DATED 6 June 2007 and
DATED
6 June 2007
(1)
CEH LIMITED
(2)
KATY INDUSTRIES, INC.
and
(3)
INVESCOTEC LIMITED
AGREEMENT
for
sale and purchase of
Contico
Manufacturing Limited
|
Clause |
Page
|
|
1 | INTERPRETATION | 4 |
2 | SALE AND PURCHASE OF THE SHARES | 9 |
3 | CONSIDERATION | 9 |
4 | COMPLETION | 10 |
5 | WARRANTIES | 13 |
6 | LIMITATION ON LIABILITY | 13 |
7 | INDEMNITY | 15 |
8 | CONDUCT OF CLAIMS | 16 |
9 | PROTECTION OF GOODWILL | 17 |
10 | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION | 18 |
11 | ANNOUNCEMENTS | 19 |
12 | NOTICES | 19 |
13 | ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 20 |
14 | FURTHER ASSURANCE | 20 |
15 | EFFECT OF COMPLETION | 21 |
16 | WAIVER | 21 |
17 | COSTS | 21 |
18 | ASSIGNMENT | 21 |
19 | CONTRACTS (RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) XXX 0000 | 21 |
20 | COUNTERPARTS | 21 |
21 | LAW AND JURISDICTION | 21 |
SCHEDULE 1 - THE COMPANY | 23 | |
Part 1 | 23 | |
Part 2 | 24 | |
SCHEDULE 2 | 25 | |
Part 1 - WARRANTIES | 25 |
2
Part 2 - BUYER'S WARRANTIES | 31 | |
SCHEDULE 3 | 32 | |
Part 1 - WORKING CAPITAL STATEMENT | 32 | |
Part 2 - WORKING CAPITAL STATEMENT | 35 |
3
THIS
AGREEMENT
is made
on 6 June 2007
BETWEEN:-
(1) CEH
LIMITED (No
4992300) whose registered office is Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX00 0XX
(“CEH”);
(2) KATY
INDUSTRIES INC,
of 0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, XXX (“KII”)
(together
“CEH”
and
“KII”
being
the “Sellers”)
(3) INVESCOTEC
LIMITED
(No
6207123) whose registered office is at 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, X0 0XX
(the
“Buyer”).
IT
IS AGREED
as
follows:-
1. |
INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
In
this Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires:-
|
“Accounts”
|
means
the audited balance sheet of the Company as at the Accounts Date
and the
audited profit and loss account of the Company for the financial
period
ended on the Accounts Date, the notes and directors’ report and auditors’
report and all other documents or statements annexed thereto or
incorporated therein
|
|
“Accounts
Date”
|
means
31 December 2006
|
|
“Act”
|
means
the Companies Xxx 0000 (or, where the context so requires, the Companies
Act 2006)
|
|
“Business”
|
means
the business of the Company (as carried on in the period up to and
including Completion)
|
|
“Business
Day”
|
means
any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in
England
|
|
“Buyer’s
Solicitors”
|
means
Pinsent Masons of 0 Xxxx Xxx, Xxxxx, XX0 0XX
|
|
“Claim”
|
a
claim for breach of any of the Warranties or a claim under Clause
7
|
|
"Claim
for Tax"
|
means
any assessment, notice, demand, determination, letter or other document
issued by or action taken by or on behalf of any Tax Authority or
any
circumstances indicating that a Group company is or may be placed
or is
sought to be placed under a Liability for Tax
|
|
“Company”
|
means
Contico Manufacturing Limited details of which are set out in Part
1 of
Schedule 1 (and for the purposes of Warranties 4.1, 5 to 9 (inclusive)
and
13 shall include the Subsidiary save that those Warranties so given
in
respect of the Subsidiary shall be deemed to be given only in respect
of
the period for which the Subsidiary has been a subsidiary undertaking
of
KII)
|
4
“Completion”
|
means
completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares in accordance with
this
Agreement
|
“Confidential
Information”
|
means
all information concerned with the operation of any process, trade
secrets, the marketing of any products or services, drawings and
designs,
but specifically excluding (1) information that is or becomes public
knowledge other than as a direct or indirect result of a breach of
this
Agreement, (2) information received from a source not connected with
the
party to whom the duty of confidence is owed acquired free from any
obligation of confidence to any other person and (3) information
that is
independently developed without otherwise violating the terms of
this
Agreement
|
“Consideration”
|
means
the total consideration for the Shares payable pursuant to Clause
3
|
"CCP"
|
means
Continental Commercial Products, LLC. a Delaware limited liability
company
|
“Disclosure
Letter”
|
means
the letter (together with all the documents attached to it) in the
agreed
form from the Sellers to the Buyer executed and delivered to the
Buyer
immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement
|
“Employee”
|
means
a director or officer (whether or not employed by the Company) or
executive or managerial employee of the Company
|
“Encumbrance”
|
means
any encumbrance or security interest of any kind whatsoever including
without limitation a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, hypothecation,
restriction, right to acquire, right of pre-emption, option, conversion
right, third party right or interest, right of set-off or counterclaim,
equities, trust arrangement or any other type of preferential agreement
(such as a retention of title arrangement) having similar effect
or any
other rights exercisable by or claims by third parties
|
"Environment"
|
means
all and any of the following media, being land, water and air (wherever
situate) and includes all human or plant or animal life and living
organisms
|
"Environmental
Law"
|
means
all or any applicable law, including common law, statute, statutory
instrument, regulation, codes of practice or guidance, European law,
directives, regulations, decisions of the European Court and any
by-law,
order, notice, demand, decree, injunction, resolution or judgment
of any
competent authority which has as a purpose or effect the prevention
of
harm to the Environment including for the avoidance of doubt the
health
and safety of any person
|
5
"Environmental
Liabilities"
|
means
any demands, claims, actions, proceedings, orders (including any
claim or
order made by a regulatory authority or third party) damages, payments,
losses, costs (including reasonable legal or other professional costs)
expenses or other liabilities (including any works which are required
to
investigate, monitor, remove, remedy or clean up any hazardous or
otherwise polluting substance) which are incurred, suffered or sustained
by the Buyer and arise from relate to or are connected with:
(a) any
breach of Environmental Law during the period prior to
Completion;
(b) any
failure to obtain or comply with any Environmental Permits prior
to
Completion; and/or
(c) the
presence of any hazardous or otherwise polluting substance in on
at or
under any premises in relation to the activities of the Company at
any
time at or prior to Completion and/or any discharge, release, escape,
emission, leakage or spillage emanating from any such hazardous or
otherwise polluting substance at any time whether before or after
Completion.
|
|
"Environmental
Permits"
|
means
all or any permits, licences, authorisations, consents, approvals,
certificates, qualifications, including any conditions thereof required
prior to Completion under any Environmental Law for the activities
of the
Company at any time or the occupation or use by the Company of any
premises in relation to the activities of the Company at any time
prior to
Completion
|
|
“Group”
|
means,
in relation to a company (whenever incorporated) that company, any
company
or group of companies which is owned directly or indirectly by the
same
ultimate beneficial owners as that company, any company of which
it is a
subsidiary (its holding company) and any other subsidiaries of any
such
holding company; and each company in a group is a member of the
group
|
|
“ICTA”
|
means
the Income and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000
|
|
“Intellectual
Property”
|
means
patents, trade marks, service marks, trade names, design rights,
copyright
(including rights in computer software), rights in know-how and other
intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or
unregistered and including applications for the grant of any such
rights,
used, or required to be used, by the Company in, or in connection
with,
the business of the Company
|
|
“ITEPA”
|
means
the Income Tax (Earnings and Xxxxxxxx) Xxx 0000
|
|
“Lease”
|
means
the lease of the Property dated 27 November 2006 between (1) Contico
Europe Limited and (2) the Company
|
|
“Licence”
|
means
a licence, permit, certificate, consent, approval, filing of
notifications, reports and assessments, registrations or authorisation
required by law for the operation of the Company’s business, its
ownership, use, possession or occupation of any asset or the performance
of this Agreement
|
|
"Liability
for Tax"
|
has
the meaning given in the Tax Deed
|
|
“Management
Accounts Date”
|
27
April 2007
|
6
“Management
Accounts”
|
the
unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at, and the unaudited profit
and
loss account of the Company for the financial period of two (2) months
ended on, the Management Accounts Date, the notes and all other documents
annexed thereto
|
|
“Pre-Completion
Dividend Documentation”
|
means
the documentation in the agreed form in relation to a pre-Completion
dividend of £1,537,082.87
|
|
“Property”
|
means
that part of the property at Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx XX0 0XX
which
is leased to the Company pursuant to the Lease
|
|
“Reporting
Accountants”
|
means
such firm of accountants as is selected by agreement between the
Sellers
and the Buyer
|
|
"Restricted
Business"
|
means
the business of the Company that consists of the marketing and sale
of
janitorial and sanitary products into the commercial distribution
market
(including wholesale customers). For the purposes of clarification,
the
"commercial distribution market" shall not include a business which
markets and sells janitorial and sanitary products direct to members
of
the public
|
|
“Sellers’
Group”
|
means
KII, CEH, any subsidiary undertaking or parent undertaking of KII
or CEH
for the time being and any subsidiary for the time being of a parent
undertaking of KII or CEH, excluding the Company and the
Subsidiary
|
|
“Sellers’
Solicitors
|
means
Hunton & Xxxxxxxx LLP of Bank of America Plaza, Suite 4100, 000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, 00000-0000
|
|
“Senior
Management”
|
means
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
“Shares”
|
means
the 222,758 fully paid ordinary shares of £1.00 each of the Company
comprising the whole of the issued share capital of the
Company
|
|
“Subsidiary”
|
means
Spraychem Limited (No. 01670517) details of which are set out in
Part 2 of
Schedule 1
|
|
“Supply
Agreement”
|
means
the supply agreement in agreed form between (1) the Company and (2)
CCP on
the terms set forth therein
|
|
“Target
Working Capital”
|
means
£1,737,813 (one million seven hundred and thirty seven thousand eight
hundred and thirteen pounds) converted into US Dollars at the spot
rate
obtained by the Buyer at Completion from Royal Bank of Scotland plc
(being
the rate at which pounds sterling may be sold and US Dollars bought)
(the
“Exchange
Rate”)
|
|
“Tax
Authority”
|
has
the meaning given in the Tax Deed
|
|
“Tax
Deed”
|
means
the deed in the agreed form executed by the parties and delivered
immediately prior to Completion
|
|
“Tax
Warranties”
|
means
the Warranties relating to Tax in Schedule 2, Part 1, Item 12
|
7
"Tax"
|
has
the meaning given in the Tax Deed
|
"TCGA"
|
means
the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Xxx 0000
|
"Trademark
Licence"
|
means
the licence of agreed trademarks in agreed form between (1) CCP and
(2)
the Company
|
"Transaction
Documents"
|
means
the Tax Deed, the Supply Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement,
the
Trademark Licence and the Disclosure Letter
|
"Transition
Services Agreement"
|
means
the transition services agreement in agreed form between (1) CCP
and (2)
the Company, pursuant to which CCP shall provide to the Company for
a
period of 12 months following Completion use of a computer system
and
software on the terms set forth therein
|
"VAT"
|
means
value added tax
|
"VATA"
|
means
the Value Added Tax Xxx 0000
|
"Warranties"
|
means
the warranties contained in Schedule 2 and references to a "Warranty"
include a reference to each of the individual Warranties
|
"Working
Capital Adjustment"
|
means
the amount by which the Working Capital exceeds the Target Working
Capital, payable pursuant to Clause 3.3.1
or
the amount by which the Working Capital is less than the Target Working
Capital, payable pursuant to Clause 3.3.2
(such amount being expressed as a negative figure)
|
"Working
Capital Statement"
|
means
the statement to be prepared by the Buyer in accordance with Clause
3.2
and Schedule 3
|
"Working
Capital"
|
means
the amount of working capital of the Company as at the close of business
on 1 June 2007, as set out in the Working Capital Statement
|
1.2 |
In
this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, reference
to:-
|
1.2.1 |
a
document "in
the agreed form"
is a reference to a document in the form approved and, for the purposes
of
identification only, signed by or on behalf of the Buyer and the
Sellers;
|
1.2.2 |
a
statutory provision includes a reference to that provision as modified,
replaced, amended and/or re-enacted from time to time (before or
after the
date of this Agreement) and any prior or subsequent subordinate
legislation made under it;
|
1.2.3 |
a
"person"
includes a reference to an individual, partnership, association or
body
corporate and includes a reference to that person's legal personal
representatives and successors;
|
1.2.4 |
"costs"
includes a reference to costs, charges and expenses of every
description;
|
1.2.5 |
a
"company",
"subsidiary"
and "body
corporate"
have the respective meanings set out in sections 735, 736 and 740
of the
Act;
|
1.2.6 |
a
"subsidiary
undertaking"
or a "parent
undertaking"
has the meaning set out in sections 258 and 259 of the Act;
and
|
8
1.2.7 |
a
"connected
person"
is a person connected with another within the meaning of section
839 of
ICTA.
|
1.3 |
Schedules
form part of this Agreement and shall be interpreted and construed
as
though they were set out in this
Agreement.
|
1.4 |
Any
statement which refers to the knowledge or knowledge and belief of
the
Sellers or is expressed to be "so far as the Sellers are aware" or
any
similar expression shall be deemed to include an additional statement
that
it has been made after making due and careful enquiries, but shall
not
include any matter or information of which the Senior Management
is aware
after making due and careful
enquiry.
|
1.5 |
Any
agreement, warranty, representation, indemnity, covenant or undertaking
on
the part of two or more persons shall, except where the contrary
is
stated, be deemed to be given or made by such persons jointly or
severally.
|
1.6 |
Any
references in this Agreement to any monetary sum expressed in sterling
shall, if required to aid the interpretation of any clause, be deemed
to
be translated into dollars at the spot rate of exchange (the closing
mid-point) for sterling into dollars on the date of this Agreement.
For
the avoidance of doubt any amount payable pursuant to Clause 3.1.2
shall be paid in sterling.
|
1.7 |
Where
it is necessary to determine whether a monetary limit or threshold
set out
in this Agreement which is expressed in dollars has been reached
or
exceeded (as the case may be) and the value of the relevant claim
or any
of the relevant claims is expressed in a currency other than dollars,
the
value of each such claim shall be translated into dollars at the
spot rate
of exchange (the closing mid-point) for the currency in question
into
dollars on the date of this
Agreement.
|
1.8 |
Where
it is necessary to determine whether a monetary limit or threshold
set out
in this Agreement which is expressed in sterling has been reached
or
exceeded (as the case may be) and the value of the relevant claim
or any
of the relevant claims is expressed in a currency other than sterling,
the
value of each such claim shall be translated into sterling at the
spot
rate of exchange (the closing mid-point) for the currency in question
into
sterling on the date of this
Agreement.
|
2. |
SALE
AND PURCHASE OF THE SHARES
|
2.1 |
On
the terms of this Agreement:-
|
2.1.1 |
CEH
agrees to sell, and the Buyer agrees to buy, with effect from Completion,
the whole of the legal interest in the Shares with all rights attached
or
accruing to them at the date of this Agreement; and
|
2.1.2 |
KII
agrees to sell and the Buyer agrees to buy, with effect from Completion,
the whole of the beneficial interest in the
Shares.
|
2.2 |
The
Sellers covenant to the Buyer that there are no unissued shares,
debentures or other securities of the Company and no person has,
or has
claimed, the right (whether exercisable now or in the future and
whether
contingent or not) to call for the issue or transfer of any shares,
debentures or other securities of the Company.
|
2.3 |
The
Sellers covenant to the Buyer that the Shares will on Completion
be free
from all Encumbrances.
|
2.4 |
Part
I of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Xxx 0000 shall
not
apply for the purpose of this
Agreement.
|
3. |
CONSIDERATION
|
3.1 |
The
consideration for the purchase of the Shares
is:-
|
9
3.1.1 |
$10,000,000
payable by the Buyer to CEH forthwith following Completion in accordance
with Clause 4.6;
and
|
3.1.2 |
the
Working Capital Adjustment payable (in pounds sterling) in accordance
with
Clauses 3.3
and 3.4.
|
3.2 |
The
Working Capital Statement shall be prepared, and the Working Capital
ascertained, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3.
|
3.3 |
If
the Working Capital:-
|
3.3.1 |
exceeds
the Target Working Capital the Buyer shall pay to CEH the amount
of the
excess, subject always to a maximum amount of £1,000,000;
or
|
3.3.2 |
is
less than the Target Working Capital CEH shall repay to the Buyer
so much
of the Consideration as is equal to the
deficiency.
|
3.4 |
Any
payment required to be made under Clause 3.3
shall be made within 7 days of the Working Capital Statement being
agreed,
deemed agreed or certified in accordance with Schedule 3.
|
4. |
COMPLETION
|
4.1 |
Completion
shall take place at the offices of the Buyer immediately after signature
and exchange of this Agreement.
|
4.2 |
At
Completion the Sellers shall deliver to the
Buyer:-
|
4.2.1 |
a
copy of the Pre-Completion Dividend
Documentation;
|
4.2.2 |
duly
executed transfers of the Shares to the Buyer together with the share
certificates for all of the Shares (or an express indemnity in a
form
satisfactory to the Buyer in the case of any missing
certificate);
|
4.2.3 |
an
executed power of attorney in favour of the Buyer or as it directs
in the
agreed form, and such duly executed waivers or consents as may be
required
to give a good title to the Shares to the Buyer or as it directs
and to
enable the Buyer or as it directs to be registered as the holder
of the
Shares and (pending registration) to exercise all voting and other
rights
attaching to the Shares;
|
4.2.4 |
letters
of resignation from each director of the Company (other than Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx) in the agreed form;
|
4.2.5 |
a
letter of resignation from Xxxx Xxxxxx as secretary of the Subsidiary
in
the agreed form;
|
4.2.6 |
a
letter of resignation from the auditors of the Company and the Subsidiary
accompanied by a statement under section 394 of the Act in the agreed
form
together with evidence that any letter required by the Act to be
deposited
by the auditors at the registered office of the Company and the Subsidiary
has been so deposited;
|
4.2.7 |
all
the financial and accounting books and records of the Company and
the
Subsidiary;
|
4.2.8 |
the
statutory books of the Company and the Subsidiary (duly written up
to date
as at immediately prior to Completion), the common seals, Certificates
of
Incorporation and Certificates of Incorporation on Change of
Name;
|
4.2.9 |
the
Lease and all other title deeds relating to the
Property;
|
10
4.2.10 |
a
legal opinion from Hunton & Xxxxxxxx LLP in the agreed form relating
to KII and CCP confirming that:
|
(a) |
KII
has the capacity to enter into this
Agreement;
|
(b) |
CCP
has the capacity to enter into the Transition Services Agreement,
the
Supply Agreement and the Trademark
Licence;
|
4.2.11 |
all
documents of title relating to that portion of the Intellectual Property
and Confidential Information the rights to which, at Completion,
are owned
by the Company or the Subsidiary;
|
4.2.12 |
a
deed of acknowledgement from each of the Sellers in a form satisfactory
to
the Buyer that all inter-group indebtedness to which the Company
or the
Subsidiary is a party has been discharged;
|
4.2.13 |
the
Tax Deed in the agreed form duly executed by each of the
Sellers;
|
4.2.14 |
a
deed of release from Lloyds Bank plc in a form satisfactory to the
Buyer
evidencing the release and discharge of the debenture to Lloyds Bank
plc
dated 23 December 1998;
|
4.2.15 |
a
deed releasing the Company from all of its obligations pursuant to
the KII
amended and restated loan agreement with Bank of America,
N.A.;
|
4.2.16 |
a
copy, certified to be a true copy by a director or secretary of CEH
of a
resolution of CEH's board of directors (or an authorised committee
of that
board) authorising the execution and completion of this Agreement
and the
documents referred to in Clause 4
by
CEH;
|
4.2.17 |
a
copy, certified to be a true copy by a director or secretary of KII
of a
resolution of KII's board of directors (or an authorised committee
of that
board) authorising the execution and completion of this Agreement
and any
documents referred to in Clause 4
that are to be entered into by KII;
|
4.2.18 |
a
copy, certified to be a true copy by a director or secretary of CCP
of a
resolution of CCP's board of directors (or an authorised committee
of that
board) authorising the execution and completion of the Transition
Services
Agreement, the Trademark Licence and the Supply
Agreement;
|
4.2.19 |
the
Transition Services Agreement duly executed by CCP (and the third
party
system access agreement duly executed by Infor Global Solutions (Chicago),
Inc.);
|
4.2.20 |
the
Trademark Licence duly executed by (1) CCP and (2) the Company;
and
|
4.2.21 |
the
Supply Agreement duly executed by
CCP.
|
4.3 |
At
Completion CEH shall procure that a board meeting of the Company
is held
at which the directors, in respect of the Company as appropriate,
approve
the following matters, or that the following matters are otherwise
approved by the board of the
Company:-
|
4.3.1 |
approve
the registration of the transfers in respect of the Shares referred
to in
Clause 4.2.2
(subject only to stamping at the cost of the
Buyer);
|
4.3.2 |
accept
the resignations referred to in Clause 4.2.4
and appoint the persons nominated by the Buyer as directors and secretary
with effect from the end of the
meeting;
|
4.3.3 |
accept
the resignation referred to in Clause 4.2.6
and appoint PKF (UK) LLP as
auditors;
|
11
4.3.4 |
revoke
all existing authorities to bankers and give authority in favour
of
persons nominated by the Buyer to operate such
accounts;
|
4.3.5 |
change
the registered office address as the Buyer directs;
and
|
4.3.6 |
change
the accounting reference date as the Buyer directs.
|
4.4 |
At
Completion CEH shall procure that a board meeting of the Subsidiary
is
held at which the directors, in respect of the Subsidiary as appropriate,
approve the following matters, or that the following matters are
otherwise
approved by the board of the
Subsidiary:-
|
4.4.1 |
accept
the resignation referred to in Clause 4.2.4
and appoint the persons nominated by the Buyer as director and secretary
with effect from the end of the
meeting;
|
4.4.2 |
accept
the resignation referred to in Clause 4.2.6
and appoint PKF (UK) LLP as
auditors;
|
4.4.3 |
revoke
all existing authorities to bankers and give authority in favour
of
persons nominated by the Buyer to operate such
accounts;
|
4.4.4 |
change
the registered office address as the Buyer directs;
and
|
4.4.5 |
change
the accounting reference date as the Buyer directs.
|
4.5 |
At
Completion the Buyer shall deliver to the
Sellers:
|
4.5.1 |
a
copy, certified to be a true copy by a director or secretary of the
Buyer,
of a resolution of the Buyer's board of directors (or an authorised
committee of that board) authorising the execution and completion
of this
Agreement and the documents referred to in Clause 4 by the
Buyer;
|
4.5.2 |
an
original of the Supply Agreement duly executed by the Company;
|
4.5.3 |
an
original of the Transition Services Agreement duly executed by the
Company; and
|
4.5.4 |
an
original of the Trademark Licence duly executed by the
Company.
|
4.6 |
Forthwith
following Completion, the Buyer shall pay
(via the Buyer's Solicitors) that part of the Consideration referred
to in
Clause 3.1.1
by
telegraphic transfer to the account specified in the undertaking
from the
Buyer's Solicitors in the agreed
form.
|
4.7 |
The
Buyer is not obliged to complete this Agreement unless each of the
Sellers
has fulfilled all its obligations under this
Clause.
|
4.8 |
The
Sellers are not obliged to complete this Agreement unless the Buyer
has
fulfilled all its obligations under this Clause (other than the obligation
under Clause 4.6, which will be fulfilled by the Buyer forthwith
following
Completion).
|
4.9 |
The
Sellers covenant that, with effect from the giving of the undertaking
by
the Buyer's Solicitors referred to in Clause 4.6, the Company shall
have
no liability (whether actual or contingent) under (and shall have
been
released from any obligations under) any loan, facility, overdraft
or
other financing agreements or arrangements in the nature of bank
(or other
professional lending) financing (or under any security agreements
or
security arrangements in connection with bank (or other professional
lending) financing) which have been entered into by (or which are
or were
for the benefit of):
|
4.9.1 |
one
or more members of the Sellers' Group;
or
|
12
4.9.2 |
one
or more former members (other than the Company and the Subsidiary)
of the
Sellers' Group).
|
For
the
avoidance of doubt "bank
(or other professional lending) financing"
does not
include commercial terms of trade (including periods for settlement of invoices
or retention of title provisions) agreed on a bi-lateral basis between the
Company and a member of the Sellers' Group in relation to the supply of products
between those companies in the ordinary course of business.
5. |
WARRANTIES
|
5.1 |
The
Sellers warrant to the Buyer that (subject to Clause 5.2)
each Warranty is accurate on the date of this
Agreement.
|
5.2 |
The
Warranties are subject only to:-
|
5.2.1 |
any
matter which is fairly disclosed in the Disclosure Letter;
and
|
5.2.2 |
the
provisions of Clause 6.
|
5.3 |
The
Buyer acknowledges that (1) it accepts responsibility for determining
the
scope of its investigations of the Company and for the manner in
which
such investigations have been conducted, (2) the Sellers are not
making
any warranties, express or implied, of any nature whatsoever with
respect
to the Company other than the Warranties.
|
5.4 |
Each
of the Warranties shall be interpreted as a separate and independent
Warranty so that the Buyer shall have a separate claim and right
of action
in respect of every breach of each
Warranty.
|
5.5 |
No
information supplied by, or on behalf of, the Company (or any of
the
Employees) to the Sellers or their advisers in connection with the
business and affairs of the Company constitutes a representation,
warranty
or undertaking as to its accuracy to the Sellers by the Company (or
by any
of the Employees) and each of the Sellers waives each and every claim
which it may have against the Company or any of the employees in
respect
of such information, save that such a waiver will not apply in respect
of
a claim against an Employee in the event of (and to the extent of)
any
fraud or wilful misconduct (including wilful non-disclosure) by that
Employee.
|
6. |
LIMITATION
ON LIABILITY
|
6.1 |
The
Sellers' liability under the Warranties shall be limited as
follows:-
|
6.1.1 |
no
Claim shall be made by the Buyer, and the Sellers shall not be liable
in
respect of any breach of the Warranties, unless the liability for
that
individual Claim shall equal or exceed US$10,000, and until the aggregate
liability for all claims under this Agreement shall equal or exceed
US$100,000 in which case the whole amount shall be capable of being
claimed and not merely the excess;
|
6.1.2 |
the
Sellers' maximum aggregate liability in respect of Warranties 1.1
to 1.5
(inclusive), 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 6.1 and 6.2 is limited
to the
Consideration;
|
6.1.3 |
the
Sellers' maximum aggregate liability in respect of the remainder
of the
Warranties not listed in Clause 6.1.2
(other than the Tax Warranties) and in respect of any other Claim
(as
defined) is limited to 10% of the
Consideration;
|
6.1.4 |
the
Sellers' maximum aggregate liability under the Tax Warranties and
the Tax
Deed (other than in relation to any claim that arises in connection
with,
as a result of or in consequence of any amounts surrendered or claimed
by
way of group relief) is limited to 10% of the
Consideration;
|
13
6.1.5 |
the
Sellers' maximum aggregate liability under the Tax Warranties and
the Tax
Deed in relation to any claim that arises in connection with, as
a result
of or in consequence of any amounts surrendered or claimed by way
of group
relief is limited to £300,000;
|
6.1.6 |
no
claim:-
|
(a) |
for
breach of the Warranties otherwise than in relation to Tax shall
be made
unless the Claim has been notified in writing to the Sellers summarising
the nature of the Claim as far as it is known to the Buyer and a
reasonable estimate of the amount claimed before 31 August 2008;
and
|
(b) |
in
relation to Tax or under the Tax Deed shall be made unless the claim
has
been notified in writing to the Sellers summarising the nature of
the
claim as far as it is known to the Buyer and a reasonable estimate
of the
amount claimed before the seventh anniversary of Completion (save
that any
claim that arises in connection with, as a result of or in consequence
of
any amounts surrendered or claimed by way of group relief must be
notified
prior to 1 January 2009 (unless a notice from HMRC in relation to
any such
matter is received on or after 1 December 2008, in which event such
claim
must be notified as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and
in any
event prior to 31 January 2009));
|
6.1.7 |
the
Sellers shall not be liable in respect of any breach of the Warranties
if
and to the extent that the resulting loss has been recovered under
the Tax
Deed.
|
6.1.8 |
no
Claim shall be made and the Sellers shall not be liable under any
Claim:
|
(a) |
to
the extent that a provision, reserve or allowance relating to the
subject
matter of the Claim has been made in the Management Accounts or the
Accounts in respect thereof; or
|
(b) |
to
the extent that such liability arises or is increased as a direct
result
of any change or changes in legislation
or
published practice of a Tax Authority or generally accepted accounting
practice
after Completion (primary or delegated) and whether or not with
retrospective effect; or
|
(c) |
to
the extent that such liability occurs or arises as a direct result
of or
is otherwise attributable wholly or partly to any act, transaction
or
omission of the Company or the Buyer or their respective directors
or
employees on or after Completion (including any act, transaction
or
omission which does or might reasonably be expected to subject the
Company
to a greater risk of enforcement action or any investigation under
Environmental Law) otherwise
than:
|
(i) |
in
the ordinary and proper course of business; or
|
(ii) |
pursuant
to the Buyer investigating the circumstances of a Claim or evaluating
of
the merits of a Claim; or
|
(iii) |
pursuant
to a legally binding commitment created on or before Completion by
the
Company; or
|
(iv) |
required
by law or any regulatory authority.
|
(d) |
to
the extent that any Claim or the subject matter thereof has been
or is
made good or is otherwise compensated for (otherwise than by the
Buyer or
any member of the Buyer´s Group);
or
|
14
(e) |
to
the extent that the Buyer has recovered a sum in respect of a Claim
under
any policy of insurance (which the Buyer will use reasonable endeavours
to
procure) provided that if the Buyer makes a claim against an insurance
policy in connection with a Claim, then the Sellers undertake to
indemnify
the Buyer in full for any increase in the Buyer's insurance premium
resulting from the Buyer making a claim on its insurance policy;
or
|
(f) |
to
the extent that a Claim results from, or is increased, or extended
by, the
change of the accounting reference date of the Company on Completion
or
any subsequent change thereafter or by any voluntary
change
in the accounting policies of the Company after Completion unless
such
change is necessary to comply with generally accepted accounting
practice
subsisting at Completion; or
|
(g) |
to
the extent that the Buyer or the Senior Management have actual knowledge
at the date of this Agreement of any actual breach of the Warranties
by
the Sellers which would enable a Claim to be
brought.
|
6.2 |
None
of the limitations contained in Clause 6.1
apply to any Claim that arises or is delayed as a result of fraud,
dishonesty, wilful misconduct or wilful concealment by a Seller,
its
agents, officers or advisors except the Senior
Management.
|
6.3 |
In
assessing the liability of the Sellers in respect of any Claim there
shall
be taken into account any benefit (including Taxation benefit) accruing
to
the Buyer or the Company solely and directly as a consequence of
the
matter or circumstances giving rise to the
Claim.
|
6.4 |
The
Buyer shall not be entitled to recover any sum more than once in
respect
of any Claim under the Warranties or otherwise obtain reimbursement
more
than once in respect of any loss which arises out of the same act,
matter
or thing to the extent that the Buyer has already made a recovery
or
obtained reimbursement) under the Warranties in respect of that act,
matter or thing.
|
6.5 |
Where
the Buyer and/or the Company is/are at any time entitled to recover
from
some other person any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to
a Claim
the Buyer shall and shall procure that the Company shall take all
reasonable steps to enforce such recovery (and shall notify the Sellers
of
the Claim) and in the event that the Buyer or the Company shall recover
any amount from such other person the amount of the Claim against
the
Sellers shall be reduced by the net amount (having deducted the reasonable
and proper costs of recovery) recovered from such other
person.
|
6.6 |
If
the Sellers pay at any time to the Buyer or to the Company an amount
pursuant to a Claim and the Company subsequently becomes entitled
to
recover from some other person any sum in respect of any matter giving
rise to such Claim, the Buyer shall procure that the Company shall
take
all reasonable steps to enforce such recovery and shall (as soon
as
reasonably practicable) repay to the Sellers so much of the amount
paid by
it to the Buyer or the Company as does not exceed the net sum (having
deducted the reasonable and proper costs of recovery) recovered from
such
other person.
|
7. |
INDEMNITY
|
7.1 |
The
Sellers agree to indemnify and keep indemnified the Buyer against
all
actions, proceedings, demands, claims, costs and liabilities whatsoever
in
connection with:
|
7.1.1 |
any
and all Environmental Liabilities of the Company or the
Subsidiary;
|
7.1.2 |
the
Subsidiary insofar as such actions, proceedings, demands, claims,
costs
and liabilities relate to any real property leased, occupied or owned
by
it at any time during which the Subsidiary has been a subsidiary
undertaking of KII; and
|
7.1.3 |
any
Claim relating to Tax made pursuant to a deed of indemnity between
inter
alia the Company, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx.
|
15
8. |
CONDUCT
OF CLAIMS
|
8.1 |
If
either the Buyer or the Company become aware of a matter which they
reasonably consider might give rise to a Claim or a Claim for Tax
or one
of the Sellers becomes aware of a matter which it reasonably considers
might give rise to a Claim pursuant to the Buyer’s Warranties then such
party:
|
8.1.1 |
shall
(or, in the case of the Buyer, shall procure that the Company shall)
as
soon as reasonably practicable give notice to the Sellers or the
Buyer as
the case may be of the matter and shall consult with the Sellers
or the
Buyer as the case may be with respect to such matter but such notice
shall
not be a condition precedent to the liability of the Sellers or the
Buyer
as the case may be;
|
8.1.2 |
shall
provide to the Sellers or the Buyer as the case may be and its advisers
reasonable access (at reasonable hours and with reasonable prior
notice
having been given) to premises and personnel and to relevant assets,
documents and records within the Buyer’s or the Sellers’ Group (as the
case may be) for the purposes of investigating the
matter;
|
8.1.3 |
(at
the requesting Party's cost) may take copies of the documents or
records
relevant to the matter, and photograph the premises or assets, referred
to
in Clause 8.1.2;
|
8.1.4 |
subject
to the following provisions of this Clause 8, shall (and in the case
of
the Buyer shall procure that the Company shall) take such action
and give
such information and assistance in connection with the affairs of
the
Buyer or the Company or the Sellers as the requesting party may reasonably
request in writing to negotiate, avoid, dispute, resist or defend
against
the matter;
|
8.1.5 |
shall
indemnify the other party against all costs and expenses reasonably
incurred by that other party or any member of such party’s Group in
complying with their obligations under this Clause 8.
|
8.2 |
The
Buyer and, as the case may be, the Sellers shall not be obliged to
take or
procure the taking of any of the following actions pursuant to its
obligations contained in Clause 8.1.4:
|
8.2.1 |
the
submission of any proposal to settle or compromise the relevant matter
made by the Sellers or the Buyer (as the case may be) of which the
Buyer
(or the Sellers as the case may be) (acting reasonably) does not
approve;
|
8.2.2 |
agreeing
to the settlement or compromise of any claim or any proposal for
the same
which is likely to have an adverse effect on the future liability
of the
Company, the Buyer or any member of the Buyer’s Group or the Sellers or
any member of the Sellers’ Group unless the Sellers (or the Buyer as the
case may be) indemnify the Buyer (or the Sellers as the case may
be), or
the Company or the relevant member of the Buyer’s Group or the Sellers’
Group (as the case may be) against any such future
liability;
|
8.2.3 |
complying
with any unreasonable instruction of the Sellers or the Buyer as
the case
may be or taking any action or procuring the taking of any action
which
the Buyer or the Sellers (as the case may be) considers (acting
reasonably) to be onerous or prejudicial to the Buyer or any member
of the
Buyer’s Group or the Sellers or any member of the Sellers’ Group (as the
case may be).
|
8.3 |
If
a Party does not request the other to take action pursuant to Clause
8.1.4
or
shall fail to indemnify the other Party or the Company concerned
in
accordance with Clause 8.1.5
within 14 days of the written notice to the Sellers (or the Buyer
as the
case may be) served in accordance with Clause 8.1.1
the Buyer (or the Sellers as the case may be) or the Company shall
be free
to pay or settle the relevant matter on such terms as it may in its
absolute discretion think fit notwithstanding the provisions of Clause
8.2.
|
16
8.4 |
Any
claim under the Warranties or the Buyer's Warranties shall (if it
has not
been previously satisfied, settled or withdrawn) be deemed to be
irrevocably withdrawn and waived at the expiration of twelve months
from
the date of giving notice of such claim (or claim under the Buyer’s
Warranties) unless legal proceedings in respect thereof have been
commenced by the other party by issuing and serving such proceedings
on
the Sellers (or the Buyer as the case may be) and the loss giving
rise to
any such claim (or claim under the Buyer’s Warranties) which shall be so
deemed withdrawn and waived shall not be capable of being the subject
of a
further claim (or claim under the Buyer’s
Warranties).
|
8.5 |
Subject
to Clause 8.3
notwithstanding any failure by the Buyer to notify the Sellers or
of the
Sellers to notify the Buyer (as the case may be) pursuant to Clause
8.1.1
the Buyer (or the Sellers as the case may be) shall not (and shall
procure, only in the case of the Buyer, that the Company shall not)
settle
or compromise any such claim or make any admission of liability without
the prior written consent of the Sellers or the Buyer (as the case
may be)
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).
|
8.6 |
If
any Claim (or claim under the Buyer’s Warranties) shall arise by reason of
some liability which, at the time the Claim (or claim under the Buyer’s
Warranties) is notified to the Sellers (or the Buyer as the case
may be),
is contingent only, the Sellers (or the Buyer as the case may be)
shall
not be under any obligation to make any payment in respect of such
Claim
(or claim under the Buyer’s Warranties) unless and until the contingent
liability crystallises as an actual liability. Provided that such
Claim
shall have been notified to the Sellers or the Buyer (as the case
may be)
in accordance with Clause 6.1.6
then Clause 8.4
shall be amended in relation to such Claim (or claim under the Buyer’s
Warranties) so as to require that legal proceedings be commenced
within
twelve months from the date on which the said liability ceases to
be
contingent or becomes capable of being quantified, as the case may
be.
|
8.7 |
Nothing
in this agreement shall be deemed to relieve the Buyer or of the
Sellers
(as the case may be) from any duty to mitigate any loss or damage
incurred
by it.
|
9. |
PROTECTION
OF GOODWILL
|
9.1 |
For
the purposes of this Clause 9,
the words "Restricted
Person"
means any member of the Sellers'
Group.
|
9.2 |
Subject
to Clauses 9.3
and 9.4,
the Sellers undertake to the Buyer (for itself and as trustee for
the
holders for the time being of the Shares but so that the Buyer shall
not
as trustee be under any obligation to such holders to enforce the
undertakings and may release or waive them in whole or in part as
it, in
its absolute discretion, thinks fit) that without the written consent
of
the Buyer:-
|
9.2.1 |
for
a period of 2 years from Completion they will not in the United Kingdom,
the European Union or Dubai in any capacity whatsoever directly or
indirectly carry on or assist in carrying on or be engaged, concerned
or
interested in any business which competes with the Restricted Business
(or
with any part of the Restricted
Business);
|
9.2.2 |
for
a period of 2 years from Completion they will not and will procure
that no
other Restricted Person will do any act or thing with the primary
intention of causing any supplier of or other person in the habit
of
dealing with the Company (at Completion) to be unable or unwilling
to deal
with the Company either at all or in part or on the terms on which
it had
previously dealt with the Company or with the primary intention of
causing
any person having a contract or arrangement with the Company (at
Completion) to breach, terminate or modify that contract or arrangement
to
exercise any right under it; and
|
9.2.3 |
for
a period of 2 years from Completion they will not and will procure
that no
other Restricted Person will solicit or endeavour to entice away
from the
Company any employee of the Company who is at the date of this Agreement
and at the time of such attempt an Employee; and
|
9.2.4 |
they
will not at any time in connection with any business carried on by
it or
otherwise howsoever use directly or indirectly or authorise any person
to
use directly or indirectly any distinctive xxxx, style or logo the
rights
to which, at Completion, were owned by the Company or the Subsidiary
(“Company Trademarks”) or any xxxx, style or logo confusingly similar to
or likely to be confused with any Company Trademarks, nor use the
name
"Contico" (or any name confusingly similar thereto) in the UK, Europe
or
Dubai.
|
17
9.3 |
The
restrictions in Clause 9.2
shall terminate with regard to the obligations of KII, CEH or any
Restricted Person (respectively) immediately upon a change of control
of
that particular company. For the purpose of this clause, "change
of control"
shall mean the acquisition by a third party and any connected person
(in
one transaction or a series of transactions) of (i) an interest in
shares
in the relevant company conferring in aggregate more that 50% of
the total
voting rights conferred by all of the issued shares in that company
or any
of its parents, taking account at the relevant time of provisions
regarding voting rights contained in the articles of association
of that
company or its parents, as applicable, or (ii) substantially all
(over 85
per cent) of its assets.
|
9.4 |
Nothing
in Clause 9.2
shall prevent KII or CEH or any other Restricted Person
from:-
|
9.4.1 |
owning
not more than five per cent of any class of the issued share capital
of a
company which is dealt in on a recognised investment exchange (as
defined
in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000); or
|
9.4.2 |
employing
any person who has approached the relevant party as a result of a
general
advertising campaign by or on behalf of KII, CEH or such other Restricted
Person.
|
9.5 |
KII
and CEH have taken independent legal advice and acknowledge that
they
consider the undertakings contained in Clause 9.2
reasonable for the proper protection of the business of the Company
and
the legitimate interests of the
Buyer.
|
9.6 |
Each
of the undertakings contained in Clause 9.2
is
separate and severable and shall be construed on that basis. In the
event
that any of such undertakings is found to be void but would be valid
if
some part of it were deleted or if the period or extent of it were
reduced
such undertaking shall apply with such modification as may be necessary
to
make it valid and effective.
|
10. |
CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION
|
10.1 |
The
Sellers shall
not at any time make use of or disclose to any person Confidential
Information belonging to the Company except for the purposes contemplated
by this Agreement.
|
10.2 |
The
Buyer shall not at any time make use of or disclose to any person
Confidential Information belonging to the Sellers or the Sellers’ Group
(other than the Company) except for the purposes contemplated by
this
Agreement.
|
10.3 |
Clause
10.1
does not apply to:-
|
10.3.1 |
use
or disclosure of Confidential Information required to be used or
disclosed
by law;
|
10.3.2 |
disclosure
of Confidential Information to a director, officer or employee of
the
Buyer or to an Employee of the Company whose function requires that
he has
possession of the Confidential
Information;
|
10.3.3 |
disclosure
of Confidential Information to an adviser for the purpose of advising
the
Sellers in connection with this Agreement provided that such disclosure
is
subject to the terms set out in Clause 10.1;
or
|
10.3.4 |
Confidential
Information which becomes publicly known except as a result of a
breach of
Clauses 10.1
or
10.2.
|
18
10.4 |
The
Sellers and the Buyer may disclose the Transaction Documents to bona
fide
third party purchasers of the entire issued share capital of, or
substantially all (over 85 per cent) of the assets of, a Seller or
the
Buyer or members of their Group if the disclosing party procures
that the
people to whom the Transaction Documents are disclosed first enter
into a
non-disclosure agreement in a customary form and that such people
keep the
information confidential in accordance with the terms of such
agreement
|
11. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS
|
11.1 |
Subject
to Clause 11.2,
neither the Buyer nor the Sellers shall at any time make or send
any
announcement, communication or circular relating to the subject matter
of
this Agreement unless such party has first obtained the other party's
written consent to the form and text of such announcement, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld.
|
11.2 |
Clause
11.1
does not apply to an announcement, communication or
circular:-
|
11.2.1 |
required
by law or by the London Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange
or
by any governmental authority, in which event the party required
to make
or send such announcement, communication or circular shall, where
practicable, first consult with the other party as to the content
of such
announcement; or
|
11.2.2 |
to
confirm that the sale of the Company to the Buyer has taken place
and the
date of the sale.
|
12. |
NOTICES
|
12.1 |
Subject
to Clause 12.2,
any notice or other communication pursuant to or in connection with
this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by
first
class pre-paid recorded delivery post (air mail if overseas) to the
party
due to receive such notice or by sending it by fax to the fax number
of
the party concerned set out in this Clause, or such other fax number
as
may from time to time have been notified in writing to the other
party in
accordance with this Clause 12)
(subject to the original notice or communication being sent in the
post on
the same day in the manner specified
above):
|
In
the
case of the Sellers, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000, for the attention of Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, CFO, with fax no: x0 (000) 000
0000,
with a copy to Hunton & Xxxxxxxx LLP, Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000, for the attention of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.,
Esq., with fax no: x0 (000) 000-0000.
In
the
case of the Buyer, 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, X0 0XX, for the attention of
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Chief Executive, with fax no: x00 (0) 000 000 0000, with a
copy
to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0 Xxxx Xxx, Xxxxx XX0 0XX, for the attention of Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, with fax no. (x00) 000 000 0000.
12.2 |
KII
irrevocably appoints CEH as its agent for service of process in England,
service upon whom shall be deemed completed whether or not forwarded
to,
or received by KII. If such process agent ceases to have an address
in
England, KII hereby irrevocably agrees to appoint a new process agent
acceptable to the Buyer and to deliver to the Buyer within 14 days
a copy
of a written acceptance of appointment by such process
agent.
|
12.3 |
Any
notice required to be served on the Sellers shall be effective if
served
on either KII or CEH in accordance with this
Clause.
|
12.4 |
Subject
to Clause 12.5,
any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been
served:-
|
12.4.1 |
if
delivered personally, when left at the address referred to in Clause
12.1;
|
12.4.2 |
if
sent by pre-paid recorded delivery post (except air mail), two days
after
posting it;
|
19
12.4.3 |
if
sent by air mail, four days after posting
it;
|
12.4.4 |
if
sent by fax (subject to the original notice or communication being
sent by
post on the same day in the manner specified in Clause 12.1)
one hour after despatch subject to receipt during office
hours.
|
12.5 |
If
a notice is given or deemed given at a time or on a date which is
not a
Business Day, it shall be deemed to have been given on the first
Business
Day thereafter.
|
13. |
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
13.1 |
This
Agreement and the Disclosure Letter sets out the entire agreement
and
understanding between the parties in respect of the subject matter
of this
Agreement. This Agreement supersedes and extinguishes all previous
agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter thereof
and
any representations and warranties previously given or made, including,
without limitation, the heads of agreement dated 29/30 April 2007
which
shall cease to have any further force or effect. It is agreed that:-
|
13.1.1 |
the
Buyer has not entered into this Agreement in reliance upon, nor relied
upon, any representation, warranty or undertaking of any other party
which
is not expressly set out in this
Agreement;
|
13.1.2 |
no
party shall have any remedy in respect of, and each party hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to claim
damages or to rescind this Agreement by reason of, any misrepresentation
or any untrue statement made by any other party which is not contained
in
this Agreement nor for any breach of warranty which is not contained
in
this Agreement;
|
13.1.3 |
no
breach of this Agreement shall in any event give rise to a right
on the
party of the Buyer to rescind or terminate this
Agreement;
|
13.1.4 |
this
Clause shall not exclude any liability for, or remedy in respect
of fraud,
or fraudulent misrepresentation;
and
|
13.1.5 |
the
Buyer has no rights against and may not make a claim against any
employee,
director (save to the extent that such claim arises from any matters
not
disclosed in their letters of resignation, in the agreed form), agent
or
adviser of any member (other than the Company or the Subsidiary)
of the
Sellers’ Group.
|
13.2 |
No
variation of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing
and
signed by or on behalf of each
party.
|
14. |
FURTHER
ASSURANCE
|
14.1 |
During
the period which is two years from and after Completion, each of
the Buyer
and the Sellers shall:-
|
14.1.1 |
at
their own cost at any time after Completion do or procure the doing
of all
such acts and things and/or execute or procure the execution of all
such
documents as the other party may reasonably request for the purpose
of
vesting the Shares in the Buyer or giving full effect to all the
provisions of this Agreement; and
|
14.1.2 |
at
the other party’s cost give to the other party such assistance as it may
reasonably require in connection with any dispute or threatened dispute
directly or indirectly relating to the Company, the Property, the
Intellectual Property, (including the Company Trademarks) and/or
the
Confidential Information.
|
20
14.2 |
In
the event that (following Completion) any sum is received by any
member of
the Seller's Group from a customer of the Company and which that
customer
despatched in intended payment of (all or part of) an invoice from
the
Company and for the Company's account, the Sellers shall procure
that such
sum is forwarded to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable
after
such receipt.
|
15. |
EFFECT
OF COMPLETION
|
This
Agreement and in particular the Warranties and the Tax Deed insofar as any
of
its provisions remain to be, or are capable of being, performed or observed,
shall remain in full force and effect after Completion.
16. |
WAIVER
|
16.1 |
The
failure to exercise or delay in exercising a right or remedy under
this
Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of the right or remedy or
a waiver
of any other rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise
of any
right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise
of
the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or
remedy.
|
16.2 |
Unless
specifically provided otherwise, the rights and remedies contained
in this
Agreement are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other rights
or
remedies available at law.
|
17. |
COSTS
|
The
Buyer
and the Sellers shall each pay their own costs in relation to the negotiation,
preparation, execution and implementation of this Agreement and of each document
referred to in this Agreement.
18. |
ASSIGNMENT
|
Except
as
provided herein, no party may assign, or grant an Encumbrance or security
interest over, any of its rights under this Agreement. Each party that has
rights under this Agreement is acting for its own behalf. The Buyer may assign
its rights under this Agreement but not its obligations to a member of its
Group
(“Permitted
Assignee”).
In
the event of any Permitted Assignee itself subsequently becoming the subject
of
a sale or transfer other than to a Permitted Assignee then the Buyer shall
procure that the rights assigned under this agreement are assigned to a
Permitted Assignee prior to the completion of any such sale or transfer. For
the
avoidance of doubt nothing in this Agreement shall restrict or prohibit the
ability of the Buyer or the Company to deal with the Shares or any assets of
the
Company.
19. |
CONTRACTS
(RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) XXX
0000
|
Subject
to Clause 18
(and
save for the persons referred to in Clause 5.5),
a
person who is not a party to this Agreement shall have no rights under the
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to rely upon or enforce any term
of
this Agreement provided that this does not affect any right or remedy of the
third party which exists or is available apart from that Act. No party may
declare itself as a trustee of the rights under this Agreement for the benefit
of any third party save as expressly provided in this Agreement.
20. |
COUNTERPARTS
|
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by each of the
parties on separate counterparts each of which when executed and delivered
shall
be deemed to be an original, but all the counterparts together shall constitute
one and the same document.
21. |
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
21.1 |
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws
of England.
|
21
21.2 |
The
parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court
of
England in relation to any dispute or claim arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement.
|
EXECUTED
AS A DEED
by the
parties on the date which first appears in this deed.
22
SCHEDULE 1
THE
COMPANY
PART 1
1.
|
Registered
number: 01338772
|
2.
|
Registered
office: Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00
0XX
|
3.
|
Date
and place of incorporation: 15/11/1977, United
Kingdom
|
4.
|
Authorised
share capital: 250,000 Ordinary Shares of
£1
|
5.
|
Issued
share capital: 222,758 Ordinary Shares of
£1
|
6.
|
Shareholders:
|
Shareholder No
of
class shares
CEH
Limited, Cardrew Way, Redruth, Cornwall 222,758
Ordinary Shares
7.
|
Loan
capital: None
|
8.
|
Directors:
|
Name Address
Xxxxx
Xxxxx
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX Xxx 000, Xxxxxxx xx the Lake, Ontario, Losijo,
Canada
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
|
Xxxxxxx
X Xxxxxx III
|
0000
00xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx. 000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, XXX
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx XX00 0XX
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx X, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, XXX
|
9.
|
Secretary:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
0
Xxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx
|
10.
|
Accounting
reference date: 31/12
|
11.
|
Auditors:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
|
12.
|
Charges:
None
|
13.
|
Main
activity: Manufacturing
|
14. Subsidiary:
Spraychem
Limited
23
THE
SUBSIDIARY
PART 2
1.
|
Registered
number: 01670517
|
2.
|
Registered
office: Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX00
0XX
|
3.
|
Date
and place of incorporation: 07/10/1982, United
Kingdom
|
4.
|
Authorised
share capital: 20,000 Ordinary Shares of
£1
|
5.
|
Issued
share capital: 1,000 Ordinary Shares of
£1
|
6.
|
Shareholders:
|
Shareholder No
of
class shares
Contico
Manufacturing Limited
Cardrew
Way Redruth, Cornwall 1,000
Ordinary Shares
7.
|
Loan
capital: None
|
8.
|
Directors:
|
Name Address
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
00
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX
|
9.
|
Secretary:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
0
Xxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
XX0
0XX
|
10.
|
Accounting
reference date: 31/01
|
11.
|
Auditors:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
|
12.
|
Charges:
None
|
13.
|
Main
activity: Other manufacturing, other wholesale, non-trading
company
|
14. Subsidiaries:
None
24
SCHEDULE 2
PART 1
WARRANTIES
(CLAUSE
5)
1. |
SHARE
CAPITAL AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
Shares
1.1 |
CEH
is the legal owner of the Shares and KII is the beneficial owner
of the
Shares and are entitled to sell the Shares with full title guarantee
on
the terms of this Agreement without the consent of any third
party.
|
1.2 |
The
Shares constitute the whole of the Company's allotted and issued
share
capital and are fully paid or credited as fully
paid.
|
1.3 |
There
is no Encumbrance on, over or affecting any of the Shares or any
shares,
debentures or other securities of the Company and no person has the
right
to an Encumbrance in relation to any of the Shares or any shares,
debentures or other securities of the
Company.
|
1.4 |
All
dividends declared or due in respect of the Shares or the Shares
of the
Subsidiary have been paid in full.
|
Subsidiaries
1.5 |
The
Company does not have and never has had any subsidiary (or any subsidiary
undertaking) save for the Subsidiary and the Company has not agreed
to
acquire any interest in any body
corporate.
|
Shadow
Director
1.6 |
The
Company has no liability as a former member, officer or shadow director
of
any person nor are there any circumstances in which such liability
could
arise.
|
Company
and Subsidiary Information
1.7 |
The
information contained in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 is accurate
in all
respects
|
2. |
CAPACITY
|
2.1 |
The
Sellers have the necessary power and authority and has taken all
necessary
action to enter into and perform this Agreement, the Tax Deed and
each of
the documents to be executed at or before Completion in accordance
with
this Agreement which will, when executed, become binding and enforceable
obligations on the Sellers.
|
2.2 |
The
execution or the performance of this Agreement or any document to
be
executed at Completion in accordance with this Agreement will not
result
in a breach of any agreement or arrangement to which the Company
is a
party or by which the Company is bound or any Licence or statutory
or
regulatory provision.
|
3. |
RECORDS
AND DOCUMENTS
|
Storage
of records
25
3.1 |
All
records or data relating to the Company are under the ownership and
direct
control of the Company, and all title deeds relating to the Company
are
under the exclusive ownership of the
Company.
|
4. |
ACCOUNTS
AND RECORDS
|
Accuracy
of the Accounts
4.1 |
The
Accounts:-
|
4.1.1 |
give
a true and fair view of the state of the Company's affairs and of
its
results for the financial year ended on the Accounts
Date;
|
4.1.2 |
have
been prepared and audited in compliance with applicable law and generally
accepted accounting conventions, standards, principles and practices
("Accounting
Practice")
on a consistent basis for each of the last three financial years
ended on
the Accounts Date.
|
Events
since the Accounts Date
4.2 |
Since
the Accounts Date:-
|
4.2.1 |
no
dividend or other distribution within the meaning of Part VIII of
the Act
or of ICTA has been declared, paid or made by the Company except
as
provided for in the Accounts;
|
4.2.2 |
no
share or loan capital of the Company has been or agreed to be issued,
allotted, redeemed, purchased or repaid by the Company;
and
|
4.2.3 |
no
resolution of the shareholders of the Company has been
passed.
|
Management
Accounts
4.3 |
The
Management Accounts have:
|
4.3.1 |
been
prepared in accordance with accounting practice consistent with those
used
in preparing the Accounts;
|
4.3.2 |
fairly
represent the income and expenditure of the Company to the Management
Accounts Date; and
|
4.3.3 |
are
not affected by any material unusual or non recurring
items.
|
5. |
INSIDER
CONTRACTS
|
5.1 |
The
Company is not, and during the three years preceding the date of
this
Agreement has not been, a party to any agreement or arrangement (whether
legally enforceable or not) in which either of the Sellers or any
member
of the Sellers' Group or any director or former director of the Sellers'
Group or any connected person of any of them is or was directly or
indirectly interested.
|
5.2 |
There
is no claim or circumstance which may give rise to a claim against
the
Company by any member of the Sellers' Group or any director or former
director of the Company or any connected person of any of them on
any
account whatsoever.
|
6. |
INSOLVENCY
|
6.1 |
In
relation to the Company:-
|
26
6.1.1 |
no
resolution has been passed (and no meeting has been convened, and
no
written resolution has been circulated with a view to any resolution),
no
petition has been presented and no order has been made, for winding
up;
and
|
6.1.2 |
no
administrative receiver, receiver, administrator, liquidator or
provisional liquidator has been appointed and, no Encumbrance has
been
enforced.
|
6.2 |
In
relation to each of the Sellers (being bodies
corporate):-
|
6.2.1 |
no
resolution has been passed, no petition has been presented and no
order
has been made, for winding up;
|
6.2.2 |
no
notice of intention to appoint an administrator has been filed and
no
application for the appointment of an administrator has been
made;
|
6.2.3 |
no
administrative receiver, receiver, administrator, liquidator or
provisional liquidator has been appointed and no Encumbrance has
been
enforced;
|
6.2.4 |
no
floating charge has crystallised and no holder of any floating charge
(whether qualifying or not) has taken any steps to enforce such security;
|
6.2.5 |
no
distress, distraint, charging order, execution or other process has
been
levied, on or over any of the Shares;
and
|
6.2.6 |
no
event analogous to any of the above has occurred in the US or any
jurisdiction.
|
7. |
INSURANCE
|
7.1 |
The
Company has at all material times been and is now adequately covered
against accident, damage, injury, third party loss and other risks
normally insured against by persons operating the type of business
operated by the Company.
|
8. |
PROPERTY
MATTERS
|
Title
8.1 |
The
Property comprises all the freehold and leasehold land and premises
owned,
used or occupied by the Company and the Company has never been a
party to
any lease other than the current leases of the Property in respect
of
which actual or contingent obligations may
subsist.
|
8.2 |
So
far as the Sellers are aware, there has been no breach by the Company
of
the terms of the Lease.
|
Liabilities
8.3 |
The
Company has not been the tenant, licensee, assignee or guarantor
of any
lease, licence or tenancy agreement other than in relation to the
Property.
|
8.4 |
The
Company has not at any time acquired, assigned or otherwise disposed
of
any leasehold property in such a way that it retains any residual
liability in respect of it.
|
8.5 |
Since
the Accounts Date the Company has not acquired or disposed of, or
agreed
to acquire or dispose of, or granted any option in respect of, any
interest in any land or premises nor will it do so before Completion
without the prior written consent of the
Buyer.
|
8.6 |
There
is not outstanding any monetary claim or liability (contingent or
otherwise) affecting the Property.
|
27
9. |
ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS
|
"harm"
|
means
harm to the health of living organisms or other interference with
the
ecological systems of which they form part and in the case of man
includes
any offence caused to any of his senses or harm to his
property
|
"Hazardous
Substance"
|
means
any natural or artificial substance or combination of substances
(whether
in solid or liquid form or in the form of a gas or vapour) capable
of
causing harm to the Environment including but not limited to waste
of any
nature and any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substance or
article
|
Hazardous
Substances
9.1 |
None
of the activities of the Company at any time have, nor has any use
of any
asset or property owned, occupied or used by the Company or any other
person in connection with the activities of the Company at any time,
involved the use of, or the release or discharge into the Environment
of,
or contained, any Hazardous Substance prescribed or specified under
any
Environmental Laws as being prohibited or
restricted.
|
Contamination
of land and other assets
9.2 |
No
land or other asset now or previously owned, occupied or used by
the
Company contains or has contained any storage tanks or any Hazardous
Substance whether above or below
ground.
|
10. |
GRANTS
AND ALLOWANCES
|
Full
particulars of all grants, allowances, subsidies, loans or financial assistance
paid or pledged to the Company during the last six years by any supranational,
national or local authority or government agency are set out in the Disclosure
Letter and no member of the Sellers' Group has done or failed to do any act
or
thing (including the entering into of this Agreement) which could result in
such
grant or allowance becoming repayable or forfeited in whole or in part or in
a
claim for such grant not being granted.
11. |
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
11.1 |
CCP
is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the trademarks that are
being
licensed to the Company pursuant to the Trademark
Licence.
|
12. |
TAX
MATTERS
|
12.1 |
The
Company has, within the relevant time limits, correctly made all
returns
(including returns under Schedule 18 Finance Act 1998) required to
be made
and given all notices required to be given by the Company and maintained
all records for any Tax purpose and the information contained in
any such
returns and notices and records was full and
accurate.
|
12.2 |
The
Company has properly deducted and/or withheld from payments made
by it all
Tax required to be deducted and/or withheld and within the relevant
time
limits paid or accounted for all Tax which it is or was liable to
pay or
account for (including Tax required to be deducted or withheld from
payments).
|
12.3 |
The
Company is not a close company for the purposes of United Kingdom
Tax.
|
12.4 |
No
employee or director or former employee or director of the Company
or any
person associated with any of them holds or has within the last six
years
held any shares or securities or options over or interests in any
shares
or securities of the Company and the Company will not, so far as
the
Sellers are aware, be liable after Completion to pay national insurance
contributions or account for income tax or national insurance under
the
PAYE system in respect of, or in consequence of any event occurring
in
relation to, any such shares, securities, options or
interests.
|
28
12.5 |
The
amount at which any asset is included in the Accounts and/or the
amount of
consideration given on the acquisition of any asset by the Company
since
the Accounts Date, is such that on the disposal of such asset for
a
consideration equal to such amount (disregarding any statutory right
to
make any election or to claim any allowance or relief other than
one
allowable under Section 38 TCGA), no liability to corporation tax in
respect of any chargeable gain will arise.
|
12.6 |
The
value attributed in the Accounts to each asset, or the aggregates
of the
values attributed to the assets in each pool of assets in respect
of which
separate computations for capital allowances are required to be made
or,
as a result of any election, are made, is such that on a disposal
of each
such asset or pool of assets on the Accounts Date for a consideration
equal to such a value or aggregate value no balancing charge would
arise.
|
12.7 |
The
Company is not and has never been a member of a group for Tax purposes
(other than being grouped with the
Subsidiary).
|
12.8 |
All
instruments executed by the Company which are not subject to stamp
duty
land tax and by virtue of which the Company has any rights have been
duly
stamped and, where appropriate, stamped with the particulars delivered
stamp by HM Revenue & Customs and the Company has not executed outside
the United Kingdom any instrument relating to any property situated
or to
any matter or thing done, or to be done, in any part of the United
Kingdom.
|
12.9 |
No
relief from stamp duty or stamp duty land tax previously granted
will be
withdrawn on or in connection with the sale of the Company pursuant
to
this Agreement.
|
12.10 |
The
Company has not:-
|
12.10.1 |
entered
into a contract to purchase any land or an agreement to take a lease
of
any land which in either case has not been completed by a conveyance
or
the grant of a lease; or
|
12.10.2 |
entered
into a land transaction where there will or may be an obligation
in the
future to make a further land transaction return;
or
|
12.10.3 |
applied
to defer payment of stamp duty land tax under section 90 Finance
Xxx
0000.
|
12.11 |
The
Company is, and always has been, resident only in the United Kingdom
for
Tax purposes (and has never been treated as resident outside the
United
Kingdom for the purposes of any double tax
convention).
|
12.12 |
The
Company is not carrying on and has never carried on any trade or
otherwise
been liable to Tax other than in the United Kingdom, or is acting
or has
ever acted as the branch, agent, factor, or tax representative of
any
person resident outside the United Kingdom for Tax purposes and no
such
person carries on any trade or business through the
Company.
|
12.13 |
The
Company has not been party to any transaction in respect of which
the
relevant Tax Authority may substitute for Tax purposes a different
amount
or value than the amount or value of the actual consideration given
or
received by the Company, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any
transaction to which Schedule 28AA ICTA might
apply.
|
13. |
GENERAL
|
13.1 |
The
Company has not incurred any liability of any nature in circumstances
where such liability is known by the senior management of KII or
CEH but
is not known by the Senior
Management.
|
29
13.2 |
The
details of the intra-Group services provided to the Company by other
members of the Sellers' Group and set out in the Disclosure Letter
is true
and accurate and there are no other intra-Group services provided
to the
Company.
|
13.3 |
Except
in respect of trading in the ordinary course of business with the
Sellers
or any members of the Sellers'
Group:
|
13.3.1 |
there
is no outstanding indebtedness or other liability between the Company
and
any member of the Sellers' Group (actual or contingent);
|
13.3.2 |
there
is no outstanding contract or commitment between the Company and
any
members of the Sellers' Group; and
|
13.3.3 |
no
members of the Sellers Group are entitled to a claim of any nature
against
the Company or have assigned to any person the benefit of a claim
against
the Company to which the Sellers or a member of the Sellers' Group
would
otherwise be entitled.
|
13.4 |
All
mortgages, guarantees, pledges or other security agreements or
arrangements which have been given or entered into by the Company
or any
third party in respect of any borrowings or other obligations of
the
Company will be discharged on
Completion.
|
13.5 |
There
are no outstanding bonuses or other benefits owed to Senior Management
by
the Sellers or any member of the Sellers'
Group.
|
13.6 |
The
Subsidiary is dormant (or is capable of being declared dormant) within
the
meaning of Part VII of the Act and the Company has not given any
form of
guarantee or security (or letter of comfort) to any person or party
in
respect of any liability of (or any matter affecting) the
Subsidiary.
|
13.7 |
So
far as the Sellers are aware, all of the assets included in the Accounts
or acquired by the Company since the Accounts Date are legally and
beneficially owned by the Company free from any Encumbrance, except
for:
|
13.7.1 |
title
retention provisions in respect of goods and materials supplied to
the
Company in the ordinary course of business;
and
|
13.7.2 |
the
security interests, if any, reflected in the Accounts and liens arising
in
the ordinary course of business by operation of law.
|
13.8 |
The
Company has no liability to make any contributions or payments to
any
pension or other benefit arrangements provided by any members of
the
Sellers' Group.
|
13.9 |
So
far as the Sellers are aware (and save as disclosed in the Disclosure
Letter), the Company is not liable for (and has no contractual obligation
to provide) any benefit to any employees (or former employees) of
the
Company by reference to old age, retirement or
death.
|
30
PART 2
BUYER’S
WARRANTIES
(CLAUSE
5)
POWER
TO BUY THE COMPANY
13.10 |
The
Buyer has taken all necessary action and has all requisite power
and
authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents.
|
13.11 |
This
Agreement and the Transaction Documents constitute (or shall constitute
when executed) valid, legal and binding obligations on the Buyer
in the
terms of this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents.
|
13.12 |
Compliance
with the terms of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents shall
not
breach or constitute a default under any of the
following:
|
13.12.1 |
any
agreement or instrument to which the Buyer is a party or by which
it is
bound; or
|
13.12.2 |
any
order, judgment, decree or other restriction applicable to the
Buyer.
|
31
SCHEDULE 3
PART 1
WORKING
CAPITAL STATEMENT
1. |
FORM
AND CONTENT OF WORKING CAPITAL
STATEMENT
|
The
Working Capital Statement shall be drawn up by the Buyer at its cost as soon
as
practicable after Completion in accordance with this Schedule and the form
set
out in Part 2 of this Schedule 3.
2. |
Accounting
Policies
|
2.1 |
The
Working Capital Statement shall be drawn up in accordance
with:-
|
2.1.1 |
the
policies, procedures and practices set out in paragraphs 2.2 to 2.3
below;
|
2.1.2 |
to
the extent not inconsistent with paragraph 2.1.1, the accounting
policies,
procedures and practices adopted in calculating the Target Working
Capital, applied on a consistent
basis;
|
2.1.3 |
to
the extent not inconsistent with paragraphs 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, the
accounting policies, procedures and practices adopted in the Accounts,
applied on a consistent basis; and
|
2.1.4 |
to
the extent not inconsistent with paragraphs 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3,
the
accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States.
|
2.2 |
The
Working Capital Statement shall be drawn up as at the close of business
on
1 June 2007. No account shall be taken of events taking place after
the
close of business on 1 June 2007.
|
2.3 |
The
Working Capital Statement shall be expressed in pounds sterling.
Amounts
in other currencies shall be translated into pounds sterling at the
Exchange Rate.
|
3. |
Preparation
|
3.1 |
No
later than 20 days following Completion, the Buyer shall deliver
to the
Sellers a draft of the Working Capital Statement (the "Draft
Working Capital Statement").
Prior to such delivery the Buyer shall so far as is practicable consult
with the Sellers with a view to reducing the potential areas of
disagreement.
|
3.2 |
In
order to enable the Sellers to review and agree the Draft Working
Capital
Statement, the Buyer shall keep up to date and subject to reasonable
notice, make available to the Sellers' representatives and to the
Sellers'
accountants all books and records relating to the Company during
normal
office house and co-operate with them with regard to the agreement
of the
Draft Working Capital Statement.
|
3.3 |
If
the Sellers do not within 20 days of presentation to it of the Draft
Working Capital Statement give notice to the Buyer that it disagrees
with
the Draft Working Capital Statement or any item thereof, such notice
stating the reasons for the disagreement in reasonable detail and
specifying the adjustments which, in the Sellers’ opinion should be made
to the Draft Working Capital Statement (the "Disagreement
Notice"),
the Draft Working Capital Statement shall be final and binding on
the
parties for all purposes.
|
3.4 |
If
within the 20 day period referred to in paragraph 3.3, the Sellers’ give a
Disagreement Notice, the Sellers and the Buyer shall attempt in good
faith
to reach agreement in respect of the Draft Working Capital Statement
and,
if they are unable to do so within 2 days of such notification the
Sellers
or the Buyer may by notice to the other require that the Draft Working
Capital Statement be referred to the Reporting Accountants (an
"Appointment
Notice").
|
32
3.5 |
The
Reporting Accountants shall be engaged jointly by the Sellers and
the
Buyer on the terms set out in this paragraph 3 and otherwise on such
terms
as shall be agreed; provided that neither the Sellers nor the Buyer
shall
unreasonably (having regard, inter alia, to the provisions of this
paragraph 3) refuse its agreement to terms proposed by the Reporting
Accountants or by the other party. If the terms of engagement of
the
Reporting Accountants have not been settled within 5 Business Days
of
their identity having been determined (or such longer period as the
Sellers and the Buyer may agree) then, unless the Sellers or the
Buyer are
unreasonably refusing its agreement to those terms, those accountants
shall be deemed never to have become the Reporting Accountants and
new
Reporting Accountants shall be selected in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement.
|
3.6 |
Except
to the extent that the Sellers and the Buyer agree otherwise, the
Reporting Accountants shall determine their own procedure
but:-
|
3.6.1 |
apart
from procedural matters and as otherwise set out in this Agreement
shall
determine only:
|
(a) |
whether
any of the arguments for an alternation to the Draft Working Capital
Statement put forward in the Buyer's Disagreement Notice is correct
in
whole or in part; and
|
(b) |
if
so, what alterations should be made to the Draft Working Capital
Statement
in order to correct the relevant inaccuracy in
it;
|
3.6.2 |
shall
apply the principles set out in paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule
3;
|
3.6.3 |
shall
make their determination pursuant to paragraph 3.6.1 above, within
5 days
of their appointment in accordance with paragraph 3.5 of this Schedule
(or
failing this no later than 30 July
2007);
|
3.6.4 |
the
procedure of the Reporting Accountants
shall:
|
(a) |
give
the Sellers and the Buyer a reasonable opportunity to make written
representations to them;
|
(b) |
require
that each party supply the other with a copy of any written
representations at the same time as they are made to the Reporting
Accountants; and
|
(c) |
for
the avoidance of doubt, the Reporting Accountants shall not be entitled
to
determine the scope of their own
jurisdiction.
|
3.7 |
The
determination of the Reporting Accountants pursuant to paragraph
3.6.1
shall:-
|
3.7.1 |
be
made in writing and made available for collection by the Sellers
and the
Buyer at the offices of the Reporting Accountants at such time as
they
shall determine; and
|
3.7.2 |
unless
otherwise agreed by the Sellers and the Buyer include reasons for
each
relevant determination.
|
3.8 |
The
Reporting Accountants shall act as experts and not as arbitrators
and
their determination of any matter falling within their jurisdiction
shall
be final and binding on the Sellers and the Buyer save in the event
of
manifest error (when the relevant part of their determination shall
be
void and the matter shall be remitted to the Reporting Accountants
for
correction). In particular, without limitation their determination
shall
be deemed to be incorporated into the Draft Working Capital
Statement.
|
3.9 |
The
expenses (including VAT) of the Reporting Accountants shall be borne
as
they shall direct at the time they make any determination under paragraph
3.6.1(a) or, failing such direction, equally between the Buyer, on
the one
hand, and the Sellers, on the
other.
|
33
3.10 |
The
Sellers and Buyer shall co-operate with the Reporting Accountants
and
comply with their reasonable requests made in connection with the
carrying
out of their duties under this Agreement. In particular, without
limitation, the Buyer shall keep up to date and, subject to reasonable
notice, make available to the Reporting Accountants all books and
records
relating to the Company during normal office hours during the period
from
the appointment of the Reporting Accountants down to the making of
the
relevant determination.
|
3.11 |
Subject
to paragraph 3.12, nothing in this Schedule shall entitle any party
or the
Reporting Accountants access to any information or document which
is
protected by legal professional privilege, or which has been prepared
by
the other party or its accountants and other professional advisors
with a
view to assessing the merits of any claim or
argument.
|
3.12 |
A
party shall not be entitled by reason of paragraph 3.11 to refuse
to
supply such part or parts of documents as contain only the facts
on which
the relevant claim or argument is
based.
|
3.13 |
Each
party and the Reporting Accountants shall, and shall procure that
its
accountants and other advisers shall, keep all information and documents
provided to the pursuant to this paragraph 3 confidential and shall
not
use the same for any purpose, except for disclosure or use in connection
with the preparation of the Draft Working Capital Statement, the
proceedings of the Reporting Accountants or other matter arising
out of
this Agreement or in defending any claim or argument or alleged claim
or
argument relating to this Agreement or its subject
matter.
|
4. |
Determination
of Working Capital
|
4.1 |
The
Draft Working Capital Statement as agreed or determined in accordance
with
paragraph 3, shall:-
|
4.1.1 |
constitute
the Working Capital Statement for the purposes of this Agreement;
and
|
4.1.2 |
shall
be final and binding on the Sellers and the
Buyer.
|
4.2 |
The
Working Capital shall be derived from the Working Capital
Statement.
|
34
PART 2 -
WORKING
CAPITAL STATEMENT
"Working
Capital"
shall
mean the net total of the following line items for the Company as at Completion.
For purposes of clarification, the table below includes the calculation as
at
28th
February
2007.
All
amounts in pounds sterling
|
FEB-actual
|
£
whole
|
|
A/R
(gross)
|
1959858
|
reserves
|
-49576
|
NET
A/R
|
1910282
|
INV
(gross)
|
1618423
|
reserves
|
-6858
|
NET
INVENTORY
|
1611565
|
OTHER
CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
PREPAID
|
45597
|
OTHER
C/A ****
|
7532
|
53129
|
|
TOTAL
CURRENT ASSETS
|
3574976
|
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE
|
|
TRADE
|
659989
|
VAT
|
103386
|
ACCRUED
A/P (unvouched invoices)
|
70035
|
PAYROLL
TAXES (Nat'l Ins)
|
351170
|
1184580
|
|
ACCRUALS(
payroll, commissions, bonus, sales programs)
|
293349
|
INCOME/
CORPORATION TAX PAYABLE
|
149147
|
CURRENT
LIAB(excl. interco)
|
1627076
|
INTERCO
PAYABLE
|
|
TRADE
(royalty (acct no. 2175), trade (acct no. 2174) and mgm't chg from
KII
(account no. 2177))
|
210087
|
NET
W/C
|
1737813
|
35
EXECUTED
(but not delivered
until
the date hereof) AS
A DEED
by
CEH
LIMITED
/s/
Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III
|
)
)
)
Director
Director/Secretary
|
EXECUTED
(but not delivered
until
the date hereof) AS
A DEED
by
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III
|
)
)
)
Authorised
Signatory
|
EXECUTED
(but not delivered
until
the date hereof) AS
A DEED
by
INVESCOTEC
LIMITED
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
)
)
)
Director
Director/Secretary
|
36