CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
EXHIBIT 10.12
**Confidential portions of this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to the Rules
and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The symbol "[+++++]"
has been used to identify information which is the subject of a Confidential
Treatment Request.**
SLAG SALES AGREEMENT
--------------------
THIS AGREEMENT dated the 10th day of July, 1997 by and between QIT-FER ET
TITANE INC., a Quebec corporation with offices at 0000, Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0 (hereinafter "QIT"), and TIOXIDE EUROPE LIMITED, an
English company with its Registered Office at Tioxide House, 000-000 Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxxx (hereinafter, the "Buyer");
WHEREAS, QIT and Buyer entered into a Slag Sales Agreement dated October
14, 1991 as amended March 24, 1993, July 30, 1993 and January 10, 1995 (the
"Agreement");
WHEREAS, the amendment dated January 10, 1995 was declared by an arbitral
panel to be null and void with the consequence that the parties are left without
an agreement for the supply of titanium-bearing slag ("Product") for the period
of 1996 and beyond;
WHEREAS, as of December 31, 1996, Buyer had excess stocks of Product
amounting to approximately one year's consumption;
WHEREAS, Buyer has informed QIT that, notwithstanding its accumulation of
an excess inventory of Product, Buyer nevertheless wishes to maintain its on-
going relationship with QIT and ensure the continued supply of Product;
WHEREAS, over the next four years, QIT is ready to reduce the supplies of
Product in accordance with the provisions set forth below to enable Buyer to
reduce its inventory to a normal level in a progressive and orderly fashion;
WHEREAS, Buyer also wishes to have the option (but not the obligation) to
purchase Product in subsequent years at a price to be agreed upon;
WHEREAS, QIT is willing to reserve a block of productive capacity of
Product exclusively to meet Buyer's pigment manufacturing requirements during
the term of this new Agreement and [+++++], in a manner that allows QIT to plan
with maximum efficiency the production of Product in line with a predictable
purchase and consumption pattern by Buyer;
WHEREAS, for QIT to keep open sufficient capacity to meet Buyer's needs in
subsequent years of this Agreement (should Buyer choose to exercise this
option), whilst not being assured of the continued utilization of that capacity
in the meantime is, Buyer recognizes, a significant risk that QIT can only be
expected to undertake if it has reasonable expectations as to the quantities of
Product to be purchased in the future;
WHEREAS, the parties accordingly are desirous of entering into this new
Agreement whereby the manufacture, purchase and consumption of Product is
established for the mutual benefit of enhancing predictability and coordination
of the operations of each of the parties.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the covenants and conditions
herein contained, the parties hereto confirm their agreement as follows,
effective [+++++]:
ARTICLE I. SCOPE
----------------
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QIT agrees to sell and deliver, and Buyer agrees to buy and take delivery of for
its Calais and Scarlino pigment plants, titanium bearing slag (hereafter called
"Product"), produced at QIT's plant at Sorel, Quebec, Canada (hereinafter called
"QIT's Plant"), in the quantities and at the times specified herein and in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS
------------------------
Unless otherwise indicated, a "ton" is a metric ton of one thousand kilograms
dry weight, a "month" and a "year" are a calendar month and a calendar year,
respectively, and "dollar," "cents" and the dollar and cents sign ("$" and "c")
refer to lawful money of the United States of America, "Official Samples" has
the meaning given to it in Article XI and all percentages are based on dry
weights. "Party" means QIT as one party and Buyer as one party. "STEM" shall
mean that Product will be available and ready for loading at the point of
shipment on the date stated and in the quantity specified.
ARTICLE III. TERM
------------------
A. Unless terminated earlier pursuant to the provisions contained herein, this
Agreement shall be for an initial term of [+++++] and ending on [+++++] and
shall automatically continue in full force after the initial term for
additional periods of [+++++] each until terminated by either party giving
to the other party not less than [+++++] prior written notice.
B. In the event either Buyer or QIT shall become bankrupt, insolvent, commit
any act of bankruptcy or insolvency, or compromise with its creditors, then
the other party shall have
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the option, without notice or demand, to cancel this Agreement as it
pertains to Product or, at its option, to require specific performance and
demand damages hereunder to the extent such performance does not occur. The
preceding rights are without prejudice to any other rights and remedies as
are available to the parties hereunder or otherwise under the law.
ARTICLE IV. QUANTITY
---------------------
A. The quantity of Product ("Quantity") to be produced, sold and delivered for
each year of the term of this Agreement (or any renewal thereof) shall be
as follows:
1. For each of the years [+++++], the Quantity shall be [+++++];
2. For [+++++], the Quantity shall be [+++++] tons of Product, provided
that:
a) Buyer may [+++++];
b) On or before [+++++], Buyer shall notify QIT of the Quantity,
expressed in tons, that Buyer wishes to purchase for [+++++]
pursuant to this Article IV.A.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Buyer shall have the option at any time prior to [+++++] of
[+++++];
c) Buyer's right to [+++++] pursuant to paragraph a) above shall be
available only on the condition that [+++++] at any of its Scarlino
or Calais sulphate pigment plants during the term of this Agreement
with the exception of [+++++];
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d) QIT may request buyer to provide a written statement, confirmed by
an independent auditor of Seller to the effect that the condition
referred to in paragraph c) above has been fulfilled;
e) During the term of this Agreement, Buyer shall inform QIT at half-
year intervals (commencing [+++++]) of the level of Product
inventories at its Calais and Scarlino plants and of the quantity
of Product consumed during the previous six (6) calendar months.
3. Subject to an agreement on price prior to [+++++] in accordance with the
procedure described in Article V of the Agreement, QIT shall offer
Tioxide for the year [+++++], a Quantity equal to [+++++].
ARTICLE V. PRICE
-----------------
A. Basic Price
-----------
1. For [+++++], the price of QIT Product of [+++++] content shall be
[+++++] per ton FOB Sorel ("Basic Price").
2. For [+++++] and each subsequent year, the Basic Price of Product shall
be [+++++].
3. The term "Escalation" when used in this Agreement shall mean the
percentage increase, if any, in the annual average All Items, All-Urban
United States Consumer Price Index published by the US Department of
Labor, for the period of December to December immediately preceding the
applicable year, multiplied by the price to which such Escalation must
be added.
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4. For [+++++] and for each subsequent year that this Agreement is in
force, the parties agree to negotiate the price of Product on or before
[+++++] or, as the case may be, [+++++], failing which this Agreement
shall automatically terminate on [+++++] or on the [+++++].
B. Price Adjustment for TiO\\2\\ Content
-------------------------------------
1. The Basic Price established under Article V.A. is for Product which
meets the specifications set forth in Paragraphs A and B of Article IX
(hereinafter the "Specifications").
2. If the TiO\\2\\ content of Product exceeds eighty percent (80%), the
price shall be adjusted upwards by one-one hundred sixtieth (1/160th) of
the Basic Price for each whole increment of one-half percent (0.5%) by
which the TiO\\2\\ content of Product exceeds eighty percent (80%). If
the TiO\\2\\ content of Product is less than eighty percent (80%), the
price shall be adjusted downwards by one-one hundred sixtieth (1/160th)
of the Basic Price for each whole decrement of one-half percent (0.5%)
or part thereof by which the TiO\\2\\ content of Product is less than
eighty percent (80%).
3. If the insoluble TiO\\2\\ content of Product exceeds two percent (2.0%),
the price shall be adjusted downwards by one-one hundred sixtieth
(1/160th) of the Basic Price for each one-half percent (0.5%) or part
thereof by which the insoluble TiO\\2\\ content of Product exceeds two
percent (2.0%).
4. Product with a TiO\\2\\ content of less than seventy-six percent (76%)
may be rejected by Buyer at its option and shall be replaced by QIT as
provided in Article X.
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ARTICLE VI. SHIPMENTS
----------------------
A. QIT shall deliver Product into Buyer's Vessel at QIT's dock, Sorel, Quebec.
QIT and Buyer shall agree on a shipping schedule whereby deliveries are
spread more or less evenly throughout the year. QIT will make all
reasonable efforts to meet Buyer's manufacturing requirements with regard
to advance shipments to the extent that such does not disadvantage other
customers of QIT. Buyer shall obtain any import licences or other documents
that may be required to import Product into the country of destination. In
the event that the Product shipped during any quarter of a year is less
than [+++++] of the Quantity for such year, and provided QIT has made
available for delivery [+++++] of the Quantity of such year under the terms
and conditions of this Article VI for the quarter in question, QIT shall be
[+++++] referred to in Article VIII C. In the event that Product shipped
during any quarter of a year is greater than [+++++] of the Quantity for
such year, Buyer shall be [+++++] referred to in Article VIII C. For the
year [+++++], fifty percent (50%) of the Quantity for the year will be
shipped in the third quarter and fifty percent (50%) in the fourth quarter,
and the above mentioned [+++++]. Furthermore, in the event that Buyer does
not ship the total Quantity for a year prior to December 31 of such year,
Buyer will [+++++].
B. Buyer shall arrange for and furnish a cargo vessel (herein called "Buyer's
Vessel"). Notwithstanding the agreed shipping schedule, Buyer shall request
and receive STEM from QIT with respect to each shipment, one (1) month
prior to the arrival of Buyer's Vessel at Sorel. So far as possible, Buyer
shall give QIT not less than 10 days' notice of the expected
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date of arrival of each Buyer's Vessel at Sorel. QIT will load cargo in
lower holds only and will spout-trim cargo. Any levelling required by other
means than spout-trimming and any other abnormal loading costs, including
time required therefor, shall be for Buyer's account. Cleanliness and/or
protection of the holds of Buyer's Vessel shall be solely Buyer's
responsibility. As a convenience to Buyer however, QIT shall, prior to
loading, undertake on Buyer's behalf the inspection of the holds of Buyer's
Vessel and, if deemed necessary by QIT, QIT shall on Buyer's behalf require
any such necessary cleaning and/or protection to be performed, but in no
event shall QIT be liable for contamination or any other damages in
connection with cleanliness and/or protection of Buyer's Vessel, whether
caused by QIT own negligence or otherwise. Buyer's Vessel shall shift to
anchor during such cleaning and/or protection. The costs of such cleaning
and/or protection shall be for Buyer's account including the costs of
delays caused to Buyer's Vessel and time used therefor shall not count as
laytime.
C. QIT agrees to load at a minimum rate of [+++++] tons per weather working
day of 24 consecutive hours. Notice of readiness shall be presented to QIT
during office hours, which at present are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon Saturdays. Laytime shall start
at 8:00 a.m. on the working day next following the delivery and acceptance
of such notice of readiness, whether Buyer's Vessel is in berth or not. Any
time from noon Saturday to 8:00 a.m. Monday and any time on holidays and
before laytime starts shall not count as laytime unless used, and, if used,
only half such time to count as laytime. It is contemplated that vessels
will normally be loaded and discharged in turn.
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However, QIT may at its option delay docking and loading Buyer's Vessel or
request Buyer's Vessel to shift to anchor or other berth to give preference
to QIT's ore or coal vessels even though Buyer's Vessel shall have been
presented for loading prior to QIT's ore or coal vessels. If QIT exercises
its option in the preceding sentence and Buyer's Vessel is not loaded in
turn, QIT shall be liable for any demurrage due to delay incurred by such
loading out of turn and the costs of Buyer's Vessel shifting to anchor and
reberthing.
D. Buyer shall furnish demurrage rates to QIT at least one day in advance of
arrival of a Buyer's Vessel. QIT agrees to pay Buyer demurrage if loading
is not completed in the allowed time at the rate specified in the Charter
Party, but only up to a maximum of [+++++] per day, fractions of a day to
be adjusted pro rata. Buyer agrees to pay QIT despatch for laytime saved at
half the demurrage rate specified in the Charter Party, but only up to a
maximum of [+++++] per day, fractions of a day to be adjusted pro rata.
E. QIT makes no representations, and none are implied, as regards its loading
dock or the water depth thereat, except that so long as the St. Xxxxxxxx
River level is not less than 13.1 feet above mean sea-level at Sorel,
Quebec, as recorded by the Canadian Hydrographic Survey, the minimum water
depth at QIT's dock will be thirty (30) feet.
ARTICLE VII TITLE AND RISK OF LOSS
-----------------------------------
Title to and risk of loss in Product shall pass to Buyer when the Product has
effectively passed the ship's rail of Buyer's Vessel at QIT's dock at Sorel,
Quebec, Canada. Once the title to and risk of loss in Product has passed to
Buyer, QIT shall not be responsible for any losses or damages of any kind
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and howsoever arising in connection with Product or otherwise, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII INVOICING AND PAYMENT
----------------------------------
A. Regular Payments
----------------
Unless otherwise agreed, payment for Product shall be made by Buyer in U.S.
dollars by telegraphic transfer to QIT, to such account as QIT shall notify
to Buyer, within ten (10) days of the date of the xxxx of lading referred
to below provided, however, that QIT shall have provided Buyer with the
following documents:
1. QIT's commercial invoice covering the shipment, based on the assumption
that the TiO\\2\\ content of Product is [+++++];
2. QIT's weight certificate;
3. A full set of clean on-board ocean bills of lading concerning the
shipment by Buyer's vessel in question, designating "QIT-Fer et Titane
Inc." as shipper and "Tioxide Group Limited" as consignee; and
4. Such other documents and papers as may be required to clear Product for
shipment from Canada to the port of destination.
The above mentioned documents shall be forwarded to Buyer at such address
as Buyer shall have designated in accordance with Article XVIII. QIT shall
accept payment from any of Buyer's affiliate companies, but Buyer shall
remain primarily and separately liable for all sums due under this
Agreement.
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B. Final Invoice and Payment
-------------------------
Any adjustment which may be necessary as a result of the outcome of the
analysis of the Official Samples shall be embodied in a final invoice.
Payment by Buyer of the total amount due, if any, on the final invoice
shall be effected in same manner as specified in Article VIII.A above. In
the event the final invoice reflects an amount due from QIT to Buyer, QIT
shall remit the appropriate amount to Buyer by telegraphic transfer within
thirty (30) days of the date of the final invoice.
C. Final Annual Invoice
--------------------
By January 31 of each year, QIT shall prepare and present a Final Annual
Invoice relating to the [+++++], pursuant to Article VI.A, for the previous
year.
Payment of the total amount due, if any, on the Final Annual Invoice shall
be effected by telegraphic transfer within seven (7) days of preparation of
such Final Annual Invoice.
D. Other Invoices and Payments
---------------------------
Payment of other amounts due hereunder, such as the indemnity and fees
referred to in Articles XI.B.2 and XI.C.5 shall be made by Buyer to QIT
upon receipt of the invoice for such amounts.
ARTICLE IX. SPECIFICATIONS
---------------------------
A. The Product shall contain a minimum of [+++++] equivalent TiO\\2\\ by
weight determined as set forth in Article XI of this Agreement and shall be
screened through a sixteen millimetre (16mm) screen.
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B. The Product shall meet the following Specifications:
1. Maximum [+++++] content of [+++++] by weight;
2. Maximum [+++++] content of [+++++] by weight;
3. Maximum [+++++] content of [+++++] by weight;
4. Maximum [+++++] content of [+++++] by weight; and
5. Maximum [+++++] content of [+++++] by weight; and
6. Maximum [+++++] content or [+++++] of [+++++] and typically of [+++++]
by weight.
C. The specifications set out in Article IX.A and B. above shall be referred
to in this Agreement as the "Specifications".
ARTICLE X. WARRANTY
--------------------
A. QIT warrants that the Product sold and delivered hereunder shall conform to
the Specifications set forth in Article IX, hereof.
B. In the event that any Product sold and delivered hereunder does not conform
to said Specifications and in the event the parties are unable to agree on
an equitable adjustment, QIT shall, at its cost and expense, remove or
otherwise dispose of such non-conforming Product and replace it with an
equivalent quantity of Product which meets the Specifications. The
obligation to remove or dispose of and replace non-conforming Product shall
not be applicable in the event Buyer fails to give notice of such non-
conforming Product as provided for in Article XI.C.
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The warranty and remedy expressed in this Article X is the sole and
exclusive warranty made by QIT with respect to the Product to be delivered
under this Agreement. QIT makes no other warranty, express, implied
(including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose), statutory or otherwise.
C. QIT shall not be responsible for any damage whatsoever, whether direct,
indirect, consequential or incidental relating directly or indirectly to
the use, sale and/or resale of any Product. QIT's sole obligation in the
event of delivery of non-conforming Product shall be that set forth in this
Article X. Buyer agrees to indemnify and hold QIT harmless from and
against any claims, losses, damages, costs, expenses or liability of
whatsoever nature from third parties arising out of or in connection with
such use, sale and/or resale of any Product.
ARTICLE XI. INSPECTION, WEIGHING, SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
--------------------------------------------------------
A. Inspection and Weighing
-----------------------
1. Weight of Product loaded aboard Buyer's Vessel shall be determined by
the use of a weightometer which QIT shall make all reasonable effort to
inspect, maintain and keep properly adjusted for accuracy. Weight,
recorded by weightometer, shall be corrected for average weightometer
variation. This corrected weight, which includes moisture, shall then be
adjusted for the moisture content. The resulting dry weight shall be the
basis on which Product is invoiced for payment.
2. Copies of the inspection certificates of the weightometer shall be
provided to Buyer by QIT upon request.
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B. Sampling
--------
1. Each shipment of Product loaded aboard Buyer's Vessel shall be sampled
at QIT's Plant by Xxxxx Xxxxx Canada Ltee, 0000 Xx-Xxxx-Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, an independent testing laboratory, or such
other independent testing laboratory as shall be agreed upon by Buyer
and QIT.
Such independent laboratory shall take and distribute representative
samples (herein called "Official Sample(s)") from each shipment in
accordance with the Sampling and Sample Preparation Procedure, set forth
in Exhibit "A" - Procedure "XXX S-101", attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
2. Lab Fees - The fees for services of such independent testing laboratory
--------
shall be paid equally by QIT and Buyer.
C. Analysis
--------
1. Methods of Analysis - All analyses shall be made by the methods outlined
-------------------
in Exhibit "B" - Procedure "XXX S-009", Exhibit "C" - Procedure "XXX S-
010", Exhibit "D" - Procedure "XXX S-005", Exhibit "E" - Procedure "XXX
S-008", Exhibit "F" - Procedure XXX S-007, Exhibit "G" - Procedure XXX
S-003, which are attached hereto and made a part hereof or by such other
methods as QIT shall consider appropriate provided that the results
obtained from such other methods are consistent with the results which
would be obtained by using the methods outlined in the above-mentioned
Exhibits.
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2. Analysis by QIT - QIT shall analyse the Official Samples and the results
---------------
of such analysis for each shipment shall be provided to Buyer not later
than thirty (30) days following the date of such shipment.
3. Analysis by Buyer - Buyer may, but shall not be obligated to, analyse
-----------------
the Official Samples. Unless Buyer notifies QIT, within sixty (60) days
of receipt of an Official Sample, that Buyer's analysis indicates that
Product fails to meet the Specifications or that the TiO\\2\\ content is
more than [+++++] different from QIT's analysis, the results of QIT's
analysis shall be final and conclusive.
4. Umpire Procedure - Should Buyer's analysis of the Official Samples
----------------
indicate that Product does not meet the Specifications or that the
TiO\\2\\ content of Product is more than [+++++] different from QIT's
analysis, Buyer may so advise QIT, who will then request the independent
testing laboratory referred to above to forward for analysis its
retained Official Sample to such umpire analyst (being an independent
testing laboratory) as shall be agreed to from time to time by the
parties. The parties hereby agree that Inspectorate Samplers & Analyst
Inc., X.X. Xxx 00, 000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, X.X.X. -
00000 shall be the initial umpire analyst. The umpire shall analyse the
Official Sample in accordance with the methods outlined in the Exhibits
referred to in Article XI.C.1.
5. Settlement - The umpire's analysis as to TiO\\2\\ content and that of
----------
Buyer or QIT, whichever is in closer agreement to the umpire's analysis,
shall be averaged to establish the revised analysis for the shipment. If
the umpire's analysis is exactly
15
halfway between Buyer's and RBIT's analyses, such umpire's analysis
shall then be used to establish the revised analysis for the shipment.
If such revised analysis results in a price adjustment in accordance
with the procedure described in this Agreement, QIT shall issue a credit
or debit invoice as the case may be. If an umpire's analysis is required
on any Specification other than TiO\\2\\, the umpire's analysis and that
of Buyer or QIT, whichever is in closer agreement to the umpire's
analysis, shall be averaged as the basis for final settlement; provided
that if the umpire's analysis lies exactly halfway between Buyer's and
QIT's analysis, the umpire's analysis shall be the basis for final
settlement. If such analysis determines that Product does not meet each
of such Specifications, the parties shall proceed as described in
Article X of this Agreement. The cost of an umpire's analysis shall be
paid by the party whose analysis varies most from the umpire's analysis
unless such variations are equal, whereupon, the cost shall be borne
equally by the parties.
D. Revision of Sampling and Analytical Procedures
----------------------------------------------
The procedures set forth in the Exhibits referred to in this Article are
believed to be the most satisfactory ones now available. In the event
better procedures become available, each of said Exhibits may be revised
with the written approval of Buyer and QIT.
ARTICLE XII. ARBITRATION
------------------------
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Any dispute between QIT and buyer arising out of or in any way connected with
this Agreement, its negotiation, performance, breach, existence or validity
shall, unless settled by mutual agreement, be referred first, for conciliation
and, failing settlement thereunder, for final and binding arbitration in London,
England, under the Rules of Conciliation and Arbitration of the International
Chamber of Commerce. The arbitration shall be presided over by three (3)
arbitrators of which QIT shall appoint one and Buyer shall appoint another, and
the two appointed arbitrators shall appoint the Chairman of the arbitral
tribunal within sixty (60) days following their appointment by the parties
hereto, failing which the Chairman shall be appointed by the International Court
of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. The language of the
arbitration shall be English.
ARTICLE XIII. TAXES AND DUTIES
------------------------------
Canadian taxes or duties now or hereafter imposed on the export of the Product
during the term of this Agreement shall be for the sole account of QIT. All
other taxes or duties now or hereafter imposed during the Term of this Agreement
shall be for the sole account of Buyer.
ARTICLE XIV. PATENTS
---------------------
A. QIT agrees to protect and hold Buyer harmless against any and all claims
that Product, in the state or form as sold under this Agreement, infringes
or allegedly infringes any product claims of any Canadian patent owned by
third parties. QIT will, at its own cost and expense, defend any and all
suits which may be brought against Buyer on account of said infringement of
such Canadian patent or patents, and QIT shall pay any and all fees, costs
and damages
17
awarded in said suits; provided, however, that the total liability for
damages under this Article XIV shall in no event exceed the aggregate sales
price of Product sold to Buyer during the year in which such infringement
commenced.
B. QIT's obligations pursuant to this Article XIV shall be conditional upon
Buyer giving prompt notice to QIT of any claims by third parties of any
such alleged infringement and of all information available to Buyer in
respect of such alleged infringement or claim.
ARTICLE XV. FORCE MAJEURE
--------------------------
In the event of any contingency which is beyond the reasonable control of QIT or
Buyer including, but not limited to (i) any strike, lockout, industrial dispute,
difference with workmen, accident, fire, explosion, earthquake, flood,
mobilization, war (whether declared or undeclared), act of any belligerent in
any such war, riot, rebellion, revolution or blockade, (ii) any requirement,
regulation, restriction, or other act of any Government, whether legal or
otherwise, (iii) any inability to secure or delay in securing export licenses or
import licenses, cargo space or other transportation facilities necessary for
the shipment or receipt of Product or fuel or other supplies or material
including ilmenite ore or electric power necessary for the operation of the
mines and plants where Product is produced or consumed, (iv) any delay in or
interruption to transportation by rail, water or otherwise, (v) any damage to or
destruction of such mines or plants of QIT or Buyer, or (vi) any other
contingency, excluding market conditions of any sort, which is beyond the
reasonable control of QIT or Buyer, whether or not of the nature or character
hereinbefore specifically enumerated, which event delays or interferes with the
performance of this Agreement or the consumption of Product (an event
18
of "Force Majeure"), then such event shall be considered sufficient
justification for delay in making shipment or delivery or taking delivery or
performance hereunder (other than the payment of money), in whole or in part,
until such event ceases to exist and this Agreement shall be deemed suspended
for so long as such event delays or interferes with the performance hereof,
provided that prompt notice of any such event be given by the party affected to
the other party. Any delay or interference which affects QIT's supply of Product
to customers shall entitle QIT to allocate equitably any available Product among
customers in its discretion.
Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, if such event of Force Majeure
occurs, the obligation of QIT to sell and deliver and of Buyer to buy and to
take delivery of Product with respect to any year shall terminate (unless
otherwise agreed between the parties) at the end of the year as to quantities of
Product which have not been loaded aboard Buyer's Vessel at Sorel, by the end of
the year due to such event of Force Majeure. Nothing contained in this Article
shall require Buyer to pay for, or QIT to make up or compensate for, any Product
not delivered due to the application of this Article XV.
ARTICLE XVI. DEFAULT & LIMITS OF LIABILITY
------------------------------------------
For purposes of this Article XVI, a "default" shall mean any failure by either
party to make any payment or to perform any obligation under or pursuant to this
Agreement for any reason other than an event of force majeure as defined in
Article XV.
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No default shall be deemed to have occurred unless the party in default shall
have first been given written notice of such default and shall have failed to
cure such default within thirty (30) days in the event of a failure to pay and
in all other events, within ninety (90) days after receipt of such written
notice.
In the event of a default arising from a breach of Buyer's duty to pay for
Product delivered or for the total amount of the Contracted Quantity in any
particular year, QIT shall have the right to seek damages for all loss or damage
actually sustained as a direct result of the default. In addition, QIT shall
have the right (subject to Buyer's right to cure its default pursuant to this
Article) to terminate this Agreement forthwith by providing notice to such
effect to Buyer. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in
no event shall Buyer be liable for consequential, indirect or special damages as
a result of a default for failure to pay under this Agreement.
In the event of any default by QIT arising from a failure to deliver Product
pursuant to this Agreement, QIT (subject to QIT's rights to cure its default
pursuant to this Article) shall compensate Buyer for all loss or damage actually
sustained as a direct result of the failure to deliver but excluding indirect,
consequential, punitive or contingent damages as a result of the default Buyer
may suffer therewith including, but not limited to, loss of revenue or profits
as a result of Buyer's inability to operate, or shut down of its operations,
loss of use of equipment, or cost of substitute equipment, claims of third
parties, and the like. Buyer shall not, however, be entitled to terminate its
obligations to purchase Product under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE XVII. WAIVER OF DEFAULT
--------------------------------
Any failure by either party to give notice in writing to the other party of any
breach or default in any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver thereof, nor shall any delay by either party in enforcing
any of its rights hereunder be deemed a waiver of such rights nor shall a waiver
by either party of any defaults of the other party be deemed a waiver of any
other or subsequent defaults.
ARTICLE XVIII. NOTICE
---------------------
Any notice to be given to any party under the terms of this Agreement shall be
deemed to have been delivered by courier service or transmitted by telefax and
subsequently confirmed by prepaid registered mail to the respective addresses or
telefax numbers given below:
TO QIT: QIT-Fer et Titane Inc.
c/o Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0
Telefax: 0 (000) 000-0000
Attention: Director, Sales & Marketing,
---------
Titania Slag and Rutile
TO BUYER: Tioxide Europe Limited
Tioxide House
000-000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx X00 0XX
Xxxxxxx
Telefax: 00.00.000.0000
Attention: Group Minerals Manager
---------
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or to such other address or telefax number as either party shall so designate by
providing notice of such other address or telefax number in accordance with the
provisions of this Article. All notices shall be deemed to have been received on
the day of delivery, if delivered by courier service or on the day of
transmission, if sent by facsimile, during normal business hours (9:00 am to
5:00 pm) of the recipient, failing which, such notice shall be deemed to have
been received on the next business day.
ARTICLE XIX. ASSIGNMENT
-----------------------
A. No party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the prior written consent of the other party. The preceding sentence shall
not apply to assignments made to parents, subsidiaries, or related
corporations, partnerships or other entities of the parties hereto,
providing that the party executing this Agreement shall remain primarily
responsible for performance of its obligations hereunder unless such
responsibility is waived in writing by the other party. In the event of a
non agreed assignment, the party not so assigning shall have the right to
terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of its
intent to terminate.
B. In the event of a sale by Buyer of its Scarlino and/or Calais plant(s) to a
third party, Buyer agrees to obtain as an integral part of such sale, the
assumption by the purchaser of the obligation to purchase from QIT upon the
same terms and conditions as in this Agreement, the Product volumes
corresponding to, in the case of the Scarlino plant, 80/180 times the
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volumes stated in Article IV and, in the case of the Calais plant, 100/180
times the volumes stated in Article IV.
ARTICLE XX. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION
------------------------------------------------------
This Agreement states the entire understanding between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no agreements or
understandings, oral or written, express or implied with reference to the
subject matter hereof that are not merged herein or superseded hereby. This
Agreement may not be changed, modified or supplemented in any manner orally or
otherwise except by an instrument in writing signed by a duly authorized
representative of each of the parties hereto. The parties recognize that, for
administrative purposes, documents such as purchase orders, acknowledgments,
invoices and similar documents may be used during the term of this Agreement. In
no event shall any term or condition contained in any such administrative
documents be interpreted as amending or modifying the terms of this Agreement
whether such administrative documents are signed or not.
ARTICLE XXI. SUBSTITUTE PRODUCT
-------------------------------
A. QIT shall use its best efforts to supply Product in accordance with the
wishes of Buyer. QIT shall however have the right, at its option, of
substituting titanium slag produced by Xxxxxxxx Bay Iron and Titanium
(Proprietary) Limited ("Substitute Product") for Product to be delivered
under this Agreement by giving Buyer not less than six (6) months notice of
its intent to do so in which case the provisions of Addendum "A" hereto
shall apply as
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applicable. At the time QIT gives notice of its intent to substitute, it
shall also specify the amount to be substituted, which shall not be less
than [+++++] tons per year and not more than [+++++] tons per year. The
supply of Substitute Product shall be so arranged such that Buyer shall not
be obliged to change from Substitute Product to Product or vice versa more
than once per year.
B. In the event Substitute Product is supplied, the terms of this Agreement
shall be read as if made between the substituted supplier and Buyer but
responsibility for the supply of Substitute Product shall remain with the
supplier of Product being substituted. The Quantity of Product shall be
converted on the basis that [+++++] tons of QIT's Product shall be the
equivalent of [+++++] tons of Substitute Product.
ARTICLE XXII. GOVERNING LAW
---------------------------
This Agreement shall, in all respects, be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of Quebec, to the exclusion of the United Nations
Convention on the International Sale of Goods.
ARTICLE XXII. CONFIDENTIALITY
-----------------------------
This Agreement and information obtained by one party from the other by virtue of
this Agreement, shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed to any
third party without the prior written consent of the other party, unless such
information is publicly available, or previously known to the recipient or is
required to be disclosed by law.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized respective representatives, as of the day and
year first above written.
QIT-FER ET TITANE INC. TIOXIDE EUROPE LIMITED
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxx By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxx
Name: X.X. Xxxxxxxx Name: X.X. Xxxxx
Title: Chairman Title: Tioxide Group Controller
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