EXHIBIT 10.15
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA PURCHASE AGREEMENT (EX-IM)
This ANHYDROUS AMMONIA PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of October 18, 1996, among
MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION, a Mississippi corporation, together with its
successors and permitted assigns ("MCC"), FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC., a Kansas
corporation, together with its successors and permitted assigns ("Farmland"),
and FARMLAND MISSCHEM LIMITED, a limited liability company organized under
The Companies Ordinance of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, together with
its successors and permitted assigns ("Seller").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Seller is developing and will own and operate an anhydrous ammonia
production facility which will be located on the island of Trinidad in The
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and which is expected to be capable of
producing approximately 650,000 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia per year; and
WHEREAS, Seller wishes to sell its total anhydrous ammonia output to MCC and
Farmland, and MCC and Farmland wish to purchase from Seller, each on an
individual but not joint basis, a portion of the total anhydrous ammonia
output produced by the Facility, in accordance with the terms and conditions
set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Seller, MCC and Farmland hereby mutually agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
Each of the following capitalized terms when used herein shall have the
meaning indicated below:
"Accumulation Account" means a notional account established for each
Buyer on the books of Seller which shall be equal to the sum of (a) any
positive balance in such Buyer's Prior Contract Accumulation Account
existing as of the end of the term of the Prior Contract, (b) all Excess
payments made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 2.6.1 and (c) all Dollar
Credits earned by such Buyer pursuant to Section 2.5.2.
"Adjusted Price" means the Ammonia Market Price less five percent (5%).
"Agreement" means this Anhydrous Ammonia Purchase Agreement dated as of
October 18, 1996, among MCC, Farmland and Seller, including all Exhibits
hereto, as such may be amended, supplemented, restated, novated, renewed
or modified from time to time.
"Ammonia Floor Price" means the price per tonne for Delivered Product
or Deemed Delivered Product for the applicable Year set forth in the
following table:
YEAR PRICE
1 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
2 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
3 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
4 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
5 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
6 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
7 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
8 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
9 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
10 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
11 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
12 $(confidential treatment has been requested) USD
"Ammonia Market Price" means, as of any particular date, the price for
anhydrous ammonia determined in accordance with Section 2.6.3.
"Xxxx of Lading" means a xxxx of lading to be issued by the master of
each Buyer's Vessel promptly after the completion of loading of such
Buyer's Vessel setting forth (a) the respective dates and times of
commencement and completion of loading of Buyer's Vessel; (b) the total
quantity of Delivered Product; and (c) such other information as may be
required pursuant to the charter party for the Buyer's Vessel and
otherwise pursuant to applicable law and shipping industry practice.
"Business Day" means a day on which business by and among banks may be
carried on in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, New York City,
Mississippi and Missouri, but in no event shall it include a Saturday
or a Sunday.
"Buyer" means either MCC or Farmland, as the case may be, and "Buyers"
means both MCC and Farmland.
"Buyer-Caused Shutdown" means a shutdown of the Facility caused solely
by failure of a Buyer to take Tendered Product at a time when Seller's
Storage Tanks are full, which failure was not excused by Limited Force
Majeure.
"Buyer Payment Failure" means the failure of a Buyer, which failure has
continued for at least ten (10) Business Days, to make payment for
Tendered Product or Deemed Delivered Product when due under this
Agreement.
"Buyer's Vessels" means any ocean-going vessels owned, controlled or
hired by a Buyer for purposes of transporting Product.
"Challenged Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
"Commencement Date" means the date of funding of a direct term loan
for the Facility provided by the Export-Import Bank of the United
States pursuant to the Financing Documents to which it is a party.
"Consent and Agreement" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3.
"Coordinating Committee" means the Savonetta Pier Coordinating
Committee comprised of representatives of NGC, NEC, Seller and any
other participant as may be advised by NGC and NEC from time to time.
"Deemed Delivered Product" means, with respect to any particular time
period during which a Buyer Payment Failure is not in existence, the
aggregate tonnage of Product that Seller was unable to produce during
such time period solely as a result of a Buyer-Caused Shutdown; provided
that Deemed Delivered Product for any particular time period shall not
exceed the product of (a) 1600 tonnes and (b) the number of days or
portions thereof (rounded to the nearest hour) of Buyer-Caused Shutdown
within such period.
"Deliver," "Delivery" and "Deliveries" refer to the actual
transmission of Product by Seller to a Buyer at the Delivery Point.
"Delivered Product" means Product actually Delivered to a Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement. For the sole purpose of determining which
week's Ammonia Market Price is in effect, Product is considered to be
Delivered Product upon completion of loading of the Buyer's Vessel
upon which such Product is to be transported, as evidenced by the
relevant Xxxx of Lading.
"Delivery Point" means the flanged inlet pipe of a Buyer's Vessel.
"Delivery Shortfall" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.4.
"Dollar" or "$" means United States dollars.
"Dollar Credit" means the credit, expressed in Dollars, accorded to a
particular Buyer pursuant to Section 2.5.2 in connection with all
payments made by such Buyer with respect to Deemed Delivered Product.
"EPC Contract" means that certain Engineering, Procurement and
Construction Contract dated as of December 20, 1995, between Seller and
The X. X. Xxxxxxx Company, as may be amended, supplemented, novated,
suspended, restated or modified from time to time.
"Excess" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.1.
"Facility" means the anhydrous ammonia production facility (including
the Seller's Storage Tanks and the facilities used to transport Product
to the Delivery Point) to be designed, financed, constructed, owned,
maintained and operated by Seller on the island of Trinidad in The
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, with a designed production capacity of
approximately 650,000 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia per Year.
"Farmland" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Financing Documents" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.3.
"Force Majeure" means any occurrence or circumstance (a) which is
beyond the control of the Party affected thereby, (b) which is not the
result of fault or negligence on the part of the Party affected thereby,
and (c) whose effects could not have been avoided or overcome by
exercise of due diligence and reasonable efforts on the part of the
Party affected thereby. Lack of funds, market fluctuations or
unfavorable market conditions shall not under any circumstances be
considered Force Majeure.
"Lender" means the financial institutions providing construction and/or
permanent financing for the Facility pursuant to the Financing
Documents.
"Limited Force Majeure" means any occurrence or circumstance that would
be encompassed within the definition of Force Majeure set forth in this
Agreement, excepting:
(a) maritime casualties to Buyers' Vessels (other than as
such casualties result from war),
(b) weather conditions to the extent such conditions impair
movement of Buyers' Vessels,
(c) labor disturbances carried out by Buyers' employees or
the crew of Buyers' Vessels,
(d) commercial unavailability of suitable ocean transport
vessels with which to take timely receipt of Tendered
Product (other than as such unavailability results from
war), or
(e) unavailability of the port or other receiving facilities
at which Buyer's Vessels are intended to be unloaded.
"MCC" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Month" means, with respect to the first Month after the Commencement
Date, the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending at 12:00
midnight on the last day of the first complete calendar month to follow
the Commencement Date, and thereafter means each succeeding calendar
Month during the remainder of the Term.
"NEC" means The National Energy Corporation Limited, a company
incorporated under the laws of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
together with its successors and permitted assigns.
"NGC" means The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, a
company incorporated under the laws of The Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago, together with its successors and permitted assigns.
"Parties" means Buyers and Seller, collectively, and "Party" means
either of the Buyers or Seller, individually, as the case may be.
"Performing Buyer" means, with respect to any period in which there is
a Buyer Payment Failure, the Buyer which did not commit the Buyer
Payment Failure.
"Pier" has the meaning set forth in the Pier and Harbour Usage
Agreement.
"Pier and Harbour Usage Agreement" means the Pier and Harbour Usage
Agreement, dated October 18, 1996, between NGC, NEC and Seller as
such may be amended, supplemented, novated, suspended, extended or
modified from time to time.
"PLIPDECO" means the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development
Corporation Limited, a company duly incorporated under The Companies
Ordinance Chapter 31 No. 1 of the 1950 Laws of Trinidad and Tobago and
having its registered office at PLIPDECO House, Orinoco Drive, Point
Lisas Industrial Estate, Couva, in the Island of Trinidad.
"Prior Contract" means that certain Anhydrous Ammonia Purchase
Agreement of even date herewith among the parties to this Agreement, a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto.
"Prior Contract Accumulation Account" means the "Accumulation Account"
(as that term is defined in the Prior Contract) established for each
Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Prior Contract.
"Product" means anhydrous ammonia produced at the Facility.
"Seller's Storage Tanks" means the two 40,000-tonne capacity tanks
located at the Facility in which Seller stores Product.
"Tendered Product" means, without double counting, Product that is
immediately available in Seller's Storage Tanks for Delivery to a
Buyer.
"Term" means the period commencing on the date hereof and expiring on
the date which is twelve (12) Years after the Commencement Date (unless
terminated pursuant to Section 8.2).
"Tonnage Credit" means the credit, expressed in tonnes, accorded to a
particular Buyer pursuant to Section 2.5.1 in connection with all
payments made by such Buyer with respect to Tendered Product which is
not Delivered but paid for pursuant to Section 2.3 or Section 2.4.
"tonne" means a metric ton of 2,204.6 pounds.
"Year" means, with respect to the first Year, the period commencing on
the Commencement Date and ending at 12:00 midnight on the last day of
the twelfth Month to follow the Commencement Date, and thereafter means
each succeeding twelve (12) Month period during the remainder of the
Term.
ARTICLE 2
PURCHASE AND SALE OF PRODUCT
2.1 Purchase and Sale; Right of First Refusal. Seller agrees to sell and
Deliver Product to Buyers, and each Buyer agrees to purchase and accept
Delivery of Product from Seller, in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. Buyers shall have a right of first
refusal to all Product and, except as expressly authorized by this
Agreement, Seller shall not sell or otherwise transfer Product to any
person or entity other than Buyers without Buyers' prior written
consent. During the pendency of any Buyer-Caused Shutdown, or a Buyer
Payment Failure, or an event of default by a Buyer, or an event of
Force Majeure which prevents or impairs a Buyer's performance of its
obligations hereunder, Seller may sell Product otherwise reserved for
such Buyer pursuant to this Agreement and in excess of amounts which
such Buyer is then able to accept from Seller to persons or entities
other than such Buyer for the duration of such event (including
completion of delivery of Product sold to a third party which sale
commenced prior to the end of such event), provided that Seller shall
first have offered such Product to the other Buyer.
2.2 Scheduling of Production and Lifting.
2.2.1 Scheduling of Seller's Production. Seller shall use reasonable
efforts, under normal operating conditions for the Facility, to
maximize Facility output and maintain a steady flow of Tendered
Product, but the Parties acknowledge that production may be
reduced as necessary from time to time to accommodate scheduled
or unscheduled maintenance, emergencies or other operational
constraints. Seller shall plan periods of scheduled maintenance
with Buyers so as to coordinate, to the greatest extent
practicable, and subject to Seller's obligation under the
Financing Documents, reductions in the Facility output with
Buyers' scheduling requirements for Deliveries of Product.
Buyers and Seller shall cooperate to the extent practicable in
the scheduling of Deliveries to take into account the shipping
requirements of each Buyer and the capacity of Seller's Storage
Tanks.
2.2.2 Scheduling of Buyers' Lifting. It is recognized by the Parties
that due to the location of the Facility, ocean transportation
will be required to deliver Tendered Product to the markets
where it will be sold or used by each Buyer. Transportation and
other activities on Buyers' side of the Delivery Point will be
Buyers' sole responsibility. Additionally, and without
prejudice to each Buyer's respective obligations under
Sections 2.3 and 2.4, it is recognized by the Parties that due
to the differing sizes of Buyer's Vessels, it will not be
possible for each Buyer to purchase exactly fifty percent (50%)
of the Tendered Product available at any given time or over any
given period of time. Prior to the Commencement Date, Buyers
will determine which Buyer will take delivery of the first
Tendered Product (and if they are unable to agree, it will be
Farmland), and thereafter, it will be the obligation of
whichever Buyer has taken Delivery in the aggregate of the
lesser amount of Tendered Product to take Delivery of and pay
for the next available Tendered Product.
2.3 Buyer's Obligation Prior to Buyer-Caused Shutdown or Buyer Payment
Failure. During any period in which no Buyer-Caused Shutdown or Buyer
Payment Failure is in effect, Buyers shall take Delivery of and pay for
all Tendered Product, in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, except to the extent that such obligation may be suspended by
the occurrence of Limited Force Majeure; provided, however, that the
failure of Buyers to take Delivery of Tendered Product shall not be an
event of default for so long as Buyers perform their obligations under
Section 2.4.1 or 2.4.2 as applicable.
2.4 Effect of Buyer-Caused Shutdown and Buyer Payment Failure.
2.4.1 Buyers' Obligations During Buyer-Caused Shutdown. In addition
to the obligations of Buyers under Section 2.3, but subject to
Section 2.4.2, each Buyer shall, with respect to each
Buyer-Caused Shutdown, pay for (a) fifty percent (50%) of the
Deemed Delivered Product and (b) fifty percent (50%) of the
undelivered Tendered Product attributable to such Buyer-Caused
Shutdown. Each such amount shall be priced as provided in
Section 2.6 and shall be billed and payable pursuant to
Article 3.
2.4.2 Rights and Obligations of Performing Buyer after Buyer Payment
Failure. During the existence of a Buyer Payment Failure, in
lieu of the obligations set forth in Sections 2.3 and 2.4.1, but
subject to Lender's rights under the Consent and Agreement, the
Performing Buyer shall be obligated, except to the extent that
such obligation may be suspended by Limited Force Majeure, to
take or pay for if not taken the lesser of (a) all Tendered
Product or (b) 27,000 tonnes per Month of Tendered Product
(appropriately prorated for any Month in which a Buyer Payment
Failure is in effect for only part of the Month). Upon
occurrence and during the existence of a Buyer Payment Failure,
the Performing Buyer shall have a right of first refusal to
purchase all or any portion of Tendered Product in excess of
27,000 tonnes per Month. All amounts of Tendered Product taken
or paid for pursuant to this Section 2.4.2 shall be priced as
set forth in Section 2.6.1 and shall be billed and payable
pursuant to Article 3.
2.5 Buyers' Make-Up Rights.
2.5.1 Tonnage Credits. Each Buyer shall receive a Tonnage Credit in
connection with all payments made by such Buyer, pursuant to
Section 2.3 or Section 2.4, for Tendered Product which is not
Delivered Product, provided such payment is not then held in the
escrow account for Challenged Amounts described in Section 3.3.
Such credit shall entitle whichever Buyer made such payment to
receive, without further payment, future Delivery of the same
tonnage of Product as was covered by the payment in question in
accordance with Section 3.2.2. Any Tonnage Credits outstanding
as of the end of the Term shall entitle the Buyer holding such
Tonnage Credits to take Delivery of a corresponding tonnage of
Tendered Product at Buyer's convenience at or after the end of
the Term, but upon reasonable advance notice to Seller, until
such Tonnage Credits have been fully utilized.
2.5.2 Dollar Credits. Each Buyer shall receive a Dollar Credit (which
shall be credited to such Buyer's Accumulation Account) in
connection with all payments made by such Buyer with respect to
Deemed Delivered Product, provided such payment is not then held
in the escrow account for Challenged Amounts described in
Section 3.3. Such credit shall entitle whichever Buyer made
such payment to apply the Dollar amount of the Dollar Credit
from time to time as a credit against the price then applicable
to future Tendered Product in accordance with Section 3.2.3.
2.6 Price.
2.6.1 Price for Tendered Product.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the end of the twelfth Year or
(ii) the date on which the construction and term debt
financing outstanding under the Financing Documents have
been paid in full, the price for Tendered Product shall
be the greater of (x) the Adjusted Price, or (y) the
Ammonia Floor Price; provided, however, that for any
shipment for which a Buyer pays the Ammonia Floor Price,
the amount ("Excess") which such Buyer paid in excess of
the Adjusted Price shall be credited to such Buyer's
Accumulation Account.
(b) Upon the expiration of the period described in Section
2.6.1(a), the price for Tendered Product shall be the
Adjusted Price.
2.6.2 Price for Deemed Delivered Product. The price of Deemed
Delivered Product shall be the Ammonia Floor Price.
2.6.3 Ammonia Market Price. The Ammonia Market Price in effect for any
given calendar week will equal the average of the averages of the
high and low "FOB Caribbean" posted prices per tonne for
anhydrous ammonia for the previous week as quoted by each of
Green Markets, Fertilizer Market Intelligence Weekly, Fertecon
Weekly Ammonia Fax, and FMB Fertilizer Bulletin. If any of the
foregoing publications should cease publication, cease quoting
such prices or change the method by which it determines such
weekly average prices, the Parties shall agree on a replacement
publication if available. Pending determination of a
replacement publication or methodology for determining the
Ammonia Market Price, the Ammonia Market Price shall be
determined by reference to the remaining publications.
ARTICLE 3
BILLING AND PAYMENT
3.1 Billing.
3.1.1 Delivered Product. Not later than three Business Days after
completion of each Delivery to a Buyer, Seller shall prepare and
deliver to such Buyer a billing statement (together with the
relevant Xxxx of Lading) showing (a) the total tonnage of
Delivered Product included in such Delivery (b) the price per
tonne payable for such quantity of Delivered Product, determined
in accordance with Section 2.6, and (c) the aggregate price
owing in respect of such Delivered Product.
3.1.2 Undelivered Tendered Product -- No Buyer Payment Failure. If a
Buyer-Caused Shutdown has occurred and has continued for a
period of ten (10) days or more, and no Buyer Payment Failure
has occurred and is then continuing, Seller may prepare and
deliver to each Buyer (on no more than one occasion during
each separate period of Buyer-Caused Shutdown) a billing
statement showing (a) the total tonnage of Tendered Product
which is in Seller's Storage Tanks and available for Delivery,
(b) the price per tonne payable for such quantity of Tendered
Product, determined in accordance with Section 2.6 as if such
Product had been Delivered on the date of such billing
statement, and (c) the aggregate price owing by such Buyer
pursuant to Section 2.4.1 in respect of fifty percent (50%)
of such Tendered Product.
3.1.3 Deemed Delivered Product -- No Buyer Payment Failure. If a
Buyer-Caused Shutdown has occurred, and no Buyer Payment Failure
has occurred and is then continuing, Seller may prepare and
deliver to each Buyer not more frequently than every seven (7)
days during such Buyer-Caused Shutdown and after the end of such
Buyer-Caused Shutdown, a billing statement showing (a) the total
tonnage of Deemed Delivered Product attributable to the portion
of the Buyer-Caused Shutdown covered by such billing statement,
and (b) the aggregate price owing by each Buyer, pursuant to
Section 2.4.1, in respect of such tonnage of Deemed Delivered
Product.
3.1.4 Undelivered Tendered Product During Buyer Payment Failure.
Following the end of any Month during which (a) a Buyer Payment
Failure was in effect and (b) the Performing Buyer took Delivery
of less than the quantity of Tendered Product which it was
obligated to take or pay for pursuant to Section 2.4.2 (the
amount in tonnes by which such Buyer's obligations for any such
Month exceeded the amount of Tendered Product actually Delivered
to that Buyer during such Month being referred to herein as a
"Delivery Shortfall"), Seller may prepare and deliver to the
Performing Buyer (in addition to any other billing statements
submitted for the corresponding Month in accordance with this
Section 3.1) a billing statement showing (i) the amount of the
Delivery Shortfall, (ii) the price per tonne payable for the
Delivery Shortfall, determined in accordance with Section 2.6 as
if the undelivered Tendered Product had been Delivered on the
last day of the relevant Month, and (iii) the aggregate price
owing by such Buyer with respect to such Delivery Shortfall.
3.1.5 Statement of Credits. Each billing statement delivered by
Seller to a Buyer shall be accompanied by a statement of (a) the
positive balance, if any, in such Buyer's Accumulation Account,
and (b) the total amount of any outstanding Tonnage Credit
available to such Buyer.
3.2 Payment.
3.2.1 Generally.
(a) Each Buyer shall make payment of the amount owing (taking
into account any credits to which such Buyer may be
entitled and which such Buyer then elects to use)
pursuant to a billing statement delivered to such Buyer
pursuant to Section 3.1 not later than thirty (30) days
after the date of such billing statement.
(b) Each Buyer shall, subject to Sections 3.2.2, 3.2.3 and
3.3, make payments to Seller in Dollars in immediately
available funds at the account to be established with the
Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York State chartered bank, as
Revenue Trustee.
3.2.2 Application of Tonnage Credits. Each Buyer, provided such Buyer
is not then in default under this Agreement, shall be entitled
to apply any unused Tonnage Credit as an offset against the
total charges (regardless of the current price per tonne)
applicable to an equivalent number of tonnes of Tendered or
Delivered Product for which such Buyer has been billed in any
particular billing statement rendered pursuant to this
Agreement.
3.2.3 Application of Accumulation Account Balance. Each Buyer,
provided such Buyer is not then in default under this Agreement,
shall be entitled to apply any positive balance in its
Accumulation Account as an offset against charges shown as owing
from such Buyer in any particular billing statement rendered
pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that any positive
balance in a Buyer's Accumulation Account from time to time may
be applied, in whole or in part, only when the Adjusted Price
exceeds the Ammonia Floor Price by an amount greater than $10
per tonne. Whenever the Adjusted Price reflected in any billing
statement to a Buyer exceeds the Ammonia Floor Price by an
amount greater than $10 per tonne, such Buyer shall pay the
Ammonia Floor Price plus $10 for each tonne covered by such
billing statement, with the difference to the Adjusted Price
being satisfied by a debit to such Buyer's Accumulation
Account to the extent that there is a positive balance.
3.3 Disputes. Each Buyer shall inform Seller and the other Buyer by written
notice of any objection that it may have with respect to any billing
statement (including any credits applicable thereto) within ten (10)
days following such Buyer's receipt of such statement, identifying in
such notice the amount of the stated charges which it questions or
challenges (the "Challenged Amount"). Failure by a Buyer to notify
Seller of a dispute with respect to any particular billing statement
within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section
3.3 shall constitute acceptance by such Buyer of Seller's
determination of the payment amount due in respect of the Product or
Deemed Delivered Product covered by such statement. Each Buyer shall
pay the total undisputed amount of each billing statement rendered to
such Buyer within the thirty (30) day time period specified for
payments in Section 3.2.1(a) and, for so long as Seller is subject to
the Financing Documents, shall deposit any Challenged Amount in an
interest-bearing escrow account to be maintained by a security trustee
designated by the Lender. Upon resolution of the dispute, the
Challenged Amount, with a proportionate share of accrued interest
thereon, shall be distributed to the Party or Parties found to be
entitled thereto. The Parties shall work in good faith to resolve any
dispute concerning a Challenged Amount, and if they are unable to
resolve such dispute within sixty (60) days following delivery of a
Buyer's written objections to Seller, either Party may initiate
arbitration with respect to such dispute in accordance with
Article 10. If there is no dispute by Seller with respect to any
particular Challenged Amount, Seller shall credit the appropriate
Buyer for all payments, if any, received in respect of such
Challenged Amount and shall reduce the amount owing from such Buyer
with respect to the billing statement in dispute by such Challenged
Amount. No billing dispute between Seller and either Buyer, or
between Buyers, shall relieve either Buyer or both Buyers, as
applicable, of any of its or their obligations, as the case may be,
hereunder.
3.4 Late Payments. Late payments by a Buyer or Seller (including any
Challenged Amounts not required to be deposited in escrow pursuant to
Section 3.3 which are subsequently determined to be owing) will bear
interest from the date the payment was due until paid in full at an
annual interest rate equal to the rate posted by CitiBank, N.A., from
time to time as its floating reference commercial lending rate plus
two percent (2%).
3.5 Currency. Seller shall invoice Buyers for payment, and Buyers shall
make payments to Seller, in Dollars.
3.6 Refund of Positive Accumulation Account Balance. Any positive balance
outstanding in a Buyer's Accumulation Account existing as of the end of
the Term shall entitle such Buyer to a refund from Seller equal to the
full Dollar amount of such balance, payable not later than thirty (30)
days after the end of the Term.
ARTICLE 4
COMMENCEMENT
4.1 Commencement of Product Deliveries. Until the Commencement Date,
(a) Buyers shall have no obligation under this Agreement to accept or
pay for Product, and (b) Seller shall have no obligation under this
Agreement to tender Product to Buyers. After the end of the Term,
Buyers shall have no obligation under this Agreement to accept
Product and Seller shall have no obligation under this Agreement to
tender Product to Buyers, other than fulfillment of Seller's
obligation to deliver Product as a result of unused Tonnage Credits.
ARTICLE 5
DELIVERY, TITLE, SHIPPING AND CARGO HANDLING
5.1 Delivery. Seller shall deliver all Product to be sold pursuant to this
Agreement to the Delivery Point.
5.2 Title; Risk of Loss; Custody and Control. Title to, risk of loss for,
and custody and control of Tendered Product will pass from Seller to
Buyer when such Product is transferred to Buyer's side of the Delivery
Point.
5.3 Scheduling and Loading Procedures. Each Buyer shall comply with all
policies, rules and regulations (including the procedures for scheduling
the arrival, loading and departure of such Buyer's Vessels), promulgated
from time to time by the Coordinating Committee.
5.4 Compliance with Governmental Regulations. Each Buyer shall assure that
all Buyer's Vessels utilized by it to take Delivery of Product shall at
all times be operated in full compliance with all applicable national
and local laws and regulations of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Seller shall have the right to reject any Buyer's Vessel not in
compliance herewith and therewith.
5.5 Port Dues and Freight Tax. All normal Port dues and any and all other
charges (including any items chargeable to Seller under the Pier and
Harbour Usage Agreement) shall be for Buyer's account, including
expenses, if any, of shifting berth if such shifting is attributable
to such Buyer's Vessel or such Buyer. Any freight tax imposed on or '
required to be withheld by a Buyer by the Government of The Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago or any subdivision or agency thereof, and any
interest or penalty relating thereto assessed to be payable thereon
shall be the sole responsibility of the affected Buyer, and each Buyer
shall hold Seller harmless against and indemnified from such freight
tax relating to such Buyer's purchases.
ARTICLE 6
MEASUREMENT
6.1 Measurement. The quantity of Product loaded on each Buyer's Vessel
will be determined by a draft survey of such Buyer's Vessel conducted
by an independent surveyor selected and paid by Buyer and reasonably
acceptable to Seller. Tendered Product in Seller's Storage Tanks
will be measured in accordance with normal commercial practices in
the ammonia industry.
ARTICLE 7
FORCE MAJEURE
7.1 Suspension of Performance. If an event of Force Majeure precludes any
Party from performing any of its obligations under this Agreement, other
than failure to make a payment when due, then the obligation of such
Party will be suspended to the extent made necessary by such event of
Force Majeure, and such Party will give prompt notice to the other
Parties of the nature and estimated duration of such Force Majeure event
and its anticipated effect on the affected Party's ability to perform.
7.2 Action to Overcome Force Majeure. The Party affected by an event of
Force Majeure shall take or perform any and all reasonable actions
necessary and appropriate to mitigate and overcome the effects of the
event of Force Majeure; provided, however, that a Party will not be
required or obligated to settle strikes or other labor disputes in
order to overcome an event of Force Majeure or to mitigate its effect,
or to perform any other action in order to overcome an event of Force
Majeure if and to the extent such action would be contrary to,
constitute a violation of or in any way be prevented by any applicable
laws or permits.
ARTICLE 8
DEFAULT
8.1 Events of Default. An event of default will be deemed to have taken
place upon the occurrence of any of the following:
8.1.1 Failure to Pay. A Party shall fail to make payments of any
amount which is due to another Party hereunder and such failure
extends for more than ten (10) Business Days after the due date
for such payment;
8.1.2 Failure to Perform Other Obligations. A Party shall fail to
perform any of its covenants or obligations (other than
obligations which are subject to Section 8.1.1) under and in
accordance with this Agreement and such failure is not cured
within thirty (30) days after the defaulting Party's receipt of
notice of such failure from the non-defaulting Party (or such
longer period as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate such
cure if the default is not curable within thirty (30) days but
not exceeding ninety (90) days after the defaulting Party's
receipt of notice of such failure from the non-defaulting
Party); provided that appropriate steps to effectuate such
cure are diligently commenced and pursued by the defaulting
Party.
8.1.3 Insolvency. A Party (a) shall generally not, or shall be unable
to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts
as such debts become due, (b) shall file a petition in
bankruptcy, (c) shall have a trustee or receiver appointed
with respect to all or a portion of its properties or affairs
or (d) shall have a petition in bankruptcy filed against it
and shall not have caused such filing to be dismissed within
ninety (90) days thereafter.
8.2 Remedies. Subject in all respects to Lender's rights under the Consent
and Agreement, upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of
default as provided in Section 8.1 which remains uncured beyond the
applicable cure period, the non-defaulting Party may suspend performance
of its obligations hereunder with respect to the defaulting Party,
terminate this Agreement with respect to the defaulting Party, or take
any other action or pursue any other right available to it under this
Agreement; provided, however, that no such termination shall be
effective unless an additional notice stating the intent to terminate
the Agreement is delivered to the Party in default at least sixty (60)
days prior to the effective date of the termination and the event of
default in question continues on such stated effective date, and
provided, further, that an event of default by one Buyer shall not
constitute an event of default by the other Buyer or create any right
in the other Buyer to suspend performance or terminate this Agreement.
Remedies provided herein are cumulative and the exercise of one shall
not limit, waive or preclude the exercise of other remedies in this
Section 8.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement, at the same time or
subsequently.
8.3 Mitigation of Damages. Each Party shall make reasonable efforts to
mitigate the damages incurred by it resulting from an event of default
hereunder by another Party. Upon the failure of either Buyer to take
or pay for Tendered Product as required by this Agreement, Seller shall,
subject to the rights of first refusal of the other Buyer pursuant to
Section 2.1 or Section 2.4.2, as applicable, make commercially
reasonable efforts to sell such Tendered Product to another purchaser,
and the proceeds to Seller of any such sale (after deduction of any
reasonable expenses incurred by Seller in arranging such sale) shall
be credited against any amount for which the non-performing Buyer
would otherwise be liable to Seller.
ARTICLE 9
LIABILITY
9.1 Limitation of Liability. In no event shall any Party be liable for lost
profit, lost business, lost savings or other incidental, consequential,
special, punitive or other indirect damages of any kind or nature
whatsoever arising out of any failure by such Party to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
9.2 Disclaimer of Warranties. SELLER MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT. SELLER SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY ON ACCOUNT
OF DAMAGES SUFFERED BY ANY THIRD PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DEFECT
IN THE TENDERED PRODUCT. SELLER DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY DERIVING FROM
THE MANUFACTURING, LIFTING, STORAGE, SALE, RESALE, USE OR PROCESSING
OF PRODUCT AS WELL AS ANY LIABILITY DERIVING FROM INHERENT HAZARDS OF
PRODUCT.
9.3 Indemnification by Buyer. Each Buyer agrees to indemnify, hold harmless
and defend Seller, the Lender(s) and their respective affiliates,
officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, agents and
contractors from and against any and all losses, damages, injuries,
liabilities, penalties, fines, judgments, claims, demands, suits,
actions, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees)
resulting from, arising out of or connected with (a) all injuries to
person or damages to property which are caused by the negligent action
or inaction or willful misconduct of such Buyer or the operators of
such Buyer's Vessels, or (b) the lifting, shipping, storage, resale,
use or processing by any persons of Product purchased by such Buyer
from Seller, or (c) demurrage claims or other liability of Seller
vis-a-vis NGC and NEC arising as a result of the activities of such
Buyer or such Buyer's Vessels at the Pier.
9.4 Indemnification by Seller. Seller agrees to indemnify, hold harmless
and defend each Buyer from and against any and all losses, damages,
injuries, liabilities, penalties, fines, judgments, claims, demands,
suits, actions, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
fees) resulting from, arising out of or connected with all injuries
to person, damages to property, or demurrage charges which are caused
by the negligent action or inaction or willful misconduct of Seller
in connection with the operation of the Facility or under the Pier
and Harbour Usage Agreement.
ARTICLE 10
ARBITRATION; PERFORMANCE NOTWITHSTANDING DISPUTES
10.1 Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this Agreement which cannot be resolved by the Parties shall be settled
by arbitration. Arbitration shall be conducted in Washington, D.C.,
U.S.A. The Seller and the affected Buyer (or both Buyers acting
jointly, as appropriate) shall each designate one arbitrator, and the
two such designated arbitrators shall mutually agree upon and designate
a third arbitrator. Subject to the foregoing, arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with rules and procedures of the United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law. Judgment upon the award rendered
by the arbitrators may be entered in any Court having jurisdiction
thereof. Arbitration awards shall be final.
10.2 Performance Notwithstanding Disputes. No Party shall suspend or
terminate performance of its obligations hereunder as a result of a
dispute subject to arbitration under Section 10.1 prior to the final
resolution of such dispute (including a reasonable time for
implementation of the arbitrators' decision) in accordance with
Section 10.1.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Assignment and Assumption of Obligations.
11.1.1 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their
permitted successors and assigns.
11.1.2 Consent. No Party may assign or transfer its interest and/or
obligations herein (and any such putative assignment shall, at
the option of any other Party, be null and void ab initio)
unless such Party first obtains the written consent of the
other Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
11.1.3 Collateral Assignment. Seller may assign this Agreement to the
Lender as collateral for the obligations of Seller to the Lender
under the documents evidencing such financing (the "Financing
Documents") and to any parties acquiring the Facility by way of
foreclosure or through the exercise of other remedies of the
Lender, all pursuant to the terms of an agreement (the "Consent
and Agreement") to be entered into among Seller, each Buyer and
the Lender upon terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon.
11.2 No Amendment. No amendment or modification of the terms of this
Agreement shall be binding on any Party unless such amendment is reduced
to writing and signed by each Party.
11.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein
or delivered pursuant hereto contain the entire agreement and
understanding between Seller and Buyers as to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior negotiations and understandings between them.
11.4 Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be put in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when received
by the Party to whom directed at the following address:
If to Seller: Farmland MissChem Limited
00-00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx xx Xxxxx, Trinidad and Tobago
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, President
If to Buyers: Mississippi Chemical Corporation
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx 00 Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Corporate Secretary
Farmland Industries, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx
P.O. Box 7305, Dept. 65
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Vice President, Crop Production
All notices shall be effective upon receipt. Any Party may change its
address specified above by giving notice to the other Parties in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.4.
11.5 Waiver. No waiver by any Party of any of the terms or conditions
herein contained shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing
and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is sought to be
enforced and then shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given.
11.6 Choice of Law. This Agreement will in all respects be governed by and
interpreted under the substantive laws of the State of New York, U.S.A.
applicable to contracts and transactions entirely entered into and
performed in the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts
of laws provisions thereof, except Section 5-1401 of the New York
General Obligations Law. The parties expressly agree that the U.N.
Convention for the International Sale of Goods shall be inapplicable to
the construction of or in any dispute arising with respect to this
Agreement.
11.7 Captions. All captions are inserted for convenience only, and will not
affect any construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
11.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is or may become
prohibited or unenforceable, as a matter of law or regulation, will be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability
and shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof if the
essential purposes of this Agreement may be given effect despite the
prohibition or unenforceability of the affected provision.
11.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended solely for
the benefit of the Parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to create any duty to, standard of care with reference to,
liability to, or right of suit or action in, any person not a Party to
this Agreement.
11.10 No Legal Interest. This Agreement is intended to operate as an
agreement only and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to create
or be construed as creating a joint venture, an agency or a
partnership among Seller and Buyers, or a demise or grant, or giving
any Buyer any legal interest in the Facility or the Pier or any part
thereof.
11.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts but in such
case shall be deemed to be effective only after each of the signatories
shall have signed and delivered to the other signatories a counterpart
hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their duly authorized
representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first set forth
above.
FARMLAND MISSCHEM LIMITED
("SELLER")
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Director
MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
("BUYER")
By:/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President - Finance
FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC.
("BUYER")
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer
Ag Input Businesses
EXHIBIT A
[EXHIBIT A TO THIS AGREEMENT IS THE
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA PURCHASE AGREEMENT (AMRO)
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18, 1996, AMONG
MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
FARMLAND INDUSTRIES, INC., AND
FARMLAND MISSCHEM LIMITED
ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT 10.14
TO THIS 10-Q FILING AND IS
NOT REPEATED HERE.]
