October 19, 2005 Stuart F. Feiner, Esq. Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Inco Limited 145 King Street West Suite 1500 Toronto, ON, Canada M5H 4B7 Dear Stuart:
Exhibit 2.3
October 19, 2005
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Inco Limited
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Inco Limited
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Dear Stuart:
This is to confirm our agreement that effective the date hereof MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
(“MacKenzie Partners”) has been engaged by Inco Limited (the “Company”) as Information Agent for
all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Falconbridge Limited (the “Offer”). As
Information Agent, MacKenzie Partners will perform customary services (the “Services”) for the
Company, including distribution of the Offer materials to securityholders, providing information to
securityholders from the materials, and providing such other advisory services as may be requested
from time to time by the Company.
The Services shall continue until the expiration, termination or cancellation of the Offer. In
consideration of the Services you agree to pay MacKenzie Partners the following:
1. | A retainer of $15,000 which will be applied toward a final fee that will be mutually agreed upon, plus out of pocket expenses. In the event you request us to provide additional services not contemplated by this agreement, you agree to pay us an additional amount, if any, to be mutually agreed upon based on such additional services provided, payable upon expiration, termination or cancellation of the offer. | |
2. | MacKenzie Partners’ reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which shall include but not be limited to: telephone and telecopier charges; copying costs; messenger services; financial advertising; electronic news distribution; news wire service charges; transportation, meals and lodging; data processing; and mailing, postage and courier costs. |
You agree that information and data which you furnish to us, whether written, oral or pictorial
will be true, accurate and complete to the best of the Company’s knowledge and in all material
respects and we are authorized to rely upon it, as well as any information or data received from
third parties with your permission and on your behalf as, to the best of the Company’s knowledge,
true, accurate and complete in all material respects. You agree to review carefully any materials
which we prepare for you and furnish to you pursuant to this Agreement and to promptly advise if in
your reasonable opinion these materials are materially false, inaccurate or incomplete.
Inco Limited
October 19, 2005
Page Two
October 19, 2005
Page Two
You agree to indemnify and hold us and our employees harmless against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, legal and other related fees and expenses)
to which we may become subject arising from or in connection with the Services or matters which are
the subject of this Agreement; provided, however, that you shall not be liable under this sentence
in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense which was the result of our willful
misfeasance or bad faith. The Company will not be liable under this indemnity unless we give you
prompt written notice of any related claim or action brought against us. At your election, you may
assume the defense of any such claim or action. The provisions of this paragraph shall
indefinitely survive the period of this Agreement.
Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement between us as of the date being, we will hold
in confidence and will not use nor disclose to third parties information we receive from you or
your agents or information developed by MacKenzie Partners based upon such information we receive,
except for information which was public at the time of disclosure or becomes part of the public
domain without disclosure by us or information which we learn from a third party which does not
have an obligation of confidentiality to you.
This Agreement shall be interpreted according to and governed by the laws of the State of New York
and each of us consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of such State.
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding by signing and returning
to us the enclosed duplicate of this letter.
Sincerely yours,
Agreed to as of the date | ||||||
first written above. | ||||||
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. | Inco Limited | |||||
By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||
Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
October 19, 2005
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Xx. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Senior Vice-President
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
X.X.X.
Senior Vice-President
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
X.X.X.
Dear Xxxxx:
In connection with the retention of MacKenzie Partners, Inc. and its affiliates (“MacKenzie”),
pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement effective as of the date hereof between Inco Limited
and MacKenzie (“Engagement Letter”) whereby MacKenzie will act as Information Agent in connection
with our offer to purchase all of the common shares of Falconbridge Limited and any related
services to Inco Limited (the “Assignment”), Inco Limited and one or more of its subsidiaries and
affiliates (“Inco”) has provided, and will provide, to MacKenzie certain confidential, non-public
information relating to, among other areas, its business, operations, properties, assets, financial
condition, prospects and strategies. All such information (whether written, electronic, digital,
oral or visual) (i) furnished in connection with the Assignment (whether before or after the date
hereof) by Inco or any of Inco’s Representatives (as defined in Section 5 below) to MacKenzie or
any of MacKenzie’s directors, officers, employees, affiliates, representatives or agents
(collectively, “MacKenzie’s Representatives”) or (ii) acquired in connection with the Assignment by
MacKenzie or MacKenzie’s Representatives through any inspection of properties, site visits or
otherwise and (iii) all analyses, compilations, forecasts, studies or other documents prepared by
MacKenzie or MacKenzie’s Representatives in connection with the Assignment which are derived from,
contain or reflect any such information, or are otherwise generated from such information, referred
to in (i) or (ii) is hereinafter referred to as the “Information”. The term Information will not,
however, include information which (a) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a
disclosure by MacKenzie, (b) is or becomes available to MacKenzie on a non-confidential basis from
a source (other than Inco or Inco’s Representatives) which, to the best of MacKenzie’s knowledge
after reasonable inquiry, is not prohibited from disclosing such information to MacKenzie by a
legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation to us, (c) prior to delivery of such information to
MacKenzie, was already in MacKenzie’s possession or (d) was or is
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independently developed by MacKenzie or at its direction without violating MacKenzie’s
obligations hereunder.
Accordingly, the parties hereby agree that:
Section 1. | MacKenzie and MacKenzie’s Representatives (i)
will keep the Information confidential and will not
(except as required by applicable law, regulation
or legal process, and only after compliance with
Section 3 below), without our prior written
consent, disclose any Information in any manner
whatsoever, and (ii) will not use any Information
other than in connection with the Assignment;
provided, however, that you may reveal the
Information to MacKenzie’s Representatives (a) who
need to know the Information for the purpose of the
Assignment on MacKenzie’s behalf, (b) who are
informed by MacKenzie of the confidential nature of
the Information and (c) who agree to act in
accordance with the terms of this letter agreement.
MacKenzie will cause MacKenzie’s Representatives
to observe the terms of this letter agreement, and
MacKenzie will be responsible for any breach of
this letter agreement by any of MacKenzie’s
Representatives. |
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Section 2. | MacKenzie and MacKenzie’s Representatives will
not (except as required by applicable law,
regulation or legal process, and only after
compliance with Section 3 below), without our prior
written consent, disclose to any person or party
the fact that the Information exists or has been
made available, that MacKenzie has been retained
for this Assignment or any term, condition or other
fact relating to the Assignment or that any
discussions are being held between Inco or any of
Inco’s Representatives and MacKenzie or any of
MacKenzie’s Representatives relating to the
Assignment, including, without limitation, the
status of the Assignment, provided that, MacKenzie
may, at any time after any specific action or
transaction covered by the Assignment is made pubic
by Inco, in accordance with applicable securities
laws and regulations, make public by way of a
tombstone or similar advertisement that it had been
retained by Inco to act as an advisor in connection
with such action or transaction and in such other
capacity as Inco and MacKenzie may agree, so long
as Inco has had a reasonable opportunity to review
and comment on such advertisement prior to its
publication. |
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Section 3. | In the event that MacKenzie or any of
MacKenzie’s Representatives are required pursuant
to applicable law, regulation or legal process to
disclose any of the Information, MacKenzie will
notify Inco promptly so that Inco may seek a
protective order or other appropriate remedy or, in
its sole discretion, waive compliance with the
terms of this letter agreement. In the |
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event that no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, or that Inco
does not waive compliance with the terms of this letter agreement, MacKenzie
will furnish only that portion of the Information which it is advised by legal
counsel it is legally required to furnish and will reasonably cooperate, to the
extent legally permitted to do so, with Inco’s efforts to obtain reliable
assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the Information so
furnished. |
||
Section 4. | MacKenzie will, upon completion or termination
of the Assignment, at Inco’s request, promptly delete
or erase all Information stored or recorded in any
electronic or other device or system utilized by
MacKenzie or any of MacKenzie’s Representatives and
confirm such deletion or erasure to Inco in writing,
and, at Inco’s request, also promptly destroy copies
of all written Information in MacKenzie’s or
Mackenzie’s Representatives’ possession and so
confirm such destruction. Any oral or visual
Information will continue to be subject to the terms
of this letter agreement and Inco agrees that
MacKenzie may retain one copy of its final work
product for its records so long as such work product
will also continue to be subject to the terms hereof. |
|
Section 5. | MacKenzie is aware, and will advise MacKenzie’s
Representatives who are informed of the matters that
are subject of this letter agreement, of the
restrictions imposed by the United States and
Canadian securities laws (federal, provincial and
state) on the purchase or sale of securities by any
person or party who has received material, non-public
information from the issuer of such securities and on
the communication of such information to any other
person or party where it is reasonably foreseeable
that such other person or party is likely to purchase
or sell such securities in reliance upon such
information. |
|
Section 6. | MacKenzie acknowledge that remedies at law may
be inadequate to protect Inco against any actual or
threatened breach of this letter agreement by
MacKenzie or any of MacKenzie’s Representatives, and,
without prejudice to any other rights and remedies
otherwise available to Inco, MacKenzie agrees that
Inco may seek injunctive relief in its favour in
respect of any such breach. |
|
Section 7. | Inco recognizes and confirms that MacKenzie, in
acting pursuant to the Assignment, will be using
information in reports and other information provided
by others, including, without limitation, information
provided by or on behalf of Inco, and that MacKenzie
does not assume responsibility for and may rely,
without independent verification, on the accuracy and
completeness of any such reports and information. |
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Section 8. | MacKenzie agrees that no failure or delay by us
in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder
will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single
or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
right, power or privilege hereunder. |
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Section 9. | ||
Section 10. | This letter agreement contains the entire
agreement between MacKenzie and Inco concerning the
confidentiality of the Information, and no
modifications of this letter agreement or waiver of
any of the terms and conditions hereof will be
binding upon MacKenzie or Inco, unless approved in
writing by each of MacKenzie and Inco. |
|
Section 11. | This letter agreement shall remain in full force
and effect until three years from the date hereof. |
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Section 12. | If any provision of this letter agreement shall,
for any reason, be adjudged by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such
judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder of this agreement but shall be confined in
its operation to the provision of this letter
agreement directly involved in the controversy in
which such judgment shall have been rendered. |
|
Section 13. | This letter agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, whether signed originally or
reproduced by facsimile, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, and all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument. |
Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and returning to the undersigned
the duplicate copy of this letter enclosed herewith.
Very truly yours, | ||||
INCO LIMITED | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President | |||
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Accepted and Agreed as of the date
of this letter as first written above:
of this letter as first written above:
MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC.
(ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES)
(ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS AFFILIATES)
By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title:
|
Executive Vice President | |||