
Account |
|
Account Description |
|
Amount as per |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short term debts |
|
|
|
||
100510 |
|
Bank and short term debt 3rd pty |
|
12 295 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
plus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
unfunded pension plan, post employment & retirement liabilities |
|
|
|
||
(out of account 100750 Other long term liabilities) |
|
|
|
||
190100.4820 |
|
Pension reserves * |
|
55 256 |
|
190100.4830 |
|
other post retirement benefits |
|
6 116 |
|
190100.4831 |
|
other post employment benefits |
|
2 341 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
|
|
|
100010 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents** |
|
873(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
equals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Debt |
|
75 135 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
* Breakdown by Group Company |
|
|
|
||
462 |
|
Ciba Pfersee |
|
47 698 |
|
550 |
|
Ciba Holding Germany |
|
1 786 |
|
471 |
|
Ciba Lampertheim |
|
1 406 |
|
305 |
|
Ciba Grenzach |
|
194 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Countries |
|
|
|
4 172 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
Pension reserves of unfunded pension plans |
|
55 256 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
** Breakdown by Group Company |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
401 |
|
Guangdong Ciba |
|
160 |
|
411 |
|
Shenzhen Ciba Specialty Chemicals |
|
160 |
|
415 |
|
Quigdao Ciba Dyes |
|
480 |
|
462 |
|
Pfersee |
|
73 |
|
Notwithstanding the above, Net Debt shall not include any (a) Excluded Liabilities and (b) any provisions and reserves in relation to Excluded Liabilities.
(1) Cash shall include a maximum of RMB 1 million for Guangdong Ciba, RMB 1 million for Shenzhen and RMB 3 million for Qingdao Ciba Dyes
1
Sellers Representations and Warranties
Subject to the limitations set forth in the Agreement, Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date and, where applicable, and at and as of each subsequent Local Closing Date with respect to the subject matter of each such Local Closing, the matters set forth below. Where any statement in the following representations and warranties is qualified by the expression «to the best of Sellers knowledge», «so far as the Seller is aware» or any similar expression, the Seller shall be deemed to have knowledge of anything of which any of the Key Persons has knowledge, or ought reasonably to have knowledge, given their particular position and responsibilities.
1. Organization and Qualification
(f) There is no commitment to give or create any Liens over the TE Shares, and, to Sellers best knowledge, no person has claimed to be entitled to any Liens over such shares. The execution of this Agreement will not result in a third party being entitled to create or acquire a Lien on the TE Shares (but excluding any third party rights arising as a result of any of Buyers or its Affiliates arrangements other than this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereunder).
(g) The copies of the constitutional and corporate documents of the TE Companies which have been given to the Buyer or its advisers, all as set forth in Annex 5.1.1(g), are true and accurate and complete in all respects and have annexed to or incorporated in them copies of all resolutions or agreements required by applicable law to be so annexed or incorporated.
(h) All statutory books and registers, including the register of members, of the TE Companies have been properly kept and no notice or allegation in writing that any of them is incorrect or should be rectified in any material aspect has been received by Seller or its Affiliates.
2. Financial Statements
(a) The audited TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets, in accordance with, and subject to, the notes (including note 1) and explanations set forth therein, fairly presents in all material respects and in accordance with U.S. GAAP and gives a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities of the TE Business as at the date thereof, based on the method of presentation described therein.
(b) There are no liabilities (actual or contingent) attributable to the TE Business (such business as of September 30, 2005, based on the method of presentation described in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets) of the type required to be reflected as liabilities on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP other than the liabilities which are reflected on the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets, in accordance with the notes (including note 1) and explanations set forth therein, or which are incurred in the ordinary course of business since September 30, 2005.
(c) The rules and principles of the Ciba Group Controllers Manual are in conformity with U.S. GAAP.
(d) The TE Income and Expense Statement for the period ending September 30, 2005, has been compiled based on reasonable estimates and assumptions derived from the Ciba Groups consolidated financial management information (as opposed to a bottom-
1
up collection of a country- and/or site specific-financial data), and, on this basis, materially reflects, on an EBIT-level, at cost and prior to stand-alone adjustments, the effects on the TE Business (for the period ending September 30, 2005, based on the method of presentation described in the TE Income and Expense Statement) of all assets, liabilities and employees to be transferred under the Agreement as well as the effects of intra-group tolling agreements, supply and service agreements to be concluded between units of such TE Business and units of the remainder of the Ciba Group.
(e) The Prior Year Financials to be delivered to Buyer by Seller in accordance with Article 10.12(a) are consistent, in all material respects, with the financial information of the TE Segment set forth in Annex 5.1.2(e), such financial information provided by Seller to Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement. For purposes of evaluating such consistency, account shall be taken of, (i) the method of presentation and the assumptions used for the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets and the TE Income and Expense Statement for the period ending September 30, 2005 and (ii) any of the additional adjustments to be made to properly reflect the scope, the nature and the assumptions of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, which adjustments may include (without limitation):
(A) any changes to the transaction structure (e.g., an asset instead of a share transfer);
(B) any changes to the assets being transferred to Buyer (e.g., excluding the Excluded Plants or any assets relating thereto, or extension from an exclusively to a primarily-concept);
(C) any changes to the Tangible Property;
(D) any changes in assumptions for pension and benefit plans;
(E) any changes in the definition of Net Working Capital and Net Debt not reflected in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets;
(F) any impact on standard product cost (e.g., depreciation) a consequence of the impairment recorded as per December 31, 2005 of the TE Segments long-lived assets and goodwill;
(G) any changes to tolling, supply and other Ancillary Agreements and the IT Service Agreement; or
2
(H) any changes in assumptions used and final headcount and cost of Group Services employees and services to be transferred to the Buyer as a result of the individual selection at Closing in lieu of the average assumptions used in the TE Income and Expense Statement.
(f) Since August 30, 2005, the Seller and its Affiliates have not prepared in respect of the TE Business any revised financial forecast or budget for the 2006 fiscal year.
3. Events Subsequent to the Date of the Transaction Financials
Since September 30, 2005, except for matters that would be permitted in accordance with Article 7 of this Agreement:
(a) there has not occurred any matter, fact or circumstance which has had, and no contract or arrangement has been entered into by Seller or its Affiliates in respect of the TE Business which has had or which Seller has reason to believe will have, within a reasonably foreseeable time period after the Closing Date, a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) subject to the restructuring actions under Shape I, II, and III, as identified in Schedule 8.5(a), the Additional Restructuring Actions and performance of all other obligations of Seller under this Agreement, Seller has carried out the TE Business in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prior practice; and
(c) there has not been any material increase in the salary, benefits or other compensation payable by the TE Business to any of the directors, officers or employees of the TE Business other than in accordance with agreements existing on such date.
4. Due Authorization
Seller has the power and authority to execute this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting the rights of creditors.
5. No Conflict | Consents
(a) The execution of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not, (i) violate or conflict with the provisions of the respective certificates of incorporation, by-laws or equivalent constitutional documents of Seller, the Share Seller Companies or the Asset Seller Companies, (ii) result in a breach or violation by Seller, the Share Seller Companies or the Asset Seller
3
Companies of any law or regulation or any other restriction of any kind by which the Seller, the Share Seller Companies, the TE Companies or the Asset Seller Companies is bound, or (iii) constitute a default under or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of, or to a loss of any benefit under, any contract relating to the TE Business or any license, permit or similar authorization relating to the TE Business.
(b) Seller and its Affiliates do not require any authorizations, permits or consents from any governmental or administrative authority, or any third party (including, without limitation, any shareholders or creditors of Seller) for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Transferred TE Governmental Approvals.
6. Taxes
(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed prior to the Closing Date by or with respect to Taxes payable by or reimbursable to the TE Companies have been timely filed. All such Tax Returns have been prepared in the manner required by applicable law and are complete and accurate in all material respects.
(b) Each TE Company has duly and punctually paid all Taxes which are or have at any time been required to be paid and has not at any time been liable to pay any penalty or interest in connection with any Taxes.
(c) No claims, assessments, deficiencies or adjustments relating to Taxes have been asserted against the TE Companies or with respect to the Transferred TE Assets. There are no extensions of the limitations period with respect to the assessment or collection of any Taxes of the TE Companies or relating to the Transferred TE Assets.
(d) None of the TE Companies is a party to any indemnity agreement, allocation agreement, sharing agreement or similar arrangement with respect to Taxes, and none of the TE Companies is liable for Taxes of any other Person as a transferee or successor, by reason of membership of the same group of companies, by contract or otherwise. The profit and loss pooling agreement and the domination agreement to which Pfersee is a party has been or will be terminated prior to the Closing Date and except for obligations reflected in Net Working Capital and Net Debt and thus subject to the adjustments set forth in Article 2.5, Pfersee has or will have no obligation to make any payment under such agreements following the Closing. There are no other profit and loss pooling agreements, or similar agreements, affecting any of the TE Companies.
4
(e) Except as set forth in the notes thereto and the explanations therein, as required by U.S. GAAP, the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets properly reflects in all material respects all liabilities for Taxes arising in respect of the TE Business (such business as of September 30, 2005, based on the method of presentation described in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets) for all periods ending on or before the date thereof.
(f) Each of the TE Companies has collected or withheld all amounts required to be collected or withheld by it for any Taxes.
7. Assets
The Asset Seller Companies have good and marketable title to, or a valid and transferable lease for, as the case may be, all Transferred TE Assets free and clear of all Liens or agreements to create Liens (except the Permitted Liens). Subject to the goods and|or services to be provided by Seller or its designated Affiliates under the terms and conditions of the TE Ancillary Agreements and the IT Service Agreement, the Transferred TE Assets comprise all of the properties, assets, and facilities required for the conduct of the TE Business substantially in the manner in which it is currently conducted.
8. Real Property
(a) Schedule 2.2.1(a)(vii) and Schedule 2.2.1(a)(viii) each set out a list of the Transferred TE Real Property and the Transferred TE Leases, respectively. Each of the Persons set forth in Annex 5.1.8(a) is the full legal and beneficial owner of, is in exclusive occupation, except as contemplated in the Ancillary Agreements, of and has good and marketable title to the Transferred TE Real Property listed under its name. Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc. is the full legal and beneficial owner of the property that is the subject of the Basel Ground Lease Agreement (the Basel Lease Property), subject to the rights granted to Buyer or its Affiliates pursuant to the Basel Ground Lease Agreement.
(b) The TE Companies are the full legal and beneficial owners of, are in exclusive occupation, except as contemplated in the Ancillary Agreements, of and have good and marketable title to the real property used or required for the purposes of their business as presently conducted, including as set forth in Annex 5.1.8(b), (the TE Companies Real Property).
(c) The TE Business is duly authorised to operate at the Transferred TE Real Property the TE Companies Real Property and the Basel Lease Property pursuant to applicable planning and zoning regulations.
5
(d) Seller or its Affiliates, in relation to the TE Business, has or have a right to use all roads and conducting media at, to or from each of the Transferred TE Real Property, the Leased TE Real Property, the TE Companies Real Property and the Basel Lease Property and neither Seller nor its Affiliates has or have knowledge of an imminent or likely interruption of this right.
(e) All buildings and other structures on the Transferred TE Real Property on the TE Companies Real Property or on the Basel Lease Property are in good repair and condition and are substantially fit for the purpose for which they are used at present and Seller, the TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies have not received any written notice or order by the competent authority affecting any such real property which has or might reasonably be expected to have any consequence materially adverse to the present use of such real property.
(f) The Transferred TE Real Property, the TE Companies Real Property and Basel Lease Property are not subject to any Liens or agreements to create Liens, except the Permitted Liens.
(g) No business or operation other than the TE Business is conducted on or at the Transferred TE Real Property, the TE Companies Real Property or the Basel Lease Property.
9. Tangible Property
The Asset Seller Companies have good title to, or a valid and transferable lease for, the Transferred TE Tangible Property, and the TE Companies have good title to, or a valid lease for, the Tangible Property set forth in Annex 5.1.9 (the TE Companies Tangible Property), in either case all as reflected in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets; all such tangible property is in good working order (fair wear and tear excepted), has been properly maintained in accordance with normal practice, is safe to operate in accordance with their current practice, subject to continued repair and replacement in accordance with past practices, and is not subject to any Liens or agreements to create Liens (in either case other than the Permitted Liens).
10. Inventory
All Inventory of the TE Business consists of a quality and quantity usable and saleable in the ordinary course of business, except for obsolete items and items of below-standard quality, all of which, with the exception of materials and supplies held for the purpose of production, have been written off or written down to net realizable value in the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets, the Final Closing Balance Sheet or the Final Local Closing Balance Sheet(s), as the case may be.
6
11. Intellectual Property Rights
(a) The TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies are the legal and beneficial owners of, or have a royalty-free license to use (within the terms of such license), or have otherwise the right to use, all Know How reasonably necessary for the conduct of the TE Business (the TE Know How); it being understood that Seller, under this Section 11(a) of Schedule 5.1, only represents to the use of any such Know How as it is being used in the TE Business as at the date of this Agreement.
(b) The TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies are the legal and beneficial owners of, or have a royalty-free license to use (within the terms of such license), respectively, all the Trademarks set forth in Annex 5.1.11(b)(1) (the TE Companies Trademarks) and the Transferred TE Trademarks (together with the TE Companies Trademarks, the TE Trademarks); provided, however, that Buyer acknowledges that such Trademarks are subject to the prior right agreements set forth in Annex 5.1.11(b)(2). Buyer acknowledges that the CIBA Trademarks are not fully owned by Seller and that Seller has only the limited rights to sublicense such CIBA Trademarks as provided in Article 2.3.
(c) The TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies are the legal and beneficial owners of, or have a royalty-free license to use (within the terms of such license), respectively, the Patents set forth in Annex 5.1.11(c) (the TE Companies Patents) and the Transferred TE Patents (together with the TE Companies Patents, the TE Patents); it being understood that Seller, under this Section 11(c) of Schedule 5.1, only represents to the use of any such Patent as it is being used in the TE Business as at the date of this Agreement.
(d) With respect to Intellectual Property Rights, the TE Intellectual Property Rights are sufficient for the conduct of the TE Business as currently being conducted and, subject to (i) the manufacture, supply and services to be provided by Seller or its designated Affiliates under the terms and conditions of the TE Ancillary Agreements and (ii) the limitations set forth in Articles 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7, enable Buyer to continue to operate the TE Business as currently being operated.
(e) Since January 1, 2003, no claims have been made or threatened in writing challenging the validity or enforceability of the TE Intellectual Property Rights owned by Seller, any of the TE Companies or any of the Asset Seller Companies. All registration fees now due and payable as of the date hereof to obtain and maintain the TE Intellectual Property Rights owned by Seller or any of its Affiliates have been paid.
(f) Since January 1, 2003, no third party has claimed in writing that the conduct of the TE Business as currently being conducted infringes upon any Intellectual Property Rights
7
of any other Person; provided, however, that Buyer acknowledges that certain Trademarks are subject to consent letters, coexistence and prior right agreements set forth in Annex 5.1.11(b)(2).
(g) To the best of Sellers knowledge, nothing has been done by it or by any third party (including its Affiliates) which jeopardizes the validity and enforceability of any of the TE Intellectual Property Rights; provided, however, that the TE Intellectual Property Rights may contain Trademark registrations or applications that are not in use and are therefore subject to cancellation or expiration due to non-use.
(h) Seller is not aware of any unauthorized use by any Person of any of the TE Intellectual Property Rights.
(i) None of the TE Intellectual Property Rights is subject to any Liens other than Permitted Liens.
(j) Seller and its Affiliates are the sole current assignees of record in all patent, trademark and copyright offices or agencies in all jurisdictions of all TE Intellectual Property Rights registered in such jurisdictions, and all such rights are fully assignable to Buyer.
(k) There are no material restrictions, in any contracts related to the use by the TE Business of any Intellectual Property Rights or Know How, on the manufacturing capacity of the TE Business.
(l) Neither the Seller nor any Asset Seller Company, any Share Seller Company or any TE Company has granted any license under any TE Know How, TE Trademarks or TE Patents to any third party, except as set forth in Annex 5.1.1.11(l).
12. Employment
(a) The representations and warranties set out in Schedule 10.9 to this Agreement are true and accurate.
(b) Except as otherwise provided for by applicable mandatory law, no employee of the TE Business has a notice period longer than twelve (12) months, nor is there a termination compensation payable for termination on due notice which would exceed the equivalent of six (6) or, as to TE Key Personnel set forth in Annex 5.1.12(b), twelve (12) months salary. As at the date of this Agreement, there are no material salary or employee benefits increases resolved but not yet implemented other than in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with mandatory law.
8
(c) With respect to the TE Business, the TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies have complied with all obligations related to the employment of personnel that an employer needs to comply with in its relations with employees, former employees (in relation to the TE Companies), employee representatives, trade unions, public authorities, pension funds and insurance companies, including those arising out of collective bargaining agreements, in particular, any social plans (Sozialpläne). There are no current disputes with governmental or self-regulatory authorities, any works council or other employee representatives.
(d) Since September 30, 2005 through to the date of this Agreement, none of the TE Key Personnel has given or has been given notice of termination of his employment nor have in respect to such TE Key Personnel rescission proceedings been started or has the employment agreement been rescinded and no such TE Key Personnel has entered into employment with, or otherwise been employed or offered employment by, Seller or any of its Affiliates with a view to continuing employment outside the TE Business.
(e) No employee engaged in the TE Segment has been made redundant for economic reasons during the last three (3) years and no employee made redundant has requested rehiring priority or brought a claim against the TE Companies or any part of the TE Business or has threatened in writing to do so involving an amount in dispute exceeding CHF 100,000.
13. Material Contracts
(a) Annex 5.1.13(a) hereto contains a complete list of all material contracts of, relating to or comprised in the TE Business (the Material Contracts) that:
9
(b) Seller has provided Buyer with complete and accurate copies of all Material Contracts. The Material Contracts are valid and enforceable, the TE Business has performed all material obligations arising out of such contracts and no written notice of termination or of breach has been received or made by Seller or any of the TE Companies or any of their respective Affiliates. As far as Seller is aware, there has been no material breach by any of the respective counterparties to such Material
10
Contracts and no legal grounds for early or extraordinary termination exist, it being understood that some of the Material Contracts contain change of control clauses and assignment or transfer to Buyer of such Material Contracts may be subject to the consent of the respective counterparty to such Material Contracts.
(c) No Material Contract and no other agreement, arrangement, concerted practice or course of conduct to which any TE Company is or has at any time been a party infringes Article 81 or 82 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
(d) Annex 5.1.13(d) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all customers and suppliers who, during 2005, bought from or supplied of the TE Business products or raw materials with an aggregate value in excess of CHF 2 million. At the date hereof, neither Seller nor any of its Affiliates is aware of any indication given by any of those customers or suppliers that they intend to materially modify the volume or type of their purchase from or supply to the TE Business.
14. Insurance
(a) All premiums due and payable on all current insurance contracts (the Policies) entered into in favor of or for the purposes of the TE Business have been duly paid as of the date hereof and, to the best of Sellers knowledge, all the Policies are valid and in force.
(b) With respect to the TE Business, there is no material claim outstanding under any of the Policies and all past material claims have been settled in full. There have been no material claims as to which insurance coverage has been denied and no written notice has been received from the insurer under any corporate insurance policy applicable to the TE Business disclaiming coverage, reserving rights with respect to a particular claim or such policy in general or cancelling or materially amending any such policy.
(c) All TE Transferred Assets of an insurable nature are insured in amounts representing their full replacement or reinstatement value against fire and any other risks in relation to which it is required to maintain insurance under applicable laws, regulations and the terms of any permits or any exemption applicable to the TE Business. The TE Companies are covered by insurance against accident, damage, injury, third party loss, loss of profit and other risks as is required under applicable laws, regulations and the terms of any permits or any exemption applicable to the TE Business.
15. Litigation
(a) There are no actions, suits, arbitration or similar proceedings (collectively referred to as Litigation) pending or threatened in writing against any TE Company or any Asset
11
Seller Company or in which the TE Business is otherwise involved before any court, arbitral tribunal, administrative board, agency or commission with respect to the TE Business which involve a claim by a governmental or regulatory authority, or by a third party, of an amount in dispute exceeding CHF 1,500,000 or in which an injunction, whether temporary or permanent, is sought by such third party, which injunction would materially adversely affect the operation of the TE Business as currently conducted if granted. Buyer acknowledges that any Litigation pertaining to employment or labour matters shall be governed exclusively by Section 5.1.16.
(b) No TE Company or any part of the TE Business is the subject of any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings or process by any governmental, administrative or regulatory body nor is the Seller aware of any fact, matter, event or circumstance which is likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry, proceedings or process.
(c) There are no pending judgements materially affecting any TE Company or in which the TE Business is otherwise involved, or any existing and unsatisfied judgement to which any TE Company is subject, or in which the TE Business is otherwise involved.
16. Employment and Labor Related Litigation
As of the date hereof, there are no employment or labor related actions, suits or proceedings (collectively referred to as Employment Litigation) pending or threatened in writing against any TE Company or, in respect of the TE Business, any Asset Seller Company or in which the TE Business is otherwise involved before any court, arbitral tribunal, administrative board, agency or commission with respect to the TE Business involving an amount in dispute exceeding CHF 100,000.
17. Disclosure
The Disclosure Letter was produced in good faith by Seller. Seller has given to Buyer complete and accurate copies of all documents and other information which is material for a reasonable buyer in taking the decision to acquire the TE Business. The statements made in the Disclosure Letter provided to Buyer are true and correct.
18. Finance
(a) Annex 5.1.18 contains a complete list of all existing overdrafts, loans, debentures, acceptance lines or other borrowings or financial facilities (the Facilities) as of the date hereof which are outstanding against third parties or committed and available to, or drawn and borrowed by, the TE Companies, and any guarantee, security or other Lien in relation thereto.
12
(b) With respect to the TE Business, Seller is not subject to any arrangement for receipt or repayment of any grant, subsidy or financial assistance in excess of CHF 500,000 from any government department or other similar entity that is not reflected in the balance sheet of the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets. The execution and compliance of this Agreement does not and will not result in any grant, subsidy or financial assistance from any government department or other similar entity becoming repayable.
(c) All trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable as shown on the TE Statement of Relevant Net Assets are accounted for in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as applied by accounting standard 110 (trade accounts receivable) and 145 (trade accounts payable), respectively, as such accounting standards are set forth in the Ciba Groups Controller Manual, and the accounting treatment of such accounts receivable and payable is consistent with past practices of the TE Segment. No written notice has been received from any obligor that any amount of such accounts receivable is subject to any pending or threatened setoff, discount or counterclaim of any kind.
19. Compliance
(a) With respect to the TE Business, Seller, the Asset Seller Companies and the TE Companies materially comply, and have complied in all material respects with all applicable laws, regulations, permits, licences and Governmental Authorizations, except with respect to the matters that are subject to the provisions of Article 7.4.1(a) that have been fully disclosed to Buyer. Seller and each of its Affiliates possesses all Governmental Authorizations necessary to carry out the TE Business as presently conducted. All such Governmental Authorizations are valid and have not expired.
(b) The books and records of Seller and its Affiliates with respect to the TE Business are materially complete, accurate and in material compliance with the applicable laws of each jurisdiction to with the TE Business is subject and the applicable generally accepted accounting principles in such jurisdiction. The Disclosed Agency Agreements listed in Schedule 7.4.1(b) are complete and accurate in all respects and no agency, marketing or distribution agreements (or related side letters or other arrangements), whether written or verbal, exist between Seller or any of its Affiliates and any agent, marketer or distributor other than the Disclosed Agency Agreements. Any information provided by Seller to Buyer pursuant to Article 7.4 is complete and accurate.
(c) Neither the Seller, nor the Asset Seller Companies, the Share Seller Companies or the TE Companies (or their respective Affiliates) have made, offered or authorized in connection with the TE Business, any payment, gift, promise or other advantage, whether directly or through any other person or entity, to or for the use or benefit of any public official (being any person holding a legislative, administrative or judicial office, including any person employed by or acting on behalf of a public agency, a
13
public enterprise or a public international organization) or any political party or political party official or candidate for office, where such payment, gift, promise or advantage would violate (i) the applicable laws of the country in which such company conducts business; (ii) the laws of the country of incorporation of such company, its ultimate parent company or of the Parties; (iii) the principles described in the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed in Paris on December 17, 1997, which entered into force on February 15, 1999, and the Conventions Commentaries, or (iv) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended.
This Section 19 shall not apply to any issue relating to compliance with safety, health and environmental matters, which are exclusively the subject of Section 20.
20. Health, Safety and Environment
(a) Since January 1, 2001, the TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies have conducted the operation of the TE Business in compliance in all material respects with all laws of each relevant jurisdiction concerning air, water or land, man, fauna and/or flora (and any other matter classified as an environmental matter under any such laws) (as such laws pertain to the operation of the TE Business) (the Environmental Laws).
(b) Since January 1, 2001, the TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies have conducted the operation of the TE Business in compliance in all material respects with all Health and Safety Laws (as such laws pertain to the operation of the TE Business).
(c) Seller or its Affiliates have obtained, and complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions of, any and all licenses, consents, permits, exemptions or other authorizations made or issued pursuant to or under or required by any Environmental Laws (the Environmental Licenses), all of which are in full force and effect as of the date hereof and are renewable in the ordinary course of business.
(d) To Sellers best knowledge, no circumstance exists at the date hereof which will result in a material modification, supervision, revocation or non-renewal of the Environmental Licenses.
(e) Within the last five (5) years, there has not at any time been any material civil, criminal or administrative action, claim, investigation or other proceeding or suit active, pending or threatened in writing against the TE Business or any of its officers or directors based on Environmental Laws or Health and Safety Laws.
(f) No Dangerous Substance has been released as a result of the conduct of the TE Business or of operations at the Transferred TE Real Property or at the TE Companies
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Real Property, into soil, air or groundwater at any such location, or from any such location into soil, air or groundwater at any other location, that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Laws to any TE Company or to any owner or operator of the TE Business.
(g) All environmental reports, studies and investigations conducted in the last five (5) years material to the TE Business are set forth in Annex 5.1.20.
21. Product Liability
With respect to the TE Business, neither Seller nor any Asset Seller Company nor any TE Company (or any of their respective Affiliates) has, in the past three (3) years, sold or supplied any products which have given or give rise to any product liability claim by any customer or any third party in respect thereof.
22. Pensions and Employee Benefit Matters; Social Security
(a) Except as otherwise provided for by applicable mandatory law, there are no employment or benefit plans or arrangements entitling any Transferring Employee of the TE Business to severance or other payments upon a change of control of the TE Business.
(b) Copies of the terms and full particulars of all Employee Benefit Plans have been disclosed in Annex 5.1.22(b) or otherwise provided to Buyer in writing prior to the date hereof and, save in respect thereof, the TE Companies and the Asset Seller Companies have, each in respect of the TE Business, no material obligation to provide or contribute to the provision of any retirement, death, sickness, disability, accident or other similar benefits for or in respect of any of the current or former directors, officers or employees of the TE Business nor has any proposal been announced or any agreement been reached to establish, contribute to, increase or improve any arrangement providing any such benefit.
(c) In respect of each Employee Benefit Plan provided to a Transferring Employee or a U.S. Transferring Employee (as such terms are defined in Schedule 10.9 and 10.9(2)) (a TE Employee Benefit Plan):
(A) the most recent material annual or other report filed with each governmental or regulatory authority, provided that where such report does not relate solely to the TE Business, the Seller has made
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available all relevant extracts of the report that do relate to the TE Business;
(B) the plan documents;
(C) the most recent summary plan description and scheme booklets for the material funded TE Employee Benefit Plans under the control of the Seller or its Affiliates; and
(D) the most recent audited accounts and actuarial report or valuation for the material funded TE Employee Benefit Plans under the control of the Seller or its Affiliates;
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23. Brokers Fees
No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or will be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other similar commission or fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Seller or any of the TE Companies, except Greenhill & Co. Inc., whose fees and expenses will be paid by Seller in accordance with Sellers agreements with such firm.
24. Data, files, records
(a) The TE Companies have complied in all material respects with all relevant legal requirements with respect to data protection. With respect to the TE Business, all material, business relevant records, systems, data and information of the TE Companies and of the Asset Seller Companies are recorded, stored, maintained, operated or otherwise held in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
(b) All material, business related files, data, binders, records, databases, archives relating to the TE Business that are necessary to continue the TE Business as it was operated
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before the Closing Date, to the extent required by applicable law, are kept and maintained with the relevant TE Companies and Asset Seller Companies.
25. Insolvency
Neither the Seller nor any Asset Seller Company, any Share Seller Company or any TE Company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due or is otherwise insolvent, and there are no bankruptcy, insolvency, administration, winding-up or receivership proceedings or proceedings of a similar nature in any jurisdiction pending or threatened against any such company.
26. Competition law matters
(a) The TE Business is not now, nor has during the last seven (7) years been, a party to any agreement or concerted practice or involved in any business conduct which infringes any anti-trust or similar legislation in any jurisdiction in which it carries on business or has assets or sales (including Articles 81 and 82 EC (formerly Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty)) nor has, pursuant to any such legislation, given any undertaking, applied for negative clearance, exemption, guidance or approval, had an order, notice or direction made against it or received any request for information or statement of objections from or corresponded with any court or authority. The TE Business has not during the last eleven (11) years been in receipt of any state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC (formerly Article 92(1) of the EC Treaty) which would not have been duly authorised in accordance with Article 88 EC (formerly Article 93 of the EC Treaty), such authorisation not having been challenged before national and/or European courts.
(b) In relation to the TE Business the turnover figures provided to the Buyers legal advisors the Seller or its legal advisors have been calculated in accordance with Article 5 of the Merger Regulation and the European Commission Notice on calculation of turnover under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (OJ C 66/25, 02.03.98). Merger Regulation means Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004.
27. Data Site
Annex 5.1.27, and all data provided to Buyer prior to Closing pursuant to Buyers access and audit rights set forth in Article 13.8(a) concerning the contents of the Merrill Lynch electronic data room (the Data Site), fairly and accurately represent the actual access by Buyers employees and consultants to the Data Site; and, upon each occurrence of any change, amendment, modification or supplement to the contents of any numbered document on the
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Data Site index, such document appeared on the index of the New Document section of the Data Site.
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Buyers Representations and Warranties
Subject to the limitations set forth in the Agreement, each of Huntsman and Huntsman Germany hereby represents and warrants to Seller at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date the following:
(a) Each of the parties constituting Buyer is a company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction and has the requisite corporate power, authority and necessary governmental approvals to own or use their assets and properties and to conduct their business as currently being conducted.
(b) There exist no limitations under applicable law, the constituting documents of Buyer, or any contracts by which Buyer is bound, that would prevent Buyer from entering into or performing their obligations under this Agreement.
(c) No authorizations, permits or consents are required from any governmental or administrative authority, or any third party (including, without limitation, any shareholders or creditors of Buyer) for Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, other than authorizations, permits or consents required from any governmental or administrative authority, or any third party required to be disclosed by Seller in Schedule 4.2.1(a)(1).
(d) There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending against Buyer or any of Buyers Affiliates before any court or administrative board, agency or commission which involve a claim by a governmental or regulatory authority, or by a third party, which would operate to hinder or substantially impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement. Buyer is not aware of any actions, suits or proceedings in accordance with the preceding sentence that have been threatened in writing to be filed or instituted against Buyer or any of Buyers Affiliates.
(e) Buyer has procured that it will on the Closing Date have the necessary funds at their disposal to finance the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.