Exhibit 2.1
SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
BETWEEN:
1. HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS, an unlimited company registered in England and Wales under registered number 05411362 whose registered office is at Haverton Hill Road, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 1PS (the Vendor);
2. HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of Delaware, whose principal place of business is at 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, the United States of America (the Vendors Guarantor);
3. SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company registered in England and Wales under registered number 05947494 whose registered office is at 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD (the Purchaser);
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4. SABIC EUROPE B.V., a private company with limited liability incorporated and existing under the laws of The Netherlands with its seat in Heerlen, The Netherlands, and its principal place of business at 6135 LD Sittard, Europaboulevard 1, The Netherlands, and registered at the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries for Zuid-Limburg under number 14073237. (the Purchasers Guarantor).
WHEREAS:
The Vendor has agreed to sell and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase and pay for the Shares (as defined in this Agreement) for the consideration specified in and on the terms of this Agreement.
WHEREBY IT IS AGREED as follows:
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(i) enter into agreements to hold separate or dispose of any part of the businesses of the Vendors Group or the Purchasers Group (as the case may be); or
(ii) enter into agreements to supply any products; or
(iii) enter into agreements other than on commercially reasonable terms; or
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(iv) enter into any consent judgment, consent agreement or undertaking in relation to any part of its business which competes with all or part of the Acquired Business; or
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(the Initial Cash Consideration) (such payment to be made in accordance with Clause 10).
Between the date of this Agreement and Completion, the parties will procure that their respective accountants or financial personnel will meet with a view to agreeing the methodology for determining the provisional amounts specified in (i) to (v) above with a view to ensuring that those provisional amounts are as accurate as possible. Where the parties do not agree prior to Completion on a methodology for determining any such provisional amount, the relevant provisional amount shall be as estimated in good faith by the Vendor. Where the parties agree on a methodology in relation to any such provisional amount prior to Completion, the Vendor shall use such methodology in estimating such provisional amount.
Not less than 2 Business Days prior to the Completion Date the Vendor will notify the Purchaser in writing of its estimates of the Provisional Cash Amount, the Provisional Third Party Debt Amount, the Provisional Intra-Group Debt Amount, the Provisional Working Capital, the Provisional Actual Expenditure and the Provisional Forecast Expenditure together with supporting documentation and a statement signed by the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of the Vendors Guarantor confirming that the estimates have been determined in good faith and are believed by him (without assuming personal liability) to be fair.
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(B) plus the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iii)(B) (if any);
(A) less the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iii)(B) (if any); or
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provided that the above payments shall be netted-off against each other and, within five Business Days of the final agreement or determination of the Final Cash Amount, the Final Third Party Debt Amount and the Completion Working Capital, the Vendor shall be obliged to pay the Purchaser the net balance or the Purchaser shall be obliged to pay the Vendor the net balance, as the case may be, together with an amount equal to interest on the net balance at the Agreed Rate (accrued daily) for the period from the Completion Date to the date of payment. Any payment under this sub-clause 5(a) shall constitute an adjustment to the Initial Cash Consideration.
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(c) The Vendor, for itself and its successors and assigns, covenants that, by Completion, it will execute and deliver all such instruments and take all such other action as may reasonably be required in order to effect the full release and discharge of the Company from any existing obligation or Encumbrance incurred in relation to the securitisation of the accounts receivable of the Company effective as at the date of this Agreement.
Each of the Purchaser and the Vendor shall comply with the requirements relating to that party set out in Schedule 5.
(a) Subject to sub-clause (b), the Vendor and (so far as applicable) the Purchaser shall each use its reasonable endeavours to procure that:
(i) each of the employees of the Vendors Group whose name is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 8, subject to such changes as may be agreed between the parties (each acting reasonably) prior to Completion (the Transferring In Employees) is, with effect from Completion, employed by the Company;
(ii) each of the employees of the Company whose name is set out in Part 2 of Schedule 8, subject to such changes as may be agreed between the parties (each acting reasonably) prior to Completion (the Transferring Out Employees) is, with effect from Completion, employed by a member of the Vendors Group (other than the Company); and
(iii) 13 of the 31 IT personnel currently dedicated to the Acquired Business, to be identified and agreed by the Vendor and the Purchaser (each acting reasonably) as part of the Migration Project (as defined in Schedule 6) shall be retained by the Vendors Group (either as employees or, as applicable, as consultants).
(b) The terms of the employment of any Transferring In Employee shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and provided further that such terms (not including terms in relation to pensions) are on substantially similar terms to those under which such Transferring In Employee was employed as at the date of this Agreement.
(c) The Vendor will indemnify and keep indemnified the Purchaser and the Company from and against all and any liability arising from any claim by any Transferring In Employee and any Transferring Out Employee in connection with the transfer of his employment.
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The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that upon Completion all insurance cover provided in relation to the Company pursuant to policies maintained by the Vendors Group shall cease and that no further liability shall arise under such policies but (subject to the terms of any relevant policy) without prejudice to any accrued claims which the Company has at Completion. Between the date of this Agreement and Completion, the Vendor shall and shall procure that the Company shall provide such information, assistance and access as the Purchaser may reasonably require for the purpose of putting in place insurance with effect from Completion.
(a) The Vendor shall procure that any services provided by any member of the Vendors Group to the Company at Completion shall continue in the manner described in Schedule 6, and where provision in Schedule 6 differs from the terms of any existing arrangements, the provisions of Schedule 6 shall apply notwithstanding the terms of any existing agreement in relation to the provision of such services.
(b) The Vendor hereby undertakes to deliver to the Purchaser in accordance with Clause 31 Management Accounts for the Company in respect of each calendar month for the period from 1st September 2006 to Completion (but excluding the month in which Completion occurs), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than the date falling 15 Business Days after the end of the relevant month.
(c) In the event that the Vendor or Purchaser discovers after Completion that the Company owns (or owned at Completion and has transferred to another member of the Purchasers Group) any Intellectual Property or know-how which has in the twelve months prior to Completion been used exclusively in relation to the business of the Vendors Group, the Purchaser shall procure that such Intellectual Property or know-how is transferred to the Vendor or a person nominated by the Vendor as soon as reasonably practicable for nominal consideration.
(d) The Purchaser shall, with effect from Completion, procure the grant to the Vendors Group of a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, assignable, irrevocable, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license) to use any Intellectual Property (other than trade marks) or know-how owned by the Company at Completion which have been used (but not exclusively) in the twelve months prior to Completion in relation to any business of the Vendors Group, such licence to limit usage to the same scope and purpose as such prior use.
(e) In the event that the Vendor or Purchaser discovers after Completion that a member of the Vendors Group owns any Intellectual Property (other than trademarks which include or consist of the word Huntsman) or know-how which has in the twelve months prior to Completion been used exclusively in relation to the Acquired Business, the Vendor shall procure that such Intellectual Property or know-how is transferred to the Purchaser or a person nominated by the Purchaser as soon as reasonably practicable for nominal consideration.
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(f) The Vendor shall, with effect from Completion, procure the grant to the Purchasers Group of a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, assignable, irrevocable, royalty-free licence (with the right to sub-license) to use any Intellectual Property (other than trade marks) or know-how owned by the Vendors Group which have been used (but not exclusively) in the twelve months prior to Completion in relation to the Acquired Business, such licence to limit usage to the same scope and purpose as such prior use.
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(i) to ensure that the Allowable Expenditure is at least equal to the Guaranteed Amount; and
(ii) not to take or require that the Company takes any action on or after the Completion Date that would cause the Allowable Expenditure to fall below the Guaranteed Amount,
provided that the Vendor shall not be in breach of these undertakings to the extent that Allowable Expenditure falls below the Guaranteed Amount as a result of an action taken by or on behalf of any member of the Purchasers Group.
In this sub-clause, the expressions qualifying expenditure and unrelieved qualifying expenditure and the term pool have the same meanings as they have in Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act 2001 and the following expressions shall have the following meanings:
Allowable Expenditure means the combined total of the Companys unrelieved qualifying expenditure in any pool that would be carried forward from the Final Period, calculated on the assumption that (i) the Final Period ends on the Completion Date; and (ii) if the Final Period does not in fact end on the Completion Date, the amount of any allowance claimed in the Final Period is allocated on a pro rata basis between so much of the Final Period as falls on or before the Completion Date and so much of that period as falls after the Completion Date;
Final Period means the last accounting period of the Company to commence before Completion; and
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and which, in the case of each of sub-paragraphs (iv)(A), (B) and (C), have or could have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser or the Purchasers Guarantor (as the case may be) to execute and deliver, or perform its obligations under, this Agreement and the Purchasers Completion Documents; and
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and shall not intentionally assist any person to do any of the foregoing things.
The Purchaser undertakes to the Vendor that it shall not, and shall procure that each member of the Purchasers Group shall not (for so long as it remains such a member), within one year of the Completion Date solicit or entice away from the employment of any member of the Vendors Group any Senior Employee other than:
and shall not intentionally assist any person to do any of the foregoing things.
Each undertaking contained in Clauses 21 and 22 shall be construed as a separate undertaking and if one or more of the undertakings is held to be against the public interest or
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unlawful or in any way an unreasonable restraint of trade, the remaining undertakings shall continue to bind the Vendor and/or the Purchaser as the case may be.
PROVIDED that the recipient shall:-
(d) For the purposes of paragraph (c) above of this Clause 24, the amount of Tax chargeable and any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit is to be determined by the auditors of the
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recipient at the shared expense of both parties and is to be certified as such to the party making the payment.
Save as otherwise provided herein, any provision of this Agreement (including but not limited to Schedule 11) or of any other document referred to herein which is capable of being performed after but which has not been performed at or before Completion and all Warranties contained in or entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall (subject to Schedule 4) remain in full force and effect notwithstanding Completion.
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(f) The Purchasers Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Vendor the full, due and punctual performance and observation by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement and the Tax Covenant and undertakes to indemnify and keep indemnified the Vendor against all losses, damages, costs and expenses of whatsoever nature (including reasonable legal fees) which may be suffered or properly incurred by it by reason of any default or delay on the part of the Purchaser in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Tax Covenant.
(g) In respect of any proceedings necessary to enforce the due and punctual performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement and the Tax Covenant, the Purchasers Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any right to require that the Vendor brings such proceedings first against the Purchaser and shall forthwith upon demand unconditionally perform (or procure performance of) and/or satisfy (or procure satisfaction of) the relevant obligation so that the same benefits shall be conferred on the Vendor as would have been received if such obligation had been duly performed and/or satisfied by the Purchaser.
(h) The Purchasers Guarantor shall be liable as principal debtor in respect of any sums due from the Purchaser under this Agreement or the Tax Covenant and shall not be discharged or released from its undertaking hereunder by any release, variation, dealing, act, event or omission including, without limitation, any change in the constitution or constitutional documents of the Purchaser or the liquidation, dissolution, reconstruction or amalgamation of the Purchaser, which but for this provision might operate to discharge the Purchasers Guarantors liability under this Agreement or the Tax Covenant or by any time or other indulgence granted by the Vendor to the Purchaser.
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(i) This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and accordingly the obligations of the Purchasers Guarantor under this guarantee shall remain in full force until all obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement and the Tax Covenant have been discharged in full regardless of the legality, validity or enforceability of any provisions of this Agreement or the Tax Covenant. This guarantee is in addition to and shall not prejudice or be prejudiced by any other guarantee, indemnity or other security or right against any third party which the Vendor may have for the due performance of the obligations concerned.
(j) As a separate and independent stipulation, the Purchasers Guarantor agrees that any obligation of the Purchaser under this Agreement or the Tax Covenant which may not be enforceable against or recoverable from the Purchaser by reason of any legal limitation, disability or incapacity on or of the Purchaser of any fact or circumstance (other than any limitation imposed by this Agreement or the Tax Covenant) shall nevertheless be enforceable against the Purchasers Guarantor as though the same has been incurred by the Purchasers Guarantor and the Purchasers Guarantor was the sole and principal obligor in respect thereof and/or shall be performed or paid by the Purchasers Guarantor on demand.
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provided that if, in accordance with the above provisions, any such notice or other communication would otherwise be deemed to be given or made outside Working Hours, such
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notice or other communication shall be deemed to be given or made at the start of Working Hours on the next Business Day.
Name of party |
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Facsimile No. |
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HUNTSMAN
PETROCHEMICALS |
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500 Huntsman Way |
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001-801-584-5782 |
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For the attention of: |
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Office of General Counsel |
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CC to: |
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Company Secretary |
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+44 (0)1642 376460 |
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HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC |
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500 Huntsman Way |
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001-801-584-5782 |
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For the attention of: |
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Office of General Counsel |
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CC to: |
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Company Secretary |
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+44 (0)1642 376460 |
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SABIC
UK PETROCHEMICALS |
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c/o SABIC Europe B.V. |
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+31 10 2644809 |
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Courier deliveries: |
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c/o SABIC Europe B.V. |
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For the attention of: |
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The Legal Department |
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Name of party |
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Address |
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Facsimile No. |
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SABIC EUROPE B.V. |
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SABIC Europe B.V. |
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+31 10 2644809 |
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Courier deliveries: |
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SABIC Europe B.V. |
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For the attention of: |
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The Legal Department |
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in which case the party concerned shall take all such steps as may be reasonable and practicable in the circumstances to agree the contents of such announcement with the other parties before making such announcement.
(vii) necessary to perform its obligations under Schedule 6.
provided that any such information disclosed pursuant to paragraph (i) or (ii) shall be disclosed only after notice to the other party (unless to give such advance notice would be in breach of
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law, the rules or order of any court or tribunal, or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body).
If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, that shall not affect or impair:
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This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law.
(a) The Vendors Guarantor irrevocably appoints the Vendor to be its agent for the receipt of Service Documents. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent effected in any manner permitted by the Civil Procedure Rules.
(b) The Purchasers Guarantor irrevocably appoints the Purchaser to be its agent for the receipt of Service Documents. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent effected in any manner permitted by the Civil Procedure Rules.
(c) If the agent under sub-clause (a) or (b) at any time ceases for any reason to act as such, the Vendors Guarantor or the Purchasers Guarantor (as the case may be) shall appoint a replacement agent having an address for service in England or Wales and shall notify the other parties to this Agreement of the name and address of the replacement agent. Failing such appointment and notification, any other party to this Agreement shall be entitled by notice to the Vendors Guarantor or the Purchasers Guarantor (as the case may be) to appoint a replacement agent to act on behalf of the Vendors Guarantor or the Purchasers Guarantor (as the case may be). The provisions of this Clause applying to service on an agent apply equally to service on a replacement agent.
(d) A copy of any Service Document served on an agent shall be sent by post to the Vendors Guarantor or the Purchasers Guarantor (as the case may be). Failure or delay in so doing shall not prejudice the effectiveness of service of the Service Document.
(e) Service Document means a claim form, application notice, order or judgment or other document relating to any actual (as opposed to contemplated) Proceedings.
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The provisions of Clause 20(a), Clause 14(c), Clause 17(h) and Schedule 6 confer a benefit on the persons specifically referred to in those provisions (each, a Third Party) and, subject to the remaining terms of this Clause, are intended to be enforceable by each such Third Party by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. The parties do not intend that any term of this Agreement, apart from the provisions specifically referred to in this Clause, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person who is not a party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause, this Agreement may be amended or varied in any way and at any time by the parties to the Agreement without the consent of any Third Party.
The Vendor and the Purchaser will negotiate prior to Completion with a view to agreeing on an alternative structure for the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, such alternative structure to involve (i) the Company transferring to a new company (Newco) to be set up as a new member of the Vendors Group such elements of the Acquired Business as the Purchaser may reasonably request and/or (ii) a tolling or similar contractual arrangement/structure (the Pre-Sale Split) and on the Completion Date the Vendor selling the Shares and (if applicable) the entire issued share capital of Newco, provided that (without prejudice to the generality of the requirement of reasonableness):
(a) the Purchaser will indemnify the Vendor, any other member of the Vendors Group and (if so requested) the Company against all liabilities and reasonable costs incurred by, or claims brought against, them in connection with or resulting from the Pre-Sale Split;
(b) without limiting paragraph (a) above, the Purchaser will indemnify the Vendor, any other member of the Vendors Group and (if so requested) the Company against any amount by which the liability to Tax incurred by the Vendor, any other member of the Vendors Group or the Company as a direct or indirect consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, the Pre-Sale Split, the disposal of the Shares or the disposal of the shares in Newco (or any alternative structure agreed pursuant to this Clause 41) exceeds the liability to Tax that would have been incurred by them as a direct or indirect consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, the sale of the Shares as currently contemplated in Clause 3 of this Agreement, and neither the Tax Warranties nor clause 2 (Covenant) of the Tax Covenant will apply to any liability to Tax incurred by the Company, or any other event, act, transaction or omission occurring, in connection with the Pre-Sale Split;
(c) the Vendor will have no obligation to do or to procure anything in connection with the Pre-Sale Split which would cause it, any other member of the Vendors Group or the Company unreasonable inconvenience, cost or risk;
(d) neither the Vendor nor the Company shall be obliged to seek the consent of any third party (not being a member or the Vendors Group, an Employee or a trustee of the Huntsman pension scheme) for the doing of anything in connection with the Pre-Sale Split;
(e) the amount of time required to be spent by the personnel of the Vendor, any other member of the Vendors Group or the Company in connection with the Pre-Sale Split will be modest and not such as to interfere materially with their existing duties;
(f) the Purchaser acknowledges that nothing done by way of a Pre-Sale Split shall be deemed to fall within the circumstances provided for in paragraph 17.1 (Part E) of Schedule 9;
(g) the Vendor will be not be obliged to use more than reasonable endeavours to obtain the consent of the trustees of the Huntsman pension scheme in relation to the Pre-Sale Split and no party will be required to agree to Pre-Sale Split if such consent would be on terms which are less favourable to that party than the terms which have already been agreed with the trustees of the Huntsman
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pension scheme and the Pre-Sale Split will be subject to the consent of the trustees of the Huntsman pension scheme;
(h) no party will be required to agree to a Pre-Sale Split if it would give rise to a less favourable tax treatment (or create greater uncertainty about the tax treatment) for that party in connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement than if the Pre-Sale Split did not occur;
(i) no party will be required to agree to a Pre-Sale Split if it will lead to Completion taking place at a later date than it would otherwise have taken place (including where it will lead to the non-satisfaction or a delay in the satisfaction of any of the conditions set out in Clause 2) and the agreement and achievement of a Pre-Sale Split will not, for the avoidance of doubt, be a condition to Completion;
(j) the Pre-Sale Split will not result in less consideration being payable by the Purchaser than would otherwise have been the case under this Agreement or in an increase in the liability of the Vendor or any member of the Vendors Group under any of the Warranties, indemnities or other provisions of this Agreement; and
(k) the Purchaser must provide to the Vendor within 14 days of this Agreement reasonable details of the structure it proposes for the Pre-Sale Split (failing which, there will be no negotiation in relation to the Pre-Sale Split) and the Vendor will be entitled to raise any reasonable objections to such proposal and if, when the parties pursue negotiations relating to the Purchasers proposal, it becomes apparent that the proposal would involve the Vendor, the Company or any member of the Vendors Group doing anything which it would not be obliged to do or which is otherwise prevented under paragraphs (c) to (i) above, the Vendor will not be entitled to pursue those negotiations further,
and the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (k) above will apply whether Completion occurs or not, and notwithstanding termination of this Agreement for any reason. If the Pre-Sale Split is agreed, appropriate amendments to the terms of this Agreement and the Tax Covenant shall be made to reflect the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (j) above and the alternative transaction structure. This will include changing references in this Agreement to Shares so that they comprise both shares in the Company and shares in Newco, changing references in this Agreement to the Company to be references to the Company and Newco, changing Clause 8 of this Agreement to permit the restructuring to take place and changing Clause 2 of this Agreement so that any consequences of implementing the Pre-Sale Split will not be treated as a material adverse effect for the purposes of Clause 2(a)(viii) or (ix).
IN WITNESS whereof the parties have entered into this Agreement the day and year first before written.
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1. In this Agreement and the Schedules to it, unless otherwise specified:
Accounts |
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means the audited accounts of the Company for the accounting period ended on the Accounts Date, a copy of which forms part of Attachment V; |
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Accounts Date |
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means 31st December 2005; |
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Acquired Business |
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means the business of the Company as carried on at the date of this Agreement comprising the manufacture, marketing, distribution and/or sale of benzene, ethylene, propylene, butadiene, xylenes, cyclohexane, ethyl benzene and paraxylene and other co-products from sites at Wilton and North Tees, Teesside; |
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Agreed Form |
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means, in relation to any document, such document in the form initialled for the purposes of identification only by or on behalf of the Purchaser and the Vendor as amended by agreement or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; |
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Agreed Rate |
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3-month US-dollar LIBOR plus 1 per cent.; |
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Agreement for Lease |
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means the agreement dated 26 September, 2005 between Wilton Centre (No. 1) Limited and Wilton Centre (No. 2) Limited (1) and Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2); |
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Assurance |
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means any warranty, representation, statement, assurance, covenant, agreement, undertaking, indemnity, guarantee or commitment of any nature whatsoever; |
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Break Date |
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means the date on which the Tenant may determine the Lease in accordance with Clause 6.1 of the Lease; |
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Business Day |
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means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London (other than solely for trading and settlement in euros) and in New York and in The Netherlands; |
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Change of Control |
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means an event in respect of which the person or persons who have Control of the Vendor, or the Purchaser, as the case may be, cease to have such control; |
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Company |
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means Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited, basic details of which are set out in Attachment I; |
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Completion |
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means completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares in accordance with Clause 10; |
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Completion Date |
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means the date on which Completion occurs; |
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Completion Statement |
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means the completion statement prepared in accordance with the principles set out in Attachment IV; |
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Completion Working Capital |
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means the aggregate of the following amounts (to be shown in the Completion Statement) in US dollars at close of business on the Completion Date, excluding (for the avoidance of doubt) any amount represented in the Final Cash Amount, the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount, the Intra-Group Balances and the Final Third Party Debt Amount: |
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(i) all raw material and consumables, stocks-in-process, finished stocks, goods for resale and inventory, wherever located, beneficially owned by the Company including items which, though subject to reservation of title by the relevant sellers, are under the control of the Company; plus |
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(ii) debtors/accounts receivable due to the Company (including third party trade debtors, other debtors, accrued income and prepayments) in each case including such part of such amounts as relate to VAT, such amounts being calculated, for the avoidance of doubt, after the securitisation of the Companys accounts receivable has been reversed out; minus |
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(iii) trade and other creditors/accounts payable by the Company (including third party trade creditors, bills of exchange payable, other creditors and accruals and deferred income, but excluding any payables of capital expenditure in respect of the LDPE Project) in each case including such part of such amounts as relate to VAT; |
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Control |
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means the ability of a person or persons to ensure that the activities and business of a body corporate are conducted in accordance with the wishes of that person or persons and a person or persons shall be deemed to exercise Control of a body corporate if one of a series of bodies corporate can be identified, starting with a body corporate in respect of which that person or persons hold a majority of the voting rights, and ending with the relevant body corporate, each of the bodies corporate in the chain holding a majority of the voting rights in the next; |
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Data Protection Legislation |
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shall bear the meaning given in paragraph 48 of Schedule 3; |
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Data Room |
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means those documents, including copies of documents made available to the Purchaser in electronic form, referred to in the list in Attachment III, consisting of the Data Site, the Property Data Room, the Pipelines Data Room and the Physical Disclosure Bundle; |
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Data Site |
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those copy documents made available to the Purchaser in electronic form, listed in Part 1 of the list in Attachment III; |
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Debt Free Price |
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means US$700,000,000; |
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Disclosure Letter |
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means the letter of the same date as this Agreement written by the Vendor to the Purchaser for the purposes of paragraph 12 of Schedule 4; |
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Employees |
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means the employees of the Company at the date of this Agreement, unless provided otherwise; |
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Encumbrance |
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means, without limitation, any claim, charge, seizure, arrest, mortgage, pledge, security, lien, option, right to acquire (including, without limitation, any preference right), equity, power of sale, hypothecation, pre-emption right, third party right of consent or other third party right similar in nature or in its effects to any of the foregoing or any other form of security or encumbrance or equity; |
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Environmental Covenant |
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means the indemnity in relation to certain HSE Matters as set out in Schedule 9; |
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Expert |
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save for the Environmental Covenant, means a partner at an independent firm of chartered accountants agreed between the parties or, in default of agreement within 10 Business Days of one of the parties seeking the appointment of an Expert, selected by the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; |
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ExxonMobil |
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means ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC, together with any holding company thereof and all other subsidiaries of any such holding company from time to time; |
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Final Cash Consideration |
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has the meaning given in Clause 4(b); |
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Final Cash Amount |
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means the aggregate in US dollars as at close of business on the Completion Date of cash at bank as reflected in the books of the Company and cash in hand and current investments of the Company in each case where the entity with which the cash is placed or which is the issuer of the investments is not a member of the Vendors Group at Completion; |
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Final Intra-Group Debt Amount |
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means the aggregate in US dollars of all amounts expressed to be owed by or to the Company by or to any member of the Vendors Group (as the case may be) outstanding as at close of business on the Completion Date (or which would have been outstanding if not repaid under Clause 6(a)) which are in either case borrowings |
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or indebtedness in the nature of borrowings or amounts due in respect of Taxation paid or to be paid by another member of the Vendors Group on the Companys behalf (together in each case with accrued interest thereon and any uncleared items), including, for the avoidance of doubt, amounts owed in respect of current account (which does not include trade debtors or trade creditors) and cash pooling balances; for the purpose of determining the value of the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount, sums owed by the Company shall be treated as having a positive value and sums owed to the Company shall be treated as having a negative value; |
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Final Third Party Debt Amount |
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means the aggregate in US dollars of: |
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(i) all amounts of borrowings and indebtedness in the nature of borrowings of the Company as at close of business on the Completion Date (including sums in respect of finance leases, other than finance lease relating to vehicles), and including accrued interest, early repayment penalties and other break costs payable on repayment prior to maturity (where applicable) in respect of such amounts, but excluding any amounts represented in the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount, the Completion Working Capital and Intra-Group Balances and any such borrowings which represent a Tax liability; and |
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(ii) liabilities/commitments relating to, or provisions for (in each case as at close of business on the Completion Date): |
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(a) unpaid costs which the Company is legally obliged to pay in connection with restructuring the Vendors Group and the Acquired Business, and |
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(b) any unpaid costs incurred by the Company in respect of the litigation involving the Company and INEOS referred to in the Disclosure Letter, excluding costs incurred after the date of this Agreement in accordance with Clause 8 and excluding (for the avoidance of doubt) any liabilities to third parties in respect of their costs, |
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excluding any amounts represented in the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount, Intra-Group Balances or Completion Working Capital; |
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HSE Law |
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means any applicable statutes, subordinate legislation and other national, federal, state and local laws (including common law and any contractual obligations), rules, regulations, orders, |
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ordinances, judgments or injunctions and codes of practice, guidance notes and judicial and administrative interpretation of each of the foregoing each as is valid and enforceable on the Company as at the date of this Agreement each as relate to HSE Matters; |
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HSE Matters |
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means any matters relating to the pollution or protection of the environment and/or health and safety (including contamination, nuisance and any disposal, deposit, emission, spillage or other release of, or exposure of any person or organism to, hazardous materials or waste); |
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HSE Permit |
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means any permit, authorisation, licence, permission, consent or approval issued or required under HSE Law; |
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HSE Warranties |
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means the warranties set out in paragraph 19 of Schedule 3; |
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Immovable Property |
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means freehold and leasehold land and buildings, fixtures or other immovable property; |
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Initial Cash Consideration |
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has the meaning given in Clause 4(a); |
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Intellectual Property |
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means patents, trade marks, rights in designs, copyrights (including rights in computer software) and rights in databases (whether or not any of these is registered and including applications for registration of any such thing) and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature or having equivalent or similar effect to any of these which may subsist anywhere in the world; |
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Intra-Group Balances |
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means the aggregate in US dollars of all amounts expressed to be owed by or to the Company by or to any member of the Vendors Group (as the case may be) outstanding as at close of business on the Completion Date other than those amounts comprised within the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount; |
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Landlords Works |
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has the meaning given to that term in the Agreement for Lease; |
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Landowners |
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means the owners of the Immovable Property over, on or in which the Pipelines are situated; |
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LDPE Grant |
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means the grant of up to £16,500,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Company under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, as confirmed by a letter from AJT Steele to the Company of 27 August 2004; |
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LDPE Technology Licence |
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means the High Pressure Tubular Polyethylene Technology License Agreement between ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC and the Company dated 7 January 2005; |
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Lease |
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means the lease to be entered into between Wilton Centre (No. 1) Limited and Wilton Centre (No. 2) Limited (1) and Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2) pursuant to the Agreement for Lease; |
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Management Accounts |
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means the unaudited management accounts in relation to the Company for the six-month period to 30th June 2006 and the unaudited management accounts in relation to the Company for each of July and August 2006, attached hereto in Attachment V, and, when delivered, the management accounts in relation to the Company delivered pursuant to Clause 16(b), each prepared (i) in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles but not including notes or other types of information that, although required by United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, would not have been included in the Companys management accounts for the accounting period ended on the Accounts Date and (ii) in a manner consistent in all material respects with that adopted in the preparation of the Companys management accounts for the accounting period ended on the Accounts Date and reconciled to United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Principles such that the reconciliation includes all items as if the Management Accounts had been prepared under United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; |
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Material Contract |
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means any contract, including, but not limited to: |
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(i) logistics contracts; |
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(ii) capital expenditure commitments and construction contracts; and |
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(iii) service contracts, |
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in any case calling for payments by any party thereto in excess of US$30 million in any one year; |
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Merger Regulation |
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has the meaning given in Clause 2; |
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Outstanding Refurbishment Cost |
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means the costs (exclusive of VAT) payable in respect of the Outstanding Refurbishment Works or any other outstanding costs in respect of the Landlords Works and any other associated works; |
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Outstanding Refurbishment Works |
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means those parts of the Landlords Works and any other associated works to be carried out in accordance with the Agreement for Lease as amended by the Side Letter which remain outstanding; |
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Pensions Warranties |
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has the meaning given in Clause 17; |
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Permitted Assignee |
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has the meaning given in Clause 28; |
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Permitted |
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means security interests arising in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business or by operation of law, security interests arising under sales contracts with title retention provisions and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business and security interests for Taxes and other governmental charges which are not due and payable or which |
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may thereafter be paid without penalty and other imperfections in title and encumbrances, if any, which do not individually or in aggregate materially impair the continued use and operation of the assets to which they relate in the context of the Acquired Business excluding any Encumbrance or obligation entered into for the purposes of the securitisation of the accounts receivable of the Company; |
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Physical Disclosure Bundle |
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means the bundle of documents accompanying the Disclosure Letter; |
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Pipelines |
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means the pipelines serving certain of the Properties for the transmission of ethylene, known respectively as The Trans-Pennine Ethylene Pipeline, running between Wilton and Runcorn and the Wilton to Grangemouth Ethylene Pipeline, running between Wilton and Grangemouth together with all spurs, valve compounds, plant, storage and other facilities ancillary thereto; |
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Pipelines Data Room |
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those documents made available to the Purchaser, listed in Part 3 of the list in Attachment III; |
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Pipelines Warranties |
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has the meaning given in Clause 17; |
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Proceedings |
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means any proceeding, suit or action in any court or tribunal arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby; |
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Properties |
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means the Immovable Property specified in Attachment II; |
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Property Data Room |
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mean those copy documents made available to the Purchaser, listed in Part 2 of the list in Attachment III; |
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Property Warranties |
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has the meaning given in Clause 17; |
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Provisional Actual Expenditure |
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means the provisional amount of the Actual Expenditure as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Provisional Cash Amount |
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means the provisional amount of the Final Cash Amount as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Provisional Forecast Expenditure |
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means the provisional amount of the Forecast Expenditure as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Provisional Intra-Group Debt Amount |
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means the provisional amount of the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Provisional Third Party Debt Amount |
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means the provisional amount of the Final Third Party Debt Amount as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Provisional Working Capital |
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means the provisional amount of the Completion Working Capital as estimated in good faith (but without liability) by the Vendor; |
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Purchasers Bank Account |
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means the account designated by the Purchaser to the Vendor not less than two Business Days before Completion; |
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Purchasers Completion Documents |
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has the meaning given in Clause 19; |
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Purchaser Confidential Information |
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means all information which is not in the public domain in whatever form held: |
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(i) relating to any member of the Purchasers Group (including the Company) or the business of any such member; |
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(ii) supplied by or on behalf of any member of the Purchasers Group to any member of the Vendors Group relating to the business of the Purchasers Group; or |
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(iii) supplied in confidence to any member of the Purchasers Group by any third party and which relates to the business of the Purchasers Group; |
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Purchasers Group |
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means the Purchaser, its subsidiaries (including, after Completion, the Company), any holding company of the Purchaser and all other subsidiaries of any such holding company from time to time; |
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Purchasers Solicitors |
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means Macfarlanes, of 10 Norwich Street, London EC4A 1BD; |
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Senior Employee |
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means, in relation to the members of the Vendors Group or the Purchasers Group, any employee of any member of the relevant group who belongs to the senior management personnel or technical personnel of such member; |
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Service Document |
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has the meaning given in Clause 39; |
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Shares |
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means the entire issued share capital of the Company, and all outstanding rights (if any) to call for the issue of further shares in the capital of the Company, in each case at Completion; |
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Side Letter |
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means a side letter dated 7 April 2006 between the parties to the Agreement for Lease; |
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so far as the Vendor is aware |
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means so far as is within the actual knowledge of Sam Scruggs, Jim Moore, Michael Maughan, Mahomed Maiter, John ONeill, Paul Booth, Michael Ducker, Ronald Grant, Mike Kern, Wade Rogers, Ian Machin, Brian Thomas, Gary Hodgson, John Galbraith, David Hughes, Joe Duffy, Kevin Hardman, Brian Watson, David Flett, Alan MacMahon, Andy Teague, Mark Williams, Andy Boylett, Neil Moon or Steve Bryan and all other phrases in this Agreement relating to the knowledge, information and belief or awareness of the Vendor shall be construed as a reference to so far as the Vendor is aware as so defined; |
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Target Working Capital |
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means US$285,006,437; (being the sum of US$20,000,000 and US$265,006,437, the latter being a figure based on the Accounts using relevant exchange rates used for preparing the Accounts); |
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Tax |
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has the meaning given to that expression in the Tax Covenant; |
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Tax Authority |
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means any taxing or other authority (anywhere in the world) competent to impose any liability to Tax; |
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Tax Covenant |
|
means a tax covenant in the form set out in Schedule 7; |
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Tax Warranties |
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means the Warranties set out in paragraphs 23 to 46 of Schedule 3; |
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Termination Date |
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means (a) in respect of the conditions contained in sub-clauses 2(a)(iii) and (v) to (ix), 5.00 pm on 31 December 2006, and (b) in respect of the conditions contained in sub-clauses 2(a)(i), (ii), (iv) and (x), means 5.00 pm on 28 February 2007; |
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Transferring In Employee |
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has the meaning given in Clause 14; |
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Transferring Out Employee |
|
has the meaning given in Clause 14; |
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Third Party |
|
has the meaning given in Clause 40; |
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US dollars or US$ |
|
means the lawful currency from time to time of the United States of America; |
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VAT |
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means value added tax or any similar tax or levy imposed in any jurisdiction that is to be characterised as a value added or turnover tax; |
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Vendor Confidential Information |
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means all information which is not in the public domain in whatever form held: |
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(i) relating to any member of the Vendors Group or the |
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business of any such member; |
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(ii) supplied by or on behalf of any member of the Vendors Group to the Company or any (other) member of the Purchasers Group relating to the business of the Vendors Group; or |
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(iii) supplied in confidence to any member of the Vendors Group by any third party and which relates to the business of the Vendors Group; |
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Vendors Bank Account |
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means the account designated by the Vendor to the Purchaser not less than two Business Days before Completion; |
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Vendors Completion Documents |
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has the meaning given in Schedule 3; |
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Vendors Group |
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means the Vendor, any holding company of the Vendor and all other subsidiaries of any such holding company from time to time (excluding, with effect from Completion, the Company); |
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Warranties |
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means the warranties set out in Schedule 3 and Schedule 5 and Warranty shall be construed accordingly; and |
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Working Hours |
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means 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (local time) on a Business Day. |
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50
51
52
SCHEDULE 2
(Completion arrangements)
1. General
(A) Vendors obligations
At Completion the Vendor shall:
(i) deliver to the Purchaser:
53
(ii) procure that a board meeting of the Company be held at which:
(a) it shall be resolved that the transfer relating to the Shares shall be approved for registration and (subject only to the transfer being duly stamped) the relevant transferee registered as the holder of the Shares in the Register of Members;
(b) each of the persons nominated by the Purchaser shall be appointed auditors, directors and/or secretary, as the Purchaser shall direct;
(c) the resignations of the directors and secretary in the Agreed Form shall be tendered and accepted so as to take effect at Completion;
(d) all existing bank mandates of the Company shall be varied as requested by the Purchaser; and
(e) the accounting reference date and the registered office of the Company shall be altered in accordance with the instructions of the Purchaser; and
(iii) procure that all land or title certificates, title deeds or other documents relating to the Properties are either delivered to the Purchaser or are held to the order of the Purchaser or its solicitors.
(B) Purchasers obligations
At Completion the Purchaser shall:
(i) deliver to the Vendor:
(a) a copy of the minutes of a duly held meeting of the directors of the Purchaser and of the Purchasers Guarantor (or a duly constituted committee thereof) authorising the execution by the Purchaser and the Purchasers Guarantor of this Agreement and the Purchasers Completion Documents and, in the case where such execution is authorised by a committee of the board of directors of the Purchaser or of the Purchasers Guarantor, a copy of the minutes of a duly held meeting of the directors constituting such committee or the relevant extract thereof (in each case such copy minutes being certified as correct by the secretary of the Purchaser or the Purchasers Guarantor, as the case may be);
(b) a counterpart of the Tax Covenant duly executed by the Purchaser; and
54
(c) a receipt acknowledging delivery of all documents required to be delivered by the Vendors pursuant to this Schedule 2; and
(ii) pay the Initial Cash Consideration in immediately available funds in US dollars to the Vendors Bank Account.
At least five Business Days prior to completion the Purchaser shall deliver to the Vendor the names of all persons to be appointed auditors, directors or secretary of the Company and any new bank account mandate details, accounting reference date or registered address.
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SCHEDULE 3
(The Warranties)
1. Capacity of the Vendor and the Vendors Guarantor
(A) The Vendor and the Vendors Guarantor have the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the other documents which are to be executed by them at Completion or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement (the Vendors Completion Documents).
(B) This Agreement constitutes and the Vendors Completion Documents will, when executed by the Vendor and/or the Vendors Guarantor, as the case may be, constitute binding obligations of the Vendor and/or the Vendors Guarantor in accordance with their respective terms.
(C) The execution and delivery by the Vendor and the Vendors Guarantor of, and the performance of their respective obligations under, this Agreement and the Vendors Completion Documents will not:
(i) result in a breach of any provision of their respective memoranda or articles of association or equivalent constitutional document;
(ii) result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any instrument to which either is a party or by which either is bound and which individually or collectively will have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business or which is material in the context of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iii) result in a breach of any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency to which either is a party or by which either is bound and which individually or collectively will have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business or which is material in the context of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or
(iv) save as contemplated by this Agreement, require either to obtain any consent or approval of, or give any notice to or make any registration with, any governmental or other authority which has not been obtained or made at the date of this Agreement and is in full force and effect where failure to obtain such consent or approval, give such notice or make such registration individually and collectively will have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business or which is material in the context of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2. Ownership of the Shares
(A) The Vendor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Shares.
(B) There is no option, right to acquire, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or Encumbrance or equity on, over or affecting the Shares or any of them and there is no agreement or commitment entered into by any member of the Vendors Group to give or create any of the foregoing.
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3. The Company
(A) The issued and allotted share capital of the Company is as specified in Attachment I and the number of the Shares is as specified therein and the Shares are in each case fully paid up and non-assessable to future calls of capital.
(B) With the exception of the Shares, the Vendors Group has no interest in the capital of the Company.
(C) There is no outstanding agreement or commitment entered into by any member of the Vendors Group which calls for the allotment, issue or transfer of, or accords to any person the right to call for the allotment, issue or transfer of, any shares or debentures in or securities of the Company.
4. Interests of the Company
(A) The Company does not have any interest in the share capital of any company other than those referred to in Attachment I.
(B) The Company does not act or carry on business in partnership with any other person nor is a member of an unincorporated body, undertaking or association.
5. Solvency
(A) No order has been made and no resolution has been passed for the winding up of the Company, and no petition has been presented for the purpose of the winding up of the Company or the Vendor.
(B) No administration order has been made and no petition or application for such order has been made or presented and no administrator has been appointed and no procedure has been commenced with a view to the appointment of an administrator in respect of the Company.
(C) No receiver (which expression shall include an administrative receiver) has been appointed in respect of the Company or any of its assets.
(D) No composition or similar arrangement with creditors including, but not limited to, a voluntary arrangement, has been proposed under Part 1 Insolvency Act 1986 in respect of the Company.
(E) The Company is not insolvent, or unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123 Insolvency Act 1986, and has not stopped paying its debts as they fall due.
6. Assets
(A) Each of the material assets included in the Accounts or acquired by the Company since the Accounts Date (other than stocks, obsolete assets or redundant assets or cash disposed of as part of the ordinary running of the Acquired Business and other assets which are the subject matter of operating or finance or capital leases) is owned both legally and beneficially by the
57
Company and each of those assets capable of possession is, save where in the possession of third parties in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business, in the possession of or under the control of the Company or a member of the Vendors Group.
(B) The assets and rights owned by the Company together with such other facilities and services as are to be provided to the Purchasers Group pursuant to Clause 16 comprise all the assets and rights which are required in order to carry on the Acquired Business in all material respects in the same manner as it was carried on during the twelve months ended on the date of this Agreement. This warranty shall not be construed as giving any representation or warranty that the operations of the Company do not infringe or make unauthorised use of any Intellectual Property or know-how proprietary to any third party.
(C) In relation to the Acquired Business, the Companys manufacturing and infrastructure units have been serviced and maintained in all material respects in accordance with Huntsman prescribed practice, as disclosed to the Purchaser in the Data Room and the units, machinery and equipment used by the Company are, so far as the Vendor is aware, in reasonable working order taken as a whole (subject to fair wear and tear, having regard to their age and use) so as to be capable of operating in all material respects on a similar basis as they have been operated in the Acquired Business during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement.
(D) There are no material concerns, so far as the Vendor is aware, relating to the integrity and reliability of manufacturing and infrastructure units used in the Acquired Business that have not been addressed or which the Company does not plan to address in the ordinary course and the Company has not experienced any total and unscheduled shutdowns (excluding orderly plant trips) of any of such manufacturing units or infrastructure facilities used for the operation of the manufacturing units in the past twelve months.
(E) In relation to the Acquired Business, the Company holds a stock of key engineering spares which, both as to scope and quantity, is consistent with its practice in the 24 months preceding the date of this Agreement and, as far as the Vendor is aware, key engineering spares remain commercially available for all the Companys manufacturing units and infrastructure facilities used for the operation of the manufacturing units.
7. Encumbrances
Save for (i) Permitted Encumbrances and (ii) licences of Intellectual Property which are not material to the ongoing operations of the Acquired Business, no option, right to acquire, mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of security or Encumbrance or equity on, over or affecting the whole or any part of the assets of the Company (other than the Properties) is outstanding and, save in relation to (i) Permitted Encumbrances and (ii) licences of Intellectual Property which are not material to the ongoing operations of the Acquired Business, there is no agreement or commitment entered into by the Company to give or create any or any claim made against the Company by any person to be entitled to any.
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8. Accuracy of information
(A) The statutory books required to be kept by the Company have in all material respects been properly kept and contain a record of the material matters which should be dealt with in those books and no notice or allegation that any of them is materially incorrect or should be rectified has been received by the Company.
(B) The copies of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company contained in the Data Room are complete and accurate copies.
(C) The Company has properly made, when due, all filings and returns required to be made by it under all applicable laws or regulations or under the rules or regulations of any regulatory authority within whose jurisdiction it operates, or under any contract, or permit or licence held by it, or in order to enable it to assert title to any asset owned by it, or to exercise any right held by it.
9. Accounts
10. Events since the Accounts Date
Since the Accounts Date:
59
11. Contracts
(A) The Company is not party to any contract not contained in the Data Room which:
(i) is a Material Contract and (except for leases of Properties) is not terminable (without penalty) by the Company by notice of 12 months or less (excluding purchase or sales orders for stocks placed in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business); or
(ii) materially restricts the Company from carrying on its business in any part of the world (save where such contractual restriction reflects a restriction under applicable law).
(B) The Company is not in breach of any material term of a Material Contract; nor, so far as the Vendor is aware, is any other party to any such contract.
(C) There are no outstanding contracts or obligations entered into by the Company under which the Company has guaranteed indebtedness or liabilities of any person in an amount in excess of US$50,000.
(D) There are no outstanding loans which the Company has made to any person (other than sums owed by customers in respect of supplies made in the ordinary course of business, any loan to any Employee not exceeding £15,000 or any amount for which account will be taken for the purposes of calculating the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount).
(E) There are no binding agreements (save as will be put in place in accordance with this Agreement) which following the Completion Date will remain outstanding between:
60
(i) the Company; and
(ii) any member of the Vendors Group or any person who is a director or member of any member of the Vendors Group.
(F) The Company is not party to any material agreement which was not entered into in good faith and on arms length terms.
12. Borrowings
There are no overdrafts, loans or other similar financial facilities available to the Company which will remain available following Completion (other than from a member of the Vendors Group which arrangements are to be terminated immediately after Completion) where the amount outstanding in respect thereof as at the date of this Agreement is in excess of US$500,000.
13. Powers of attorney
The Company has not given any power of attorney, proxy or similar authority (other than given to an officer of the Company, an Employee or a patent or trademark agent, in each case in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business) which is still outstanding.
14. Grants and allowances
The Company has not received any grant, allowance, aid or subsidy from any supranational, national or local authority or government agency during the last three years of US$5,000,000 or more which is currently repayable or which would be (or may be declared) repayable as a result of the sale of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
15. Consents and licences
All governmental and quasi-governmental licences, consents and permissions and approvals (other than HSE Permits, licences in relation to the Properties and licences in relation to Intellectual Property) required for the carrying on of the Acquired Business in the manner carried on in the 12 months preceding the date of this Agreement have been obtained and are subsisting and, so far as the Vendor is aware, there is no circumstance (including but not limited to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) which indicates that any such licence, consent, permission or approval is likely to be revoked or which may confer a right of revocation or which is likely to cause the licence, consent, permission or approval not to be renewed when it expires or to be renewed on terms which would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business (not taking into account an increase in the level of any fee payable).
16. Litigation
(A) The Company is not engaged in any litigation or arbitration, administrative or criminal proceedings, whether as plaintiff or defendant (other than as plaintiff in proceedings for the
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collection of debts arising in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business) and not exceeding £50,000 in any single case).
(B) So far as the Vendor is aware, no such litigation or arbitration, administrative or criminal proceedings as are referred to in sub-paragraph (A) are pending or threatened.
17. Delinquent and wrongful acts
(A) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not, and has not in the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement been, in material violation of applicable law or regulations.
(B) The Company has not received notification that any investigation or inquiry is being or has been conducted by any supranational, national or local authority or governmental agency in respect of the business or affairs of the Company.
18. Properties
(A) The Properties are the only Immoveable Property owned, used or occupied by the Company.
(B) The Company is solely legally and beneficially entitled to each of the Properties and has good title to the estate or interest denoted in respect of each Property in Attachment II.
(C) The Company holds the Properties subject to the leases, underleases, tenancies or licences full material particulars of which are set out in the Disclosure Letter and the Company is otherwise in physical possession and actual occupation of the Properties.
(D) Originals in the case of any Property where the tenure is unregistered leasehold and otherwise copies of all title deeds or documents necessary to prove title to each Property are in possession or under the control of the Company.
(E) No notices have been received by the Company the subject of which might materially interfere with the use of any Property for its current use whether from any local authority or any other body or person.
(F) There are no mortgages or charges, legal or equitable, fixed or floating, affecting any of the Properties.
(G) There are no agreements for sale, estate contracts, options or rights of pre-emption affecting the Properties.
(H) The Vendor is not aware of any agreement, obligation or matter affecting any Property which, although not registered, is capable of registration as a local land charge.
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(I) The Company has not received any written notice alleging material breach of any covenants, restrictions and other encumbrances affecting any Property which remains to be complied with.
(J) The current use of each of the Properties is a permitted or lawful use under planning legislation and there are no outstanding enforcement notices, stop notices, breach of condition or similar notices and so far as the Vendor is aware no such notices have been threatened in respect of any of the Properties.
(K) No compulsory purchase order, notice to treat or notice of entry has been received in respect of any of the Properties and, so far as the Vendor is aware, no proposals have been published for the compulsory acquisition of any of the Properties.
(L) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not, and has not in the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement been, in material violation of applicable law or regulations affecting the Properties .
(M) There are no material outstanding disputes, actions, notices, orders, claims or complaints in respect of any of the Properties.
(N) In relation to each of the Properties which is leasehold:
(i) the Property is held under the terms of the lease referred to in the Disclosure Letter and no collateral assurances, undertakings or concessions have been made or given;
(ii) there are no rent reviews outstanding;
(iii) the Company has received no notice alleging a material breach of any covenant contained in the relevant lease which remains outstanding, and as far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not in breach of any such covenant save that this warranty shall not apply to any such covenant which relates to the repair, the state and condition of the Properties or statute ; and
(iv) the Company has paid all rent and other outgoings due and payable under the terms of the lease.
(O) The replies to enquiries given by or on behalf of the Vendor to the Purchaser or the Purchasers Solicitors relating to the Properties are in all material respects true, accurate and not misleading.
(P) The Company is not a party to any outstanding agreement to acquire or dispose of land or premises or any interest therein and has no liability, whether actual or contingent, as a former tenant or guarantor of a lease of, or owner or occupier of, any Immoveable Property other than the Properties.
(Q) None of the Properties is occupied in whole or part, and whether under a lease, licence or other arrangement, by any person other than the Company.
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(R) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Properties enjoy all public and private rights necessary for their continued use and enjoyment for their current purpose and has received no notice attempting to terminate any such right.
(S) In relation to the Pipelines:
(i) so far as the Vendor is aware all fees, rents and other outgoings due and payable by the grantee to the grantor in relation to the Pipelines have been paid to date;
(ii) no notice has been received from any Landowner attempting to terminate the grantees rights in respect of any part of the Pipelines or denying the existence of such rights and no part or parts of the Pipelines have been abandoned;
(iii) there are no material outstanding disputes actions notices orders claims or complaints in respect of the any Pipelines and no notices have been received alleging any material breach of any covenant contained in the relevant deed or document under which Pipeline rights have been granted;
(iv) no Landowner has invoked or attempted to invoke the diversion provisions contained in any of the documents under which Pipeline rights have been granted;
(v) so far as the Vendor is aware there have been no difficulties encountered gaining access to any part of the Pipelines in order to inspect, repair, replace, renew or divert the same or for any other purposes;
(vi) none of the ongoing management matters referred to in the Disclosure Letter have or are likely to have any adverse impact on the continued use of the Pipelines for their current use;
(vii) the current use of the Pipelines is a permitted or lawful use under planning legislation and there are no outstanding enforcement notices, stop notices, breach of condition or similar notices and so far as the Vendor is aware no such notices have been threatened in respect of the Pipelines;
(viii) the Company enjoys all public and private rights necessary for the continued use and enjoyment of the Pipelines for their current purpose; and
(ix) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not, and has not in the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement been, in material violation of applicable law or regulations affecting the Pipelines.
19. HSE
(A) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has obtained all HSE Permits which are necessary under HSE Laws for the purpose of carrying on the Acquired Business in substantially the same manner, to substantially the same extent, and using substantially the same substances as were applicable during the twelve months ending on the Accounts Date.
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(B) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable HSE Laws and with all terms and conditions on which any HSE Permit has been given to it.
(C) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has not been in material breach of any applicable HSE Laws or terms and conditions on which any HSE Permit has been given to it during the period since 1999 Closing (as defined in Schedule 9 (Environmental Covenant)).
(D) The Company is not under any material obligation to remediate any HSE Matter under HSE Laws and, so far as the Vendor is aware, no such obligation is expected to arise after Completion.
(E) The Company has not received any notification or claim from any relevant authority or any other person in respect of any breach of any HSE Laws or HSE Permit which remains outstanding or unremedied in any material respect. So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not under any investigation or inquiry by any relevant authority or any other person in relation to any material breach of HSE Laws or any HSE Permit.
(F) So far as the Vendor is aware, there are no circumstances in relation to HSE Matters which are very likely to result in the Company being required by relevant authority under HSE Laws to suspend the operations either in whole or in substantial part of the relevant facility on any emergency or other non-routine basis, provided that this warranty does not include any suspension or order to allow scheduled plant upgrades to take place.
(G) So far as the Vendor is aware, all material audits and other assessments, reviews, reports and investigations in the possession or control of the Vendor or the Company relating to HSE Matters in respect of the Company, the Properties and/or the Pipelines and commissioned in the period since 1999 Closing have been disclosed to the Purchaser.
(H) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has no material liability in respect of HSE Matters arising out of or in connection with any former business or in relation to any property (other than the Properties or the Pipelines) owned, occupied or used by the Company at any time which is outstanding as at the date of this Agreement.
20. Intellectual Property and Information Technology
(A) Details of all registered Intellectual Property owned by the Company are set out in Attachment VI.
(B) All renewal fees required for the maintenance of the rights disclosed pursuant to sub-paragraph (A) have been paid.
(C) Details of all licences in respect of any Intellectual Property granted to or by the Company which are material to the on-going operations of the Acquired Business are disclosed in the Disclosure Letter.
(D) The Company is not in material breach of any licence disclosed pursuant to sub-paragraph (C) and no written notification of any material breach by any third party has been received by it in the last twelve months.
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(E) So far as the Vendor is aware, the operations of the Company do not infringe or make unauthorised use of any Intellectual Property or know-how proprietary to any third party where such infringement or unauthorised use would have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business.
(F) So far as the Vendor is aware, there is no unauthorised use or infringement by any person of any Intellectual Property or know-how proprietary to the Company.
(G) Except in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business or to its officers and employees, the Company has not disclosed any of its material confidential information to any third party except under obligations of confidentiality.
(H) During the past twelve months, there has been no material disruption to the Acquired Business caused by any operational failure or performance fault of any information technology asset or system owned by the Company.
21. Competition and trade regulation law
(A) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not a party to any agreement or arrangement which:-
(ii) renders the Company liable to civil, criminal or administrative proceedings,
in either case by virtue of any anti-trust or similar legislation in any jurisdiction in which the Company carries on business.
(B) Neither the Company nor any other entity for which it is liable has infringed any competition or antitrust laws in any jurisdiction (including but not limited to any matter in respect of which a decision or other order by a regulatory authority such as the European Commission or the Office of Fair Trading has been issued to the Company (or the Purchaser) to pay a fine for an infringement of competition or antitrust laws committed by the Vendor or the Company).
(C) As far as the Vendor is aware there are no pending court of administrative proceedings, investigations or complaints regarding any alleged infringement by the Vendor or the Company of any competition or antitrust laws in any jurisdiction.
(D) Neither the Company nor any other entity for which it is liable has received any form of aid from any state or stated-owned company which contravenes state aid rules in the EU.
(E) As far as the Vendor is aware, there are no pending court or administrative proceedings, investigations or complaints regarding any alleged aid received by the Company (or in respect of which the Company may be liable to make a repayment) in contravention of state aid rules in the EU.
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22. Employment
(A) The details of Transferring In Employees and Employees (including, in the case of Employees, details of aggregate basic salaries for each site, function and grade, and in the case of Transferring In Employees, the aggregate of their basic salaries and their current employer) to the extent set out in Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 8 are accurate in all material respects as at the date specified in Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 8 and as at that date no person not named in Part 3 of Schedule 8 was an Employee.
(B) No person has become an Employee of Grade 33 or above since the date referred to in paragraph (A) above.
(C) The Data Room contains true and complete copies of the current contracts of employment of all Employees and Transferring In Employees whose basic salary exceeds £100,000.
(D) The Data Room contains true and complete particulars of all outstanding and material profit sharing, incentive, bonus, stock option and redundancy arrangements in place for the benefit of any Employee or Transferring In Employee. For these purposes, material means (i) in relation to profit sharing, incentive and bonus arrangements, such as may result in the payment in any one year of in excess of 25% of basic salary (before tax) and (ii) in relation to redundancy arrangements, such as may result in a payment on (or in connection with) redundancy in excess of double the statutory entitlement (including the value of any related contribution to a pension scheme, enhancement of pension rights or any other benefit having a net present financial value). In respect of any such arrangement which is discretionary but uncapped, may result means that, based on past practice and current expectation, that result is more likely than not.
(E) Subject to any applicable laws and regulations any contract of employment with any Employee to which the Company is party can be terminated by the Company by giving at any time six months notice or less in writing to that Employee.
(F) So far as the Vendor is aware, there is:
(i) no material dispute relating to Employees or Transferring In Employees between the Company (or the Transferring In Employees existing employer(s)) and any trade union or other organisation formed for a similar purpose existing, pending or threatened in writing to the Company (or such employer(s));
(ii) no collective bargaining agreement (whether binding or not) applicable to any Employees or Transferring In Employees to which the Company (or the Transferring In Employees existing employer(s)) is a party; and
(iii) no outstanding dispute or outstanding claim against the Company by any person who is now or has been an officer or employee of the Company or any outstanding dispute between the Company and a material number or class of its Employees and, so far as the Vendor is aware, there are no grounds for such a dispute or for bringing such a claim, being a dispute or claim which would be material.
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(G) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has no outstanding material undischarged liability to pay to any governmental or regulatory authority in any jurisdiction any contribution, Tax or other impost arising in connection with the employment or engagement in that jurisdiction of any personnel by the Company, nor will it assume any such liability in respect of any Transferring In Employee.
(H) There are no outstanding loans between the Company and any Employee or Transferring In Employee other than those made in the ordinary course of the Acquired Business.
(I) No present officer of the Company or Employee of Grade 33 or above has given or received notice terminating his employment, except as expressly contemplated under this Agreement.
(J) Since the Accounts Date, no change has been made in the rate of remuneration of any officer of the Company or Employee and no change has been made in the terms of engagement of any such officer or Employee and no additional officer or Employee has been appointed.
(K) The Data Room contains full particulars of all (and copies of any written) outstanding agreements or arrangements between the Company and a trade union, works council, staff association or other body representing any of its employees.
(L) There is not now outstanding any contract or arrangement to which the Company is a party requiring the payment to any individual, including any sole trader trading as an incorporated company, of any consultancy fees in excess of £100,000 in any twelve month period.
(M) In the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement, the Company has not:
(i) given notice of redundancies to the relevant Secretary of State or started consultations with a trades union under Chapter II of Part IV of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 or failed to comply with its obligations under Chapter II of Part IV of that Act; or
(ii) been a party to a relevant transfer (as defined in the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006) or failed to comply with a duty to inform and consult a trade union under those Regulations.
(N) So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has, in relation to each of its officers and Employees, and, so far as it may remain liable for any breach in respect of them, its former officers and employees, complied in all material respects with all obligations imposed on it by, and all orders and awards made under, all statutes and regulations and any legally binding collective agreements (so far as breach of any of them is capable of giving rise to liability) relevant to the relations between it and its employees or any trades union or to the conditions of service of its employees (including the Working Time Regulations 1998).
(O) So far as the Vendor is aware, (each of) the employer(s) of each of the Transferring In Employees has, in relation to the Transferring In Employees, complied in all material respects with all obligations imposed on it by, and all orders and awards made under, all statutes and regulations and any legally binding collective agreements (so far as breach of any of them is capable of giving rise to liability) relevant to the relations between it and its employees or any
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trades union or to the conditions of service of its employees (including the Working Time Regulations 1998).
23. The Accounts and Tax
(A) The Company has no liability in respect of Tax (whether actual or contingent):
(i) in any part of the world assessable or payable by reference to income, profits, gains or distributions earned, received or paid or arising or deemed to arise on or at any time prior to the Accounts Date or in respect of any period starting before the Accounts Date; or
(ii) referable to transactions effected on or before the Accounts Date
that is not disclosed or provided for in the Accounts.
(B) Full provision has been made in the Accounts for deferred Tax in accordance with UK GAAP.
24. Tax events since the Accounts Date
Since the Accounts Date:
(A) the Company has not declared, made or paid any distribution within the meaning of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (the Taxes Act 1988);
(B) no accounting period (as defined in Taxes Act 1988 section 12) of the Company has ended as referred to in section 12(3);
(C) the Company has not been involved in any transaction which has given or may give rise to a liability on the Company (or would have given rise or might give rise to such a liability but for the availability of any Relief) other than Tax in respect of income, profits or receipts of the Company arising from transactions entered into by it in the ordinary course of business;
(D) the Company has not been involved in any transaction otherwise than on arms length terms;
(E) no disposal has taken place or other event occurred which has given or may give rise to a liability to Tax which, if such disposal or event had been planned or predicted at the Accounts Date, should have been reflected in the provision for deferred Tax contained in the Accounts;
(F) the Company has not made any payment or incurred any obligation to make a payment (in either case in excess of £250,000) which will not be deductible in computing trading profits for the purposes of corporation Tax, or be deductible as a management expense of a company with an investment business;
(G) the Company has not paid or become liable to pay any interest or penalty in connection with any Tax and the Company is not liable to pay any Tax the due date for payment of which has passed nor will the Company become liable to pay any Tax the due date for payment of which will arise in the 30 days after the date of this Agreement.
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25. Administrative Matters
(A) The Company has so far as is material to the Acquired Business, duly and within any appropriate time limits made all proper returns, given all notices, supplied all information and maintained all such records required to be made, given, supplied or maintained by it prior to the date of this Agreement for any Tax purpose, and the information contained in any such returns or notices, or information supplied, was complete and accurate in all material respects and were made or provided on the proper basis.
(B) The Company has paid all Tax which it has become liable to pay, and has not been notified of any liability to pay any penalty, interest, supplement, fine, default surcharge or other payment in connection with any claim for Tax.
(C) All claims, disclaimers, elections, appeals or applications by the Company the making of which has been taken into account in the Accounts have been made and were and remain valid and the Company has retained all such records and information as may be requisite to evidence any such claim as being a correct and complete claim and to enable any future such claim to be made as a correct and complete claim.
(D) No transaction in respect of which any consent or clearance from any Tax Authority was required or sought has been entered into or carried out by the Company without such consent or clearance having been properly obtained. Any transaction for which such consent or clearance was obtained has been carried out in accordance with the terms of such consent or clearance and the application in respect of which such consent or clearance was based and at a time when such consent or clearance was valid and effective.
(E) No Tax Authority has operated or agreed to operate any special arrangement or practice (being one not based on relevant legislation or published practice) in relation to the affairs of the Company.
26. Disputes
(A) There is no existing material dispute between the Company and any Tax Authority nor does the Company expect to be involved in any such dispute. So far as the Vendor is aware, in relation to any Company, there is no planned investigation, non-routine audit or non-routine visit by any Tax Authority.
(B) No dispute between members of the Vendors Group and any Tax Authority will require amendments to the Tax Returns of the Company in respect of any period up to the Accounts Date.
27. Deductions and Withholdings
The Company has complied with its obligations under any statutory provisions requiring the deduction or withholding of Tax from amounts paid by the Company, whether on its own behalf or as agent, and has properly accounted for any Tax so deducted or withheld to any Tax Authority (other than amounts which have not yet become due to be paid).
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28. Penalties, interest
So far as the Vendor is aware the Company and any director or officer of the Company has no outstanding liability to pay to any Tax Authority, any penalty, fine, surcharge or interest in respect of Tax (including in respect of any failure to make any return, give any notice or supply any information to any relevant Tax Authority, or any failure to pay Tax on the due date for payment).
29. Residence
The Company is, and has at all times been, resident for Tax purposes in the United Kingdom and is not, and has not at any time been, treated as resident in any other jurisdiction for any Tax purposes (including pursuant to any double taxation arrangement). It does not have and has never had a branch, agency, place of business or permanent establishment outside the United Kingdom.
30. Value Added Tax, Customs Duties and Excise Duties
(A) The Company has complied with any obligation to register for the purposes of VAT (whether in the UK or overseas) and has complied in all material respects with its obligations under any Tax legislation relating to VAT, customs duties and excise duties, including (without limitation) making returns and payments as they fall due on a timely basis and complying with any administrative requirements.
(B) The Company is not, and has not at any time in the six years preceding the date of this Agreement been, a member of a group of companies for the purposes of VAT in the UK or elsewhere and has not applied for such treatment.
(C) The Company has not been required to give security by any Tax Authority and no steps have been taken for distress to be levied on any asset of the Company.
(D) The Company has not been denied credit for input tax for a supply pursuant to Value Added Tax Act 1994 section 26A (disallowance of input tax where consideration not paid) and the Company has not claimed credit for input tax in respect of any supply for which any part of the consideration remains unpaid.
(E) The Company has maintained and obtained complete, correct and up to date records, invoices and other documents (as the case may be) appropriate or requisite for the purposes of VAT legislation in any relevant jurisdiction and has preserved such records, invoices and other documents in such form and for such periods as are required by VAT legislation in the relevant jurisdiction.
(F) The Company has not in the ten years preceding Completion incurred any expenditure on capital items such that the provisions of Part XV The Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 (capital goods scheme) or any similar regulations in any other jurisdiction may apply to the Company.
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(G) No election has been nor will before Completion be made pursuant to paragraph 2 of Schedule 10 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994 in relation to any of the Properties or any part of any of them.
(H) The Company obtains credit for all input tax paid or suffered by it.
(I) The Vendor is not aware of any transaction to which it is a party which forms part of arrangements which will give rise to obligations on the Company under VATA 1994 Schedule 11A (disclosure of avoidance scheme) in respect of any future return or any similar regulations in any other jurisdiction.
31. Intra-Group Transactions
The Company has not within the last six years acquired any asset (including intangible fixed assets within the meaning of Schedule 29 to the Finance Act 2002) from any other company which was, at the time of acquisition, a member of the same group of companies as that member for the purposes of any Tax.
32. PAYE and National insurance Contributions
The Company has complied in all material respects with its obligations under any Tax legislation relating to Pay As You Earn and National Insurance Contributions. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes both the Companys obligation to withhold Taxes and contributions from employees remuneration and the Companys obligations as an employer to pay any Taxes or contributions in respect of its employees remuneration.
33. Distributions and payments
(A) The Company has not since incorporation:
(i) issued any share capital as paid up otherwise than by the receipt of new consideration (within the meaning of Taxes Act 1988 section 254); or
(ii) redeemed, repaid, purchased or otherwise acquired, or agreed to redeem, repay, purchase or otherwise acquire, any of its own shares.
(B) No securities (within the meaning of Taxes Act 1988 section 254(1)) issued by the Company and remaining in issue at the date of this Agreement were issued in circumstances such that the interest or any other amount payable on those securities falls to be treated as a distribution.
(C) The Company has not within the period of six years preceding Completion made or received any distribution which is an exempt distribution within Taxes Act 1988 section 213 to 218(1) (inclusive) (demergers).
(D) As at 6 April 1999, the Company had no unrelieved surplus advance corporation tax, as defined in The Corporation Tax (Treatment of Unrelieved Surplus Advance Corporation Tax) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/358), and the Company has not at any time on or after 6 April 1999
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been a member of a group (for the purposes of such regulations) that had another member which had such unrelieved surplus advance corporation tax as at 6 April 1999.
34. Groups
(A) The Disclosure Letter gives full details of any surrender of, or claim for, group relief by the Company where such surrender or claim has not become final and determined for any reason, including details of any amount received or paid (or any entitlement to receive or obligation to make a payment) in respect of any such surrender or claim and details of the other company concerned. For these purposes group relief means any amount surrendered or claimed by way of:
(i) group relief pursuant to Chapter IV of Part X Taxes Act 1988;
(ii) Tax refund pursuant to Finance Act 1989 section 102;
(iii) advance corporation tax pursuant to Taxes Act 1988 section 240; or
(iv) eligible unrelieved foreign tax pursuant to The Double Taxation Relief (Surrender of Relievable Tax Within a Group) Regulations 2001.
(B) The Company has received all payments due to it and made all payments due from it in respect of any surrender or claim of group relief as so defined and no such payment is liable to be refunded in whole or in part.
(C) The Company is not and has never been a party to a group payment arrangement under Finance Act 1998 section 36.
35. Capital assets
(A) If each of the assets (other than trading stock) of the Company were disposed of for a consideration equal to the book value of that asset in, or adopted for the purpose of, the Accounts, no liability to Tax and no balancing charge (or corresponding Tax in any jurisdiction) in relation to any such asset or pool of assets would arise (disregarding for this purpose any relief and allowances available to the Company).
(B) No liability to Tax would arise on the disposal by the Company of any asset (other than trading stock) acquired since the Accounts Date for a consideration equal to the consideration actually given for the acquisition.
(C) The Company has neither elected nor undertaken to elect with any other company pursuant to TCGA 1992 section 171A for TCGA 1992 section 171(1) to apply to any asset disposed of on or after 1 April 2000 by either company to such election (notional transfer within a group).
(D) The Company has neither elected nor undertaken to elect with any other company pursuant to TCGA 1992 section 179A for any chargeable gain or allowable loss which arises under TCGA 1992 section 179 to be treated as accruing to the Company instead of to that other company or vice versa.
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(E) The Company does not own any asset in respect of which for the purposes of corporation tax on chargeable gains:
(i) any loss which might accrue on disposal would be liable to be reduced or eliminated by reason of any depreciatory transaction or any reduction in value of that or any related asset;
(ii) on disposal a chargeable gain would be liable to be created or increased by reason of any reduction in value of that or any related asset.
(D) The Disclosure Letter gives details of any loss which has accrued to the Company in respect of which notice pursuant to TCGA 1992 section 16(2A) needs to be, but has not at the time of Completion been, given to an officer of HMRC in order to be an allowable loss for the purposes of the TCGA 1992.
36. Capital expenditure - capital allowances
(A) The Disclosure Letter gives details of all capital allowances claimed in each of the last six years.
(B) The Company has not made any election pursuant to CAA 2001 section 83 (election for assets to be treated as short life assets) nor is taken to have made such an election by reason of CAA 2001 section 89(4) (disposal to connected person). The Company has not incurred any expenditure on machinery or plant which is a long life asset to which CAA 2001 Part 2 Chapter 10 applies.
37. Intangible fixed assets
The Company has not acquired or created any asset to which the provisions of Schedule 29, Finance Act 2002 apply (gains and losses of a company from intangible fixed assets).
38. Loan relationships
(A) The Company is not a party to any loan relationship:
(i) which was issued at a discount or a premium;
(ii) where there is or was previously a connection between the parties as defined by Finance Act 1996 section 87;
(iii) to which Finance Act 1996 Schedule 9 paragraph 11 or paragraph 11A (transactions or loans not at arms length) applies;
(iv) where there has been or will be a release of any amount payable under the relationship;
(v) to which any of Finance Act 1996 sections 91A to 91G (shares treated as loan relationships), section 92 (convertible securities etc.), section 93 (relationships linked
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to the value of chargeable assets), section 93A (relationships linked to the value of chargeable assets: guaranteed returns) or section 94 (indexed gilt-edged securities) applies;
(vi) in relation to which (taking account only of the particular loan relationship and disregarding any other asset or liability) an exchange gain or loss might arise to the Company;
(vii) to which it was a party before 1 April 1996 (implementation of the loan relationship regime).
(B) The Company accounts and has always accounted for all its loan relationships (as defined in Finance Act 1996 section 81) on an authorised accruals basis.
(C) The Company is not the debtor pursuant to any loan relationship:
(i) to which the provisions of Finance Act 1996 Schedule 9 paragraph 2 (late interest) have applied; or
(ii) which has an unallowable purpose within the meaning of Finance Act 1996 Schedule 9 paragraph 13 (loan relationships for unallowable purposes).
39. Derivative contracts
The Company is not a party to a derivative contract within Finance Act 2002 section 83 and Schedule 26.
40. Transfer pricing
(A) The Company is not, and has not been, required by Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 1(2) to compute its profits or losses as if an arms length provision had been made instead of any actual provision. The Company has retained records and contemporaneous documentary evidence sufficient to demonstrate the same.
(B) The Company is not and has not been excluded from Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 1(2) (transfer pricing) by virtue of Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 5A(1) (exemption for dormant companies) or paragraph 5B(1) (exemption for small or medium-sized enterprises) applying.
(D) The amount of Tax payable by the Company has not been, nor is assumed in the Accounts to be, affected by any claim by the Company as a disadvantaged person pursuant to Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 6(2).
(E) The Company is not a guarantor under a guarantee of a security (within the meaning of Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA) in respect of which, in computing the profits and losses of the borrowing company for Tax purposes, the amounts to be deducted in respect of interest or other amounts payable under the security fall to be reduced under Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 1(2) by virtue of Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 1B.
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(F) There is no agreement or arrangement pursuant to which there is due to or from the Company a balancing payment within either Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 7A or paragraph 7C (balancing payments).
(G) The Disclosure Letter gives full details of any election made by the Company pursuant to either Taxes Act 1988 Schedule 28AA paragraph 7B or paragraph 7D (elections instead of balancing payments). No such election has been refused by HMRC and no notice of enquiry has been given to the Company in respect of any company Tax return containing such an election.
41. Employee-related securities
No restricted securities or restricted interests in securities within the meaning of ITEPA section 423 have been acquired by employees of the Company since 15 April 2003.
42. Anti-avoidance
(A) The Company has not been a party to any transaction or transactions which the Company was advised fall within any of the circumstances in Taxes Act 1988 section 704 in relation to which clearance pursuant to Taxes Act 1988 section 707 was either not sought or was sought but not obtained.
(B) There is no transaction or series of transaction involving the Company and another company in the same group of companies as the Company which would, but for the application of Finance Act 2004 section 51, give rise to a Tax advantage as a result of the use of different accounting practices.
43. Tax disclosure
The Company has not been a party to any transaction or arrangement in respect of which disclosure was required pursuant to Part 7 Finance Act 2004.
44. Secondary liability
The Company is not liable to pay, or make reimbursement or indemnity in respect of, any Tax (or any amount corresponding to Tax) in consequence of the failure by any other person to discharge that Tax or amount within any specified period or otherwise, where the Tax or amount relates to a profit, income or gain, transaction, event, omission or circumstances arising, occurring or deemed to arise or occur before Completion.
45. Payments equivalent to Taxation
(A) The Company has not entered into any indemnity, guarantee or covenant under which the Company has agreed or can be procured to meet or pay a sum equivalent to or by reference to another persons liability to Tax.
(B) The Company is not liable, nor has any event or omission occurred in consequence of which the Company could at any time become liable, to make a payment to any person as a result of
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the discharge by that person of any liability of the Company to Tax incurred on or before Completion.
46. Stamp taxes
(A) The Company has complied in all material respects with its obligations under any Tax legislation relating to stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax and stamp duty land tax.
(B) All documents to which the Company is a party and under which the Company has any rights or which form part of the Companys title to any asset owned by it have been duly stamped with the correct amount of stamp duty and any applicable stamp or other duty in respect of such documents has been accounted for and paid and no stamp duty remains to be paid in respect of any such documents which are outside the United Kingdom and have yet to be brought into the United Kingdom. The Company has not undertaken to re-present for stamping any document which has already been stamped.
(C) The Company has complied in all respects with the provisions of Finance Act 1986 Part IV (stamp duty reserve tax) and with any regulations made under it and neither it nor any nominee for it is a party to any agreement which falls within the terms of section 87(1) of that Act (principal charge) and in relation to which the conditions referred to in section 92(1) of that Act (repayment or cancellation of tax) have not been fulfilled.
(D) The Company has not acquired or agreed to acquire an estate or interest in land being a transaction which has not been completed, whether by a transfer (including by way of sub-sale), the grant of a lease or otherwise.
(E) Neither the Company nor any company which, by reason of this Agreement, will be a relevant associated company in relation to the Company within the meaning of Finance Act 2002 section 111 or section 113 holds any estate or interest in land that was transferred, granted or surrendered to the Company by an instrument executed within the period of three years preceding this Agreement which has been stamped on the basis that relief under Finance Act 1930 section 42 (transfer of property between associated bodies corporate) or Finance Act 1986 section 76 (relief for company acquisitions) applied, and neither the Company nor any such company holds any estate or interest in land that is derived from an estate or interest that was so transferred, granted or surrendered.
(F) Neither the Company nor any company which, by reason of this Agreement, will be a relevant associated company in relation to the Company within the meaning of Finance Act 2003 Schedule 7 paragraph 3 or paragraph 9 holds any estate or interest in land that was acquired by the Company in a transaction the effective date of which for stamp duty land tax purposes occurred within the period of three years preceding this Agreement, being a transaction that was exempt from stamp duty land tax on the basis that group relief under Finance Act 2003 Schedule 7 paragraph 1 or reconstruction or acquisition relief under Finance Act 2003 Schedule 7 paragraph 7 or 8 applied, and neither the Company nor any such company holds an estate or interest in land that is derived from an estate or interest that was so acquired.
(G) The Company has no interest in an option or right to pre-emption acquired before 1 December 2003 which relates to land.
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(H) The Company has not entered into any transaction for the acquisition of an interest in UK land in circumstances where the future sale of that interest (or any part of it) by the Company may result in a liability to stamp duty or stamp duty land tax arising in relation to that acquisition (whether the requirements for sub-sale relief in Stamp Act 1891 section 58(4) are met in relation to such future sale or not) for any reason.
(I) The Company is not treated as a purchaser in relation to any land transaction for the purposes of legislation relating to stamp duty land tax:
(i) in respect of which, for the purposes of such legislation, the chargeable consideration was and remains contingent, uncertain or unascertained (including, in the case of a leasehold interest, by reason of provisions for changes in the amount of rent payable);
(ii) in respect of which payment of stamp duty land tax has been deferred pursuant to Finance Act 2003 section 90 or an application for deferral has been made and remains outstanding.
(J) The Disclosure Letter gives full details of any leasehold interest of the Company which was exempt from charge to stamp duty land tax on grant.
(K) The Company has not been liable to pay stamp duty land tax by reason of an increase in the rent payable under any lease being regarded as abnormal pursuant to Finance Act 2003 Schedule 17A paragraph 15, nor is the Company aware of circumstances that are likely to produce such an abnormal increase after Completion.
47. Product Liability
The Company has not received any written notice or written claim (in each case, which remains outstanding) in the period of two years prior to the date of this Agreement alleging that it has manufactured, supplied, sold or provided any product which does not in any material respect comply with all applicable laws, regulations or standards or which in any material respect is defective or dangerous.
48. Data Protection
So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company has not received any written notice from a data user, data subject or data protection regulatory authority alleging non-compliance with Data Protection Legislation. For the purposes of this Warranty, Data Protection Legislation means the Data Protection Act 1998 and any provision of law derived from Directive 95/46/EC concerning the protection and/or procuring of personal data.
49. ExxonMobil Agreement
(A) There has been no material breach of the LDPE Technology Licence by either of the parties thereto.
(B) ExxonMobil will not be entitled to rescind, terminate, avoid or repudiate or accelerate the payment of royalties under the LDPE Technology Licence as a result of the completion of
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transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as a result of any actions taken by the Vendor prior to Completion.
(C) The Company will continue to be entitled to the benefit of the LDPE Technology Licence (with all rights in relation thereto as at Completion) immediately following Completion.
(D) There has been no amendment to the terms of the LDPE Technology Licence since the date of its execution.
50. Effect of Sale
(A) There are no material agreements, licences, contracts permits or consents concerning the Company which will automatically terminate, or in respect of which a right to terminate or vary will arise, by reason of the Change of Control of the Company effected by this Agreement the termination or variation of which will have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Business.
(B) The Company will not, in the operation of its business, require the assistance of, or access to information or know-how owned by the Vendors Group, or the expertise of employees of the Vendors Group, following Completion (excepting such information or know-how that will be licensed to the Company as contemplated by this Agreement and such assistance as is to be provided under the agreements to be entered into under or in accordance with the provisions of Clause 16).
51. Pensions
(A) For the purposes of this paragraph 51, the definitions in Schedule 5 shall apply. Other than the Vendors Scheme the Company does not participate in, contribute to or have any liability to any arrangement (whether or not closed, funded or a registered pension scheme) for providing pension or other benefits on, or in anticipation of, the retirement, death or sickness of any current or former director or employee of the Company, nor has it agreed or announced any proposal to enter into or establish any such arrangement.
(B) Copies of the following are comprised in the Data Room:
(i) the current trust deed and rules governing the Vendors Scheme, including any deeds of alteration since the date of that trust deed and rules;
(ii) the current explanatory booklet issued to members of the Vendors Scheme;
(iii) data for any current or former director or employee of the Company in respect of his or her membership of the Vendors Scheme as at 31 August 2006 where the member is a member as at that date;
(iv) the deed of adherence by which the Company agreed to participate in the Vendors Scheme;
(vi) the triennial actuarial valuation for funding purposes of the Vendors Scheme as at 31 March 2003; and
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(vi) the trustees report and accounts of the Vendors Scheme for the year ending 31 March 2005.
(C) (i) There are no established practices relating to the payment of discretionary benefits from the Vendors Scheme which are not reflected in the documentation disclosed to the Purchaser.
(ii) No unexpired undertaking has been given to any current or former director or employee of the Company about the continuation of the Vendors Scheme or the exercise of any discretion or power to pay benefits.
(D) (i) The Vendors Scheme was prior to 6 April 2006 approved as an exempt approved scheme under Chapter 1 Part XIV Taxes Act and with effect on and from 6 April 2006 is a Registered Pension Scheme for the purposes of Part 4 of the Finance Act 2004. It has at all times been administered in accordance with the provisions of those Acts and nothing has been done or omitted to be done which may result in it ceasing to be such an exempt approved scheme or so registered.
(ii) The Vendors Scheme is a contracted out scheme for the purposes of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and has been administered in accordance with the contracting out requirements of that Act.
(E) There are no civil, criminal, arbitration or administrative proceedings or disputes other than routine claims for benefits in respect of the Vendors Scheme (which includes, without limitation, proceedings or disputes involving the Pensions Regulator, the Pensions Advisory Service or the Pensions Ombudsman) by or against the trustees, managers or administrators of the Vendors Scheme, the Vendor or the Company and, so far as the Vendor is aware, none is pending or threatened.
(F) (i) The Vendors Scheme complies with and has been administered at all times in all material respects in accordance with all applicable legal requirements (including, without limitation, Article 141 of the Treaty of Rome as it applies to the eligibility of any current or former director or employee of the Company to join the scheme and the benefits provided under it other than accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pensions) and the trusts, powers and provisions of the scheme, provided that this paragraph does not extend to the benefit and contributions structure of the Vendors Scheme as set out in the trust deed and rules of the Vendors Scheme referred to in the Disclosure Letter.
(ii) No current or former director or employee of the Company has been excluded from membership of the Vendors Scheme or provided with different benefits under the Vendors Scheme because of their gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief or because they are or were employed on a part-time fixed-term basis and no transfer payment has been received from another pension arrangement which provided different benefits for such a reason.
(G) (i) All contributions, (including fees, charges and expenses of whatever nature) which are payable by the Company under the Vendors Scheme and all contributions due from
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members of the Vendors Scheme who are Employees have been duly made other than to the extent payable in arrears.
(ii) No contribution notice, financial support direction or restoration order has been served on the Company or any person connected to or associated with the Company by the Pensions Regulator in accordance with its powers under the Pensions Act 2004 and, so far as the Vendor is aware, there is no reason why such a contribution notice, financial support direction or restoration order may be served on the Company.
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SCHEDULE
4
(Limitations on liability)
1. Limitation on quantum and general
(A) The Purchaser shall not be entitled in any event to damages or other payment in respect of any claim or claims under any of the Warranties in respect of any individual claim (or series of related claims with respect to the same facts or circumstances):
(i) for less than US$200,000; or
(ii) unless and until the aggregate amount of all such claims (taking no account of those referred to in (i) above) exceeds US$10,000,000, in which event the Vendors liability shall be limited to the amount by which such aggregate amount exceeds US$5,000,000.
(B) The total aggregate liability of the Vendor under this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, under the Warranties, under the Environmental Covenant (other than as provided in the Environmental Covenant), and under the Tax Covenant (taken together) shall not in any event exceed US$600,000,000.
(C) Each provision of this Schedule shall be read and construed without prejudice to each of the other provisions of this Schedule.
(D) References to the Warranties in paragraphs 1(A), 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Schedule shall not include the Tax Warranties and the provisions of the Tax Covenant, mutatis mutandis, shall operate to limit the Vendors liability and to govern the claims procedure in respect of any claim under the Tax Warranties in respect of a liability for Tax as if such claim had been a claim for a Tax Liability under the Tax Covenant.
(E) The provisions of this Schedule shall operate to limit the liability of the Vendor under each of the Environmental Covenant and the Tax Covenant in so far as any provision in this Schedule is expressed to be applicable thereto.
(F) The provisions of this Schedule shall not apply to any claim for breach of any of the Warranties in paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 3.
(G) The provisions of this Schedule shall not apply to any claim for breach of any of the Warranties in circumstances where the Vendor knowingly failed to disclose facts or circumstances of which any of Sam Scruggs, Jim Moore, Michael Maughan, Mahomed Maiter, John ONeill, Paul Booth, Michael Ducker, Ronald Grant, Mike Kern, Wade Rogers, Ian Machin, Brian Thomas, Gary Hodgson, John Galbraith, David Hughes, Joe Duffy, Kevin Hardman, Brian Watson, David Flett, Alan MacMahon, Andy Teague, Mark Williams, Andy Boylett, Neil Moon or Steve Bryan was at the date hereof aware, provided that such person had actual knowledge at the date hereof that such facts or circumstances constituted a breach of the Warranties. The Vendor confirms that each of such individuals has read the Warranties.
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2. Time limits for bringing claims
No claim shall be brought against the Vendor in respect of any of the Warranties or the Tax Covenant unless the Purchaser shall have given to the Vendor written notice of its intention to make such claim:
(iii) in respect of any claim for breach of the Warranties in paragraph 21 of Schedule 3 on or before the sixth anniversary of the Completion Date,
provided that the liability of the Vendor in respect of such claim shall absolutely terminate (if such claim has not been previously satisfied, settled or withdrawn) if legal proceedings in respect of such claim shall not have been commenced within twelve months of the service of such notice and for this purpose proceedings shall not be deemed to have been commenced unless they shall have been properly issued and (except where the Vendor is resisting service) validly served upon the Vendor.
Such notice shall specify (in reasonable detail) the matter which gives rise to the claim, the nature of the claim and (to the extent reasonably practicable) the amount claimed in respect thereof (detailing the Purchasers calculation of the loss thereby alleged to have been suffered by it or the relevant member of the Purchasers Group), but the Vendor shall not be entitled to dispute liability by reason only of any alleged deficiency in the content of such notice.
3. Conduct of third party claims
(i) as soon as reasonably practicable notify the Vendor thereof in writing;
(ii) subject to the Vendor indemnifying the Purchaser against any liability, cost, damage or expense which may be incurred thereby (but without implying any admission of liability thereby), take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records to the Vendor and their professional advisers as the Vendor may reasonably request and the Vendor shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to avoid, dispute, resist, mitigate, settle, compromise, defend or appeal any claim in respect thereof or adjudication with respect thereto;
(iii) subject to the Vendor indemnifying the Purchaser against any liability, cost, damage or expense which may be incurred thereby (but without implying any admission of liability
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thereby), at the request of the Vendor, allow the Vendor to take the sole conduct of such actions as the Vendor may deem appropriate in connection with any such assessment or claim in the name of the Purchaser or the Company and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Vendor all such assistance as the Vendor may reasonably require in avoiding, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing any such claim and shall instruct such legal or other professional advisors as the Vendor may nominate to act on behalf of the Purchaser or any relevant company, as appropriate, but to act in accordance with the Vendors instructions provided that the Purchaser shall not be required to commence any legal proceedings where either:
(a) the Purchaser has validly assigned all of its rights in relation to the relevant claim to the Vendor in a manner which entitles the Vendor to the same benefits in respect of such rights as the Purchaser had; or
(b) where the above sub-paragraph (a) does not apply, the Vendor has not notified the relevant party against whom such proceedings are brought that such proceedings are being brought at the instruction of the Vendor;
(iv) be entitled to participate in the defence of any claim and to employ separate counsel to represent it at its own expense, provided that the Vendor shall control the defence of any claim;
(v) make no admission of liability, agreement, settlement or compromise with any third party in relation to any such claim or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Vendor; and
(vi) take all reasonable action to mitigate any loss suffered by it or any member of the Purchasers Group in respect of which a claim could be made under the Warranties.
4. No liability if loss is otherwise compensated for
(A) No liability shall attach to the Vendor by reason of any breach of any of the Warranties or the Tax Covenant to the extent that the same loss has been recovered by the Purchaser under the Tax Covenant or any other Warranty or term of this Agreement or any other document referred to herein and accordingly the Purchaser may only recover once in respect of the same loss.
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(B) The Vendor shall not be liable (save that nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prejudice the right of any Further Protected Person under the terms of the Environmental Covenant) for breach of any of the Warranties or under the Tax Covenant or the Environmental Covenant to the extent that the subject of the claim has been or is made good or is otherwise compensated for without cost to the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group.
(C) The Purchaser shall use all reasonable endeavours to obtain and utilise, or as the case may be procure the obtaining and utilisation of, any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit which is available to the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group solely as a result of the matter giving rise to a liability of the Vendor for any breach of the Warranties or the under the Environmental Covenant and if the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group obtains and utilises any such Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit, the Purchaser shall, as soon as practicable after the utilisation in whole or in part of any such Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit, pay to the Vendor an amount which will leave it (after that payment) in the same after Tax position as it would have been had the obligation of the Vendor to make the payment not arisen. For the purposes of this paragraph, the amount of any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit is to be determined by the auditors of the Purchaser at the shared expense of both parties and is to be certified as such to the Vendor.
5. Recovery from Insurers and other Third Parties
(A) If, in respect of any matter which would give rise to a claim under the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant, any member of the Purchasers Group is entitled to claim under any policy of insurance, then no such matter shall be the subject of a claim under the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant, unless and until the appropriate member of the Purchasers Group shall have made a claim against its insurers and used all reasonable endeavours to pursue such claim and any such insurance claim shall then reduce by the amount recovered or extinguish any such claims under the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant.
(B) Where the Purchaser or any member of the Purchasers Group is at any time entitled to recover from some other person any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to a claim under the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant (provided that this does not apply to a claim under the ICI Indemnity), the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the member of the Purchasers Group concerned shall, subject to the Vendor indemnifying the Purchaser against any liability, cost, damage or expense which may be incurred thereby, take all reasonable steps to enforce such recovery prior to taking action against the Vendor (other than to notify the Vendor of the claim against the Vendor) and, in the event that the Purchaser or any member of the Purchasers Group shall recover any amount from such other person, the amount of the claim against the Vendor shall be reduced by the amount recovered provided that the Purchaser shall not be required to commence any legal proceedings where either:
(i) the Purchaser or the relevant member of the Purchasers Group has validly assigned all of its rights in relation to the relevant claim to the Vendor in a manner which entitles the Vendor to the same benefits in respect of such rights as the Purchaser or the relevant member of the Purchasers Group had; or
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(ii) where sub-paragraph (B)(i) does not apply, the Vendor has not notified the relevant party against whom such proceedings are brought that such proceedings are being brought at the instruction of the Vendor.
(C) If the Vendor pays at any time to the Purchaser or any member of the Purchasers Group an amount pursuant to a claim in respect of the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant or under any other provision of this Agreement and the Purchaser or relevant member of the Purchasers Group subsequently recovers from some other person any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to such claim, the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the relevant member of the Purchasers Group shall, repay to the Vendor the lesser of (i) the amount paid by the Vendor to the Purchaser or other member of the Purchasers Group and (ii) the sum (including interest (if any)) recovered from such other person (less, in each case, the costs of recovery of such sum).
(D) For the purposes of paragraph 2 of this Schedule, provided notice of the potential claim is given by the Purchaser to the Vendor within the period specified in that paragraph, there shall be no obligation on the part of the Purchaser to commence proceedings until after the outcome of its claim under its insurance policy or against the third party has been finally dealt with, and the Purchasers right to maintain its claim against the Purchaser shall not expire by reason of its failure to commence such proceedings. Further, notwithstanding this paragraph 5, the Purchaser may commence Proceedings against the Vendor at any time if by failing to do so it would lose (or risk losing) the right to do so by reason of the operation of any statute of limitation or other time limit.
6. Acts of Purchaser
(A) No claim shall lie against the Vendor under or in relation to the Warranties to the extent that such claim is attributable to:
(i) any act, omission, transaction, or arrangement carried out by the Purchaser or by a member of the Purchasers Group on or after Completion which the Purchaser or the member of the Purchasers Group could reasonably have avoided and which it knew or ought reasonably to have appreciated might give rise to the claim; or
(ii) any omission by the Vendor or the Company between the date of this Agreement and Completion that is due to the Purchaser unreasonably withholding its consent to a matter in respect of which consent is sought under Clause 8.
(B) The Vendor shall not be liable for any breach of any Warranty, which would not have arisen but for any reorganisation or change in ownership of any member of the Purchasers Group or of any assets of any such member after Completion or change in any accounting basis on which any member of the Purchasers Group values its assets or any accounting basis, method, policy or practice of any member of the Purchasers Group which is different from that adopted or used in the preparation of the Accounts (provided the Accounts comply with the Warranties in paragraph 9 of Schedule 3).
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7. The Accounts
No matter shall be the subject of a claim under the Warranties or under the Environmental Covenant, to the extent that allowance, provision or reserve in respect of such matter shall have been expressly made in the Accounts (other than any such allowance, provision or reserve in respect of Tax).
8. Retrospective legislation
No liability shall arise in respect of any breach of any of the Warranties to the extent that liability for such breach occurs or is increased directly or indirectly as a result of any legislation not in force on or prior to the date of this Agreement or as a result of the withdrawal of any published extra-statutory concession or other agreement or arrangement currently granted by or made with any governmental authority or as a result of any change after the date of this Agreement of any generally accepted interpretation or application of any legislation or in the enforcement policy or practice of the relevant authorities.
9. Purchasers knowledge
The rights of the Purchaser to maintain a claim for breach of the Warranties shall not be limited by, nor shall the quantum of damages to which it is entitled thereunder be reduced by any matter of which the Purchaser is, or is alleged to have been, aware (whether actually, or notionally, or vicariously) or which it could have discovered, at or prior to Completion:
(i) except to the extent provided by paragraph 12 of this Schedule 4; and
(ii) except where any of Harry van Dok, Jos Visser, Huub Meessen, Nico Nagtzaam, Lambert van de Leemput, Kees Aartsen, Geert Greving, Albert de Haas, Geert Bonte, Ad Clarijs, Henri Schurgers, Danny Meerschaut and Ruud Pollaert at the date hereof is actually aware of circumstances or facts giving rise to such a claim and Abdullah Bazid intends, having consulted with such individuals as to whether they are aware of such circumstances or facts (and the Purchaser confirms that he has so consulted such individuals), that the Purchaser will bring such a claim, unless the Purchaser has notified the Vendor in writing of such circumstances and facts and such intention prior to the date hereof.
The parties acknowledge that they have entered into this Agreement and negotiated and agreed the terms of the Warranties and agreed the terms of the Disclosure Letter on the basis set out in this paragraph.
10. Data Room and independent advice of Purchaser
Without prejudice to the Warranties expressly set out in this Agreement, the Purchaser acknowledges and agrees with the Vendor (on behalf of itself and each other member of the Vendors Group and on behalf of their respective agents, directors, officers, employees and advisers) that:
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(ii) the Purchaser and the Vendor have had independent legal, financial and technical advice relating to the purchase of the Shares and to the terms of this Agreement and the documents to be executed pursuant to them; and
(iii) except for the Warranties, no member of the Vendors Group makes any express or implied representation or warranty as to any matter, including, without limitation, as to the accuracy of the forecasts, estimates, projections, statements of intent or statements of opinion provided to the Purchaser (howsoever provided) on or prior to the date of this Agreement or in the Disclosure Letter or in the Data Room.
12. Disclosure
The Purchaser shall not be entitled to claim that any fact, matter or circumstance causes any of the Warranties to be breached if and to the extent fairly disclosed in the Data Room, the Disclosure Letter or documents delivered with the Disclosure Letter or agreed in the Disclosure Letter to be deemed to be delivered. The Purchaser acknowledges that each of the Warranties shall be construed as a separate and independent Warranty and shall not be limited or restricted by reference to any other Warranty (subject to Clause 17 (b)) and the Vendor is not under any duty to disclose any fact, matter or circumstance in the Disclosure Letter by reference to particular Warranties and the Purchaser agrees to rely on its own due diligence to determine the extent to which such disclosures are inconsistent with, or qualify, the Warranties, except that:
(i) the only disclosures in respect of the HSE Warranties shall be those documents contained in the Environmental, Health and Safety section of the Data Site (section 6), those responses to enquiries in section 20 of the Data Site which respond to questions which it is reasonably apparent relate to HSE Matters and the specific disclosures in the HSE section of the Disclosure Letter;
(ii) the only disclosures in respect of the Pensions Warranties shall be those documents contained in the Pension Plan Information section of the Data Room (section 8.2), those responses to enquiries in section 20 of the Data Site which respond to questions which it is reasonably apparent relate to pensions matters and the specific disclosures made against the Pensions Warranties in the Disclosure Letter;
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(iii) the only disclosures in respect of the Property Warranties shall be those documents contained in the Real Property section of the Data Site (section 12) and the Property Data Room, those responses to enquiries in section 20 of the Data Site which respond to questions which it is reasonably apparent relate to property matters and the specific disclosures made against the Property Warranties the Disclosure Letter; and
(iv) the only disclosures in respect of the Pipelines Warranties shall be those documents contained in the Pipeline Data Room, those responses to enquiries in section 20 of the Data Site which respond to questions which it is reasonably apparent relate to pipelines matters and the specific disclosures made against the Pipelines Warranties in the Disclosure Letter.
13. HSE Warranties
Where and to the extent that the subject matter of any of the HSE Warranties is also within the subject matter of the Vendors Environmental Indemnity as defined in Schedule 9 (disregarding for these purposes the application of paragraph 1.1 of Part B of the Vendors Environmental Indemnity) then no claim shall be brought under the HSE Warranties in respect of such matter and any claims shall be brought (to the extent capable of being brought) under the Vendors Environmental Indemnity as defined in Schedule 9.
14. Claim to be Reduction of Final Cash Consideration
Any payment made by the Vendor or any other person in respect of any claim under the Warranties, the Environmental Covenant or the Tax Covenant shall be made (so far as possible) by way of repayment of the Final Cash Consideration payable by the Purchaser under this Agreement to the Vendor.
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SCHEDULE 5
(Pensions)
1. DEFINITIONS
(A) For the purposes of this Schedule the following expressions shall have the following meanings:-
Actuarial Assumptions |
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means the actuarial assumptions and methods specified in the Actuarys Letter. |
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Actuary |
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means a person who is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries or a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland. |
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Actuarys Letter |
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means the letter from the Vendors Actuary to the Purchasers Actuary a copy of which is attached as Annex A. |
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Agreed Interest Rate |
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means the base rate from time to time prescribed by Barclays Bank plc. |
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Deficit Transfer Amount |
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means such amount as shall be determined by the Vendors Actuary and agreed by the Purchasers Actuary (or where paragraph 9 of this Schedule applies, the amount certified pursuant to paragraph 9) as being equal to the Unadjusted Deficit Transfer Amount multiplied by the Timing Adjustment for the period from and including the Completion Date to and including the Payment Date. |
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Employer Debt Regulations |
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means the Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt) Regulations 2005. |
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Payment Date |
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means the later of:
(i) the 5th working day after the date on which the Unadjusted Transfer Amount is determined and agreed in accordance with paragraph 5 (or, where paragraph 9 applies, the 5th working day after the Unadjusted Transfer Amount is certified pursuant to that paragraph); and
(ii) the date on which all assets have been transferred under the Transfer Agreement. |
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Pensionable Employees |
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means such of the Employees at Completion as are |
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then members of the Vendors Scheme. |
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Purchasers Actuary |
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means the Actuary or firm of Actuaries appointed by the Purchaser for the purposes of this Schedule. |
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Purchasers Scheme |
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means the retirement benefits scheme or schemes (or, if the context so requires, the trustees of the relevant scheme) nominated by the Purchaser pursuant to paragraph 4(A)(i). |
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Timing Adjustment |
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has the same meaning as in the Actuarys Letter. |
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Transfer Agreement |
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means the transfer agreement in relation to the Vendors Scheme in the Agreed Form. |
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Transfer Amount |
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means such amount as shall be determined by the Vendors Actuary and agreed by the Purchasers Actuary (or where paragraph 9 of this Schedule applies, the amount certified pursuant to paragraph 9) as being equal to the Unadjusted Transfer Amount multiplied by the Timing Adjustment for the period from and including the Completion Date to and including the Payment Date, reduced appropriately to reflect actual benefit payments from the Vendors Scheme between the Completion Date and the Payment Date in respect of Transferring Members. |
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Transferring Members |
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has the same meaning as under the Transfer Agreement. |
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Unadjusted Deficit Transfer Amount |
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if the Past Service Liabilities for the Transferring Members at the Completion Date (as defined in the Actuarys Letter) less the Unadjusted Transfer Amount is: |
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(i) more than £67 million then the Unadjusted Deficit Transfer Amount at the Completion Date is the Past Service Liabilities for the Transferring Members at the Completion Date (as defined in the Actuarys Letter) less the Unadjusted Transfer Amount less £67 million; or |
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(ii) less than or equal to £67 million then the Unadjusted Deficit Transfer Amount is zero. |
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Unadjusted Transfer Amount |
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has the same meaning as in the Actuarys Letter. |
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Vendors Actuary |
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means the Actuary or firm of Actuaries appointed by the Vendor for the purposes of this Schedule. |
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Vendors Scheme |
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means the Huntsman Pension Scheme constituted and established by a trust deed dated 20 March 2001 as subsequently amended from time to time or, if the context so requires, the trustees of that scheme. |
(B) References in this Schedule to employees include directors.
(C) Save where specifically defined or where the context otherwise requires, words and expressions used in Chapter I of Part XIV of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 or in the Pension Schemes Act 1993 shall have the same meanings in this Schedule.
(D) References in this Schedule to any statute or statutory provision shall include any statute or statutory provision which amends, extends, consolidates or replaces the same.
(E) If any index used for the purposes of this Schedule is not compiled or ceases to exist it shall be replaced by such index as is agreed between the Vendors Actuary and the Purchasers Actuary or, in default of agreement, as is determined under paragraph 9.
(F) References to Article 141 of the Treaty of Rome shall be deemed to include any current or future legislation which implements Article 141 or which implements any EC Directive relating to equal treatment. References to the EC shall be taken to include the European Community (formerly the European Economic Community) and the European Union.
2. PRE-COMPLETION MATTERS
(A) CONDITIONS
The items referred to in Clause 2(a)(iv) of this Agreement (Conditions) are evidence in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Vendor and the Purchaser that the Pensions Regulator has, pursuant to Section 42(2)(a), (b) or (c) and Section 46(2)(a), (b) or (c) of the Pensions Act 2004, unconditionally made a clearance statement pursuant to an application in relation to the Vendors Scheme in the Agreed Form made under Sections 42(1) and 46(1) respectively of that Act in favour of the applicants to that application.
(B) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
The acts and matters referred to in Clause 8(c)(xix) of this Agreement (Conduct of Business Before Completion) are:
(i) any modification to the Vendors Scheme which would:
(a) affect the rate of contributions required to be paid to the Vendors Scheme;
(b) affect the benefits of any Employee other than to the extent necessary to comply with any legal requirement and other than to the extent resulting from
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changes made pursuant to the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 1996, provided that in respect of any change pursuant to the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 1996 no change shall be made without the Purchasers consent which would materially affect the rate of contributions required to be paid to the Vendors Scheme or the Purchasers Scheme;
(c) reduce the amount, or adversely affect the payment, of the Transfer Amount;
(ii) the designation or establishment (or any announcement or proposal regarding such designation or establishment) of any arrangement for providing pension or other benefits on, or in anticipation of, the retirement, death, accident or sickness of any Employee; and
(iii) any cessation of contributions to, or termination of, the Vendors Scheme.
3. MATTERS RELATING TO THE VENDORS SCHEME
(A) Submission of notices for Vendors approval
The Purchaser undertakes to procure that any notices to be issued:
(i) pursuant to paragraphs 4(A)(ii) and 8; or
(ii) otherwise in relation to the Vendors Scheme or the Purchasers Scheme prior to the Payment Date
will be submitted in advance of their issue to the Vendor and will not be issued until the Vendor has approved them, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(B) Parties to do everything necessary to comply with contracting-out requirements
The Vendor and the Purchaser shall take, and after Completion the Purchaser shall procure that the Company takes, such steps as may be required of them, including the completion of any notices and elections, to procure that the Company and the Vendors Scheme complies with all relevant contracting-out requirements including without limitation that the Company ceases to hold or be named in a contracting-out certificate by reference to the Vendors Scheme with effect from the Completion Date.
4. THE PURCHASERS SCHEME
(A) Company to cease to participate in the Vendors Scheme and Purchaser to nominate a pension scheme and offer membership
(i) The Purchaser and the Vendor shall procure that the Company gives notice of termination of liability to contribute to the Vendors Scheme to expire immediately before the Completion Date.
(ii) The Purchaser shall procure that:
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(a) before the Completion Date it will nominate a retirement benefits scheme:
(A) which the Company will have established (or become a party to) with effect from a date no later than the Completion Date;
(B) which is a registered pension scheme;
(C) to which the Vendors Scheme can make a transfer payment without prejudicing the status of the Vendors Scheme as a registered pension scheme; and
(D) which is contracted out on a reference scheme basis; and
(b) the Pensionable Employees will be offered membership of the Purchasers Scheme with effect from the Completion Date in terms complying with paragraph 4(D) and 8.
(B) Tax and contracting-out matters relating to the Purchasers Scheme
The Purchaser shall procure by the Payment Date:
(i) that the Purchasers Scheme is a registered scheme; and
(ii) insofar as any part of the Transfer Amount would represent amounts in respect of accrued rights to guaranteed minimum pensions or rights relating to contracted out employment after 5th April, 1997, that the Company holds or is named in a current contracting-out certificate in relation to the Purchasers Scheme.
(C) Compliance with statute and schedule by Purchaser and financial matters relating to the Purchasers Scheme
The Purchaser shall procure by the Payment Date that:
(i) the Purchasers Scheme delivers to the Vendors Scheme an undertaking under which the Purchasers Scheme:
(a) agrees to accept the Transfer Amount in full and final settlement of all claims against the Vendors Scheme in respect of the Transferring Members;
(b) agrees to provide benefits to the Transferring Members in accordance with paragraph 8 and the announcement made to the Transferring Members; and
(c) agrees to comply with the applicable requirements of Her Majestys Revenue and Customs, the relevant preservation requirements of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and contracting-out requirements of that Act and the relevant provisions of the trust deed and rules of the Vendors Scheme; and
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(ii) the Purchasers Actuary delivers a certificate to the Vendor and to the Vendors Scheme confirming that, in his opinion, were an actuarial valuation of the Purchasers Scheme to be carried out immediately before the Payment Date using the Actuarial Assumptions that valuation would show the Purchasers Scheme to be in balance or surplus or to have no liabilities; and
(iii) a copy of the most recent audited accounts of the Purchasers Scheme has been supplied to the Vendor.
(D) Future service benefits to be identical
(i) Subject to (ii), (iii) and (iv), the Purchaser shall procure that as at the Completion Date, the benefits to be offered under the Purchasers Scheme to and in respect of each Pensionable Employee in respect of service for the period of 12 months from and including the Completion Date (the Future Benefits) are identical to the benefits as at the Completion Date which would have been provided in respect of service after the Completion Date under the Vendors Scheme as in force at the date of this Agreement to and in respect of that Pensionable Employee but for the sale provided for in this Agreement and such benefits shall include discretionary practices identified in the Disclosure Letter.
(ii) In determining whether the Future Benefits are identical to those of the Vendors Scheme for the purposes of (i), due account shall be taken of any difference in the levels of members contributions between the Purchasers Scheme and the Vendors Scheme.
(iii) The Purchasers obligation in (i) above shall be without prejudice to any obligation imposed on the Purchaser or the Company or any member of the Purchasers Group under any provision of legislation, statutory instrument or contract and subject to provision 3 of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Transfer Agreement.
(iv) A certificate from the Purchasers Actuary as agreed by the Vendors Actuary (and in default of agreement as to the certificate, the disagreement shall be resolved in accordance with paragraph 9) addressed to the Vendor and the Purchaser and received on or before the Completion Date that the benefits offered to the Pensionable Employees comply with the preceding provisions of this paragraph 4(D) shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
(E) Events prior to the Payment Date
If, during the period on and after the Completion Date and prior to the Payment Date, an event occurs in relation to a Pensionable Employee which would, had it occurred prior to the Completion Date, have resulted in a benefit becoming payable from the Vendors Scheme to and in respect of that Pensionable Employee, the Purchaser shall procure that the Purchasers Scheme shall provide to and in respect of the relevant Pensionable Employee a benefit of the same amount as would have been payable had the relevant Pensionable Employee remained in pensionable service under the Vendors Scheme notwithstanding
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Completion, less an amount equal to any benefit which is provided to and in respect of that Pensionable Employee under the Vendors Scheme.
5. DETERMINATION OF UNADJUSTED TRANSFER AMOUNT AND OTHER MATTERS
(A) Actuaries to be instructed
Immediately after the Completion Date the Vendor and the Purchaser shall respectively instruct the Vendors Actuary and the Purchasers Actuary to consult with a view to the Vendors Actuary determining and the Purchasers Actuary agreeing the Unadjusted Transfer Amount within 90 days after the Completion Date.
(B) Accuracy of information to be provided to the Actuaries by the Vendor
(i) The Vendor shall procure that all such information in its possession, custody or control as the Vendors Actuary or the Purchasers Actuary may reasonably request for the purpose of calculating the Unadjusted Transfer Amount and the Transfer Amount shall be made available promptly to such Actuary.
(ii) The Vendor hereby warrants to the Purchaser that all such information shall be true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date the information is required for the purpose of this Schedule and shall contain no omission material to the calculation of the Transfer Amount or material to any other calculation or determination for the purposes of this Schedule.
(C) Accuracy of information to be provided to the Actuaries by the Purchaser
(i) The Purchaser shall procure that all such information in its or the Companys possession, custody or control as the Vendors Actuary or the Purchasers Actuary may reasonably request for the purpose of calculating the Unadjusted Transfer Amount and the Transfer Amount shall be made available promptly to such Actuary.
(ii) The Purchaser hereby warrants to the Vendor that all such information shall be true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date the information is required for the purpose of this Schedule and shall contain no omission material to the calculation of the Transfer Amount or material to any other calculation or determination for the purposes of this Schedule.
6. PAYMENT OF TRANSFER AMOUNT AND EXCESS PAYMENT
(A) Vendors obligations conditional upon Purchasers obligations being duly performed
The Vendors obligations in this paragraph 6 are conditional upon the Purchasers obligations in paragraphs 3 and 4 being duly performed before the Payment Date.
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(B) Vendor to procure payment of Transfer Amount on the Payment Date by the Vendors Scheme Trustees
(i) Subject to paragraph 6(A), the Vendor shall use its reasonable endeavours to procure that on the Payment Date, or such other date as the Vendor and the Purchaser may agree, the Vendors Scheme (to the extent that it can lawfully make such payment) shall pay the Transfer Amount to the Purchasers Scheme.
(ii) The payment of the Transfer Amount shall be satisfied by the transfer of a reasonable cross-section of the assets of the Vendors Scheme (as agreed by the Vendors Scheme and the Purchasers Scheme) having a mid-market value on the day before the Payment Date equal to the Transfer Amount.
(iii) If the Vendors Scheme and the Purchasers Scheme are unable to agree some or all of the particular assets to be transferred or the mid-market value of any such assets, the payment of the Transfer Amount (or the appropriate part of it) shall be satisfied by the Vendors Scheme transferring cash equal in value to that part of the Transfer Amount in respect of which there has been no agreement as to the assets to be transferred less a deduction to reflect dealing costs and advisers fees.
(C) Shortfall
(i) Subject to paragraph 6(A), if the amount which has been actually transferred (if any) by the Vendors Scheme to the Purchasers Scheme on or before the Payment Date in respect of the Transferring Members is less (other than by the application of the final sentence of paragraph 6(B)) than the Transfer Amount plus the Deficit Transfer Amount, then the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser within 5 Business Days after the Payment Date, so far as possible by way of repayment of the consideration payable for the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, a cash sum in US dollars or, if the Vendor and the Purchaser agree, in pounds sterling (the Gross Shortfall) calculated according to the formula:
((A-B) + C)
where
A |
= |
the Transfer Amount plus the Deficit Transfer Amount in pounds sterling; |
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B |
= |
the amount in pounds sterling actually transferred on or before the Payment Date multiplied by the Timing Adjustment for the period from and including the date or dates on which such amount was transferred to and excluding the Payment Date; |
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C |
= |
the amount representing interest at the Agreed Interest Rate on an amount equal to A - B for the period from and including the Payment Date to and excluding the date on which payment is made under this sub-paragraph, |
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provided that, if ((A B) + C) exceeds £18 million then ((A B) + C) shall be deemed to be equal to £18 million and where, unless the Vendor and the Purchaser agree otherwise, once ((A B) + C) has been calculated in pounds sterling it is converted to US dollars in accordance with paragraph 6(C)(v).
The amount of the Gross Shortfall shall be determined by the Vendors Actuary and agreed by the Purchasers Actuary or, in default of agreement, be determined under paragraph 9.
(ii) (a) If any deduction or withholding is required by law to be made from the payment of the Gross Shortfall, the Vendor shall also be obliged to pay to the Purchaser such sum as will, after such deduction or withholding has been made, leave the Purchaser with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of any such requirement to make such deduction or withholding.
(b) If any Tax Authority brings into charge to Tax (or into any computation of income, profit or gain for the purposes of any charge to Tax) the payment of the Gross Shortfall, then the Vendor shall pay such additional amount to the Purchaser as shall be required to ensure that the Purchaser is placed in the same after Tax position as if the obligation to make payment of the Gross Shortfall had not arisen.
PROVIDED that the Purchaser shall:-
(aa) use all reasonable endeavours to obtain and utilise, or as the case may be procure the obtaining and utilisation of, any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit which is available to the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group solely as a result of the payment of the Gross Shortfall on the same basis as any other Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit which is available to the Purchaser or any other such member; and
(bb) as soon as practicable after the utilisation in whole or in part of any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit which is available to the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group solely as a result of the payment of the Gross Shortfall, pay to the Vendor by way of further consideration for the Shares an amount in US dollars (such amount to be calculated in accordance with paragraph 6(C)(v)) or, if the Vendor and the Purchaser agree, in pounds sterling equal to the amount of Tax which has been saved by the Purchaser or any other member of the Purchasers Group in consequence of utilising in whole or in part such Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit.
(iii) If, after the Payment Date, the Vendors Scheme makes any payment in respect of any benefits retained by the Vendors Scheme in respect of any Transferring Member the Purchaser shall pay forthwith to the Vendor so far as possible by way of further consideration for the Shares a cash sum in US dollars equal to that payment converted to US dollars in accordance with paragraph 6(C)(v) or, if the Vendor and the Purchaser agree, in pounds sterling,
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provided that the Vendor shall be required to use its reasonable endeavours to prevent any payment being made by the Vendors Scheme where such payment is not legally required. If the Purchaser does not pay the amount due under the previous sentence within 2 days of the date of the payment in respect of benefits by the Vendors Scheme, the Purchaser shall, in addition, pay interest at the Agreed Interest Rate (as well after as before judgment) on the amount due from and including the date on which the payment was made by the Vendors Scheme to and excluding the date on which payment actually is made by the Purchaser.
(iv) Whenever, after the payment by the Purchaser of any amount due under paragraph 6(C)(iii), the Vendor achieves a reduction in its liability to corporation tax as a result of being able to treat a payment of an amount equal to that amount to the Vendors Scheme as deductible for corporation tax purposes, the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser, within 7 days after the Vendor would otherwise have been liable to pay the saved corporation tax, so far as possible by way of repayment of the consideration payable for the Shares pursuant to this Agreement a cash sum in US dollars equal to that corporation tax reduction converted to US dollars in accordance with paragraph 6(C)(v) or, if the Vendor and the Purchaser agree, in pounds sterling.
7. VOLUNTARY FUND
(A) Meaning of Voluntary Fund
In this paragraph 7, the expression Voluntary Fund means a fund comprising those voluntary contributions, or the investments or moneys representing them and any income derived from them, in respect of which the entitlements of the members who have paid them are not related to earnings (however defined) but are based on the respective parts of such Voluntary Fund which are attributable to them.
(B) Voluntary Fund to be disregarded for calculations
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Schedule, if within the Vendors Scheme there is a Voluntary Fund, the Voluntary Fund, the benefits payable from it, the contributions payable to it and any transfer payment made from it shall be disregarded for all the preceding provisions of this Schedule.
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(C) Transfer of Voluntary Fund
The Vendor shall nevertheless use its reasonable endeavours to procure that the part of the Voluntary Fund attributable to the Transferring Members in accordance with the provisions of the Vendors Scheme is transferred to the Purchasers Scheme on the Payment Date.
8. TRANSFER AMOUNT TO PURCHASE BENEFITS FOR TRANSFERRING MEMBERS
Subject to receipt of the Transfer Amount (as reduced in accordance with the final sentence of paragraph 6(B), if applicable) by the Purchasers Scheme (and, where applicable, the payment of the Gross Shortfall by the Vendor under paragraph 6(C)), the Purchaser shall procure that the Purchasers Scheme shall provide benefits in respect of the pensionable service (including transfer credits) of each Transferring Member in the Vendors Scheme before Completion which are identical to the benefits applying in the Vendors Scheme (as in force on the date of this Agreement) in relation to such service.
9. DISPUTES
(A) Referral to an independent Actuary
(i) Any dispute between the Vendors Actuary and the Purchasers Actuary concerning the determination or agreement of the Transfer Amount or of any other matters to be determined or agreed by them for the purposes of this Schedule shall, in the absence of agreement between them, be referred to an independent Actuary.
(ii) The independent Actuary shall be nominated jointly by the Vendor and the Purchaser or, failing such nomination, shall be nominated by the President for the time being of The Institute of Actuaries at the instance of the party first applying to him. If the independent Actuary is unable to agree the terms of his appointment with the Vendor and the Purchase jointly, the terms of his appointment shall be agreed between him and the Vendor.
(B) Independent Actuary to act as expert and direct payment of costs
The independent Actuary so appointed shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator. His decision shall be final and binding. His costs shall be borne between the Vendor of the one part and the Purchaser of the other part as the independent Actuary may direct.
10. NO ASSISTANCE TO BE GIVEN BY THE PURCHASER
(A) No assistance to be given which would result in an amount larger than the Transfer Amount being payable
(i) The Purchaser undertakes neither to take any action nor to assist, whether directly or indirectly, any person in any manner which would result in the Vendors Scheme having to pay a larger amount than the Transfer Amount to the Purchasers Scheme.
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(ii) The Purchaser agrees that this undertaking extends to the Purchaser and any other company directly or indirectly controlled or connected with the Purchaser.
(B) Purchasers Scheme trust deed and rules to require Purchaser to approve acceptance of transfer payment
The Purchaser undertakes to the Vendor:
(i) that on and after the Completion Date the trust deed and rules of the Purchasers Scheme will require that the Purchaser must approve the acceptance of any transfer payment to be made by the Vendors Scheme to the Purchasers Scheme pursuant to the terms of the Transfer Agreement; and
(ii) that it will not give such approval to the extent that the total payment proposed to be made to the Purchasers Scheme by the Vendors Scheme exceeds an amount equal to the Transfer Amount for any reason including without limitation any statutory or other requirement that transfer values be of a minimum amount.
11. CALCULATION OF LIABILITY
In quantifying any liability, damage, cost, claim or expense which either party may incur or sustain arising out of or in connection with the breach by the other of any of the provisions of this Schedule, the parties agree that the Actuarial Assumptions shall be applied as nearly as may be and in default of agreement as to how they should apply, the disagreement shall be resolved in accordance with paragraph 9.
12. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
(B) Notwithstanding paragraph 12(A), such provisions may be rescinded or varied in any way and at any time by the parties to this Agreement without the consent of any Third Party.
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Annex A:
(The Actuarys letter)
(referred to in the definition of the Actuarys Letter in paragraph 1)
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SCHEDULE 7
(Form of Tax Covenant)
THIS DEED OF TAX COVENANT is made the day of 2006
BETWEEN:-
1. HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS, an unlimited company registered in England and Wales under registered number 05411362 whose registered office is at Haverton Hill Road, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 1PS (the Covenantor);
AND
2. SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company registered in England and Wales under registered number 05947494 whose registered office is at 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD (the Purchaser);
NOW THIS DEED WITNESSES as follows:-
Agreement |
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means the agreement dated [ ], 2006 between the Covenantor, the Covenantors Guarantor, the Purchaser and the Purchasers Guarantor for the sale and purchase of the Shares; |
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Claim |
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means the issue of any notice, letter or other document by or on behalf of any Tax Authority or the taking of any other action by or on behalf of any Tax Authority from which notice, letter, document or action it appears either that a Tax Liability is to be imposed on the Company or, in the context of Clause 13 (COUNTER COVENANT), that a liability or increased liability to Tax is to be imposed on the Covenantor or any other relevant member of the Covenantors Group; |
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Covenantors Group |
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means the Covenantors Guarantor and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time (but excluding the Company); |
Deemed Tax Liability |
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has the meaning given in sub-clause 1.3; |
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Distribution |
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has the meaning given in paragraph 1.4(C); |
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Event |
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means any transaction, action or omission, including (without limitation) any change in the residence of any person for the purposes of any Tax, the death of any person, and a failure to take any action which would avoid an apportionment or deemed distribution of income (regardless of whether the taking of any such action after Completion could have avoided such apportionment or deemed distribution) and shall also include Completion; |
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Group Relief |
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means:- (a) relief
surrendered or claimed pursuant to Chapter IV of Part X ICTA; (b) advance corporation tax surrendered or claimed pursuant to section 240 ICTA;
(c) any Tax refund surrendered or claimed pursuant to section 102 Finance Act 1989;
(d) eligible unrelieved foreign Tax surrendered or claimed pursuant to The Double Taxation Relief (Surrender of Relievable Tax Within a Group) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/1163); and
(e) any chargeable gain or allowable loss arising to one company rather than another company as a result of a notional transfer of an asset under section 171A TCGA or a reallocation under section 179A TCGA; |
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ICTA |
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means the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; |
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Income, Profits or Gains |
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has the meaning given in paragraph 1.4(A); |
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Proceedings |
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means any proceeding, suit or action arising out of or in connection with this deed; |
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Purchasers Relief |
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means a Relief of the Purchaser or the Company which arises as a result of an Event occurring (or deemed to occur) after Completion or in respect of an accounting period commencing after Completion; |
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Relevant Amount |
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has the meaning set out in sub-clause 6.4; |
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Relevant Company |
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in the context of Clause 2, has the meaning set out in sub-clause 2.2, and in the context of Clause 13 (COUNTER COVENANT), has the meaning set out in paragraph 13.1(D); |
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Relief |
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means any relief, allowance or credit in respect of any Tax and any deduction in computing Income, Profits or Gains for the purposes of any Tax; |
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Straddle Period |
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means any period of account for Tax purposes which begins before and ends after Completion (and so excluding any such period which begins or ends on the Completion Date); |
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Tax |
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means all forms of taxation, imposts, duties, levies, social security contributions and rates whether of the United Kingdom or elsewhere including (without limitation) corporation tax, advance corporation tax, income tax (including income tax required to be deducted or withheld from or accounted for in respect of any payment), capital gains tax, any liability arising under section 601 ICTA, petroleum revenue tax, tax chargeable under section 501A ICTA, capital transfer tax, inheritance tax, national insurance contributions, stamp duty reserve tax, stamp duty, stamp duty land tax, value added tax, duties of customs and excise, insurance premium tax, aggregates levy, climate change levy, landfill tax, local authority rates, and any other taxes, levies, duties, charges, imposts or withholdings corresponding to, similar to, replaced by or replacing any of them, and all other taxes, levies, duties, imposts, charges and withholdings of any nature whatsoever, including (without limitation) taxes on gross or net Income, Profits or Gains and taxes on Distributions, receipts, sales, use, occupation, franchise, value added and personal property, together with all penalties, charges and interest relating to any of them or to any late or incorrect tax return in respect of any of them, regardless of whether any such taxes, levies, duties, imposts, charges, withholdings, penalties and interest are chargeable directly or primarily against or attributable directly or primarily to the Company or any other person and of whether any amount in respect of any of them is recoverable from any other person as mentioned in Clause 7 (RECOVERY FROM OTHER PERSONS); |
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Tax Assessment |
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means any assessment, demand, determination or other similar formal notice of a Tax Liability issued by or on behalf of any Tax Authority by virtue of which the Company or any other person (including, in the context of Clause 13 (COUNTER COVENANT), the Covenantor or any other member of the Covenantors Group) either is liable to make a payment of Tax or will, with the passing of time, become so liable (in the absence of any successful application to postpone any such payment) and shall also mean any self-assessment made by the Company or any other person (including, in the context of Clause 13 (COUNTER COVENANT), the Covenantor or any subsidiary of the Covenantor) in respect of any amount of Tax which any of them either considers that it is liable to pay or considers that it will, with the passing of time, become liable to pay; |
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Tax Liability |
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has the meaning given in sub-clause 1.2; |
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Tax Refund |
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has the meaning given in sub-clause 6.3; |
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Tax Warranties |
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means the Warranties in the Agreement that relate to Tax (the first being headed The Accounts and Tax and the last Stamp taxes); and |
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TCGA |
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means the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992; |
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(L) (i) the rule known as the ejusdem generis rule shall not apply and accordingly general words introduced by the word other shall not be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact that they are preceded by words indicating a particular class of acts, matters or things; and
Subject to the provisions of Clause 3 (LIMITS ON CLAUSE 2) and Clause 4 (EXCLUSIONS), the Covenantor hereby covenants with the Purchaser to pay to the Purchaser (so far as possible by way of repayment of the consideration payable under the Agreement for the Shares) an amount equal to any of the following:-
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and, for the purposes of this sub-clause, the term Relevant Company shall mean the Covenantor or any company, other than the Company, that may be treated for the purposes of any Tax as being, or as having at any time been, either a member of the same group of companies as the Covenantor or otherwise associated with the Covenantor;
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For the purposes of determining any liability of the Covenantor under Clause 2 (COVENANT) of this deed or under the Tax Warranties, an accounting period of the Company shall be deemed to have closed on Completion (if one has not actually closed at such time, pursuant to the exercise by the Covenantor of its right under Clause 15 (CLOSE OF ACCOUNTING PERIOD) or otherwise), and the Company shall be deemed to have made all such elections, claims, surrenders or disclaimers and given all such notices and consents and done all such other things as could have been made, given or done had an accounting period of the Company actually closed on Completion and as the Covenantor may specify in writing and, for the purposes of this paragraph, specify in writing shall include any case where the Covenantor provides the Purchaser with a computation for the accounting period deemed by this paragraph to have closed on Completion which indicates the actions that are deemed to have been taken.
The covenant given in Clause 2 (COVENANT) shall not cover any Tax Liability of the Company (and for the purposes of this Clause 3 references to Tax Liability shall be deemed also to refer to any costs and expenses within the scope of sub-clause 2.6):-
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(A) for less than US$100,000; and
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The Purchaser shall, at the direction in writing of the Covenantor, procure that the Company take all such steps as the Covenantor may require to:-
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If, in the event of any payment becoming due from the Covenantor under Clause 2 (COVENANT), the Company either is immediately entitled at the due date for the making of that payment to recover from any person (not being the Company but including any Tax Authority) any sum in respect of the Tax Liability that has resulted in that payment becoming due from the Covenantor, or at some subsequent date becomes entitled to make such a recovery, then the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable notify the Covenantor of its entitlement and shall (if so required by the Covenantor and subject to the Covenantor indemnifying the Purchaser and the Company to their reasonable satisfaction against all costs or expenses which may thereby be incurred and pursuant to such indemnity paying to the Purchaser or the Company within a reasonable period of demand an amount equal to any such costs or expenses as are so incurred) take all reasonable steps to enforce that recovery (keeping the Covenantor informed of the progress of any action taken); and if the Covenantor has made a payment under Clause 2 (COVENANT) in respect of the Tax Liability in question, the Purchaser shall account to the Covenantor for whichever is the lesser of:-
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PROVIDED THAT the Purchaser shall not be obliged to procure that the Company take any action pursuant to this sub-clause 8.1 if:-
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PROVIDED THAT the Purchaser shall not be obliged to procure that either the Company take any such action as is mentioned in this sub-clause in relation to any Tax return that is not true and accurate in all material respects.
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save where any such withdrawal or disclaimer as is referred to in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above is made at the express written request, or with the express written approval, of the Covenantor;
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and, for the purposes of this paragraph, the term Relevant Company shall mean the Purchaser or the Company and any other company which is, or has at any time been, treated for the purposes of any Tax as being a member of the same group of companies as the Purchaser or as being associated with the Purchaser; and
13.2 (A) Upon the Covenantor becoming aware of a Claim relevant for the purposes of sub-clause 13.1, the Covenantor shall as soon as reasonably practicable give written notice of that Claim to the Purchaser, and the Covenantor shall or, as the case may be, shall procure that any relevant member of the Covenantors Group (if the Purchaser shall indemnify the Covenantor and any relevant member of the Covenantors Group to the Covenantors reasonable satisfaction against all losses,
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costs, damages and expenses, including interest on overdue Tax, which may be incurred thereby) take such action and give such information and assistance in connection with the affairs of the Covenantor or any relevant member of the Covenantors Group as the Purchaser may reasonably and promptly by written notice request to avoid, resist, appeal or compromise the Claim; PROVIDED THAT the Covenantor shall not be obliged to appeal against any Tax Assessment or to procure that any member of the Covenantors Group appeals against any Tax Assessment if:
13.3 (A) Where the Purchaser becomes liable to make any payment under sub-clause 13.1, the due date for the making of that payment shall be the date falling two Business Days before the last date on which the Covenantor or, as the case may be, any relevant member of the Covenantors Group would have had to have paid to the appropriate Tax Authority the Tax that has given rise to the Purchasers liability under sub-clause 13.1 in order to avoid incurring a liability to interest or a charge or penalty in respect of that amount of Tax.
13.4 (A) All sums payable by the Purchaser to the Covenantor under this Clause 13 shall be paid free and clear of all deductions or withholdings whatsoever, save only as may be required by law.
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If requested in writing by the Covenantor at least 15 Business Days prior to the last date on which notice may be given to the registrar of companies to specify a new accounting reference date having effect in relation to an accounting period of the Company commencing after 31 December 2005 but prior to the Completion Date, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company takes all necessary
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actions within the time period required by law in order to close at any time on or prior the Completion Date an accounting period of the Company commencing after 31 December 2005 but prior to the Completion Date.
The provisions of Clauses 12 (SURRENDER OF GROUP RELIEF) and 13 (COUNTER COVENANT) confer a benefit on members of the Covenantors Group (each, a Third Party) and, subject to the remaining terms of those Clauses and this Clause 16, are intended to be enforceable by each such Third Party by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. The parties do not intend that any term of this deed, apart from the provisions specifically referred to in this Clause 16, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not a party to this deed. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Clause 16, this deed may be amended or varied in any way and at any time by the parties to the deed without the consent of any person who is not a party to this deed.
The provisions of Clauses 26 (REMEDIES, WAIVERS AND INDEMNIFICATION), 28 (NO ASSIGNMENT), 29 (FURTHER ASSURANCE), 31 (NOTICES), 32 (ANNOUNCEMENTS), 33 (CONFIDENTIALITY), 35 (COUNTERPARTS), 36 (INVALIDITY), 37 (GOVERNING LAW) and 38 (JURISDICTION) of the Agreement shall apply to this deed as if the same had been set out here, mutatis mutandis.
IN WITNESS whereof this document has been executed and delivered as a deed the day and year first before written.
Executed as a deed by |
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HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS |
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acting by: |
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Executed as a deed by |
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SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS HOLDINGS |
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LIMITED |
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acting by: |
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CONTENTS
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INTERPRETATION |
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COVENANT |
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LIMITS ON CLAUSE 2 |
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EXCLUSIONS |
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TAX RELIEFS |
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OVER PROVISIONS, RELIEFS, ETC. |
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RECOVERY FROM OTHER PERSONS |
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CLAIMS PROCEDURE |
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TAX RETURNS |
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DUE DATE OF PAYMENT |
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DEDUCTIONS FROM PAYMENTS, ETC. |
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SURRENDER OF GROUP RELIEF |
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COUNTER COVENANT |
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TAX GROUPS |
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CLOSE OF ACCOUNTING PERIOD |
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RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES |
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17. |
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GENERAL |
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DATED [ ], 2006
HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS (1)
and
SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS HOLDINGS LIMITED (2)
DEED OF TAX COVENANT
Slaughter and May
One Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8YY
(WNCW/LXK)
CE061400011
128
SCHEDULE
9
(Environmental Covenant)
PART A
INTERPRETATION
1999 Closing means Closing as defined under the Contribution Agreement;
2006 Completion means Completion under this Agreement;
Agreed Demolition means demolition and/or decommissioning carried out in accordance with Part G;
Agreed Demolition Completion means in relation to an Agreed Demolition Unit the date of completion of decommissioning (to the extent not complete on or prior to the date of 2006 Completion) and/or demolition in relation to that Agreed Demolition Unit in accordance with Part G;
Agreed Demolition Completion Date means in relation to an Agreed Demolition Unit the earlier of the date of completion of Agreed Demolition or the seventh anniversary of 2006 Completion;
Agreed Demolition Liabilities means a liability arising as provided for in paragraph 19.11(b) of Part G under Future Environmental Law as in force as at the date of Agreed Demolition Completion;
Agreed Demolition Procedures means the procedures set out in Part G;
Agreed Demolition Unit means the units or sub-units as applicable identified in Part K;
Agreed Demolition Work Plan means the work plan as provided for in paragraph 19.3 of Part G;
Benzene Spillage means the loss of containment incident at Tank N903F of Jetty 1A in March 2001 resulting in approximately 100 tonnes of Benzene Heartcut entering the ground and watercourse;
Closed Site Liabilities means any Losses arising from soil or groundwater contamination only under Future Environmental Law in respect of any property owned, or occupied by the Company at 2006 Completion at which business operations, industrial processes or other uses carried on at any time prior to 2006 Completion have as at 2006 Completion permanently ceased (Closed Sites);
Contribution Agreement means the Contribution Agreement in respect of the contribution of the Polyurethanes, Tioxide, Relevant Petrochemicals and PO/MTBE businesses to Huntsman ICI Holdings, LLC made between Imperial Chemical Industries plc, Huntsman Speciality Chemicals Corporation, Huntsman ICI Holdings, LLC and Huntsman ICI Chemicals, LLC and dated as of 15 April 1999 (as amended by Amending Agreements dated 4 and 30 June 1999 and by a further Amending Agreement dated 30 June 1999);
129
Criteria means:
Default Payment means the payment made on the basis set out in Part E;
Discovery Window means the period commencing on 2006 Completion and expiring on the second anniversary of 2006 Completion;
Discovery Window Contamination means soil or groundwater contamination (but excluding any Sealed Structure Contamination) resulting from a Discovery Window Defect including any subsequent migration leaking or escape of any such contamination, subject to the Purchaser having remedied the relevant Discovery Window Defect as provided for in paragraph 22.5;
Discovery Window Defect means any fracture, crack, leak or other defect related to containment or integrity (Relevant Defect) in a pipe, drain, sump, interceptor or other item of plant or equipment designed to contain liquid or other materials at the relevant Property which is discovered by the relevant Protected Person during the Discovery Window and is deemed in accordance with paragraph 22.3 and 22.4 to have arisen prior to 2006 Completion;
Disposal to Off-Site Landfills means the presence of Hazardous Materials or Waste prior to 2006 Completion in, at or under and (if present prior to 2006 Completion) at any time before or thereafter, migrating, escaping, leaking or emanating from:
130
Emergency means in respect of Pre-2006 Completion Soil or Groundwater Contamination only (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Pre-2006 North Tees Soil and Groundwater Contamination, the Benzene Spillage and Sealed Structure Contamination), a fire, explosion, act of God or flood or other sudden and catastrophic event where such an event would result in significant Environmental Losses or would significantly increase Environmental Losses;
Environment means all or any of the following media, namely air (excluding media within buildings or other natural or man made structures above or below ground), water or land and any living organisms or systems supported by those media;
Environmental Law means any applicable statutes, subordinate legislation and other laws (including common law and any contractual obligations), rules, regulations, orders, ordinances, judgments or injunctions and codes of practice, guidance notes and judicial and administrative interpretation of each of the foregoing each as is valid and enforceable on the relevant Protected Person at 2006 Completion (or, in relation to contractual obligations or liabilities, after 2006 Completion as a direct consequence of the 2006 Completion of the transactions provided for in this Agreement) each as relate to Pre-2006 Completion Environmental Conditions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Control of Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Regulations 2005). For the avoidance of doubt, any enactment or statutory provision being an Environmental Law is as it may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, modified, consolidated or re-enacted (with or without modification) and includes all instruments or orders made under such enactment, but only insofar as such amendment, consolidation or re-enactment of such legislation does not increase the liability of the Vendor under this Schedule 9;
Environmental Losses means all fines, penalties, damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable professional and consultants fees) (Losses) incurred under or to the extent necessary to comply with Environmental Proceedings or a settlement or agreement as referred to in paragraph 4.2(b) or an Emergency as provided for in paragraph 10.1(b) (but excluding indirect, consequential or incidental Losses (including any loss of anticipated profits or revenue and costs attributable to the loss of use or business interruption or disruption (Indirect Losses) provided that Losses shall not be Indirect Losses merely because they arise or are imposed under contract law);
Environmental Permit means any Permit under Environmental Law;
Environmental Proceedings means any criminal, civil, judicial, regulatory or administrative proceeding, suit or claim of any Governmental Authority or third party or Final notice, order or requirement of any Governmental Authority or third party in each case under Environmental Law or Future Environmental Law in the case of Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters, Pre-2006 North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination, the Benzene Spillage, Sealed Structure Contamination or Agreed Demolition Liabilities;
131
Excluded Issues means the matters set out in Part L;
Final means, in relation to a notice, order or requirement that it is binding and is either not capable of appeal, review or challenge, or there is no reasonable prospect of a successful appeal, review or challenge;
Former Sites means any property not owned, occupied or used in connection with the Company, but formerly so owned, occupied or used (excluding the part of the System 97 benzene pipeline between the North Tees Site and the Wilton Site which is the subject of an asset purchase agreement due to be completed on or prior to 2006 Completion), and including in connection with the businesses of the Company as they may have been carried on at any time prior to 2006 Completion and any predecessor of any such businesses;
Former Sites Liabilities means any Losses under Future Environmental Law arising from the occupation, ownership or use by the Company (including in connection with the businesses of the Company as it may have been carried on at any time prior to 2006 Completion and any predecessor of any such businesses) of any Former Sites;
Further Protected Person Basis means in relation to a claim that it is made by the relevant member of the Vendors Group on the basis of the relevant Protected Person being a Further Protected Person within the meaning of paragraph 16.1 of Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement;
Future Environmental Law means all applicable statutes, subordinate legislation and other local laws (including the common law and any contractual obligations), rules, regulations, orders, ordinances, judgments or injunctions and codes of practice, guidance notes and judicial and administrative interpretation of each of the foregoing each as is valid and enforceable on the relevant Protected Person, the Vendor and/or any member of the Vendors Group as the case may be from time to time each as they relate to Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters, Pre-2006 Completion North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination, the Benzene Spillage, Sealed Structure Contamination or Agreed Demolition Liabilities;
Governmental Authority means any governmental agency, regulatory body, court of law or tribunal with jurisdiction under Environmental Law or in the case of Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters, Pre-2006 Completion North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination, the Benzene Spillage, Sealed Structure Contamination or Agreed Demolition or in relation to paragraphs 8.1(b) and 11.1(a), Future Environmental Law;
Halo Default means any of the matters referred to in paragraphs 17.1 (a) to (e);
Halo Default Payment means a Default Payment made on grounds other than ICI Insolvency;
Hazardous Materials means a substance which alone or in combination with other things is or are capable of causing significant harm or damage to property or to man or to the Environment or which are specified to be hazardous under Environmental Law or Future Environmental Law;
High Likelihood has the meaning given in 8.1 below;
ICI means Imperial Chemical Industries PLC;
132
ICI Indemnity means the indemnities given by ICI in Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement;
ICI Insolvency means the failure of ICI to pay under the ICI Indemnity in accordance with the terms of the ICI Indemnity as a consequence of ICI going into liquidation, or having an administrator appointed, or having a receiver appointed in respect of all or a material part of its assets, or becoming subject to a company voluntary arrangement or scheme of arrangement or other compromise of unsecured liabilities, or becoming liable to be found to be unable to pay its debts for the purposes of Section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986, or being dissolved, or becoming subject to any similar or analogous procedure in any part of the world, except (in any such case) where such procedure is discharged without any material diminution in the assets available for unsecured creditors and with no effect on the rights of actual or contingent creditors to maintain claims;
ICI Insolvency Default Payment means a Default Payment resulting from ICI Insolvency;
Investigative Works means inspections, investigations, assessments, audits, sampling or monitoring;
LDPE Plant means the logistics facility and plant buildings currently under construction and which are contracted to complete by 31 July 2007 and 12 October 2007 respectively and which are comprised in the land registered at the Land Registry under title CE187405;
North Tees Site means the land and building comprised in and registered at the Land Registry under title numbers CE149853, CE149852, CE149851, CE28188 and CE35160;
Off Site Third Party Negligence means any soil or groundwater contamination attributable in whole or in part to, arising from or increased by the negligent acts or omissions after 2006 Completion of any third parties:
Permit means any permit, authorisation, licence, permission, consent or approval issued by a Governmental Authority acting lawfully;
Pie-Crust Leases means the three leases referred to in the title number CE149853, CE149852 and CE149851 each dated 30 June 1999 and made between ICI Chemicals Polymers Limited (1) and Huntsman ICI Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2) and demised for a term of 99 years from 30 June 1999 (subject to early determination as therein appearing), which expression includes all consents, licences, approvals or other instruments made under or supplemental to such leases, whether varying them or not and made before the date of this Agreement;
Post-1999 Completion North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination means any Pre-2006 North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination first arising after 1999 Closing;
133
Post-2006 Completion Counter Indemnity means the indemnity contained in paragraph 18.1 below;
Post-2006 Completion Environmental Conditions means:
Pre-2006 Completion Environmental Conditions means the following:
134
Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters means:
Pre-2006 North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination means in relation only to soil or groundwater contamination at or from the North Tees Site soil or groundwater contamination existing at or migrating, leaching or escaping from any such Property at or prior to 2006 Completion including any subsequent migration leaking or escape of any such contamination and also deemed to include Discovery Window Contamination, other than any soil or groundwater contamination to the extent attributable in whole or in part to, arising from or increased by the negligent acts or omissions or any spillages after 2006 Completion of or by the relevant Protected Person (its employees, contractors, agents, sub-tenants or licensees) or third parties (except Off Site Third Party Negligence) or the carrying out or failure to carry out routine maintenance by the relevant Protected Person (its employees, contractors, agents, sub-tenants or licensees) or third parties (except Off Site Third Party Negligence), but not including a failure to carry out routine maintenance in relation to a Discovery Window Defect prior to its discovery;
Pre-1999 Matters means Protected Matters; Pre-Closing Environmental Conditions; (each as defined in Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement) and Pre-1999 North Tees Soil and Groundwater Contamination;
Pre-1999 North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination means North Tees Soil and Groundwater Contamination as defined in Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement;
Protected Person means the Company and any member of the Purchasers Group from time to time;
Reasonable and Prudent Operator means a person exercising that degree of skill, diligence, prudence and foresight which would reasonably and ordinarily be expected from a skilled and experienced operator in substantial compliance with all applicable laws engaged in the same type of undertaking in the same locality and under the same or similar circumstances and conditions, and any reference to the standard of a Reasonable and Prudent Operator herein shall be a reference to such degree of skill, diligence, prudence and foresight as aforesaid;
Relevant Period means the period as set out in the first column of the table in paragraph 3.4;
Remedial Action means works for preventing, removing, remedying, cleaning-up, containing or ameliorating soil or groundwater contamination including Investigative Works and in relation to any Pre-2006 Completion Compliance Issues means works to remedy or recover from non-compliance (a)
135
which works are required by a Governmental Authority under Environmental Law to have been carried out at or prior to 2006 Completion only, or (b) which non-compliance were prior to 2006 Completion an existing breach of Environmental Law;
Sealed Structure means a structure which is not removed pursuant to a direction from the Vendor as provided for in paragraph 19.8;
Sealed Structure Contamination means soil or groundwater contamination resulting from a leak or escape from a Sealed Structure whether prior to or after such structure is deemed a Sealed Structure in accordance with paragraph 19.8, including any subsequent migration leaking or escape of any such contamination,
Significant Environmental Impact means any Pre-2006 Completion Soil or Groundwater Contamination (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Pre-2006 North Tees Soil or Groundwater Contamination, the Benzene Spillage and Sealed Structure Contamination) only (i) which represents a significant existing impact on the Environment; or (ii) in respect of which there is a very high probability that it will give rise to a significant impact on the Environment and in either case would be likely to result in a Governmental Authority acting lawfully under Environmental Law issuing or making a notice, order or requirement for Remedial Action to be taken in respect of the same matter;
Substantially Pre-1999 has the meaning given in Part C;
Top-up Payment means the payment provided for and calculated in accordance with Part D;
Waste means any waste including anything which is abandoned, unwanted or surplus:
Wilton Site means the land and building comprised in and registered at the Land Registry under title number CE149855, CE148383 and CE187405 and the land and buildings demised under the lease for the Ethylene Pipeline Garage dated 16 September 2005 between Sembcorp Utilities (UK) Limited (1) and Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2), the agreement for lease dated 26 September, 2006 between Wilton Centre (No. 1) Limited and Wilton Centre (No. 2) Limited (1) and Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2) and the lease dated 20 January 2004 between Sackville Property (GP) Limited and Threadneedle Property Investments Limited as trustees for and on behalf of The Threadneedle Property Partnership (1) and Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited (2).
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(A) Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters
all Environmental Losses incurred, suffered or sustained by any Protected Person at any time after 2006 Completion in respect of Pre- 2006 Completion Protected Matters;
(B) Pre-2006 Completion Environmental Conditions
all Environmental Losses incurred, suffered or sustained by any Protected Person at any time after 2006 Completion in respect of Pre-2006 Completion Environmental Conditions.
PART A2 INDEMNITIES
PART A3 INDEMNITIES
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY APPLYING TO PART A1 INDEMNITIES
Caps
(i) Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters (but not including any claim in relation to Protected Matters);
(ii) Pre-2006 Completion Health and Safety Issues;
(iii) Pre-2006 Completion Soil or Groundwater Contamination; and
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(iv) Pre-2006 Completion Compliance Issues
or any ICI Insolvency Default Payment in respect of the above claims after paragraph 3.3 has been applied together with any claim for Top-up Payment in relation to such matters shall not in any event exceed an aggregate amount equal to US$400,000,000.00 (US$400 million) provided for the avoidance of doubt, that such cap shall not apply to a Halo Default Payment together with any claim for Top-up Payment in relation to the matter which is the subject of the Halo Default Payment. Any Halo Default Payment shall be limited to the amount which would have been payable under the ICI Indemnity but for the matters giving rise to the Halo Default together with any claim for Top-up Payment.
For the avoidance of doubt, no claim in relation to Protected Matters, except to the extent provided in this paragraph shall be subject to the cap of US$400,000,000 ($US400 million) or the overall cap provided in paragraph 1(B) of Schedule 4.
Percentage share and time limit
and any Top-up Payment or Default Payment in relation to any such matters after paragraph 3.4 has been applied shall not in any event exceed the following percentage of Environmental Losses in relation to claims made in the Relevant Period:
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Relevant Period |
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Vendors Share |
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Each year on or after 2006 Completion up to the eighth anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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100 |
% |
Year commencing on the eighth anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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80 |
% |
Year commencing on the ninth anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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60 |
% |
Year commencing on the tenth anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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40 |
% |
Year commencing on the eleventh anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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20 |
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On or after the twelfth anniversary of 2006 Completion Date |
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0 |
% |
such annual percentage in each case being applied in respect of all claimable Environmental Losses in respect of each valid claim made in the relevant year.
De minimis and threshold
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Notice and time limit
(i) in relation to Pre-2006 Completion Soil and Groundwater Contamination, the twelfth anniversary of 2006 Completion;
(ii) the twentieth anniversary of 2006 Completion in relation to Pre-2006 Completion Health and Safety Issues;
(iii) the third anniversary of 2006 Completion in relation to Pre-2006 Completion Compliance Issues;
(iv) in relation to Pre-2006 Completion Protected Matters (but not Protected Matters), the twelfth anniversary of 2006 Completion; or
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Any Halo Default Payment in respect of the above shall be limited to the amount which would have been payable under the ICI Indemnity but for the matters giving rise to the Halo Default together with any claim for Top-up Payment, taking into account the applicable time limits (if any) under the ICI Indemnity.
Miscellaneous
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY APPLYING TO PART A2 INDEMNITIES
Caps
141
De minimis and threshold
142
Notice and time limit
Miscellaneous
143
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY APPLYING TO PART A3 INDEMNITIES
TRIGGER CONDITIONS
144
POST-2006 COMPLETION CONDUCT
145
146
SPECIFIC EXCLUSIONS
6.1 The Purchaser shall not be entitled to claim for any Environmental Losses under the Part A1 Indemnities or the Part A2 Indemnities to the extent that the relevant claim would not have arisen but for, results from or is increased by matters which relate to:
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MITIGATION
DISCLOSURE TO GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES
148
CLAIMS PROCEDURE
149
150
151
(a) provide the Conduct Party with such information as it may reasonably require to enable it to assist in the conduct of Environmental Proceedings;
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STANDARD OF WORKS
INVESTIGATIVE WORKS
STATEMENTS
153
DISPUTES
the matter shall be referred for final determination in accordance with the Criteria, at the request of either of the Vendor or the Purchaser to an independent environmental consultant having experience relevant to the matter in dispute as agreed between the Vendor and the Purchaser or in default of any such agreement within seven days of such request by the Vendor or the Purchaser, nominated in accordance with the criteria set out below at the request of either the Vendor or the Purchaser by or on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Environmental Auditors Registration Association or, if he or she is unable to make a nomination within 28 days (or 14 days in the case of a dispute as to whether a matter is Substantially Pre-1999 for the purposes of Part C) of the request made to him or her, by the President for the time being of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Such independent environmental consultant shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator and his fees and expenses shall be borne as he shall direct.
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PART B: PRE-1999 MATTERS UNDER THE CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
PART C: CONDUCT OF A CLAIM ON THE FURTHER PROTECTED PERSON BASIS
For the purposes of this paragraph 15.3, a matter shall be deemed to reasonably appear to be Substantially Pre-1999 if on the basis of the available information as at as the date of the relevant determination under the Expert Procedure in Part A it is reasonably likely that such matter comprises or relates substantially to Pre-1999 Matters. For the avoidance of doubt, any agreement or determination under this paragraph 15.3 that a matter shall be deemed to be Substantially Pre-1999 shall be binding on the parties for the purposes of determining whether or not a claim shall be brought on the Further Protected Person Basis under this Part C but shall not preclude a claim being brought by the Purchaser under the Part A1 Indemnities or Part A2 Indemnities in the circumstances provided for in paragraph 15.8 below.
155
156
157
PART D: TOP UP PAYMENTS IN RELATION TO PRE-1999 MATTERS
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Relevant |
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Assumed |
Definition of Environmental Law in Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement |
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Replace reference to at Closing (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) with reference to at 2006 Completion (as defined in this agreement). |
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Paragraph 3.2 of Schedule 14 of the Contribution |
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Insert after above in line 3 of paragraph 3.2 the words except in |
159
Relevant |
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Assumed |
Agreement |
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relation to Pre-Closing Health and Safety Issues (as Pre-Closing Health and Safety Issues is defined in the Contribution Agreement). |
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The table in paragraph 3.2 (ii) of Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement insofar as it applies to Pre-Closing Soil or Groundwater Contamination (as such term is defined in the Contribution Agreement) only |
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Relevant Year |
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ICIs Share under Contribution Agreement |
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Each year on or after 2006 Completion up to the tenth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
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100% |
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Unamended |
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|
Year commencing on the tenth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
67% |
|
67% is amended to become 100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Year commencing on the eleventh |
|
33% |
|
33% is amended to |
160
Relevant |
|
|
|
Assumed |
anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
|
|
become 100% |
|
|
|
|
|
On or after the year commencing on the twelfth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
0% |
|
0% is amended to become 100% up to the eighth anniversary of 2006 Completion (2006 Completion being defined under this Agreement). On or after the eighth anniversary of 2006 Completion (2006 Completion being defined under this Agreement) the table in paragraph 3.4 of this Schedule 9 shall apply. |
|
|
|
|
|
The table in paragraph 3.2(ii) of Part A of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement insofar as it applies to Pre-Closing Health and Safety Issues (as such term is defined in the Contribution Agreement) only |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relevant Year |
|
ICIs Share under Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Each year on or after 2006 Completion up to |
|
100% |
|
Unamended |
161
Relevant |
|
|
|
Assumed |
the tenth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year commencing on the tenth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
67% |
|
67% is amended to become 100% |
|
|
|
|
|
Year commencing on the eleventh anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
33% |
|
33% is amended to become 100% |
|
|
|
|
|
On or after the year commencing on the twelfth anniversary of the Completion Date (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) |
|
0% |
|
0% is amended to become 100% up to the twentieth anniversary of 2006 Completion (2006 Completion being defined under this Agreement). On or after the twentieth anniversary of 2006 Completion (2006 Completion being defined under this Agreement) the percentage shall reduce to 0% and no claim shall be available in accordance with the terms of paragraph 3.8(b) of this |
162
Relevant |
|
|
|
Assumed |
|
|
|
|
Schedule 9. |
|
|
|
|
|
The £3,000,000 threshold in paragraph 3.4(ii) Part A of Schedule 14 of the 1999 Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
1. Replace reference to £3,000,000 with reference to £1,000,000.
2. Make an assumption for the purposes of the Top-up Payment that no claim has been made by the Vendor or any member of the Vendors Group on its own behalf in the Relevant Year under paragraph 3.4(ii) of Part A of Schedule 14. |
|
|
|
|
|
Paragraph 3.7 of the Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
Insert (iii) in the case of Pre-Closing Health and Safety Issues such written notice has been given before the twentieth anniversary date of 2006 Completion (2006 Completion being defined under this Agreement).
Delete and Pre-Closing Health and Safety Issues from (i). |
163
Relevant |
|
|
|
Assumed |
The limitation in relation to voluntary renewal by a Protected Person after Closing (as defined under the Contribution Agreement) of any lease set out in paragraph 5(viii) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
Insert save in relation to the renewal of the Pie-Crust Leases on substantially the same terms (Pie-Crust Leases being defined under this Agreement) at the beginning of paragraph 5(viii) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement. |
|
|
|
|
|
The limitation in relation to intrusive Investigative Works set out in paragraph 5(xiii) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
Insert which exceeds the bi-annual monitoring arrangements already adopted by the Company at the Wilton Site (the Wilton Site being defined under this Agreement) as an additional sub-paragraph (c) at paragraph 5(xiii) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement. |
164
Relevant |
|
|
|
Assumed |
The limitation relating to any Contractual Obligation entered into after Closing (as defined under the Contribution Agreement) set out in paragraph 5(xv) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement |
|
|
|
Insert save for any obligation entered into in accordance with paragraph 22.14 (paragraph 21.14 being paragraph 21.14 of this Schedule 9) at the beginning of paragraph 5(xv) of Schedule 14 of the Contribution Agreement. |
PART E: APPLICATION OF PART A1 INDEMNITIES OR PART A2 INDEMNITIES IN RELATION TO PRE-1999 MATTERS
(i) where and to the extent there is no valid and effective right to claim as a result of any change in circumstances or matters arising after 2006 Completion where such circumstances or matters arising are within the control of the Purchasers or any member of the Purchasers Group (subject to sub-paragraph (e)); and/or
165
(i) the Company remaining a fully and directly owned subsidiary of the Purchaser following such transaction;
(ii) both the Purchaser and the Company remaining wholly owned subsidiaries of a member of the Purchasers Group following such transaction; and
(iii) no subsequent transaction (connected with the first transaction) causes the Company or the Purchaser to cease to be wholly owned subsidiaries of a member of the Purchasers Group;
PART F: POST-2006 COMPLETION COUNTER INDEMNITY
166
PART G: AGREED DEMOLITION AND THE AGREED DEMOLITION PROCEDURES
167
168
(i) any soil and groundwater contamination (but not including any Sealed Structure Contamination); and/or
(ii) any Environmental Losses in relation to any structure or item of plant or equipment (including any liquids or other materials contained therein) (disregarding its size, age or complexity or the costs associated with its decommissioning or demolition) where such structure or item of plant or equipment (including any liquids or other materials contained therein) would not usually be encountered in the context of decommissioning and/or demolishing a petrochemicals unit,
in each case, existing at the Agreed Demolition Unit prior to 2006 Completion as the direct result of carrying on the demolition and decommissioning in accordance with this Part G.
PART H: MISCELLANEOUS
PAYMENT
PART I: 2006 FURTHER PROTECTED PERSONS
Asset Transaction means the sale or other disposal of all or any part of the Acquired Business after 2006 Completion or the sale or other disposal of all or any part of any Property after 2006 Completion;
2006 Further Protected Persons means:
169
in either case not being a member of the Purchasers Group;
Share Transaction means the sale or disposal of all or a controlling interest in the shares in the Company after 2006 Completion;
Transaction means an Asset Transaction or a Share Transaction, as applicable.
PART J: DISCOVERY WINDOW
Rebuttable presumptions in relation to soil and groundwater contamination
170
Rebuttable presumptions in relation to Relevant Defects
Procedure in relation to Discovery Window
such information being referred to below as Shared Record Data.
171
172
PART K: AGREED DEMOLITION UNITS
173
Agreed Demolition Unit |
|
Aromatics 1 & Central Services Hydeal (Thermex Heater from Platfiner) Unifiner Old Water Treatment Boilers 1 to 4 Training Plant |
|
|
|
Agreed Demolition Unit |
|
Aromatics 2
1800 Unit (ex LPG cleaning and compression as Reformer off gas treatment) 1300 Unit (Reformer) 7000 Unit (Furnaces from reformer) 1900 Unit Cumene Plant |
|
|
|
Agreed Demolition Unit |
|
Olefins
Olefins 5 Butadiene 2 |
|
|
|
Agreed Demolition Unit |
|
Logistics
Jetty Nr 1 12 small NTL Storage Tanks 5 small S&D Tanks 4 Medium S&D Storage Tanks |
|
|
|
Agreed Demolition Unit |
|
Paraxylene units 3, 4 and 5 (and any interconnections)
including, but not limited to:
D704 Hydrog reactor B706 Feed Vaporiser F766 Reactor feed storage tank C745B C744A & B C747 Product Condenser and associated pipework F767KO Pot F769 Flash Drum J772A & B Hydrog feed pumps J773A & B Recycle gas compressors |
174
PART L: EXCLUDED ISSUES
|
|
Item |
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Emergency Isolation |
|
matters related to the implementation of good practice for the purposes of compliance with the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended) and the associated Health and Safety Executive Technical Measures Documents as they relate to emergency isolation of process plant in the chemical industry, including but not limited to, tanks, jetties, cavities and plant at the Properties. |
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
|
Storage |
|
matters related to the improvement of tank bunding at the Properties, including but not limited to, the lining of earth bunds and installation of emergency alarms and trip systems. |
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
|
Redundant Equipment |
|
matters related to the removal and demolition of buildings, plant and equipment including the removal and management of asbestos containing materials, without prejudice to the Part A3 Indemnity. |
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
|
VOC Reductions |
|
matters related to the continuation of the programme of upgrading seals on pumps containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) including both the completion of the Benzene and Butadiene pump programme and the completion of the upgrade of other VOCs containing pumps. |
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
|
Liquid Effluent |
|
matters related to the improvement of the liquid effluent streams relating to Olefins 6 Plant and Paraxylene V Plant (as referred to in Attachment II of this Agreement) together with the provision of local plant effluent treatment facilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
6. |
|
Caustic Scrubber |
|
matters related to the reduction of Benzene in liquid effluent, including the installation of caustic scrubbing equipment. |
175
SCHEDULE 10
(Wilton LDPE Project)
Actual Expenditure |
|
means the aggregate of all expenditure on the LDPE Project paid by or on behalf of the Company up to and including the Completion Date which has been properly charged in the books of the Company to the expenditure categories set out in Annex 1 to this Schedule as shown in a Project Financial Plan spreadsheet (to be in the same format as the Project Financial Plan spreadsheet as at 31 July 2006 at 4.3.41 of the Data Site) showing the value of work done as at the Completion Date (any such costs which involve recharges of internal costs of the Company or the Vendors Group being applied on a basis consistent with the recharging of such costs since commencement of the LDPE Project); |
|
|
|
Fixed Price Contracts |
|
means the following contracts: |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) the SembCorp Simon Carves Contract; and |
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) the Development Agreement for the Wilton logistics facilitybetween Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) limitedand Katoen Natie NV and Logistics Engineering Contractors Limited dated 6 July 2006, |
|
|
as varied and supplemented up to the date of this Agreement, copies of which (including all such variations and supplements) are contained in the Data Room as Disclosure Documents 4.3.44 and 4.3.10 respectively; |
|
|
|
Forecast Expenditure |
|
means the aggregate as at Completion of Actual Expenditure and a forecast made in a manner consistent with past practice by applying the LDPE Forecasting Tool (including the most likely outcome of identified project risks as at that time) of all further expenditure required in order to achieve Project Completion as shown in a Project Financial Plan spreadsheet showing forecast project expenditure prepared as at the Completion Date, including the categories of expenditure referred to in the definition of Actual Expenditure (including recharged internal costs on a consistent basis); |
|
|
|
LDPE |
|
means Low Density Polyethylene; |
|
|
|
LDPE
Forecasting |
|
means the methodology used to produce forecast project expenditure in the Project Financial Plan consistent with past practice taking account amongst other things of (i) milestone payment plans for Fixed Price Contracts, (ii) reimbursable costs for outside battery limits, (iii) risk rated contingences and (iv) project team costs; |
176
LDPE Project |
|
means the:- |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) design, engineering, construction, testing and commissioning of a low-density polyethylene production plant having an annual output capacity of 400,000 tonnes of LDPE of various grades, including all infrastructure required to connect the plant to utility supplies and import/export of raw materials and finished product; |
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) design, engineering, construction, testing and commissioning of a logistics facility and plant based QC laboratory dedicated to such LDPE production plant; and |
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) acquisition of a suitable construction site or sites together with the procurement of all plant, equipment and materials associated with the construction of such LDPE production plant and logistics facility and initial catalyst, additives, chemicals, lubricants, oil and commissioning and engineering spares; |
|
|
|
Project Completion |
|
means the LDPE production plant (including the logistical facilities) which is the subject of the LDPE Project being handed over to the Company pursuant to the SembCorp Simon Carves Contract having been certified thereunder as being mechanically complete and having passed all performance tests in accordance with its terms and having been equipped with utilities and initial charge of catalyst, additives, chemicals, oil, lubricants and engineering spares. For the avoidance of doubt:- |
|
|
|
|
|
(i) the duration of any defects liability period; and |
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) the extent to which any remedial works for which any contractor has a liability remain outstanding, |
|
|
|
|
|
under any contract connected with the LDPE Project shall be disregarded in assessing whether or not Project Completion has been achieved; |
|
|
|
Project Financial Plan |
|
means the Project Financial Plan spreadsheet from time to time prepared in accordance with the methodologies of the LDPE Forecasting Tool; |
|
|
|
Project Expert |
|
means Foster Wheeler or such other party as agreed between the Vendor and Purchaser or, in default of agreement within 10 Business Days of one of the parties seeking the appointment of the Project Expert, an independent construction project management company selected by the European Construction Institute; and |
|
|
|
SembCorp
Simon |
|
means the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the LDPE plant between Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Limited and SembCorp Simon Carves Limited dated 9 February 2006. |
177
1. Conduct of business between signing and Completion
(A) The Vendor shall notify the Purchaser as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of any matter which is more than likely to require either:
(i) a variation to a Fixed Price Contract; or
(ii) the provision of goods or services by third parties (being persons other than members of the Vendors Group) in respect of the LDPE Project otherwise than pursuant to Fixed Price Contracts to the extent such is consistent with the Project Financial Plan both as regards the stage which the LDPE Project has then reached and the budget for the goods or services in question;
involving (or likely to involve) expenditure in excess of £100,000.
(B) The Vendor shall procure that:
(i) no variation/change order is made to any Fixed Price Contract prior to Completion which will lead to additional expenditure by the Company of more than £100,000 in any individual case; and
(ii) no commitment is entered into by the Company for the provision of goods or services by third parties (being persons other than members of the Vendors Group) in respect of the LDPE Project involving expenditure by the Company of more than £100,000 in any individual case, except so far as is consistent with the Project Financial Plan both as regards the stage which the LDPE Project has then reached and the budget for the goods or services in question;
except (in each case) with the prior written consent of the Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and in any event, in relation to a Fixed Price Contract, the Purchaser shall give its decision within 10 Business Days).
(C) For the purposes of determining whether or not anticipated expenditure in a currency other than sterling will exceed the sterling thresholds set out in paragraphs (A) and (B) above, the amount of the anticipated expenditure will be converted to sterling at the spot exchange rate applying at that time.
(D) Any expenditure incurred by the Vendor in breach of paragraph 1(B) shall be excluded from Actual Expenditure for the purposes of paragraph 3(A). Any additional expenditure which is required to achieve Project Completion as a result of the Purchaser unreasonably withholding or delaying its consent where required under paragraph 1(B) shall be deducted from Forecast Expenditure for the purposes of paragraph 3(A).
2. Exchange Rates for determining Actual Expenditure and Forecast Expenditure
(A) In order to determine the amount of Forecast Expenditure, the following exchange rates (the Budgeted Exchange Rates) will be used to translate amounts of expenditure paid or to be paid in currencies other than US dollars into US dollars:
178
£1 : 1.49725;
£1 : $1.7967; and
1 : $1.2.
(B) In order to determine the amount of Actual Expenditure:
(i) amounts of Actual Expenditure paid in currencies other than US dollars on or before 30 September 2006 will be translated into US dollars using the Budgeted Exchange Rates; and
(ii) amounts of Actual Expenditure paid in currencies other than US dollars in any calendar month after 30 September 2006 will be translated into US dollars using the Vendors booking rates, being the closing rate of exchange on the third Business Day prior to the end of the month preceding the month in which such amounts are paid as published by Bloomberg, or, where no such rate of exchange is published in respect of that date, at the rate quoted by Reuters as at close of business in the UK on that date. For these purposes, what constitutes a Business Day will be determined by reference to days on which banks are open for business in London (other than solely for trading and settlement in euros), but not in New York or The Netherlands.
3. Actual Expenditure and Forecast Expenditure
(A) If:
(i) the Actual Expenditure is greater than $208,000,000, then the Purchaser shall pay to the Vendor an amount equal to the difference:
(a) plus the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iv)(A) (if any); or
(b) less the amount paid by the Purchaser to the Vendor pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iv)(B) (if any);
(ii) the Actual Expenditure is less than the $208,000,000, then the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser an amount equal to the difference:
(a) less the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iv)(A) (if any); or
(b) plus the amount paid by the Purchaser to the Vendor pursuant to Clause 4(a)(iv)(B) (if any);
(iii) the Forecast Expenditure is greater than $360,000,000, then the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser an amount equal to the difference, less the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(v) (if any); and
179
(iv) the Forecast Expenditure is less than $360,000,000, then the Purchaser shall pay to the Vendor an amount equal to the amount deducted from the Initial Cash Consideration pursuant to Clause 4(a)(v) (if any),
provided that the above payments shall be netted-off against each other and, within five Business Days of the final agreement or determination of the Actual Expenditure and the Forecast Expenditure, the Vendor shall be obliged to pay the Purchaser the net balance or the Purchaser shall be obliged to pay the Vendor the net balance, as the case may be, together with an amount equal to interest on the net balance at the Agreed Rate (accrued daily) for the period from the Completion Date to the date of payment. Any payment under this sub-paragraph shall constitute an adjustment to the Initial Cash Consideration.
(B) The Vendor and the Purchaser shall use reasonable endeavours to agree in good faith the Forecast Expenditure prior to Completion. Where Forecast Expenditure has been so agreed prior to Completion, the following provisions of this paragraph 3 shall apply only in relation to Actual Expenditure.
(C) Within 30 Business Days of Completion, the Vendor shall notify the Purchaser of its calculation of Actual Expenditure and Forecast Expenditure, together with reasonably detailed supporting figures. The Purchaser shall notify the Vendor of any dispute in relation to any such amounts within 30 Business Days of the date of the Vendors notice and shall provide reasonable details of the grounds for disputing such amounts and (so far as reasonably practicable) of the amounts which the Purchaser believes in good faith to be the correct amounts for such Actual Expenditure and Forecast Expenditure. The Purchaser shall be deemed to have agreed to the Actual Expenditure or Forecast Expenditure (as the case may be) to the extent it does not so dispute within 30 Business Days of the date of the Vendors notice.
(D) If the Vendor and the Purchaser are unable to agree the Actual Expenditure or Forecast Expenditure within 30 Business Days of the date of the Vendors notice referred to in paragraph (C) above, then the determination of Actual Expenditure and/or Forecast Expenditure (as the case may be) shall be referred for determination to the Project Expert who shall be instructed to notify both the Vendor and the Purchaser of his determination and of the reasons for it within 20 Business Days of such referral, and such instructions shall be in the form of the pro forma instruction letter at Annex 2 to this Schedule. In making his determination the Project Expert shall act as expert and not arbitrator and his determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and binding and deemed to have been accepted and approved by the Vendor and the Purchaser and shall be deemed to constitute the Actual Expenditure and/or Forecast Expenditure (as the case may be) for all purposes of this Agreement. The fees and costs of the Project Expert incurred under this paragraph (D) shall be paid as to one-half by the Vendor and one-half by the Purchaser unless otherwise directed by the Project Expert (who shall have the authority to make such direction if he deems it equitable).
(E) For the purposes of determining and agreeing the Actual Expenditure or Forecast Expenditure the Purchaser shall, and shall procure that the Company shall, give the Vendor and the Project Expert reasonable access at all reasonable times to all books and records relating to such Actual Expenditure and/or Forecast Expenditure in their respective possession or control.
180
(F) In determining the Actual Expenditure and/or Forecast Expenditure the definitions, principles, policies, procedures and methods and practices of accounting set out in Attachment IV shall be applied. In relation to the Forecast Expenditure, the Project Expert shall change items in the Forecast Expenditure only to the extent that they arise from the LDPE Forecasting Tool not being applied properly.
181
SCHEDULE 10 : ANNEX 1 (LDPE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES)
WBS Level |
|
Project Object |
|
Account Assignment |
00 |
|
Wilton LDPE |
|
OL04C100 |
01 |
|
Wilton LDPE |
|
OL04C100 |
|
|
|
|
|
02 |
|
INSIDE BATTERY LIMIT |
|
OL04C100.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
MAIN EQUIPMENT |
|
OL04C100.1.10 |
04 |
|
Reactor |
|
OL04C100.1.10.1 |
04 |
|
Compressor |
|
OL04C100.1.10.2 |
04 |
|
Extruder |
|
OL04C100.1.10.3 |
04 |
|
Lab Equipment |
|
OL04C100.1.10.4 |
04 |
|
PAU and VAU |
|
OL04C100.1.10.5 |
04 |
|
Other Items of Equipment |
|
OL04C100.1.10.6 |
04 |
|
Spares |
|
OL04C100.1.10.9 |
03 |
|
CIVIL & STRUCTURAL |
|
OL04C100.1.11 |
04 |
|
Excavation and Foundations |
|
OL04C100.1.11.1 |
04 |
|
Concrete work |
|
OL04C100.1.11.2 |
04 |
|
Structural Steel |
|
OL04C100.1.11.3 |
04 |
|
Painting |
|
OL04C100.1.11.6 |
04 |
|
Landscaping |
|
OL04C100.1.11.7 |
03 |
|
BUILDINGS |
|
OL04C100.1.12 |
04 |
|
Control Room |
|
OL04C100.1.12.1 |
04 |
|
Office |
|
OL04C100.1.12.2 |
04 |
|
Compressor House - Cladding |
|
OL04C100.1.12.3 |
04 |
|
Tech Services Laboratory |
|
OL04C100.1.12.4 |
03 |
|
MECHANICAL SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.1.13 |
04 |
|
Pipework |
|
OL04C100.1.13.1 |
04 |
|
Trace Heating - Steam |
|
OL04C100.1.13.2 |
04 |
|
Insulation |
|
OL04C100.1.13.3 |
04 |
|
Mech Equipment Installation |
|
OL04C100.1.13.4 |
04 |
|
Testing and Radiography |
|
OL04C100.1.13.5 |
03 |
|
ELECTRICAL SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.1.14 |
04 |
|
Electrical Service |
|
OL04C100.1.14.1 |
04 |
|
Trace Heating |
|
OL04C100.1.14.2 |
04 |
|
Testing |
|
OL04C100.1.14.5 |
03 |
|
INSTRUMENTATION |
|
OL04C100.1.15 |
04 |
|
Instrumentation |
|
OL04C100.1.15.1 |
04 |
|
Testing |
|
OL04C100.1.15.5 |
03 |
|
CONTROL |
|
OL04C100.1.16 |
04 |
|
DCS |
|
OL04C100.1.16.1 |
04 |
|
Testing |
|
OL04C100.1.16.2 |
03 |
|
TCS |
|
OL04C100.1.20 |
04 |
|
Temp. Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.1.20.1 |
04 |
|
Temporary Services |
|
OL04C100.1.20.2 |
04 |
|
Scaffolding |
|
OL04C100.1.20.3 |
04 |
|
Craneage |
|
OL04C100.1.20.4 |
04 |
|
Transport |
|
OL04C100.1.20.5 |
03 |
|
DESIGN ENG. MANAGEMENT |
|
OL04C100.1.50 |
04 |
|
Project management |
|
OL04C100.1.50.1 |
04 |
|
Design |
|
OL04C100.1.50.2 |
04 |
|
Procurement |
|
OL04C100.1.50.3 |
04 |
|
Construction management |
|
OL04C100.1.50.4 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.1.51 |
04 |
|
Vendor Installation Support |
|
OL04C100.1.51.3 |
04 |
|
Software Design |
|
OL04C100.1.51.4 |
182
03 |
|
ADDITIONAL COSTS |
|
OL04C100.1.60 |
04 |
|
Insurances |
|
OL04C100.1.60.2 |
04 |
|
Computer Costs |
|
OL04C100.1.60.5 |
03 |
|
CONTRACT DEPENDENT |
|
OL04C100.1.61 |
04 |
|
Contractors Fee |
|
OL04C100.1.61.1 |
04 |
|
Contingency |
|
OL04C100.1.61.2 |
04 |
|
Inflation |
|
OL04C100.1.61.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
02 |
|
OUTSIDE BATTERY LIMIT |
|
OL04C100.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
SITE INVESTIGATION |
|
OL04C100.2.30 |
04 |
|
Site Investigation |
|
OL04C100.2.30.1 |
03 |
|
LAND PREPARATION |
|
OL04C100.2.31 |
04 |
|
Site Clearance |
|
OL04C100.2.31.1 |
04 |
|
Remediation |
|
OL04C100.2.31.2 |
03 |
|
OBL INFRASTRUCTURE |
|
OL04C100.2.32 |
04 |
|
Access Roads |
|
OL04C100.2.32.1 |
04 |
|
Landscaping |
|
OL04C100.2.32.2 |
04 |
|
Modifications to existing Infrastructure |
|
OL04C100.2.32.6 |
03 |
|
BUILDINGS |
|
OL04C100.2.12 |
04 |
|
Modifications to existing Buildings |
|
OL04C100.2.12.6 |
03 |
|
RAW MATS & PURGE |
|
OL04C100.2.33 |
04 |
|
Ethylene |
|
OL04C100.2.33.1 |
04 |
|
Ethylene Purge |
|
OL04C100.2.33.2 |
04 |
|
Flare |
|
OL04C100.2.33.3 |
04 |
|
Propylene |
|
OL04C100.2.33.4 |
03 |
|
TCS |
|
OL04C100.2.20 |
04 |
|
Temp Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.2.20.1 |
04 |
|
Temp Servs - Connections |
|
OL04C100.2.20.2 |
04 |
|
Scaffolding |
|
OL04C100.2.20.3 |
04 |
|
Cranage |
|
OL04C100.2.20.4 |
04 |
|
Transport |
|
OL04C100.2.20.5 |
03 |
|
PIPED UTILS CONNECTIONS |
|
OL04C100.2.34 |
04 |
|
Steam |
|
OL04C100.2.34.5 |
04 |
|
Water |
|
OL04C100.2.34.6 |
04 |
|
Compressed Air |
|
OL04C100.2.34.7 |
04 |
|
Nitrogen |
|
OL04C100.2.34.8 |
04 |
|
Fuel Gas |
|
OL04C100.2.34.9 |
04 |
|
Aqueous Effluent |
|
OL04C100.2.34.10 |
03 |
|
ELECTRICAL UTILITIES CONNECTIONS |
|
OL04C100.2.35 |
04 |
|
Electricity |
|
OL04C100.2.35.1 |
03 |
|
INSTRUMENTATION UTILITIES CONNECTIONS |
|
OL04C100.2.36 |
04 |
|
Instruments |
|
OL04C100.2.36.1 |
03 |
|
DATA UTILITIES CONNECTIONS |
|
OL04C100.2.37 |
04 |
|
Control |
|
OL04C100.2.37.1 |
03 |
|
DESIGN ENG. MANAGEMENT |
|
OL04C100.2.50 |
04 |
|
Project management |
|
OL04C100.2.50.1 |
04 |
|
Design |
|
OL04C100.2.50.2 |
04 |
|
Procurement |
|
OL04C100.2.50.3 |
04 |
|
Construction management |
|
OL04C100.2.50.4 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.2.51 |
04 |
|
Vendor Installation Support |
|
OL04C100.2.51.3 |
03 |
|
ADDITIONAL COSTS |
|
OL04C100.2.60 |
04 |
|
Insurances |
|
OL04C100.2.6 |
04 |
|
Computer Costs |
|
OL04C100.2.60.5 |
03 |
|
CONTRACT DEPENDENT |
|
OL04C100.2.61 |
04 |
|
Contractors Fee |
|
OL04C100.2.61.1 |
04 |
|
Contingency |
|
OL04C100.2.61.2 |
183
04 |
|
Inflation |
|
OL04C100.2.61.3 |
03 |
|
WAYLEAVES |
|
OL04C100.2.80 |
04 |
|
Wayleaves |
|
OL04C100.2.80.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
02 |
|
LICENCE / TECHNOLOGY |
|
OL04C100.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
DESIGN ENG. MANAGEMENT |
|
OL04C100.3.50 |
04 |
|
Design |
|
OL04C100.3.50.2 |
03 |
|
LICENSOR |
|
OL04C100.3.81 |
04 |
|
Payment to licensor |
|
OL04C100.3.81.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
COMMISSIONING |
|
OL04C100.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
04 |
|
TCS |
|
OL04C100.4.20 |
04 |
|
Temp Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.4.20.1 |
04 |
|
Temp Servs - Connections |
|
OL04C100.4.20.2 |
04 |
|
Scaffolding |
|
OL04C100.4.20.3 |
04 |
|
Craneage |
|
OL04C100.4.20.4 |
04 |
|
Transport |
|
OL04C100.4.20.5 |
03 |
|
IBL CONTRACT |
|
OL04C100.4.40 |
04 |
|
Support Services |
|
OL04C100.4.40.1 |
03 |
|
ENGINEERING SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.4.41 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.4.41.1 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST |
|
OL04C100.4.42 |
04 |
|
Specialist |
|
OL04C100.4.42.1 |
03 |
|
LOGISTICS |
|
OL04C100.4.43 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.4.43.1 |
03 |
|
MATERIALS |
|
OL04C100.4.44 |
04 |
|
Raw Product |
|
OL04C100.4.44.1 |
04 |
|
Consumables |
|
OL04C100.4.44.2 |
03 |
|
LICENSOR |
|
OL04C100.4.45 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.4.45.1 |
03 |
|
SPARES |
|
OL04C100.4.49 |
04 |
|
Spares |
|
OL04C100.4.49.1 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.4.51 |
04 |
|
Vendor Installation Support |
|
OL04C100.4.51.3 |
04 |
|
Third party Inspections |
|
OL04C100.4.51. |
03 |
|
COMMISSIONING SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.4.52 |
04 |
|
Commissioning Support |
|
OL04C100.4.52.1 |
04 |
|
Operations Training |
|
OL04C100.4.52.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
02 |
|
PREPARATION FOR OPERATIONS |
|
OL04C100.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
TCS |
|
OL04C100.5.20 |
04 |
|
Temp Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.5.20.1 |
04 |
|
Temp Servs - Connections |
|
OL04C100.5.20.2 |
04 |
|
Scaffolding |
|
OL04C100.5.20.3 |
04 |
|
Craneage |
|
OL04C100.5.20.4 |
04 |
|
Transport |
|
OL04C100.5.20.5 |
03 |
|
IBL CONTRACT |
|
OL04C100.5.40 |
04 |
|
Support Services |
|
OL04C100.5.40.1 |
03 |
|
ENGINEERING SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.5.41 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.5.41.1 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST |
|
OL04C100.5.42 |
04 |
|
Specialist |
|
OL04C100.5.42.1 |
03 |
|
LOGISTICS |
|
OL04C100.5.43 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.5.43.1 |
03 |
|
MATERIALS |
|
OL04C100.5.44 |
04 |
|
Raw Product |
|
OL04C100.5.44.1 |
184
04 |
|
Consumables |
|
OL04C100.5.44.2 |
03 |
|
LICENSOR |
|
OL04C100.5.45 |
04 |
|
Support |
|
OL04C100.5.45.1 |
03 |
|
SPARES |
|
OL04C100.5.49 |
04 |
|
Spares |
|
OL04C100.5.49.1 |
03 |
|
SPECIALIST SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.5.51 |
04 |
|
Third party Inspections |
|
OL04C100.5.51.2 |
04 |
|
Vendor Installation Support |
|
OL04C100.5.51.3 |
03 |
|
COMMISSIONING SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.5.52 |
04 |
|
Commissioning Support |
|
OL04C100.5.52.1 |
04 |
|
Operations Training |
|
OL04C100.5.52.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
02 |
|
HUNTSMAN PROJECT COSTS |
|
OL04C100.6. |
|
|
|
|
|
03 |
|
SPECIALIST SERVICES |
|
OL04C100.6.51 |
04 |
|
Third Party Inspections |
|
OL04C100.6.51.1 |
04 |
|
CE Plant Accreditation |
|
OL04C100.6.51.2 |
03 |
|
ADDITIONAL COSTS |
|
OL04C100.6.60 |
04 |
|
Project Insurances |
|
OL04C100.6.60.1 |
04 |
|
Contingency |
|
OL04C100.6.60.2 |
04 |
|
Inflation |
|
OL04C100.6.60.3 |
03 |
|
PROJECT |
|
OL04C100.6.70 |
04 |
|
Senior Project Manager |
|
OL04C100.6.70.1 |
04 |
|
IBL Project manager |
|
OL04C100.6.70.2 |
04 |
|
OBL Project manager |
|
OL04C100.6.70.3 |
04 |
|
Consultants |
|
OL04C100.6.70.4 |
04 |
|
Project Director |
|
OL04C100.6.70.5 |
04 |
|
Project -Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.70.9 |
03 |
|
CONSTRUCTION |
|
OL04C100.6.71 |
04 |
|
Construction manager |
|
OL04C100.6.71.1 |
04 |
|
Civil & Structural Construction Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.71.2 |
04 |
|
Mechanical - Construction Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.71.3 |
04 |
|
Electrical - Construction Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.71.4 |
04 |
|
Inst & Control - Construction Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.71.5 |
04 |
|
Safety Manager |
|
OL04C100.6.71.6 |
04 |
|
Construction - Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.71.9 |
03 |
|
TECHNOLOGY |
|
OL04C100.6.72 |
04 |
|
Senior Technology manager |
|
OL04C100.6.72.1 |
04 |
|
Process Engineering |
|
OL04C100.6.72.2 |
04 |
|
Odessa Support - Johnny Laister |
|
OL04C100.6.72.3 |
04 |
|
OBL Process Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.72.4 |
04 |
|
Technology - Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.72.9 |
03 |
|
COMMISSIONING |
|
OL04C100.6.73 |
04 |
|
Senior Commissioning manager |
|
OL04C100.6.73.1 |
04 |
|
Commissioning - Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.73.9 |
03 |
|
OPERATIONS |
|
OL04C100.6.74 |
04 |
|
Senior operations Manager |
|
OL04C100.6.74.1 |
04 |
|
Operations - Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.74.9 |
03 |
|
MARKETING |
|
OL04C100.6.75 |
04 |
|
Marketing manager |
|
OL04C100.6.75.1 |
04 |
|
Marketing - Travel and Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.75.9 |
03 |
|
PROCUREMENT |
|
OL04C100.6.76 |
04 |
|
Procurement Manager |
|
OL04C100.6.76.1 |
04 |
|
Procurement - Travel and Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.76.9 |
03 |
|
FUNCTIONAL ENGINEERING |
|
OL04C100.6.77 |
04 |
|
Civil & Structural |
|
OL04C100.6.77.1 |
04 |
|
Mechanical Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.77.2 |
04 |
|
Instrument & Electrical Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.77.3 |
04 |
|
Controls Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.77.4 |
185
04 |
|
Pressure Vessels Engineer |
|
OL04C100.6.77.5 |
04 |
|
Functional - Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.77.9 |
03 |
|
PROJECT SUPPORT |
|
OL04C100.6.78 |
04 |
|
Legal Fees |
|
OL04C100.6.78.1 |
04 |
|
Project Control |
|
OL04C100.6.78.2 |
04 |
|
Project EH&S |
|
OL04C100.6.78.3 |
04 |
|
Administration Assistance |
|
OL04C100.6.78.4 |
04 |
|
Local Authority Fees |
|
OL04C100.6.78.5 |
04 |
|
Travel & Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.78.9 |
03 |
|
HUNTSMAN TEAM EXPENSES |
|
OL04C100.6.79 |
04 |
|
Office Accommodation |
|
OL04C100.6.79.1 |
04 |
|
Office Expenses |
|
OL04C100.6.79.2 |
04 |
|
IT set up |
|
OL04C100.6.79.4 |
03 |
|
SPECIFIC ITEMS |
|
OL04C100.6.80 |
04 |
|
Capital Finance Administration |
|
OL04C100.6.80.1 |
04 |
|
Land Purchase |
|
OL04C100.6.80.2 |
04 |
|
Additional Land Costs |
|
OL04C100.6.80.3 |
04 |
|
Pre Sanction costs |
|
OL04C100.6.99.1 |
186
SCHEDULE 10 : ANNEX 2 (FORM OF INSTRUCTION LETTER)
To: [Project Expert]
[Date]
Dear Sirs,
We refer to the Share Purchase Agreement between, Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Holdings (the Vendor), Huntsman International LLC, SABIC UK Petrochemicals Holdings Limited (the Purchaser) and SABIC Europe N.V., a copy of which is enclosed herewith (the Share Purchase Agreement), and in particular to Schedule 10 (Wilton LDPE Project) of the Share Purchase Agreement. Capitalised terms in this letter shall bear the meanings ascribed to them in the Share Purchase Agreement (including Schedule 10) unless otherwise defined in this letter.
The Vendor and the Purchaser have not been able to agree the [Actual Expenditure] [and] [Forecast Expenditure] in accordance with paragraph 2(C) of Schedule 10, and accordingly the determination of [Actual Expenditure] [and] [Forecast Expenditure] is hereby being referred to you, as the chosen Project Expert, in accordance with paragraph 3(D) of Schedule 10.
In your determination of the [Actual Expenditure] [and] [Forecast Expenditure], you must apply the definitions, principles, policies, procedures and methods and practices of accounting set out in Attachment IV to the Share Purchase Agreement. [In relation to Forecast Expenditure, you may change items in the Forecast Expenditure only to the extent that they arise from the LDPE Forecasting Tool not being applied properly.]
Please notify us of your determination and the reasons for it within 20 Business Days of the date of this letter.
Your fees and costs shall be paid as to one-half by the Vendor and one-half by the Purchaser unless you otherwise direct, and you have the authority to make such direction if you deem it equitable.
Yours sincerely
|
|
|
On behalf of |
|
On behalf of |
Huntsman Petrochemicals (UK) Holdings |
|
SABIC (UK) Petrochemicals Holdings |
|
|
Limited |
187
ATTACHMENT
IV
(Completion Statement)
Completion Statement in respect of Working Capital, Final Cash Amount, Final Third Party Debt Amount and the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount
Preparation of Completion Statement
1. The Completion Statement shall be prepared and agreed in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 5 and 6 and this Attachment IV.
2. Subject only to paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Attachment, the Completion Statement shall:
(A) be extracted from the books and records of the Company;
(B) reflect actual values at Completion (including by reference to the stock take referred to in paragraph 5 below);
(C) exclude all Tax liabilities and deferred taxes other than VAT, payroll taxes, construction industry tax, climate change levy or amounts in respect thereof and all Tax assets or rights to repayments of Tax other than such Tax assets or rights to repayments of Tax relating to VAT, payroll taxes, construction industry tax, climate change levy or amounts in respect thereof;
(D) include a statement of the Completion Working Capital comprising the following line items in the Accounts:
but excluding any amounts comprised in the following:
188
(E) include statements of the Final Cash Amount, the Final Third Party Debt Amount and the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount;
(F) subject to sub-paragraphs (B), (C), (D) and (E) and paragraphs 3 to 7, be prepared on the same basis and in accordance with the same principles, policies, procedures, methods and practices of accounting as were applied for the purposes of the Accounts on the basis that the exercise of judgment and discretion in the application of principles, policies, procedures, methods and practices of accounting will be consistent with such exercise as applied in relation to the Accounts and, for the avoidance of doubt, this sub-paragraph (F) shall not prevent changes in factual circumstances (including, but not limited to, the Companys withdrawal from the securitisation program relating to accounts receivable operated by the Vendors Group) that have taken place between the Accounts Date and Completion from being taken into account in the preparation of the Completion Statement; and
(G) subject to sub-paragraphs (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) and paragraphs 3 to 7, be prepared in accordance with principles, policies, procedures, methods and practices of accounting generally accepted in the United Kingdom.
Sub-paragraphs (F) and (G) are intended to be applied as a hierarchy, with sub-paragraph (F) being applied first and with sub-paragraph (G) being applied only where ambiguity remains following application of sub-paragraph (F).
3. The Completion Statement shall be prepared on the basis that the Completion Statement relates to the Company as a going concern and excludes any effects of the change of control and ownership of the Company contemplated by this Agreement or any other effect of this Agreement.
4. All balances relevant for the calculation of the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount in the Completion Statement shall be reconciled to the extent practicable between the records of the payer and those of the payee; in the event of any discrepancy, the records of the payee, shall, unless otherwise agreed between the Purchaser and the Vendor, prevail.
5. For the purposes of the Completion Statement, the quantities used for the valuation of Stocks (including engineering spares) shall be based on a physical stock-take conducted on (or as soon as practicable after) the Completion Date, which both the Vendor and the Purchaser (or its accountants) will attend.
6. In the preparation of the Completion Statement, where any monetary sum to be taken into account in calculating the Final Cash Amount, the Final Intra-Group Debt Amount, the Final Third Party Debt Amount or the Completion Working Capital is expressed in a currency other than US dollars, that amount shall be translated into US dollars at the closing rate of exchange on the third Business Day preceding the Completion Date as published by Bloomberg, or, where no such rate of exchange is published in respect of that date, at the rate quoted by Reuters as at close of business in the UK on that date. For these purposes, what constitutes a Business Day will be determined by reference to days on which banks are open for
189
business in London (other than solely for trading and settlement in euros), but not in New York or The Netherlands.
7. The Completion Statement shall reflect events which occur and information which becomes available after Completion to the extent that to do so is required by UK GAAP.
190
Signed by |
/s/ Michael Maughan |
|
) |
for and on behalf of |
) |
||
HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS |
) |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Signed by |
/s/ Sam Scruggs |
|
) |
for and on behalf of |
) |
||
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC |
) |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Signed by |
/s/ [illegible] |
|
) |
for and on behalf of |
) |
||
SABIC UK PETROCHEMICAL HOLDINGS LIMITED |
) |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Signed by |
/s/ [illegible] |
|
) |
for and on behalf of |
) |
||
SABIC EUROPE B.V. |
) |
HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICALS (UK) HOLDINGS |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
|
|
HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC |
|
(2) |
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
|
|
SABIC UK PETROCHEMICALS HOLDINGS LIMITED |
|
(3) |
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
|
|
SABIC EUROPE B.V. |
|
(4) |
SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
Slaughter and May
One Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8YY
(GNE/TCZC)
|
Page |
|
1. |
INTERPRETATION |
1 |
2. |
CONDITIONS |
1 |
3. |
SALE AND PURCHASE |
6 |
4. |
CONSIDERATION |
6 |
5. |
CASH/THIRD PARTY DEBT/WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT |
8 |
6. |
INTRA-GROUP DEBTS |
10 |
7. |
WILTON LDPE PROJECT |
11 |
8. |
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BEFORE COMPLETION |
12 |
9. |
LDPE TECHNOLOGY LICENCE |
15 |
10. |
COMPLETION |
17 |
11. |
ACTION AFTER COMPLETION |
17 |
12. |
INTRA-GROUP GUARANTEES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS |
18 |
13. |
PENSIONS |
19 |
14. |
EMPLOYEES |
19 |
15. |
INSURANCE |
20 |
16. |
CONTINUING ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN VENDORS GROUP AND THE COMPANY |
20 |
17. |
VENDORS AND VENDORS GUARANTORS WARRANTIES AND PURCHASERS REMEDIES |
21 |
18. |
TIOXIDE EUROPE LIMITED |
22 |
19. |
PURCHASERS AND PURCHASERS GUARANTORS WARRANTIES |
23 |
20. |
PURCHASERS UNDERTAKINGS |
24 |
21. |
RESTRICTIONS ON VENDORS GROUP |
26 |
22. |
RESTRICTIONS ON PURCHASER |
26 |
23. |
PROVISION RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS |
26 |
24. |
PAYMENTS |
27 |
25. |
EFFECT OF COMPLETION |
28 |
26. |
REMEDIES, WAIVERS AND INDEMNIFICATION |
28 |
27. |
GUARANTEES |
28 |
28. |
NO ASSIGNMENT |
30 |
29. |
FURTHER ASSURANCE |
31 |
30. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
31 |
31. |
NOTICES |
32 |
32. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
34 |
33. |
CONFIDENTIALITY |
35 |
34. |
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
36 |
35. |
COUNTERPARTS |
36 |
36. |
INVALIDITY |
36 |
37. |
GOVERNING LAW |
37 |
38. |
JURISDICTION |
37 |
39. |
AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS |
37 |
40. |
RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES |
38 |
SCHEDULE 1 (Interpretation) |
40 |
|
SCHEDULE 2 (Completion arrangements) |
53 |
|
SCHEDULE 3 (The Warranties) |
56 |
|
SCHEDULE 4 (Limitations on liability) |
82 |
|
SCHEDULE 5 (Pensions) |
90 |
|
SCHEDULE 6 (Continuing Arrangements) |
|
|
SCHEDULE 7 (Form of Tax Covenant) |
103 |
|
SCHEDULE 8 (Employees) |
|
SCHEDULE 9 (Environmental Covenant) |
129 |
SCHEDULE 10 (Wilton LDPE Project) |
176 |
SCHEDULE 11 (Pre-Sale Reorganisation) |
|
ATTACHMENT I (Details of the Company) |
|
ATTACHMENT II (Properties) |
|
ATTACHMENT III (Data Room) |
|
ATTACHMENT IV (Completion Statement) |
188 |
ATTACHMENT V (Accounts and Management Accounts) |
|
ATTACHMENT VI (Intellectual Property) |
|