EXHIBIT 2.1
SHARE SALE AGREEMENT
Date: February 20th 1997
Parties:
1 `The Vendor': EURODIS ELECTRON PLC (registered no 1723922) having its
registered office at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX0 0XX.
2 `The Purchaser': UNICOMP HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED (registered no 2777955)
whose registered office is at Xxxx Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx XX0
0XX.
3 `Unicomp': UNICOMP INC. whose registered office is at 0000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx 00000 XXX
Operative provisions:
1. INTERPRETATION
1.1 In this agreement, including the Schedules:
1.1.1 the following words and expressions have the following meanings, unless
they are inconsistent with the context:
``A' SHARES' the issued and allotted 1100 `A' ordinary shares of L1
each in the capital of the Company
`ACCOUNTS' the audited balance sheet as at the Last Accounts Date and
audited profit and loss account for the year ended on the Last
Accounts Date of the Company, including the directors' report and
notes
`AGREED FORM' the form agreed between the parties on or prior to the
date of this agreement
``B' SHARES' the issued and allotted 500 `B' ordinary shares of L1
each in the capital of the Company
`BANK OVERDRAFT' the amount owing by the Company to Northern Bank
Limited in the Company's books of account as at close of business on
20th February 1997
`BUSINESS DAY' a day which is not a Saturday or Sunday or a bank or
public holiday in England
`CA' Companies Xxx 0000
`CAA' Capital Allowances Xxx 0000
`COMPANIES ACTS' CA, the former Companies Acts (within the meaning of
CA s 735(1)) and the Companies Xxx 0000
`COMPANY' CEM Computers Limited (Registered No. NI 14278) of which
further details are set out in Schedule 1
`COMPANY'S AUDITORS' Price Waterhouse of Royston House 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX
`COMPLETION' completion of the purchase of the Shares in accordance
with clause 4
`COMPLETION DATE' the date on which Completion takes place
`DISCLOSURE LETTER' the disclosure letter of the same date as this
agreement from the Vendor to the Purchaser
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`EURODIS GROUP' the Vendor and its subsidiaries for the time being
`FA' Finance Act
`FRS' a financial reporting standard issued by The Accounting
Standards Board Limited or an SSAP
`ICTA' Income and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000
`INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS' any know-how, trade xxxx, trade xxxx
application, trade name, registered design, copyright or other
similar industrial property right
`ITA' Inheritance Tax Xxx 0000
`LAST ACCOUNTS DATE' 31 May 1996 (being the date to which the
Accounts have been prepared)
`MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS' the management accounts of the Company prepared
for the eight month period ended 31 January 1997
`PLANNING ACTS' as defined in the Town and Country Xxxxxxxx Xxx 0000,
s 336
`PROPERTIES' the properties of the Company shortly described in
Schedule 4
`PURCHASER'S ACCOUNTANTS' Coopers & Xxxxxxx Fanum House 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX
`PURCHASER'S SOLICITORS' Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
XX0 0XX
`SHARES' the 1100 `A' ordinary shares of L1.00 each and 500 `B'
ordinary shares of L1.00 each in the capital of the Company
comprising the whole of its issued and allotted share capital
`SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT' the agreement to be entered into at
Completion between Eurodis and the Company in connection with the
development of computer software by the Company for Eurodis
`STOCK EXCHANGE' London Stock Exchange Limited
`SUBSIDIARY' as defined in CA Section 736 and `subsidiaries' shall be
construed accordingly
`TAX DEED' a deed in the form set out in Schedule 3
`TAXATION' the same meaning as in the Tax Deed
`TCGA' Taxation of Chargeable Gains Xxx 0000
`TMA' Taxes Management Xxx 0000
`UNICOMP GROUP' Unicomp and its subsidiaries for the time being
`VATA' Value Added Tax Xxx 0000
`VENDOR'S ACCOUNTANTS' the Company's Auditors
`VENDOR'S SOLICITORS' Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
`WARRANTIES' the warranties of the Vendor contained in clause 5 and
Schedule 2
`WARRANTY CLAIM' any claim made by the Purchaser for breach of any of
the Warranties;
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1.1.2 all references to a statutory provision shall be construed as including
references to:
(a) any statutory modification, consolidation or re-enactment (whether
before or after the date of this agreement) for the time being in force;
(b) all statutory instruments or orders made pursuant to a statutory
provision;
(c) any statutory provisions of which a statutory provision is a
modification, consolidation, or re-enactment;
Provided Always that in interpreting this agreement any reference to a
Statute Statutory Rule and Order or Regulation in force in England shall be
deemed to refer to the equivalent legislative provision in force in Northern
Ireland
And Further Provided Always that in relation to that part of the Company's
business carried on in the Republic of Ireland in interpreting this agreement
any reference to a Statute Statutory Rule and Order or Regulation in force in
England shall be deemed to refer to the equivalent legislative provision in
force in the Republic of Ireland in so far as the same may affect the Company
in relation to such part of the Company's business.
1.1.3 a reference to an SSAP is a reference to a statement of standard
accounting practice adopted by The Accounting Standards Board Limited;
1.1.4 except where the context otherwise requires words denoting the singular
include the plural and vice versa; words denoting any one gender include all
genders; words denoting persons include firms and corporations and vice versa;
1.1.5 unless otherwise stated, a reference to a clause or sub-clause or a
Schedule is a reference to a clause or a sub-clause of or a Schedule to this
agreement.
1.2 Clause headings in this agreement and in the Schedules are for ease of
reference only and do not affect the construction of any provision.
2. AGREEMENT FOR SALE
2.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this agreement, the Vendor as
beneficial owner shall sell and shall procure that the registered holder
shall transfer the Shares with full title guarantee and the Purchaser shall
purchase the Shares with all rights attaching to them and with effect from
Completion.
2.2 The Vendor hereby waives any pre-emption rights he may have in relation
to any of the Shares under the articles of association of the Company or
otherwise.
3. PURCHASE CONSIDERATION
3.1 The purchase consideration for the Shares shall be L2,349,000 (of which
L1,174,500 shall be apportioned to the 'A' Shares and L1,174,500 to the 'B'
Shares) and shall be satisfied in cash at Completion.
3.2 Within 14 days of the Company having made the relevant payment to any
of the employees named below the Purchaser shall procure that the Company
shall so notify the Vendor and the Vendor shall repay to the Purchaser net of
the maximum rate of corporation tax for the time being applicable to
companies as a partial repayment of the purchase consideration for the Shares
(such partial repayment to be apportioned equally between the 'A' Shares and
the 'B' Shares) an amount calculated by reference to bonus payments payable
to the employees as set out below by the Company either if
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and when the Contract of Employment of any such employee is terminated by the
Company prior to the first anniversary of Completion or if not so terminated
then in any event if such employee is still in the employment of the Company
twelve months after Completion and not under notice to leave and in either
event accept the revised term as to longer notice also set out below. The
Purchaser shall procure that the Company promptly pays to the Inland Revenue
all payments in respect of PAYE and National Insurance Contributions in
respect of the bonus payments and the Purchaser will procure that the Company
uses best endeavours to obtain a tax deduction for the whole amount of the
bonus payments so paid at the earliest possible time. If the Inland Revenue
refuses to allow the Company to obtain a deduction for all or part of the
bonus payments in computing its profits or gains for the purposes of
corporation tax or in arriving at any trading loss on the sole ground that
ICTA s.74(1)(a)-(q) applies to the said bonus payments:
3.2.1 The Purchaser shall immediately notify the Vendor of the Inland
Revenue's refusal and provide to the Vendor copies of all correspondence and
documentation in the Purchaser's or the Company's possession (of which the
Purchaser is aware or the Company becomes aware after the date hereof)
relating to the payment of the bonus payments and the Inland Revenue's refusal
3.2.2 The Purchaser and its accountants and the Vendor and their advisers
(each party bearing their own costs) will cooperate in the drafting and
submission to the Inland Revenue of any correspondence relating to the bonus
payments and their deductibility and in securing the Inland Revenue's
agreement that the Company is entitled in law to a tax deduction for the
bonus payments made and the Purchaser will forthwith send to the Vendor
copies of all correspondence with the Inland Revenue PROVIDED THAT if any
proposed settlement of the dispute which the Vendor wishes to make is in the
Purchaser's view likely to prejudice the future liability to taxation of the
Company the Purchaser shall be entitled to refuse its consent to such
settlement whereupon the Vendor shall be discharged from all liability to
make any further payments under this clause
3.2.3 Following the notification by the Purchaser in 3.2.1 above and in order
to achieve the cooperation referred to in 3.2.2 the Vendor agrees to provide
to the Company or the Purchaser on request all relevant information in the
Vendor's possession relating specifically to the bonus payments
3.2.4 The Purchaser covenants with the Vendor that neither it nor the Company
nor their advisers will have any oral or written communication with the
Inland Revenue concerning the bonus payments without the prior approval of
the Vendor
3.2.5 If the dispute with the Inland Revenue cannot be resolved to the
Vendor's satisfaction the Vendor (at its own cost) shall be entitled to take
such proceedings on behalf of the Company as it sees fit and for the
avoidance of doubt that Vendor shall have sole conduct and control of such
proceedings PROVIDED THAT the Vendor shall make no settlement or compromise
of the dispute which is likely to prejudice the future liability to taxation
of the Company without the prior written approval of the Purchaser such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT if
the Purchaser does withhold approval the Vendor shall be discharged from all
liability to make any further payments pursuant to this clause
3.2.6 If the Inland Revenue raises an assessment or claim for taxation on the
Company relating to the non-deductibility of the bonus payments the Purchaser
shall procure that the Company makes all appeals and applications for
postponements of taxation within the requisite time limits
3.2.7 If the Vendor acting reasonably decides to accept the Inland Revenue's
arguments it shall forthwith notify the Purchaser in writing and
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pay to the Purchaser as a partial repayment of the purchase consideration for
the 'A' and 'B' Shares equally an amount equal to the value of the tax saving
(i) which the Company would have obtained if a tax deduction were available
for those bonus payments (for which the Inland Revenue had rejected the
tax deduction) (but for the avoidance of doubt) to the extent that such
tax deduction would only have increased a trading loss the Vendor shall
not be liable to make any payment to the Purchaser until the due date
for payment of an actual tax liability of the Company which would have
been reduced by the off-set of such losses
(ii) which the Purchaser or one of its subsidiaries would have obtained as a
result of the surrender by the Company as group relief of such loss as
would have resulted from the payments made by the Company being tax
deductible but the Vendor will not be obliged to make any payment until
the due date for payment of an actual tax liability which would have
been reduced by the off-set of such group relief
3.2.8 In the event that the matters referred to in this clause 3.2 give rise
to any interest imposed on the Company by the Inland Revenue pursuant to s.87A
TMA or any other statutory provision the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser as
an additional partial repayment of the purchase consideration for the 'A' and
'B' shares an amount equal to such interest (except where such interest
arises solely as a result of the Purchaser or the Company failing to settle
any tax liability resulting from the disallowance of the bonus payments
immediately upon receipt from the Vendor of a payment under this clause 3.2)
3.2.9 References to the Company in this clause 3.2 shall include the Company
and any successor to the Company's trade under section 343 ICTA provided that
such successor both pays the bonus payments and is the employer of the
relevant employees.
DIRECTORS: CURRENT NOTICE PROPOSED GROSS AMOUNT
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx 6 months 6 months L35,000
Xxxx Xxxxx 6 months 6 months L20,000
Xxxx Xxxxx 1 month 3 months L15,000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx 1 month 3 months L15,000
Xxxx Xxxx 1 month 3 months L15,000
MANAGERS: CURRENT NOTICE PROPOSED AMOUNT
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 1 month 3 months L10,000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 1 month 3 months L10,000
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 1 month 1 month L10,000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx 1 month 3 months L10,000
Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxxx 1 month 1 month L5,000
LINE MANAGERS:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 1 month 3 months L3,000
Xxxxx Xxxx 1 month 3 months L3,000
4. COMPLETION
4.1 Completion shall take place at the offices of the Vendor's Solicitors
immediately upon exchange of this agreement when all the transactions
mentioned in the following sub-clauses shall take place.
4.2 The Vendor shall deliver or procure to be delivered to the Purchaser:
4.2.1 duly completed and signed transfers in favour of the Purchaser or as it
may direct in respect of the Shares together with the relative share
certificates;
4.2.2 the Tax Deed duly executed by the Vendor and the Company;
4.2.3 the resignations of the Vendor and Xxxxx Xxxxx from their respective
offices in the Company and of Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxx from their
respective offices in CEM Holdings Limited and Kylestyle Limited in each case
in the Agreed Form;
4.2.4 the resignation of the Company's Auditors confirming that they have no
outstanding claims of any kind and containing a statement under CA s394(l)
that there are no such circumstances as are mentioned in that section;
4.2.5 the statutory books of the Company complete and up-to-date and its
certificate of incorporation and common seal;
4.2.6 written confirmation from the Vendor that there are no subsisting
guarantees given by the Company in its favour and that after compliance with
clause 4.4 the Vendor will not be indebted to the Company other than in
relation to software development or vice versa;
4.2.7 agreement between the Company and Xxxxx Xxxxxxx for the taking over of
his Contract of Employment with CEM Holdings Limited by the Company on the
existing terms; and
4.2.8 the Disclosure Letter.
4.3 The Purchaser shall procure the repayment of the Bank Overdraft.
4.4 The Vendor shall repay the sum of L86,902.85 then owing by it to the
Company.
4.5 The Vendor shall procure that a Special Resolution of the Company be
passed by way of a Written Resolution amending the articles of association of
the Company as follows:
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THAT conditional upon completion of an Agreement to be entered into by
Eurodis Electron plc (1) Unicomp Holdings (UK) Limited (2) and Unicomp
Inc. (3) relating to the sale of the Company's issued share capital the
Articles of Association of the Company be altered as follows:-
1. In Article 6 the following wording shall be deleted "of whom one must
be Electron House plc"
2. In Article 11 the wording from "The representative of Electron
House plc" in the ninth line to the end of the Article shall be
deleted and the following substituted "The quorum for the transaction
of the business of the Directors shall be three of whom at least one
shall be the representative of the holder of the majority of the
issued shares in the capital of the Company. The Chairman of the
Board of the Directors shall be one of such majority shareholders
representatives and the representative (if only one) or
representatives of such majority shareholder shall between them
be entitled to exercise ten votes at any meeting of the Board of
Directors. Regulations 88, 89, and 91 shall be modified accordingly"
3. In Article 15 the words "Electron House plc" in the first line
shall be deleted and the following substituted "a corporate body"
4.6 The Purchaser shall procure the unconditional release of the Vendor from
its guarantee and the letter of comfort of the confidential invoice discounting
arrangements between the Company and Northern Factors Limited.
4.7 A board meeting of the Company shall be held at which:
4.7.1 such persons as the Purchaser may nominate shall be appointed additional
directors and secretary;
4.7.2 the transfers referred to in clause 4.2.1 shall be approved (subject to
stamping);
4.7.3 the resignations relating to the Company referred to in clauses 4.2.3
and 4.2.4 shall be submitted and accepted;
4.7.4 the entry into of the Software Development Agreement shall be approved;
and
4.7.5 the Company shall resolve to close its accounts with Northern Bank
Limited forthwith and enter into such new banking arrangements and mandates
(with a bank other than Northern Bank Limited) as the Purchaser shall require.
4.8 The Company (as the Vendor and the Purchaser shall procure) and the
Vendor shall enter into the Software Development Agreement.
4.9 Upon completion of the matters referred to in clauses 4.2 to 4.8 the
Purchaser shall deliver to the Vendor's Solicitors a banker's draft in
respect of the purchase consideration referred to in clause 3.1
4.10 The Purchaser may in its absolute discretion waive any requirement
contained in clauses 4.2, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.7.1 and 4.7.2, and shall not be
obliged to complete the purchase of any of the Shares unless the purchase of
all the Shares is completed in accordance with this agreement.
4.11 Save in respect of the guarantee referred to in clause 4.6 the
Purchaser shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that as soon as
reasonably practicable and in any event within 3 months of Completion the
Vendor and each member of the Eurodis Group shall be released from the
guarantees and indemnities given by them or any of them in respect of the
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obligations of the Company as at the Completion Date and pending such release
the Purchaser shall with effect from the Completion Date indemnify the Vendor
and each member of the Eurodis Group and keep each of them fully and
effectively indemnified from and against all liabilities in connection
therewith provided that nothing in this clause shall place the Purchaser
under any obligation to:-
(a) pay any fee to any person in whose favour such guarantees or
indemnities have been given; or
(b) procure any third party (not being a member of the Unicomp Group) to
give any guarantee or indemnity.
4.12 The Vendor shall procure that within 28 days of Completion a Special
Resolution will be passed by the members of CEM Holdings Limited changing its
name to a name that does not include the letters "CEM".
4.13 Provided Always that it is agreed that where appropriate any of the
above matters may be carried out by means of simultaneous meetings in Belfast
and London with telephone intercommunication.
5. WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS BY THE VENDOR
5.1 The Vendor warrants to the Purchaser that:
5.1.1 the Vendor has and will have full power and authority to enter into and
perform this agreement and the Tax Deed which constitute or when executed
will constitute binding obligations on him in accordance with their
respective terms;
5.1.2 the Shares constitute the whole of the issued and allotted share
capital of the Company;
5.1.3 there is and at Completion will be no pledge, lien or other encumbrance
on, over or affecting the Shares and there is and at Completion will be no
agreement or arrangement to give or create any such encumbrance and no claim
has been or will be made by any person to be entitled to any of the foregoing;
5.1.4 the Vendor will be entitled to transfer or procure the transfer of the
full legal and beneficial ownership of the Shares to the Purchaser on the
terms of this agreement without the consent of any third party;
5.1.5 the information in Schedule 1 relating to the Company is true and
accurate in all respects;
5.1.6 save as set out in the Disclosure Letter, the Warranties in Schedule 2
are true and accurate in all material respects;
5.1.7 the contents of the Disclosure Letter are true and accurate in all
material respects and fairly disclose every matter to which they relate.
5.2 The Vendor undertakes in relation to any Warranty which refers to the
knowledge, information or belief of the Vendor, that he has made such
enquiries as are reasonable into the subject matter of that Warranty.
5.3 Each of the Warranties is without prejudice to any other Warranty and,
except where expressly stated otherwise, no clause of this agreement shall
govern or limit the extent or application of any other clause.
5.4 The rights and remedies of the Purchaser in respect of any breach of
the Warranties shall not be affected by Completion, or by its failing to
exercise or delaying the exercise of any right or remedy, or by any other
event or matter, except a specific and duly authorised written waiver or
release, and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall
preclude any further or other exercise.
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5.5 None of the information supplied by the Company or its directors or
its professional advisers to the Vendor or its agents, representatives or
advisers in connection with the Warranties and the contents of the Disclosure
Letter, or otherwise in relation to the business or affairs of the Company,
shall be deemed a representation, warranty or guarantee of its accuracy by
the Company to the Vendor, and the Vendor waives any claims against the
Company which it might otherwise have in respect of it.
5.6 The Purchaser acknowledges that it has not been induced to enter into
this agreement by any representation or warranty other than the Warranties.
6. UNDERTAKING OF VENDOR REGARDING DEBTORS
6.1 Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 1.6 of Schedule 2 to
this agreement, the Vendor hereby undertakes to pay to the Purchaser as a
partial repayment of the purchase consideration for the Shares (such partial
repayment to be apportioned equally between the 'A' Shares and the 'B'
Shares) an amount equal to the difference (if any) between L2,717,000 and the
actual amount of the debtors of the Company outstanding at 31 January 1997
("the Debtors") which shall have been collected by the Company by 31 January
1998 which repayment by the Vendor (less the amount of VAT bad debt relief on
the unpaid debts which is available to the Company whether already claimed or
not and net of any settlement discounts granted by the Company in the
normal course of its trading) shall be made by not later than fourteen days
after receipt by it from the Purchaser of a statement explaining the amount
of such collections.
6.2 If prior to 31 January 1998 any amount included in the Debtors shall
(in whole or in part) have proved to be finally irrecoverable as a result of
the insolvency of the debtor concerned then (upon application being made by
the Purchaser to the Vendor accompanied by appropriate evidence of such
insolvency) the Vendor shall pay to the Purchaser (on account of its
liability under clause 6.1 above and in the manner described in clause 6.1
above) the amount owing by such Debtor which has proved to be wholly
irrecoverable and such repayment by the Vendor shall be made within fourteen
days of such written application being made to it.
6.3 The Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall strictly adhere to
its normal credit control and debt collecting procedures as carried on prior
to Completion in respect of each of the debts comprised in the Debtors during
the period from Completion until 31 January 1998 and shall keep the Vendor
regularly informed of any dispute or collection difficulty which shall arise
in relation to any of the Debtors and (at the cost of the Vendor) the Company
shall take such exceptional action in relation thereto as the Vendor may in
writing request.
6.4 All amounts received by the Company after Completion from any of the
debtors of the Company whose debts are comprised in the Debtors shall be
applied to their liabilities in the order in time in which they were incurred
and the Purchaser shall procure that, in respect of the Debtors, no
allowance, offset, settlement discount counter-claim or the like is granted
by the Company to those Debtors without prior consultation with the Vendor.
6.5 The Purchaser shall procure that (if requested by the Vendor) the
Company shall in relation to each debt comprised in the Debtors for which a
repayment is made by the Vendor in compliance with 6.1 and 6.2 above either:-
6.5.1 take such action in the name of the Company (at the cost of the
Vendor) as the Vendor shall in writing request with a view to
subsequent collection of such debt or part thereof and that the
Company shall upon receiving payment of any amount comprised in
such debt promptly account to the Vendor therefor; or
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6.5.2 (at the option and at the cost of the Vendor) assign
irrevocably and unconditionally such debt to the
Vendor in such form as the Vendor may request.
7. GUARANTEE OF UNICOMP
7.1 In consideration of the Vendor entering into this agreement, Unicomp
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Vendor, as primary obligor
and not merely as surety, that the Purchaser will fully and promptly perform
and discharge all of its present and future obligations and liabilities
(together referred to in this clause 7 as the "Purchaser's Obligations")
under the agreement and undertakes that, if the Purchaser fails so to do, it
will itself perform and discharge such obligations and liabilities and
indemnify the Vendor against all costs, losses, damages, expenses and claims
suffered or incurred by the Vendor as a result of or arising out of any
failure by the Purchaser promptly to perform and discharge any of the
Purchaser's Obligations.
7.2 The liability of Unicomp under this clause 7 shall be that of a sole
or principal obligor and shall not be limited, discharged or otherwise
affected by the liquidation, administration or dissolution of the Purchaser
or the disclaimer of any of the agreements by any liquidator.
7.3 Unicomp irrevocably waives any right it may have to require that the
Vendor claims or brings proceedings, or enforces any other right or security,
against the Purchaser or any other person before claiming from Unicomp under
this clause 7.
7.4 This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and shall remain in full
force and effect so long as any of the Purchaser's Obligations has yet to be
fully performed, discharged or satisfied.
7.5 Until all of the Purchaser's Obligations have been performed,
discharged and satisfied, Unicomp shall not after a demand has been made by
the Vendor pursuant to this guarantee:
7.5.1 exercise as against the Purchaser, in respect of any amount previously
paid by Unicomp under this guarantee, any right of subrogation or any other
right or remedy which Unicomp may have in respect of the same; or
7.5.2 receive, claim or have the benefit of any payment, distribution or
security from the Purchaser or exercise any other right or remedy (including
but not limited to any right of set-off) which Unicomp may have in respect of
the same; or
7.5.3 prove in any liquidation of the Purchaser in competition with the
Vendor for any sums owing to Unicomp by the Purchaser on any account whatever.
7.6 This guarantee shall be in addition to and shall not in any way merge
with or prejudice or be prejudiced by any collateral or other security now or
in future held by the Vendor as security.
7.7 The Vendor may make one or more demands pursuant to this guarantee.
8. PENSIONS
8.1 The provisions of Schedule 5 shall apply.
9. RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENT
9.1 For the purpose of assuring to the Purchaser the full benefit of the
businesses and goodwill of the Company, the Vendor undertakes by way of
further consideration for the obligations of the Purchaser under this
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agreement as separate and independent agreements that neither the Vendor nor
any member of the Eurodis Group will:
9.1.1 at any time after Completion disclose to any person, or himself use
for any purpose, and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the publication
or disclosure of, any information concerning the business, accounts or
finances of the Company or any of its clients' or customers' transactions or
affairs of which he has knowledge;
9.1.2 for five years after Completion either on his own account or for any
other person directly or indirectly solicit, interfere with or endeavour to
entice away from the Company any person who to his knowledge is, or has
during the past three years been, a client, customer or employee of, or in
the habit of dealing with, the Company;
9.1.3 for five years after Completion, either alone or jointly with or as
manager, agent for or employee of any person, directly or indirectly carry on
or be engaged concerned or interested (except as the owner of securities
dealt in on a stock exchange and not exceeding five per cent in nominal value
of the securities of that class) in Northern Ireland in any business similar
to any business carried on by the Company at the Completion Date provided
that this restriction shall not prevent the Vendor nor any member of the
Eurodis Group from being interested in the business of distributing
electronic components within Northern Ireland.
9.2 In consideration of the undertaking given by the Vendor by the
foregoing clause 9.1.3 the Purchaser and Unicomp undertake with the Vendor
that for a period of five years after Completion neither it nor Unicomp nor
any member of the Unicomp Group (including the Company) will either alone or
jointly with any other party directly or indirectly carry on or be engaged
concerned or interested in Northern Ireland in the business of distributing
electronic components other than as part of its current business direct to
end users.
9.3 Each of the Vendor the Purchaser and Unicomp acknowledge and agree
that the duration extent and application of the restrictions contained in
clauses 9.1 and 9.2 is no greater than is reasonable and necessary for the
protection of the interests of each of them but that if such restrictions or
any of them shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be
void or unenforceable but would be valid if part of the wording thereof was
deleted and/or the period thereof was reduced, the restriction or
restrictions (as the case may be) shall apply within the jurisdiction of
that court with such modifications as may be necessary to make it or them
valid and effective.
10. VENDOR'S PROTECTION
10.1 The provisions of Schedule 6 shall apply.
11. RESTRICTIVE TRADE PRACTICES XXX 0000
11.1 No provision of this agreement by virtue of which this agreement is
subject to registration under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 shall
take effect until the day after particulars of this agreement shall have
been delivered to the Director General of Fair Trading pursuant to section 24
of the Restrictive Trade Practices Xxx 0000.
12. GENERAL
12.1 The parties shall prepare an official press announcement in the
Agreed Form to be issued at Completion and for the period of 28 days
following Completion neither party shall make any announcement in respect of
the subject matter of this agreement unless specifically agreed between the
parties or it is an announcement required by law or the Stock Exchange or the
Securities and Exchange Commission in the USA.
11
12.2 This agreement shall be binding upon each party's successors and
assigns and personal representatives (as the case may be) but, except as
expressly provided, none of the rights of the parties under this agreement or
the Warranties may be assigned or transferred.
12.3 All expenses incurred by or on behalf of the parties, including all
fees of agents, representatives, solicitors, accountants and actuaries
employed by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation or
execution of this agreement, shall be borne solely by the party who incurred
the liability and the Company shall not have any liability in respect of them.
12.4 Time shall be of the essence of this agreement, both as regards the
dates and periods specifically mentioned and as to any dates and periods
which may be substituted by agreement in writing between or on behalf of the
Vendor and the Purchaser.
12.5 Any notice or other communication to be given under or in relation
to this agreement ("Notice") shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf
of the party giving it and may be served by leaving it at or sending it by
facsimile transmission, prepaid recorded first class post or prepaid
registered first class post to the address or facsimile number and marked for
the attention of the person, in each case, set out in clause 12.5.1 (or as
otherwise notified from time to time by Notice). Any Notice so served shall
be deemed to have been received:
(a) in the case of a delivery by hand, at the time of delivery; and
(b) in the case of facsimile transmission, at the time of despatch; and
(c) in the case of prepaid recorded first class post or prepaid
registered first class post within the United Kingdom, 48 hours from the
date of posting; and
(d) in the case of prepaid recorded first class post or prepaid
registered first class post (or the United States equivalent) between the
United Kingdom and the United States (or vice versa) 10 Business Days from
the date of posting.
Provided that if a Notice which is served by hand, given by facsimile
transmission or delivered by post is or is deemed to be given on a day that
is not a Business Day the Notice shall be deemed to be given on the next
Business Day following that day and Provided further that if a Notice which
is served by hand, delivered by post or given by facsimile transmission is or
is deemed to be given after 5.30 p.m. on a Business Day the Notice shall be
deemed to be given at 9.30 a.m. on the next Business Day following that day.
12.5.1 The addresses for the parties for the purposes of clause 12.5 are
as follows:
VENDOR:
Address: 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0 OAU
For the attention of: The Company Secretary
Fax: 00000 000000
12
PURCHASER:
Original to:- Copy to:-
Address: c/o CMI Ltd x/x Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX
Co. Antrim BT
For the attention of: Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxx
Fax: 01232 837706 01232 248236
UNICOMP:
Address: 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx 00000
XXX
For the attention of: The Company Secretary
Fax: 000 000 0000000
12.5.2 In proving service it shall be sufficient to prove that the
envelope containing the Notice was properly addressed and delivered either to
the appropriate address or was posted as a first class prepaid recorded
letter or a first class prepaid registered letter (or the United States
equivalent where appropriate), or that the facsimile transmission was made and
acknowledgement was obtained in person or by telephone of the receipt by the
addressee of a legible copy of the Notice, as the case may be.
12.6 This agreement (together with any documents referred to in it)
constitutes the whole agreement between the parties.
12.7 This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of England. Each of the parties agrees that the courts of England
shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes arising in
connection with this agreement. Unicomp hereby nominates Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx care
of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Solicitors Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 00-00 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
as its agent for service of any notice of proceedings required to be served
upon or given to it pursuant to this agreement or such other
13
person within England as may be notified to the Vendor by Unicomp in
accordance with clause 12.5.
12.8 This agreement shall insofar as the terms thereof remain to be
performed or are capable of subsisting remain in full force and effect after
and notwithstanding Completion.
12.9 This agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts
but shall not be effective until each party has executed at least one
counterpart.
12.10 This agreement may only be varied in writing signed by all the parties
to it.
12.11 The parties shall do all such acts and things and execute all such
documents as shall be necessary to give effect to their respective obligations
under this agreement.
12.12 Without prejudice to clause 5.4 the obligations and liabilities of
any party hereto shall not be prejudiced released or affected by any time or
forbearance or indulgence release or compromise given or granted by any
person to whom such obligations and liabilities are owed or by any other
person to such party or any other party so obligated or liable nor by any
other matter or circumstance which (but for this provision) would operate to
prejudice release or affect any such obligations except an express written
release by all the parties to whom the relevant obligations and liabilities
are owed or due.
IN WITNESS whereof this agreement has been executed on behalf of the parties
thereto
SIGNED by :
Director on behalf of
EURODIS ELECTRON PLC : /s/ X. X. Xxxxx
in the presence of:-
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx :
000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX :
SIGNED by Xxxxxxx X Xxxxx :
Director on behalf of
UNICOMP HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED : /s/ X. X. Xxxxx
in the presence of:-
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx :
000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX :
:
SIGNED by Xxxxxxx X Xxxxx
Director on behalf of : /s/ X. X. Xxxxx
UNICOMP INC. in the presence
of:- :
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx :
000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX :
14
SCHEDULE 1
Details of the Company
The Company CEM Computers Limited
Company number: NI 14278
Date of incorporation: 8 May 1980
Share capital:
Authorised 49,500 'A' Ordinary Shares of L1 each
and 500 'B' Ordinary Shares of L1 each
Issued 1,100 'A' Ordinary Shares of L1 each and
500 'B' Ordinary Shares of L1 each
Members: CEM Holdings Limited 1099 'A' Ordinary
Shares and 500 'B'
Ordinary Shares
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx 1 'A' Ordinary Share
and CEM Holdings
Limited
Registered office: XXX Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX
Directors: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Eurodis Electron PLC
Secretary: Xxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxx
15
SCHEDULE 2
Warranties
1. ACCOUNTS
1.1 The Accounts
1.1.1 The Accounts were prepared in accordance with the historical cost
convention; and the bases and policies of accounting adopted in preparing
the Accounts are the same as those adopted in preparing the audited
accounts of the Company in respect of the three last preceding accounting
periods.
1.1.2 The Accounts:
(a) give a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities of the Company
at the Last Accounts Date and its profits for the financial period ended
on that date;
(b) comply with the requirements of the Companies Acts and other relevant
statutes;
(c) comply with all FRSs applicable to a United Kingdom company;
(d) are not affected by any extraordinary, exceptional or non-recurring item;
(e) properly reflect the financial position of the Company as at their date;
(f) fully disclose all the assets of the Company as at their date;
(g) make full provision or reserve for or mention by way of note to the
Accounts all liabilities and capital commitments of the Company
outstanding at the Last Accounts Date, including contingent,
unquantified or disputed liabilities;
(h) make provision or reserve, in accordance with the principles set out in
the notes included in the Accounts, for all Taxation liable to be assessed
on the Company or for which it may be accountable in respect of the period
ended on the Last Accounts Date.
1.1.3 No amount included in the Accounts in respect of any asset, whether
fixed or current, exceeds its purchase price or production cost (within the
meaning of CA Sched 4) or (in the case of current assets) its net realisable
value on the Last Accounts Date.
1.2 Valuation of stock-in-trade and work in progress
1.2.1 In the Accounts and in the accounts of the Company for the three
preceding financial years the stock-in-trade and work in progress of the
Company have been treated in accordance with SSAP 9.
1.2.2 In the Accounts all redundant, obsolete and slow-moving stock-in-trade
has been written off or written down, as appropriate.
1.3 Depreciation of fixed assets
1.3.1 In the Accounts and in the accounts of the Company for the three
preceding financial years, the fixed assets of the Company have been
depreciated in accordance with SSAP 12.
1.4 Deferred taxation
16
1.4.1 Where provision for deferred taxation is not made in the Accounts,
full details of the amounts of deferred taxation have been disclosed in the
Disclosure Letter.
1.5 Accounting reference date
1.5.1 The accounting reference date of the Company for the purposes of CA s
224 is 31 May and there has not at any time been any other date.
1.6 Book debts
1.6.1 No part of the amounts included in the Accounts, or subsequently
recorded in the books of the Company, as owing by any debtors is overdue by
more than twelve weeks, or has been released on terms that any debtor pays
less than the full book value of his debt or has been written off or has
proved to any extent to be irrecoverable or is now regarded by the Company as
irrecoverable in whole or in part.
1.6.2 The amounts due from debtors as at Completion (less the amount of any
relevant provision or reserve, determined on the same basis as that applied
in th Accounts and disclosed in the Disclosure Letter) will be recoverable in
full in the ordinary course of business and in any event not later than
twelve weeks after Completion; and none of those debts is subject to any
counter-claim or set off, except to the extent of any such provision or
reserve.
1.7 Books and records
1.7.1 All the accounts, books, ledgers, financial and other records, of
whatsoever kind, of the Company;
(a) are in its possession;
(b) have been fully properly and accurately kept and completed;
(c) do not contain any material inaccuracies or discrepancies;
(d) show a true and fair view of its trading transactions, and its financial,
contractual and trading position.
1.8 Management Accounts
1.8.1 The Management Accounts of the Company prepared for the eight month
period ended 31 January 1997 by the Company and not by the Company's Auditors
subject to the normal limitations imposed by the nature of management
accounts which have not been audited.
(a) have been prepared in accordance with the normal practices of the Company
(b) give a reasonably fair view of the trading and financial position of
the Company at that date.
(c) make reasonable provision for taxation on trading profits other than
income and gains PAYE National Insurance VAT and Stamp Duty.
2. Corporate matters
2.1 Directors and shadow directors
2.1.1 The only directors of the Company are the persons whose names are
listed in relation to the Company in Schedule 1.
2.1.2 No person is a shadow director (within the meaning of CA s 741) of the
Company but is not treated as one of its directors for all the purposes of
that Act.
17
2.2 Subsidiaries, associations and branches
2.2.1 The Company:
(a) is not the holder or beneficial owner of nor has it agreed to acquire
any share or loan capital of any company (whether incorporated in the
United Kingdom or elsewhere);
(b) has not outside the United Kingdom any branch, agency or place of
business, or any permanent establishment (as that expression is defined in
the relevant double taxation relief order current at the date of this
agreement).
2.3 Options over company capital
2.3.1 Except as required by this agreement, there are no agreements or
arrangements in force which provide for the present or future issue,
allotment or transfer of or grant to any person the right (whether
conditional or otherwise) to call for the issue, allotment or transfer
of any share or loan capital of the Company (including any option or
right of pre-emption or conversion).
2.4 New issues of capital
2.4.1 No share or loan capital has been issued or allotted, or agreed to be
issued or allotted, by the Company since the Last Accounts Date.
2.5 Commissions
2.5.1 No one is entitled to receive from the Company any finder's fee,
brokerage or other commission in connection with the sale and purchase of the
Shares under this agreement.
2.6 Memoranda and articles of association, statutory books and resolutions
2.6.1 The copy of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company
attached to the Disclosure Letter is accurate and complete in all respects
and has embodied in it or annexed to it a copy of every such resolution as is
referred to in CA s 380.
2.6.2 The register of members and other statutory books of the Company have
been properly kept and contain an accurate and complete record of the matters
with which they should deal.
2.6.3 No notice or allegation that any of the foregoing is incorrect or
should be rectified has been received.
2.6.4 Since the Last Accounts Date no alteration has been made to the
memorandum or articles of association of the Company and no resolution of any
kind of the shareholders of the Company has been passed (other than
resolutions relating to routine business at annual general meetings).
2.7 Documents filed
2.7.1 All returns, particulars, resolutions and documents required by the
Companies Acts or any other legislation to be filed with the Registrar of
Companies, or any other authority, in respect of the Company have been duly
filed and were correct; and due compliance has been made with all the
provisions of the Companies Acts and other legal requirements in connection
with the formation of the Company, the allotment or issue of shares,
debentures and other securities, the payment of dividends and the conduct of
its business.
2.7.2 All charges in favour of the Company have (if appropriate) been
registered in accordance with the provisions of CA ss 395, 409, 410 and 424.
18
2.8 Possession of documents
2.8.1 All title deeds relating to the assets of the Company, and an
executed copy of all agreements to which the Company is a party, and the
original copies of all other documents which are owned by or which ought to
be in the possession of the Company are in its possession.
2.9 Investigations
2.9.1 No investigations or enquiries by, or on behalf of, any governmental
or other body in respect of the affairs of the Company are pending or taking
place.
2.10 Information disclosed to purchaser correct
2.10.1 All information given by the Vendor, the Vendor's Solicitors or the
Vendor's Accountants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser's Solicitors or the
Purchaser's Accountants relating to the business, activities, affairs, or
assets or liabilities of the Company was, when given, and is now accurate in
all material respects.
2.10.2 There are no material facts or circumstances, in relation to the
assets, business or financial condition of the Company, which have not been
fully and fairly disclosed in writing to the Purchaser or the Purchaser's
Solicitors.
3. TAXATION
3.1 Administration
3.1.1 All returns, notifications, computations and payments in respect of
periods ended 31 May 1995 which should have been made or given by the Company
for any Taxation purpose were made or given within the requisite periods
and are in all material respects up-to-date, correct and on a proper basis
and none of them is or so far as the Vendor is aware is likely to be the
subject of any material dispute with the Inland Revenue or other Taxation
authorities.
3.1.2 The Company has not since the Last Accounts Date made an application
for a clearance.
3.1.3 The Company has not, since the Last Accounts Date, taken any action
which has had, or so far as the Vendor is aware will have, the result of
altering or prejudicing any arrangement or agreement which it has previously
negotiated with any Taxation authorities.
3.1.4 The Company has not, since the Last Accounts Date, paid or so far as
the Vendor is aware become liable to pay any penalty or interest charged
under TMA or any other statute relating to corporation tax or value added tax.
3.1.5 The Company has in the past six years properly operated the PAYE
system, by deducting tax, as required by law, from all payments made or
treated as made to its employees or former employees, and accounting to the
Inland Revenue for all tax deducted by it and for all tax chargeable on
benefits provided for its employees or former employees.
3.1.6 The Company has complied in all respects with the following
sections, and all regulations made under them, and has made and accounted for
all deductions and retentions which they specify or require:
(a) ICTA s 43 (Non-residents);
(b) ICTA s 349 (Payments not out of profits or gains brought into charge to
income tax and annual interest);
(c) ICTA Pt XIII Chapter III (Entertainers and Sportsmen);
19
(d) ICTA Pt XIII Chapter IV (Sub-contractors in the construction industry).
3.2 Taxation claims, liabilities and reliefs
3.2.1 The Disclosure Letter contains full details of all matters relating
to Taxation in respect of which the Company (either alone or jointly with any
other person) is, or at Completion will be, entitled:
(a) to appeal against an assessment to or a determination affecting
Taxation;
(b) to apply for the postponement of Taxation;
(c) to require the postponement or reduction of any allowance;
(d) to elect to treat any machinery or plant as a short-life asset within
the provisions of CAA s 37 (Election for certain machinery or plant to
be treated as short-life assets).
3.2.2 The Company has not made or is entitled to make a claim under TCGA
s 24 (2) (Disposals where assets lost or destroyed, or become of negligible
value), s 280 (Consideration payable by instalments) or Sched 4 (Deferred
charges on gains before 31 March 1982).
3.2.3 The Company is not or so far as the Vendor is aware will not become
liable to pay, or make reimbursement or indemnity in respect of, any Taxation
(or any amount corresponding to Taxation) in consequence of the failure by
any other person to discharge that Taxation or amount within any specified
period or otherwise, where the Taxation or amount relates to a profit, income
or gain, transaction, event, omission or circumstance arising, occurring or
deemed to arise or occur (whether wholly or partly) prior to Completion.
3.3 Distributions and deductibility of payments
3.3.1 No security (within the meaning of ICTA s 254(1) (Company
distributions, tax credits etc: Interpretation)) issued by the Company and
remaining in issue at the date of this agreement was issued in such
circumstances that the interest payable on it, or any other payment in
respect of it, falls to be treated as a distribution under ICTA s 209
(Meaning of 'distribution').
3.3.2 The Disclosure Letter contains details of rents interest annual
payments or other sums of an income nature paid or payable by the Company in
the year ended 31 May 1995 which are wholly or partially disallowable as
deductions in computing profits or as charges against profits, for the
purposes of corporation tax, by reason of ICTA s 74 (General rules as to
deductions not allowable), s 125 (Annual payments for non-taxable
consideration), s 338 (Allowance of charges on income and capital), s 770
(Sales etc at an undervalue or overvalue), ss 779 to 785 (Leased assets) or s
787 (Restriction of relief for payments of interest) or otherwise.
3.3.3 The Company has not received a capital distribution to which TCGA s
189 (Capital distribution of chargeable gains: recovery of tax from
shareholder) could apply.
3.4 Share capital repayments etc.
3.4.1 The Company has not repaid, or agreed to repay or redeemed or agreed
to redeem its share capital or capitalised or agreed to capitalise in the
form of redeemable shares or debentures any profits or reserves of any class
or description.
3.5 Group relief and group surrenders
20
3.5.1 The Company has not at any time in the last six years been a dual
resident investing company within the meaning of ICTA s 404 (Limitation of
group relief in relation to certain dual resident companies).
3.6 Capital allowances
3.6.1 All expenditure which the Company has incurred or may incur on the
provision of machinery or plant as set out in Part II of the CAA has
qualified (if not deductible as a trading expense of a trade carried on by
the Company) for writing-down allowances under CAA s 24 (Writing-down
allowances and balancing adjustments).
3.6.2 All capital allowances given to the Company in respect of capital
expenditure incurred prior to the date of this agreement have been given in
taxing its trade.
3.6.3 Since the Last Accounts Date, the Company has not done, or omitted
to do, or entered into a legal obligation to do, or permitted to be done, any
act as a result of which any disposal value may be brought into account under
CAA s 24 (Writing-down allowances and balancing adjustments) or there may be
any recovery of excess relief within CAA s 46 (Recovery of excess relief: new
expenditure).
3.6.4 No election has been made by the Company under CAA s 53 (Expenditure
incurred by equipment lessor) or s 55 (Expenditure incurred by incoming
lessee: transfer of allowances) in relation to any fixtures.
3.7 Transactions not at arm's length
3.7.1 Since the Last Accounts Date the Company has not carried out or been
engaged in any transaction or arrangement to which ICTA s 770 (Sale etc at an
undervalue or overvalue) has been or may be applied.
3.7.2 The Company does not own nor has it entered into a legal obligation
to acquire any asset, nor has received or agreed to receive any services or
facilities (including without limitation the benefit of any licences or
agreements), the consideration for the acquisition or provision of which was
or will be in excess of its market value or determined otherwise than on an
arm's length basis.
3.8 Base values and acquisition costs
3.8.1 If each of the capital assets of the Company acquired for L5,000 or
more excluding VAT was disposed of at Completion for a consideration equal to
its book value in, or adopted for the purpose of, the Last Accounts, no
liability to corporation tax on chargeable gains or balancing charge under
CAA (if each asset was treated as if used for the purpose of a separate
trade) would arise; and, for the purpose of determining the liability to
corporation tax on chargeable gains, there shall be disregarded reliefs and
allowances available to the Company other than amounts deductible under TCGA
s 38 (Acquisition and disposal costs etc) and section 53 TCGA (Indexation
allowance).
3.8.2 The Company has not made an election under TCGA s 35 (Assets held on
31 March 1982 (including assets held on 6 April 1965)).
3.9 Tax avoidance
3.9.1 The Company has not since the Last Accounts Date engaged in or been
a party to any scheme or arrangement of which the main purpose, or one of the
main purposes, was the avoidance in whole or part of a Liability to Taxation;
and, in particular but without limitation, the Company has not been a party
to or otherwise involved in any transaction to which any of the following
could apply:
21
(a) ICTA s 410 (Group relief: arrangements for transfer of company to
another group or consortium); s 395 (Leasing contracts: and company
reconstructions); and s 116 (Partnerships involving companies:
arrangements for transferring relief);
(b) ICTA ss 729 or 730 (Tax avoidance: other transfers of securities), ss
731 to 735 inclusive (Purchase and sale of securities) or ss 736 or 737
(Miscellaneous provisions relating to securities);
(c) ICTA s 774 (Transactions between dealing company and associated
company);
(d) ICTA s 779 (Sale and lease-back: limitation on tax reliefs);
(e) ICTA s 781 (Assets leased to traders and others);
(f) ICTA s 786 (Transactions associated with loans or credit);
(g) TCGA s 29 (Value shifting: General provisions);
(h) TCGA s 106 (Disposal of shares and securities by company within
prescribed period of acquisition).
3.9.2 The Company has not since the Last Accounts Date been a party to any
transaction to which any of the following has been or could be applied other
than transactions in respect of which all necessary consents or clearances
have been obtained:
(a) ICTA ss 703 to 709 (Cancellation of tax advantages from certain
transactions in securities);
(b) ICTA s 765 (Migration etc of companies);
(c) ICTA s 776 (Transactions in land: taxation of capital gains)
(d) TCGA ss 135 to 138 (Company reconstructions and amalgamations).
(e) TCGA s 139 (Reconstruction or amalgamation involving transfer of
business).
3.10 Depreciatory transactions
3.10.1 The Company has not entered into a transaction to which the provisions
of TCGA s 30 (Tax-free benefits) are likely to apply to increase any
chargeable gain
3.11 Unremittable income and capital gains
3.11.1 The Company has not either received or become entitled to any income
which is 'unremittable income', within the meaning of ICTA s 584 (Relief for
unremittable overseas income), or any gain to which TCGA s 279 (Foreign
assets: delayed remittances) could apply.
3.12 Demergers and purchase of own shares
3.12.1 The Company has not been engaged in or been a party to any of the
transactions set out in ICTA ss 213 to 218 (Demergers) or made or received a
chargeable payment as defined s 214 (Chargeable payments connected with
exempt distributions).
3.12.2 The Company has not at any time redeemed, repaid or purchased or
agreed to redeem, repay or purchase, any of its own shares.
3.13 Transfer of overseas trade
3.13.1 The Company has not transferred a trade, carried on by it outside the
United Kingdom through a branch or agency, to a company not resident in the
United Kingdom in circumstances such that a chargeable gain may be
22
deemed to arise at a date after such transfer under TCGA s 140 (Postponement
of charge on transfer of assets to non-resident company).
3.14 Sale and lease-back of land
3.14.1 The Company has not since the Last Accounts Date entered into any
transaction to which ICTA s 780 (Sale and lease-back: taxation of
consideration received) has been or could be applied.
3.15 Stock dividends and deep discount securities
3.15.1 The Company has not issued any share capital to which ICTA s 249
(Stock dividends treated as income) or TCGA s 141 (Stock dividends:
consideration for new holding) could apply, nor does the Company own any such
share capital.
3.15.2 The Company has not in the last six years owned or issued any deep
discount security within the meaning of ITCA Sched 4 (Deep discount
securities).
3.16 Controlled foreign companies
3.16.1 No notice of the making of a direction under ICTA s 747 (Imputation of
chargeable profits and creditable tax of controlled foreign companies) has
been received by the Company and no circumstances exist so far as the Vendor
is aware which would entitle the Inland Revenue to make a direction and to
apportion any profits of a controlled foreign company to the Company under
ICTA s 752 (Apportionment of chargeable profits and creditable tax).
3.17 Chargeable gains
3.17.1 The Company is not owed a debt (not being a debt on a security) upon
the disposal or satisfaction of which a liability to corporation tax on
chargeable gains will arise by reason of TCGA s 251 (Debts: General
provisions).
3.17.2 No part of the consideration given by the Company for a new holding
of shares (within the meaning of TCGA s 126 (Reorganisation or reduction of
share capital: Application of sections 127 to 131)) will be disregarded by
virtue of the proviso to s 128(2) (Consideration given or received by holder).
3.18 Acquisitions from group members
3.18.1 The execution or completion of this agreement will not result in any
profit or gain being deemed to accrue to the Company for Taxation purposes,
whether under TCGA s 178 (Company ceasing to be member of group: pre-appointed
day cases) or s 179 (Company ceasing to be member of group: post-appointed day
cases) or any other statutory Taxation provision.
3.19 Replacement of business assets
3.19.1 The Company has not made a claim under TCGA s 23 (Receipt of
compensation and insurance money not treated as a disposal), s 152 (Replacement
of business assets: Roll-over relief), s 153 (Assets only partly replaced), s
154 (New assets which are depreciating assets), s 175 (Replacement of
business assets by members of a group) or s 247 (Roll-over relief on
compulsory acquisition) which would affect the amount of the chargeable gain
which would but for such claim have arisen on a disposal of any of its assets.
3.20 Gifts involving group companies
3.20.1 The Company has not owned and does not own shares in a company which
has made a transfer to which TCGA s 125 (Shares in close company transferring
assets at an undervalue) could apply; and the Company has not
23
received any assets by way of gift as mentioned in TCGA s 282 (Recovery of
tax from donee).
3.21 Gains accruing to non-resident companies
3.21.1 No gain has accrued in respect of which the Company may be liable to
corporation tax on chargeable gains by virtue of TCGA s 13 (Attribution of
gains to members of non-resident companies).
3.22 Value added tax
3.22.1 The Company:
(a) has duly registered and is a taxable person for the purposes of the
Value Added Tax Act of 1994;
(b) has complied in all material respects with all statutory requirements,
orders, provisions, directions or conditions relating to value added
tax;
(c) maintains up-to-date records which are complete and correct in all
material respects as required by the relevant legislation;
(d) is not a member of a VAT group.
3.22.2 The Company:
(a) is not in arrears with any output tax payment or value added tax
returns, and
(b) has not been required by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to
give security.
3.22.3 The Company has not within the past twelve months received a
surcharge liability notice under VATA s 59 (The default surcharge).
3.22.4 The Company has not received a penalty liability notice under
VATA s 64 (Repeated misdeclarations).
3.23 Inheritance tax
3.23.1 The Company has not at any time made a transfer of value (as defined
in ITA s 3 (Transfers of Value)).
3.23.2 No Inland Revenue charge for unpaid inheritance tax (as provided by
ITA ss 237 and 238 (Inland Revenue charge for unpaid tax)) over any asset of
the Company, or in relation to any shares in the capital of the Company is
outstanding.
3.23.3 No circumstances exist whereby any power mentioned in ITA s 212 (Powers
to raise tax) could be exercised in relation to any shares, securities or
other assets of the Company, or could be exercised but for ITA s 204(6)
(Limitation of liability).
4. FINANCE
4.1 Capital commitments
4.1.1 There were no capital commitments outstanding at the Last Accounts Date
and since the Last Accounts Date the Company has not made or agreed to make
any capital commitments, or incurred or agreed to incur any capital
commitments or disposed of or realised any capital assets or any interest in
capital assets in each case in excess of L20,000.
4.2 Dividends and distributions
24
4.2.1 Since the Last Accounts Date the Company has not, or is treated as
having not, declared or paid any dividend or other distribution (as defined
in ICTA Part VI Ch II as extended by ICTA s 418).
4.2.2 All dividends or distributions declared, made or paid by the Company
have been declared, made or paid in accordance with its articles of
association and the applicable provisions of the Companies Acts.
4.3. Bank and other borrowings
4.3.1 Subject to the Purchaser complying with Clause 4.3 this agreement the
Company will have no indebtedness to Northern Bank Limited.
4.3.2 The Company has not outstanding, nor has it agreed to create or issue,
any loan capital; nor has it factored any of its debts, or engaged in
financing of a type which would not require to be shown or reflected in the
Accounts, or borrowed any money which it has not repaid, save for borrowings
not exceeding the amounts shown in the Last Accounts.
4.3.3 The Company has not since the Last Accounts Date repaid or become
liable to repay any loan or indebtedness in advance of its stated maturity.
4.3.4 The Company has not received notice (whether formal or informal) from
any lenders of money, requiring repayment or intimating the enforcement
of any security; and there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any
such notice.
4.4 Loans by and debts due to the Company
4.4.1 The Company has not lent any money which has not been repaid to it, nor
owns the benefit of any debt (whether or not due for payment), other than
debts which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business.
4.4.2 The Company has not made any loan or quasi-loan contrary to the
Companies Acts.
4.5 Liabilities
4.5.1 There are no liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the
Company which are outstanding other than those liabilities disclosed in the
Accounts or incurred in the ordinary and proper course of trading since the
Last Accounts Date.
4.5.2 As far as the Vendor is aware, there has been no exercise, purported
exercise or claim for any charge, lien, encumbrance or equity over any of the
fixed assets of the Company; and there is no dispute directly or indirectly
relating to any of its fixed assets.
4.5.3 The Company has not been the tenant of, or a guarantor in respect of,
any leasehold property other than the Properties.
4.6 Bank accounts
4.6.1 An accurate statement of the balances on the bank accounts of the
Company has been supplied to the Purchaser.
4.7 Government grants
4.7.1 Full details of all grants, subsidies or financial assistance applied
for or received by the Company from any governmental department or agency or
any local or other authority are set out in the Disclosure Letter.
4.7.2 The Company has not done or omitted to do any act or thing which could
result in all or any part of any investment grant, employment subsidy or
other similar payment made, or due to be made, to it becoming repayable or
being forfeited or withheld in whole or in part.
25
5. Trading
5.1 Changes since Last Accounts Date
5.1.1 Since the Last Accounts Date:
(a) the business of the Company has been continued in the ordinary and normal
course;
(b) the Management Accounts give a reasonably fair view of the turnover of the
Company;
(c) so far as the Vendor is aware the Company has not done or omitted to do
anything which has materially prejudiced its goodwill;
(d) so far as the Vendor is aware no part of the business of the Company has
been materially affected by any abnormal factor not affecting similar
businesses to a like extent;
(e) the Company has paid its creditors in accordance with their respective
credit terms; and there are no amounts owing by the Company which have
been due for more than six weeks.
5.1.2 Except as disclosed in the Management Accounts the trading prospects of
the Company have not been adversely affected as a result of any event or
circumstance arising since the Last Accounts Date.
5.2 Vendor's other interests and liabilities to group companies
5.2.1 The Vendor does not have any rights or interests, directly or
indirectly, in any business other than that now carried on by the Company
in Northern Ireland which are or are likely to be or become competitive with
the businesses of the Company, save as registered holder or beneficial owner
of any class of securities of any company which is listed, dealt in or traded
on the Stock Exchange and in respect of which a Vendor holds and is
beneficially interested in less than 5 per cent of any single class of the
securities in that company.
5.2.2 Subject to the compliance of the Vendor with Clause 4.4 of this
agreement there is no outstanding indebtedness of the Vendor to the Company
other that the relation to software development.
5.3 Effect of sales of shares.
5.3.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Completion of the sale of the Shares
will not have any material affect upon the continuation of normal trading
with the suppliers to and customers of the Company nor will the Company be
likely to lose the benefit of any right or privilege which it enjoys and nor
will any officer or senior employee of the Company be likely to leave.
5.3.2 So fare as the Vendor is aware compliance with the terms of this
agreement does not and will not:
(a) conflict with, or result in the breach of, or constitute a default under
any agreement or document to which the Company is a party, or any
provisions of the memorandum or articles of association of the Company or
any encumbrance, lease, contract, order, judgment, award, injunction,
regulation or other restriction or obligation of any kind by which or to
which any asset of the Company is bound or subject;
(b) relieve any person from any obligation to the Company (whether
contractual or otherwise), or enable any person to determine any such
obligation or any right or benefit enjoyed by the Company, or to
exercise any right, whether under an agreement with or otherwise in
respect of the Company;
26
(c) result in the creation, imposition, crystallisation or enforcement of any
encumbrance on any of the assets of the Company;
(d) result in any present or future indebtedness of the Company becoming due
and payable or capable of being declared due and payable prior to its
stated maturity.
5.4 Conduct of businesses in accordance with memoranda and articles of
association
5.4.1 The Company has at all times carried on business and conducted its
affairs in accordance with its memorandum and articles of association for the
time being in force and any other documents to which it is or has been a
party.
5.4.2 The Company is empowered and duly qualified to carry on business in all
jurisdictions in which it carries on business.
5.5 Joint ventures and partnership
5.5.1 The Company is not nor has it agreed not to become a member of any
joint venture, consortium, partnership or other unincorporated association;
and the Company is not nor has it agreed not to become a party to any
agreement or arrangement for sharing commissions or other income.
5.6 Agreements relating to the management and business
5.6.1 There are no material agreements, arrangements or understandings
between the Company and any person who is a shareholder or the beneficial
owner of any interest in it, or in any company in which the Company is
interested, or any Associate of any such person, relating to the management
of the Company's business, or the appointment or removal of directors of the
Company, or the ownership or transfer of ownership or the letting of any of
the assets of the Company, or the provision, supply or purchase of finance,
goods, services or other facilities to, by or from the Company, or in any
other respect relating to its affairs.
5.7 Agency agreements and agreements restricting business
5.7.1 The Company is not a party to any material agency, distributorship,
marketing, purchasing, manufacturing or licensing agreement or arrangement,
or any restrictive trading or other agreement or arrangement pursuant to
which any part of its business is carried on, or which in any way restricts
its freedom to carry on the whole or any part of its business in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere in such manner as it thinks fit.
5.7.2 The Company is not bound by any undertaking of assurances given to any
court or governmental agency.
5.8 Unfair trade and restrictive practices
5.8.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Company has not committed or omitted
to do any act or thing which could give rise to any fine or penalty; and the
Company is not or has not been a party to any agreement, practice or
arrangement which:
(a) contravenes the Trade Descriptions Xxx 0000;
(b) would or might result in a reference of a consumer trade practice, within
the meaning of the Fair Trading Act 1973 s 13, or be liable to reference
to the Consumer Protection Advisory Committee under Part II of the said
Act;
(c) contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Credit Xxx 0000;
27
(d) contravenes or is invalidated (in whole or in part) by or is subject to
registration under the Restrictive Trade Practices Acts 1976 and 1977;
(e) contravenes any provisions of the Treaty of Rome;
(f) contravenes any other anti-trust, anti-monopoly or anti-cartel
legislation or regulations.
5.8.2 The Company has not so far as the Vendor is aware engaged in any
anti-competitive practice as defined in the Competition Xxx 0000.
5.9 Litigation, disputes and winding up
5.9.1 The Company is not engaged in any litigation or arbitration
proceedings as plaintiff or defendant; as far as the Vendor is aware there
are no proceedings pending or threatened either by or against the Company;
and the Vendor is not aware of any facts or circumstances which would
reasonably lead the Vendor to believe that any such proceedings were pending
or threatened.
5.9.2 So far as the Vendor is aware there is no dispute with any revenue or
other official, department in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, in relation to
the affairs of the Company and the Vendor is not aware of any facts or
circumstances which would reasonably lead the Vendor to believe that any such
disputes were pending or threatened.
5.9.3 The Company has not been notified of any claim against it by an
employee or xxxxxxx or third party, in respect of any accident or injury,
which is not fully covered by insurance nor is the Vendor aware of any facts
or circumstances which would reasonably lead the Vendor to believe that any
such claims were pending or threatened.
5.9.4 No order has been made or petition presented or resolution passed for
the winding up of the Company; no distress, execution or other process has
been levied in respect of the Company which remains undischarged; and there
is no unfulfilled or unsatisfied judgment or court order outstanding against
the Company.
5.10 Compliance with statutes
5.10.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Company and each of its officers,
or agents (during the course of their duties in relation to it) has not
committed or omitted to do any act or thing the commission or omission of
which is or could be in contravention of any act, order, regulation or the
like (whether of the United Kingdom or elsewhere) giving rise to any fine,
penalty, default proceedings or other liability on its part.
5.10.2 The Company has conducted and is conducting its business in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations whether of the United
Kingdom or elsewhere.
5.10.3 The Company does not carry on (nor has, at any time when not an
authorised person under Chapter III, Financial Services Xxx 0000, carried on)
investment business in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Financial
Services Xxx 0000, s 1.
5.11 Data protection
5.11.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Company has duly complied with all
relevant requirements of the Data Protection Xxx 0000 including:
(a) the data protection principles established in that Act;
(b) requests from data subjects for access to data held by it;
(c) the requirements relating to the registration of data users.
28
5.11.2 The Company has not received a notice or allegation from either the
data protection registrar or a data subject alleging non-compliance with the
data protection principles or prohibiting the transfer of data to a place
outside the United Kingdom.
5.11.3 No individual has claimed or will have the right to claim
compensation from the Company under that Act for loss or unauthorised
disclosure of data.
5.12 Documents stamped
5.12.1 All documents in the enforcement of which the Company may be
interested and which attract stamp duty have been duly stamped within the
requisite period for stamping.
5.13 Business names
5.13.1 The Company does not use a name for any purpose other than its full
corporate name.
5.14 Transactions involving directors
5.14.1 The Company has not been a party to any transaction to which any of
the provisions of CA s 320 or s 330 apply.
5.15 Powers of attorney and authority
5.15.1 No power of attorney given by the Company is in force.
5.15.2 No authorities (express or implied) by which any person may enter
into any contract or commitment to do anything on behalf of the Company are
outstanding.
5.16 Licences and consents
5.16.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Company has obtained all necessary
licences and consents for the proper carrying on of its business and all
material licences and consents are valid and subsisting.
5.16.2 As far as the Vendor is aware the Company is not in material breach
of any of the terms or conditions of any of the licences or consents; nor is
the Vendor aware of any factors that might in any way prejudice the
continuation or renewal of any of them.
5.17 Subsisting contracts
5.17.1 The Disclosure Letter contains all material subsisting contracts,
whether written or oral, to which the Company is a party.
5.17.2 As far as the Vendor is aware the Company is not a party to any
contract, transaction, arrangement or liability which:
(a) is outside the ordinary and proper course of business or is of a nature
or magnitude which when contrasted which the norm for the Company contains
unusual or abnormal terms of a material nature which ought reasonably to be
made known to an intending purchaser of the Shares;
(b) is for a fixed term of more than six months;
(c) is incapable of termination by it in accordance with its terms on sixty
days' notice or less;
(d) involves an aggregate outstanding expenditure by it of more than L20,000;
29
(e) involves or is likely to involve the supply of goods the aggregate sales
value of which will represent in excess of 10 per cent of its turnover for
the preceding financial year; or
(f) is a contract for hire or rent, hire purchase or purchase by way of
credit sale or periodical payment.
5.18 Defaults by the Company
5.18.1 As far as the Vendor is aware the Company is not nor is it about to
be:
(a) in default in any material respect under any agreement, obligation or
arrangement to which it is a party or in respect of any other obligations
or restrictions binding upon it;
(b) in default under any obligations existing by reason of membership of any
association or body;
(c) liable in respect of any representation or warranty (whether express or
implied) or any matter giving rise to a duty of care on its part.
5.18.2 As far as the Vendor is aware no claim of default under any
agreement, obligation or arrangement has been made and is outstanding against
the Company; and the Vendor is not aware of any facts or circumstances which
would reasonably cause it to believe that any material right, benefit or
entitlement may be prematurely terminated by any other party or the terms of
any agreement, obligation or arrangement may be materially worsened.
5.19 Other party's defaults
5.19.1 As far as the Vendor is aware no party to any agreement or arrangement
with or under an obligation to the Company is in default under it, being a
default which would be material in the context of the Company's financial or
trading position.
5.20 Outstanding offers
5.20.1 No offer or tender or the like is outstanding which may be converted
into an obligation of the Company exceeding L20,000 by acceptance or other
act of some other person.
5.21 Defective products
5.21.1 So far as the Vendor is aware except as covered by insurance or by
the responsibility of manufacturers or suppliers to it the Company has not
sold or supplied products which are or were or will become in any material
respect faulty or defective or which do not comply in any material respect
with any warranties or representations expressly or impliedly made by it or
with all applicable regulations, standards and requirements.
5.22 Service liabilities
5.22.1 The Company is not subject to any liability or obligation (except as
implied by law) to service, repair, maintain, take back or otherwise do or
not do anything in respect of any goods that have been or are delivered by it.
5.23 Purchases and sales from or to one party
5.23.1 Neither more than 25 per cent of the aggregate amount of all the
purchases, nor more than 25 percent of the aggregate amount of all the sales,
of the Company are obtained or made from or to the same supplier or customer
(including any person in any way connected with such supplier or customer)
nor is any material source of supply to the Company, or any
30
material outlet for the sales of the Company, in jeopardy or likely to be
in jeopardy.
5.24 Guarantees and indemnities
5.24.1 No guarantee, or agreement for indemnity or for suretyship, given by
or for the accommodation of, the Company is outstanding.
5.25 Insider contracts
5.25.1 No contract or arrangement to which the Company is a party and in
which any Vendor or any director of the Company is or has been interested,
whether directly or indirectly, is outstanding or was outstanding during the
past three years.
5.25.2 The Company is not a party to, and its profits or financial position
during the past three years have not been affected by, any contract or
arrangement which is not of an entirely arm's length nature.
5.26 Management reports
5.26.1 There have been no reports, concerning the Company, by financial or
management consultants during the past three years.
6. EMPLOYMENT
6.1 Employees and terms of employment
6.1.1 Particulars of the identities, dates of commencement of employment,
or appointment to office, and standard terms and conditions of employment of
all the employees and officers of the Company, including without limitation
profit sharing, commission or discretionary bonus arrangements, are fully
and accurately set out in the Disclosure Letter.
6.1.2 There are no agreements or arrangements (whether or not legally
binding) between the Company and any trade union or other body representing
employees.
6.1.3 No contract of service exists between the Company and a director or
employee in relation to which any relevant requirements of CA s 319 have not
been fulfilled.
6.2 Bonus schemes
6.2.1 There are no schemes in operation under which any employee of the
Company is entitled to a commission or remuneration, calculated by reference
to the whole or part of the turnover, profits or sales of the Company.
6.2.2 The Company has registered a profit-related pay scheme under ICTA Part
V Chapter III and the scheme has at all times since commencement been
operated in accordance with the rules of the scheme and any alteration in its
terms has been notified to the Board of the Inland Revenue and it has at no
time been deregistered and that based upon the Company's profits to 31
January 1997 there has not been an overdistribution of the PRP pool to
participating employees.
6.3 Changes in remuneration
6.3.1 During the period to which the Accounts relate and since the Last
Accounts Date or (where employment or holding of office commenced after the
beginning of such period) since the commencing date of the employment or
holding of office:
(a) no change has been made in the rate of remuneration, emoluments or
pension benefits, of any officer, ex-officer or senior executive of
31
the Company (a senior executive being a person in receipt of
remuneration in excess of L30,000 per annum);
(b) no change has been made in any other terms of employment of any
officer or senior executive.
6.3.2 The Company is not bound or accustomed to pay any moneys other than in
respect of remuneration or pension benefits to or for the benefit of any
officer or employee of the Company.
6.3.3 No negotiations for any increase in the remuneration or benefits of
any officer or employee of the Company are current.
6.4 Termination of contracts of employment
6.4.1 All subsisting contracts of service to which the Company is a party
are determinable at any time on three months' notice or less without
compensation (other than compensation in accordance with the Employment
Rights Act 1996).
6.4.2 No executive of the Company, who is in receipt of remuneration in
excess of L30,000 per annum, and no officer of the Company has given or
received notice terminating his employment, except as expressly contemplated
in this agreement, and no such executive or officer will be entitled to give
such notice as a result of this agreement.
6.5 Industrial disputes and negotiations
6.5.1 Neither the Company nor any of its employees is involved in any
industrial dispute, and there are no facts known or which would on reasonable
enquiry be known to the Company or its directors or to the Vendors which
might suggest that there may be any industrial dispute involving the Company
or that this agreement may lead to any such industrial dispute.
6.6 Industrial agreements
6.6.1 The Company has not entered into any recognition agreement with a
trade union.
6.7 Redundancies
6.7.1 No employee will be entitled pursuant to his contract of employment to
treat himself as having been made redundant and to receive a redundancy
payment as a result of the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser.
6.8 Pensions
6.8.1 Apart from the pension scheme referred to in Schedule 5 ('the Scheme')
the Company is not under any legal or moral liability or obligation or a
party to any ex-gratia arrangement or promise to pay pensions, gratuities,
superannuation allowances or the like, or otherwise to provide 'relevant
benefits' within the meaning of ICTA s 612 to or for any of its past or
present officers or employees or their dependants; and there are no
retirement benefit, or pension or death benefit, or similar schemes or
arrangements in relation to or binding on the Company or to which the Company
contributes.
6.8.2 Full particulars of the Scheme are contained in or annexed to the
Disclosure Letter including without limitation true copies of the trust deeds
and latest actuarial report and full and accurate details of the assets,
funding arrangements and current membership.
6.8.3 The Scheme is an exempt approved scheme within the meaning of ICTA s
592 and there is no reason why approval may be withdrawn.
7. ASSETS
32
7.1 Ownership of assets
7.1.1 The Company owned at the Last Accounts Date and had good and
marketable title to all the assets included in the Accounts and (except for
current assets subsequently sold or realised in the ordinary course of
business) still own and have good and marketable title to all assets included
in the Accounts (excluding the Properties) and to all assets acquired since
the Last Accounts Date.
7.1.2 The Company has not created or granted or agreed to create or grant
any security interest or other encumbrance in respect of any of the fixed
assets included in the Accounts (excluding the Properties) or acquired or
agreed to be acquired since the Last Accounts Date, otherwise than in the
ordinary course of its business.
7.1.3 Except as disclosed in the Accounts, none of the property, assets,
undertaking, goodwill or uncalled capital of the Company (excluding the
Property) is subject to, nor has the Company agreed to grant, any option,
charge, lien or encumbrance, or right of pre-emption.
7.2 Assets sufficient for the business
7.2.1 The assets owned by the Company together with assets held under the
hire purchase, leasing or rental agreements listed in the Disclosure Letter
comprise all assets necessary for the continuation of its business as now
carried on.
7.3 Stocks and work in progress
7.3.1 The stock of raw materials, packaging materials and finished goods now
held are in the reasonable opinion of the Vendor adequate in relation to the
current trading requirements of the businesses of the Company and in good
condition.
7.3.2 In the reasonable opinion of the Vendor the stock-in-trade of the
Company is in good condition and is capable of being sold by it in the
ordinary course of its business in accordance with its current price list
without rebate or allowance to a purchaser outside the ordinary course of
business.
7.4 Insurance
7.4.1 All the stock-in-trade and the assets and undertakings of the Company
of an insurable nature (excluding the Properties) are, and have at all
material times been, insured in amounts representing their full replacement
or reinstatement value against fire and other risks normally insured against
by persons carrying on the same business as that carried on by it.
7.4.2 The Company is now and has at all material times been adequately
covered as advised by its brokers against accident, damage, injury, third
party loss (including product liability), loss of profits and other risks
normally insured against by persons carrying on the same business.
7.4.3 All insurance is currently in full force and effect, and so far as the
Vendor is aware nothing has been done or omitted to be done which could make
any policy of insurance void or voidable or which is likely to result in an
increase in premium.
7.4.4 None of the policies is subject to any special or unusual terms or
restrictions or to the payment of any premium in excess of the normal rate.
7.4.5 No claim is outstanding under any of the policies.
7.5 Leased assets
7.5.1 So far as the Vendor is aware no circumstance has arisen or is likely
to arise in relation to any asset held by the Company under a lease or
33
similar agreement whereby the rental payable has been or is likely to be
increased.
7.6 Plant in working order
7.6.1 The plant, machinery, vehicles and other equipment used in connection
with the business of the Company:
(a) are in a good and safe state of repair and condition and satisfactory
working order and have been regularly and properly maintained;
(b) are not to any extent surplus to requirements;
(c) are in its possession and control, and are its absolute property, save
for those items the subject of the hire purchase, leasing or rental
agreements listed in the Disclosure Letter, or in respect of which the
outstanding payments do not exceed L2,500;
(d) are all capable of doing the work for which they were designed or
purchased.
7.6.2 Maintenance contracts are in full force and effect in respect of all
assets of the Company which it is normal or prudent to have maintained by
independent or specialist contractors and in respect of all assets which the
Company is obliged to maintain or repair under any leasing or similar
agreement; and all those assets have been regularly maintained to a good
technical standard and in accordance with safety regulations usually observed
in relation to assets of that description and in accordance with the terms
and conditions of any applicable leasing or similar agreement.
7.7 Industrial property rights and trade secrets
7.7.1 All Industrial Property Rights owned or used by the Company which are
material to its business are so far as the Vendor is aware in full force and
effect and are vested in or properly granted to the Company.
7.7.2 There are no registered trade marks in the name of the Company as at
the date of this Agreement.
7.7.3 So far as the Vendor is aware no right or licence has been granted to
any person by the Company to use in any manner or to do anything which would
or might otherwise infringe any of the Industrial Property Rights referred to
above; and the Vendor has not received notification that any act has been
done or omission permitted by the Company whereby they or any of them have
ceased or might cease to be valid and enforceable.
7.7.4 So far as the Vendor is aware, the Company is not in breach of any
licence granted to it in respect of any Industrial Property Rights which is
material to the Company's business.
7.7.5 So far as the Vendor is aware nothing has been done or omitted by the
Company which would enable any licensee under a licence granted by the
Company to terminate it or which in any way constitutes a material breach of
the terms of any licence giving rise to a right of termination.
8. THE PROPERTIES
8.1 Title
8.1.1 The Properties comprise all the properties owned, occupied or otherwise
used in connection with its business by the Company.
8.1.2 Those of the Properties which are occupied or otherwise used by the
Company in connection with its business are occupied or used by right of
ownership or under lease or licence, the terms of which permit the occupation
or use.
34
8.1.3 The Company is the legal and beneficial owner of the Properties.
8.1.4 The information contained in Schedule 4 as to the tenure of each of
the Properties, and the principal terms of the leases or licenses held by the
Company, is accurate.
8.1.5 The Company has a good and marketable title to each of the Properties.
8.2 Encumbrances
8.2.1 To the best of the Vendors knowledge and belief the Properties are free
from any mortgage, debenture, charge, rent-charge, lien or any other
encumbrance securing the repayment of monies or other obligation or liability
of the Company or any other person.
8.2.2 To the best of the Vendors knowledge and belief the Properties are not
subject to any outgoings other than business rates, water rates and insurance
premiums and in the case of leasehold properties rent and service charges.
8.2.3 To the best of the Vendors knowledge and belief the Properties are not
subject to any restrictive covenants, stipulations, easements, profits a
prendre, wayleaves, licences, grants, restrictions, overriding interests or
other similar rights vested in third parties save for any appearing in the
Leases and licence referred to in Schedule 4.
8.2.4 Where any of the matters referred to in clauses 8.2.1, 8.2.2 and 8.2.3
have been disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, the obligations and liabilities
imposed and arising under them have been fully observed and performed and any
payments in respect of them due and payable have been duly paid.
8.2.5 The Properties are not subject to any option, right of pre-emption or
right of first refusal.
8.3 Planning matters
8.3.1 So far as the Vendor is aware the Properties and the use of the
Properties do not infringe any of the requirements of the Planning Acts and
no notices have been received by the Company in relation to any such
infringements.
8.4 Statutory obligations
8.4.1 The Vendor is not aware of any failure by the Company to comply with
all applicable statutory and by-law requirements with respect to the
Properties nor is it aware of any circumstances which would reasonably lead
it to conclude that there was any such failure.
8.4.2 The Vendor is not aware of any outstanding and unobserved or
unperformed obligation with respect to the Properties necessary to comply
with the requirements of any competent authority exercising statutory or
delegated powers nor is it aware of any circumstances which would reasonably
lead it to conclude that there was any such non observance or non performance.
8.5 Adverse orders
8.5.1 As far as the Vendor is aware there are no compulsory purchase
notices, orders or resolutions affecting any of the Properties.
8.5.2 As far as the Vendor is aware there are no closing, demolition or
clearance orders, enforcement notices or stop notices affecting the
Properties.
8.6 Leasehold properties
35
8.6.1 The Company has paid the rent and the last demand (or receipts for
rent if issued) were unqualified, and all the leases are valid and in full
force.
8.7 Tenancies
8.7.1 The Properties are not subject to any tenancies.
36
SCHEDULE 3
Tax Deed
Date: 19
Parties:
1. "The Covenantor": Eurodis Electron PLC (registered no 1723922) whose
registered office is at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX0 OAU.
2. "The Company": CEM Computers Limited (registered no NI 14278) whose
registered office is at CEM House Victoria Business Park West Bank Road
Belfast Harbour Estate Belfast BT3 9JE.
3. "The Purchaser": Unicomp Holdings (UK) Limited (registered no. 2777955)
whose registered office is at Xxxx Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
Recital:
This deed is entered into pursuant to an agreement made between the
Covenantor (1) and Unicomp Holdings (UK) Limited ("the Purchaser")
(2) relating to the sale of all the ordinary share capital of the Company
('the Agreement').
Operative provisions:
1 DEFINITIONS
In this deed:
1.1 Words and expressions defined in the Agreement shall, except where
otherwise provided or expressly defined below, have the same meaning in this
deed.
1.2 "TAXATION" means all forms of taxation, duties, imposts and levies
whatsoever and whenever imposed and whether of the United Kingdom or
elsewhere, and without prejudice to the generality of that expression
includes:
1.2.1 income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, stamp
duty, stamp duty reserve tax, value added tax, customs and other import
duties and national insurance contributions, and any other taxes, duties or
levies supplementing or replacing any of the above but excluding rates;
1.2.2 all costs, charges, interest, fines, penalties and expenses
incidental, or relating, to any Liability to Taxation except to the extent
that the same arises by reason of any failure or delay on the part of the
Purchaser or the Company in paying over to the relevant tax authority or body
any payment made pursuant to this deed by the Covenantor.
1.3 "RELIEF" includes any relief, allowance, exemption, set-off or deduction
in computing or against profits, income or gains of any description or from
any source, or credit against Taxation and including (without limitation) the
non-deductibility in whole or part in computing the Company's profits of any
bonus payments referred to in clause 3.2 of the Agreement.
1.4 "LIABILITY TO TAXATION" means any liability or increased liability to
make a payment in respect of Taxation or a loss of a right to repayment of
Taxation which has been shown in the Accounts as an asset but does not
include:
1.4.1 the loss, counteracting or clawing back of any Relief which would
otherwise have been available to the Company;
37
1.4.2 the nullifying, cancellation or set-off of a right to repayment of
Taxation which would otherwise have been available to the Company; provided
however that if such loss, counteracting or clawing back of any such Relief
as is referred to in clause 1.4.1 or the nullifying, cancellation or set-off
of a right to repayment of Taxation as is referred to in clause 1.4.2 results
in the Company thereby suffering a liability to make an actual payment in
respect of Taxation, that liability shall itself be a 'Liability to Taxation'
for the purposes of this deed but subject to any other provision in this deed.
1.5 "CLAIM FOR TAXATION" includes any notice, demand, assessment, letter or
other document issued, by or on behalf of the Inland Revenue or Customs and
Excise authorities or any other statutory or governmental authority or body
whatsoever in any part of the world, whereby it appears that the Company is
or may be subject to a Liability to Taxation (whether or not it is primarily
payable by the Company and whether or not the Company has or may have any
right of reimbursement).
1.6 "FINAL DETERMINATION" means in relation to a Claim for Taxation where
there is an appeal against that assessment:
1.6.1 an agreement under TMA s 54 or any legislative provision corresponding
to that section; or
1.6.2 a decision of a court or tribunal from which either no appeal lies, or
in respect of which no appeal is made within the prescribed time limit.
2. COVENANT TO PAY
2.1 Subject as provided below, the Covenantor covenants with the Purchaser to
pay to the Purchaser an amount equal to:
2.1.1 any Liability to Taxation of the Company; and
2.1.2 the reasonable costs properly incurred by the Company in relation to
any demands, actions, proceedings and claims in respect of Liabilities to
Taxation or Claims for Taxation which give rise to a payment under this deed
by the Covenantor.
2.2 The Covenant to Pay in clause 2.1 shall apply only where the Liability to
Taxation:
2.2.1 is made in respect of or in consequence of any acts, omissions or
transactions of the Company or of the Covenantor occurring or entered into on
or before the date of this deed; or
2.2.2 results from or is calculated by reference to any actual or deemed
income, profits or gains earned, received or accrued, or deemed to have been
earned, received or accrued by the Company, on or before that date; or
2.2.3 results from any dividend or distribution paid or made, or deemed to
have been paid or made, before that date.
3. [SPARE CLAUSE NUMBER NOT USED]
4. EXCLUSIONS
4.1 Without prejudice to any other provision a Liability to Taxation shall
not be a Liability to Taxation for the purposes of this deed and accordingly
the covenant to pay in clause 2.1 shall not apply:
38
4.1.1 to the extent that provision or reserve (including any deferred Taxation
reserve) was made in the Accounts or the Management Accounts or was
specifically referred to in the notes to those Accounts or to the extent that
payment or discharge of such Taxation was taken into account in such Accounts;
4.1.2 to a Liability to Taxation for which the Company is or may become
liable as a result of a transaction act or activity in the ordinary course of
its business after the Last Accounts Date;
4.1.3 to the extent that the Liability arises as a result only of the
appropriate provision or reserve in the Accounts or Management Accounts being
insufficient by reason of any increase in rates of Taxation made after the
date of the Agreement;
4.1.4 to a Liability to Taxation which would not have arisen but for a
voluntary act or transaction carried out by the Company or the Purchaser or
any person connected with either of them within the meaning of section 839
ICTA after the date of this deed otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business as carried on before Completion or which would not have arisen but
for any omission by the Company or the Purchaser or any person connected with
either of them within the meaning of section 839 ICTA;
4.1.5 to the extent that the subject matter of such Liability has already
been satisfied pursuant to a claim being made under the Warranties or other
obligations contained in the Agreement or by a previous claim under this deed;
4.1.6 to the extent that the Liability has already been made good or
otherwise compensated for at no expense to the Purchaser or the Company;
4.1.7 to the extent that such Liability would not have arisen or could
reasonably have been expected to be reduced or mitigated as a consequence of
any act or omission which it would have been reasonable for the Purchaser
and/or the Company to undertake at any time after Completion;
4.1.8 to the extent that such Liability arises or is increased as a
consequence of any legislation or administrative practice (whether in the
United Kingdom or elsewhere) not in force at the date of the Agreement or any
change in legislation or administrative practice (whether in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere) made after the date of the Agreement or any decision of
the courts altering the accepted interpretation of any legislation as at the
date of the Agreement or any practice followed or concession issued by any
Taxation authority after the date of the Agreement;
4.1.9 to the extent that such Liability arises or is increased as a result of
a change made after Completion in the accounting reference date of the
Company or as a result of any accounting policy or practice of the Company
introduced after Completion;
4.1.10 if and to the extent that such Liability arises or is increased as a
result of the Purchaser being in breach of its obligation under clause 6 of
this deed and such breach is incapable of remedy or is unremedied 14 days
after the Covenantor shall have given notice to the Purchaser requiring such
breach to be remedied;
4.1.11 to the extent that it arises or is increased as a consequence of any
claim election revocation surrender or disclaimer made or omitted to be made
or notice or consent given or omitted to be given by the Purchaser or the
Company or any person connected with either of them within the meaning of
section 839 ICTA after the date of this deed providing always that in
relation to years ending before 1 June 1997 those claims have been notified
by the Covenantor to the Company within the statutory time limits
4.1.12 to the extent that such Liability arises or is increased as a
consequence of any act or omission occurring (whether before or after the
date of this deed) at the written request or with the written approval of
39
the Purchaser or any person connected with it (within the meaning of Section
839 ICTA) or as a consequence of anything required to be done or not to be
done under the terms of this deed or the agreement in each case whether
before or after the date of this deed or
4.1.13 to the extent that such Liability relates to the operation by the
Company of its PRP Scheme and would not have arisen had the Company continued
to carry on its business after the date of this deed and in the same way as
before such date or if the Company had made profits for the year to 31 May
1997 which it had reasonably anticipated that it would make.
4.2 Without prejudice to clause 4.1 the Covenantor shall not be liable to
make any payment to the Purchaser to the extent that such liability is
excluded or limited by any of the following provisions.
4.2.1 The liability of the Covenantor in relation to this deed shall cease on
the sixth anniversary of the date of this deed save as regards any alleged
specific breach of which notice in writing (containing details of the event
or circumstance giving rise to the breach, the basis upon which the Purchaser
is making a claim against the Covenantor and the total amount of liability
which results) has been given to the Covenantor prior to that anniversary and
the liability of the Covenantor shall absolutely cease if proceedings in
respect of such notice shall not have commenced within twelve months of
service of such notice.
4.2.2 The Purchaser shall not be entitled to recover any sums in respect of
any particular claim under this deed (being a claim which would have given
rise to a payment in respect of a Liability for Taxation but for this
sub-clause) where the amount due in respect of such claim does not exceed
L500 and such claims shall be disregarded in determining the aggregate of all
claims for the purposes of 4.2.3.
4.2.3 The Covenantor shall not be liable for any claim under this deed unless
the aggregate liability to make payments in respect of any Warranty Claim or
under this deed (or what would be the liability apart from this paragraph)
exceeds L25,000 in which case the Covenantor shall only be liable for the
excess.
4.2.4 The total liability of the Covenantor under the Warranties and this
deed shall not in any event exceed L2,349,000 less any amounts repaid or paid
to the Purchaser pursuant to the Agreement ("the Cap") PROVIDED THAT if at
any time the amounts paid by the Covenantor under the Warranties or this deed
exceed the Cap the Purchaser shall forthwith repay to the Covenantor such
excess.
4.2.5 The Covenantor shall not be liable for any claim under this deed to the
extent that the subject matter of the Claim is taken into account in
determining an adjustment to the purchase consideration for the Shares in
accordance with the provisions of clause 3.
4.2.6 If the Purchaser and the Company, or either of them, are entitled to
make a claim in respect of any act, event or default both under the
Warranties and under this deed, the claim shall be made first under the
Warranties and any amount payable to the Purchaser under this deed shall be
reduced to the extent of the claim.
5. Mitigation, Corresponding Benefits, Over-provision
5.1 the Purchaser shall at the Covenantor's request (but at no cost to the
Covenantor) procure that the Company uses all Reliefs and rights of repayment
of tax (other than those arising or accruing after Completion) available to
it and makes all elections save in respect of matters after Completion so as
to reduce or eliminate any Liability to Taxation which would otherwise give
rise to a payment by the Covenantor to the Purchaser under this deed and at
the Covenantor's expense shall deliver to the Covenantor a certificate from
the Company's auditors for the time being
40
confirming that all such Reliefs and rights of repayment of tax have been so
used and elections made.
5.2 the Covenantor may by notice in writing to the Purchaser elect to
mitigate or eliminate any Liability to Taxation under this deed by
surrendering or procuring the surrender to the Company of group relief (as
defined in section 402 of ICTA including consortium relief) or advance
corporation tax to the extent permitted by law but without any payment being
made in consideration of the surrender and the Covenantor shall be absolved
from liability under this deed to the extent of the amount of Taxation
relieved by such surrender. The Purchaser shall procure that the Company
takes all such steps as the Covenantor may reasonably require to permit and
effect any surrender and claim of such relief.
5.3 If any payment has been made by the Covenantor in discharge of a
Liability to Taxation which has arisen under this deed then:
5.3.1 If the Purchaser or the Company subsequently receives from any person
(including any Taxation authority) a payment or credit in respect of the
Taxation in question the payment or credit shall be dealt with in accordance
with clause 5.4 or
5.3.2 If the Purchaser or the Company is or may be entitled to a payment or
credit in respect of the Taxation in question from any person other than the
Purchaser or at some subsequent date becomes aware that it is or may be
entitled to such a payment or credit then the Purchaser shall promptly notify
the Covenantor of the entitlement or possible entitlement and shall (if so
required by the Covenantor and at the Covenantor's sole expense and on the
Covenantor providing such security as the Purchaser may reasonably require
against all reasonable costs and expenses to be incurred) take, or procure
that the Company takes, all appropriate steps to enforce that entitlement
(keeping the Covenantor fully informed of the progress of any action taken)
and any payment or credit received shall be dealt with in accordance with
clause 5.4.
5.3.3 Nothing in clauses 5.3.1 and 5.3.2 shall cause the Purchaser to pay any
amount to the Covenantor representing the receipt of a payment or credit by
the Purchaser or the Company if that payment or credit results from the
offsetting or deduction of any Relief (including for the avoidance of doubt
advance corporation tax) accruing to the Company as a result of anything done
after Completion against profits, income or gains or Taxation thereon
accruing prior to Completion.
5.4 Where it is provided under clause 5.3 that a payment or credit is to be
dealt with in accordance with this sub-clause:
5.4.1 in the case of a payment, the Purchaser shall within five business days
of receipt, pay to the Covenantor the amount of the payment received;
5.4.2 in the case of a credit, the Purchaser shall, within five business days
of the date on which the Taxation would otherwise have been payable had such
credit not been available, pay to the Covenantor an amount equal to the amount
of such Taxation;
subject to a maximum of the payment referred to in clause 5.3 made by the
Covenantor under this deed together (in addition) with any interest or
repayment supplement paid by the person in question.
5.5.1 If the auditors for the time being of the Company shall certify (at the
request and expense of the Covenantor) that any provision for Taxation in the
Accounts or the Management Accounts has proved to be an over-provision then
(save to the extent that such over-provision has arisen from the surrender to
the Company of Group Relief or ACT (as hereinafter defined) for which the
Company has made payment pursuant to clauses 5.6.7 and 5.6.8) the amount of
such over-provision shall be dealt with in accordance with sub-clause 5.5.3.
41
5.5.2 If the auditors for the time being of the Company shall certify (at the
request and expense of the Covenantor) that any Liability to Taxation which
has resulted in a payment having been made or becoming due from the
Covenantor under this deed will give rise to a corresponding saving for the
Company which would not otherwise have arisen then as and when the liability
of the Company to make an actual payment of or in respect of Taxation is
reduced (or other saving obtained) by reason of the utilisation of that
corresponding saving the amount by which that Liability to Taxation is so
reduced (or the amount of the saving made otherwise) shall be dealt with in
accordance with sub-clause 5.5.3 of this clause.
5.5.3 Where it is provided under sub-clause 5.5.1 or 5.5.2 above that any
amount (the "Relevant Amount") is to be dealt with in accordance with this
sub-clause:
5.5.3.1 The Relevant Amount shall first be set off against any payment then
due from the Covenantor under this deed; and
5.5.3.2 to the extent there is an excess a refund shall forthwith be made to
the Covenantor of any previous payment or payments made by the Covenantor
under this deed and not previously refunded under this clause up to the
amount of such excess; and
5.5.3.3 to the extent that the excess referred to in paragraph 5.5.3.2 above
is not exhausted under that paragraph the remainder of that excess shall be
carried forward and set off against any future payment or payments which
become due from the Covenantor under this deed.
5.5.4 To the extent that such over-provision or corresponding saving as is
mentioned in sub-clause 5.5.1 or 5.5.2 has not at a time when there is both
no outstanding claim and no further claims which can be made by the Purchaser
against the Covenantor under this deed been so set off against any payment
which has been made by the Covenantor that amount shall forthwith at that
time be repaid to the Covenantor.
5.5.5 Where any certification as is mentioned in sub-clause 5.5.1 or 5.5.2
above has been made the Covenantor or the Purchaser or the Company may
request the auditors of such Company for the time being at the expense of the
party so making the request to review such certification in the light of all
relevant circumstances Including any facts which have become known only since
such certification and to certify whether such certification remains correct
or whether in the light of those circumstances the amount that was the
subject of such certification should be amended.
5.5.6 If the auditors certify under sub-clause 5.5.5 above that an amount
previously certified should be amended that amended amount shall be
substituted for the purposes of sub-clause 5.5.3 as the Relevant Amount in
respect of the certification in question in place of the amount originally
certified and such adjusting payment (if any) as may be required by virtue of
the above-mentioned substitution shall be made as soon as practicable by the
Covenantor or (as the case may be to the Covenantor).
5.5.7 If any dispute shall arise under this clause 5.5 as to whether there is
or has been any over-provision or corresponding saving such dispute shall be
referred for determination to a firm of chartered accountants agreed between
the Covenantor and the Purchaser and failing such agreement a firm of
independent accountants shall be nominated by the President for the time
being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales who in
making such determination shall act as expert (the "Expert") and not
arbitrator whose decision shall be final and binding on the parties hereto.
The Expert may make such enquiries as he shall think fit in order to make
such determination and shall also determine how the costs of obtaining his
opinion should be paid and borne by the parties.
5.5.8 The Purchaser undertakes to supply and undertakes to procure that the
Company shall supply to the Purchaser and subsequently to any firm of
42
accountants nominated to deal with any such dispute in accordance with
subclause 5.5.7 (with copies to the Covenantor) all documents accounts notices
papers and other necessary information as may be reasonably required for the
purpose of making any such determination as to whether there is or has been
any over-provision or corresponding saving for the purposes of this clause 5.5
5.6.1 The Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall agree to surrender
to the Covenantor or to such company as the Covenantor may in its absolute
discretion specify in writing all such relief for trading losses or other
amounts eligible for surrender by way of group relief under the provisions
contained in sections 402 to 413 of ICTA ("Group Relief") in respect of any
accounting period of the Company which will have ended on or before
Completion.
5.6.2 The Purchaser for itself and on behalf of the Company hereby undertakes
to do anything which the Covenantor may reasonably request to enable full
effect to be given to the surrenders to be made pursuant to this sub-clause
5.6 and to enable such surrenders to be allowed in full by the Inland Revenue
and (save as permitted or directed by the Covenantor in writing) undertakes
not wilfully to do or procure the doing of any act or thing hereafter which
might prejudice the making of any claim for Group Relief or the acceptance of
the surrender of Advance Corporation Tax ("ACT") by the Company and (without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the Purchaser shall further
procure that the Company where requested by the Covenantor shall sign and
submit to the Inland Revenue all such notices of consent to surrender of
Group Relief or ACT (including provisional or protective notices of consent
in cases where any relevant Taxation computations have not yet been agreed) and
shall comply with all other procedural requirements in relation thereto.
5.6.3 Neither the Covenantor nor any other company shall be required to make
any payment in respect of or in consideration for the surrenders referred to
in clause 5.6.1 above.
5.6.4 The Company shall forthwith upon request from the Covenantor make such
claims and elections and give such consents (and amendments and withdrawals
thereof) including such provisional and final claims to accept the surrender
of Group Relief from the Covenantor or any other company in respect of any
accounting period of the Company commencing before Completion as the
Covenantor may in its absolute discretion direct in writing and without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing the Company shall comply and the
Purchaser shall procure that the Company complies with all relevant
procedural requirements (including those contained in Schedule 17A ICTA)
imposed on a claimant company in relation to Group Relief.
5.6.5 The Company shall forthwith make such provisional or final claims for
set-off or to accept the surrender of ACT in respect of the accounting
periods referred to in 5.6.4 as the Covenantor may in its absolute discretion
direct in writing and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
the Company shall (insofar as they apply) comply with the procedural
requirements of section 240 of ICTA imposed upon a subsidiary in relation to
ACT including the notification of a consent under sub-section (6) of that
section.
5.6.6 Save with the written consent of the Covenantor, neither the Purchaser
nor the Company shall do any act or thing which might affect the Covenantor's
or the Company's ability to make claims for allowances or reliefs or claims
to accept surrenders of Group Relief or ACT or set-off of ACT or to consents
to surrenders of Group Relief or ACT in respect of the accounting periods
referred to in this clause 5.6 and accordingly neither the Purchaser nor the
Company shall amend, disregard or withdraw, disclaim any elections, claims or
benefits including but not limited to elections or claims under section 247
ICTA (Group Income), section 402 of ICTA (Group
43
Relief), section 240 ICTA (setting off a company's surplus ACT against the
subsidiary's liability) or amend or withdraw any elections or claims pursuant
to section 152 or 153 Taxation of Chargeable Gains Xxx 0000 (roll-over
relief) or disclaim capital allowances or otherwise and neither the Purchaser
nor the Company shall carry back ACT or losses or other Reliefs from
accounting periods ending after Completion in circumstances where such carry
back will reduce the Covenantor's ability to make the aforesaid surrenders,
claims and elections.
5.6.7 If the Company accepts a surrender of Group Relief in respect of any of
the accounting periods referred to in this clause 5.6 which can be used
against an actual liability to corporation tax, for which provision was made
in the Accounts or the Management Accounts or which have been taken into
account in preparing the Accounts or the Management Accounts or any previous
accounts of the Company the Company will make payment to the Covenantor (or
if the Covenantor so directs the company making the surrender) of such an
amount as the Covenantor may direct in writing but not exceeding the
corporation tax which would have been payable but for the surrender, payment
to be made on the date of the surrender or if later on the date or dates on
which the corporation tax would otherwise have been payable (assuming no
application for postponement of payment of the Tax had been made).
5.6.8 If under this sub-clause 5.6 ACT has been or is surrendered or set-off
against an actual corporation tax liability of the Company for which
provision was made in the Accounts or the Management Accounts or which has
been taken into account in preparing the Accounts or the Management Accounts
or any previous accounts of the Company the Purchaser shall procure that the
Company shall pay to the Covenantor or if the Covenantor so directs the
surrendering company on the date of the surrender or, if later, the date on
which the corporation tax against which the ACT has been set would have been
payable (assuming no application for postponement of payment of the tax had
been made) such an amount as the Covenantor may direct in writing but not
exceeding the tax which would have been payable but for such surrender or
set-off.
6. CONDUCT OF CLAIMS
6.1 The Company or the Purchaser shall notify the Covenantor in writing of
any Claim for Taxation which comes to its notice whereby it appears that the
Covenantor is or may become liable to make a payment under this deed. Where a
time limit for appeal applies to the Claim, the notification shall be given
as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which the Claim comes to the
notice of the Company and in any event within 14 days of receipt by the
Company or the Purchaser but, where no time limit applies the notification
shall be given within thirty (30) days of such receipt.
6.2 The Purchaser shall ensure that a Claim for Taxation to which this deed
applies, is, so far as reasonably practicable, dealt with separately from
claims to which it does not apply and is not paid prematurely; and for this
purpose any payment of Taxation made when due to avoid incurring interest or
any penalty in respect of unpaid taxation shall be deemed not to be paid
prematurely.
6.3 Subject to clause 6.6, the Purchaser and the Company shall ensure at the
request in writing of the Covenantor that the Covenantor is placed in a
position to dispute on behalf of the Company any Claim for Taxation to which
this deed applies and is to have sole conduct of any appeal dispute
compromise or defence of the Claim and any incidental negotiations and the
Purchaser and the Company shall render, or cause to be rendered, to the
Covenantor at its reasonable expense all such assistance and access and
cooperation as the Covenantor, may reasonably require in connection therewith.
6.4 The Covenantor shall be entitled on behalf of the Company to instruct
such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Covenantor, may nominate
44
to act on behalf of the Covenantor or the Company, to the intent that the
conduct, and costs and expenses, of the dispute shall be delegated entirely to
and be borne solely by the Covenantor.
6.5 In connection with the conduct of any dispute relating to a Claim for
Taxation to which this deed and in particular clause 6.3 applies:
6.5.1 the Covenantor shall keep the Purchaser fully informed of all relevant
matters and the Covenantor shall promptly forward or procure to be forwarded
to the secretary of the Purchaser copies of all correspondence and other
written communications pertaining thereto;
6.5.2 The Covenantor shall make no settlement or compromise of the dispute
which is likely to prejudice the future liability of the Purchaser or the
Company to Taxation without the prior approval of the Purchaser, such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed PROVIDED THAT if the
Purchaser does withhold approval the Covenantor shall if it so desires be
discharged from all liability under this deed in respect of such
relevant Liability to Taxation upon paying to the Purchaser the amount which
the relevant Taxation authority has indicated it is prepared to accept in
settlement or compromise of the dispute.
6.6 The Covenantor shall at the request of the Purchaser provide, to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Purchaser, reasonable security or indemnities,
or both, in respect of all the costs and expenses which may reasonably be
incurred of disputing any Claim for Taxation to which this deed applies.
6.7 The Company and the Purchaser shall not be subject to any claim by or
liability to, the Covenantor on the ground that it has not complied with the
foregoing provisions, if it has bona fide acted in accordance with the
written instructions of the Covenantor.
6.8 For the avoidance of doubt the provisions of this clause 6 shall not
apply to any matter referred to in clause 3.2 of the agreement.
7. DATES FOR AND QUANTUM OF PAYMENTS
7.1 Subject to any other provision in this deed relating to the timing of
payments and the amount payable this clause shall apply solely for
determining the date on which any payments or repayments shall be made by or
to the Covenantor pursuant to this deed and (where expressly provided) the
amounts of the payment or repayments.
7.2 The Covenantor shall make payment to the Purchaser to the extent that
and on the date on which the Company discharges or is deemed to discharge a
Liability to Taxation in respect of which and to the extent that the
Purchaser is entitled to payment under this deed PROVIDED THAT the Covenantor
shall not in any event be obliged to make any payment earlier than the later
of
7.2.1 seven days after the date on which written notice setting out the Claim
of Taxation has been received by the Covenantor and
7.2.2 three working days before the date when the Taxation was due to be paid
to the relevant Taxation body or authority
7.3 The Purchaser shall make a repayment to the Covenantor to the extent
that and on the date on which the Company (or any person connected with the
Company within the meaning of section 839 ICTA) receives any repayment of any
amount paid in respect of any Liability to Taxation pursuant to clause 7.2.
Any repayment to the Covenantor pursuant to this clause 7.3 shall not
prejudice the right of the Purchaser to recover from the Covenantor under
this deed in the event that a further Liability to Taxation is imposed upon
the Company, whether in respect of matters to which the repayment relates or
otherwise.
45
7.4 For the purposes of clause 7.2, the Company shall be deemed to
discharge a Liability to Taxation on the date on which the Company pays any
amount of Taxation;
7.5 For the purpose of clause 7.3, the Company shall be deemed to receive a
repayment on the earliest of:
7.5.1 the date on which the Company (or such a connected person) receives a
repayment of Taxation to which clause 7.2 applies;
7.5.2 if and when the Company (or such a connected person) would have
received a repayment but for a Liability to Taxation in respect of which the
Purchaser is not entitled to receive payment under this deed;
7.5.3 if and when the Company (or such a connected person) would have received
a repayment had the Liability to Taxation been discharged by a payment of
Taxation; or
7.5.4 if and when the Company (or such a connected person) is able to obtain
the benefit of a reduction in its Liability to Taxation as a result of the
right to repayment.
7.6 Upon Final Determination of a relevant Claim for Taxation the
Covenantor shall promptly pay to the Purchaser such amount or further amount
in addition to any sums already paid under this deed as is required to cover
the full liability of the Covenantor under this deed.
7.7 Any dispute in relation to the provisions of clauses 7.4, 7.5 or 7.6
may be referred, by the Purchaser or the Covenantor, to a firm of chartered
accountants and the provisions of clause 5.5.7 shall apply or if both parties
agree to the auditors for the time being of the Company, acting as experts
and not as arbitrators, whose certificate shall be final and binding upon the
parties in the absence of manifest error.
8.1 The Purchaser covenants with the Covenantor to pay to the Covenantor or
at its discretion any member of the Covenantor's Group (meaning the
Covenantor or any company which is or has been treated as a member of the
same group of companies as the Covenantor for any purpose of corporation tax)
and any of their directors an amount equal to:
8.1.1 any Liability to Taxation of any member of the Covenantor's Group which
arises as a consequence of or by reference to any of the following occurring
or being deemed to occur at any time after the Completion Date:
(a) the disposal by the Company of any asset or of any interest in or
right over any asset;
(b) the Company ceasing to be resident in the United Kingdom for the
purposes of any Taxation; or
(c) the effecting by the Company of any such payment or transfer of
assets as constitutes the receipt by another person of an
abnormal amount by way of dividend (as defined in Section 709 of
ICTA); and
8.1.2 any Liability to Taxation of any member of the Covenantor's Group
arising pursuant to Section 767A of ICTA in respect of Taxation arising as a
result of or attributable to or by reference to the activities of the Company
(whether in the ordinary course of its business as carried on at the date
hereof or otherwise) after the Last Accounts Date; and
8.1.3 any penalties fines charges reasonable costs and expenses relating to
or arising in connection with any Liability to Taxation under Clauses 8.1.1
or 8.1.2 or through taking or defending any successful action under this
Clause 8.
46
8.3 Where the Covenantor is entitled to make a Claim for Taxation under
this Clause 8 then Clause 5.3.2 (Recovery from Other Persons) 6 (Conduct of
Claim) 7.2 (Due Date of Payment) and 10.3 (Notices) and 10.6 (Gross up) of
this deed shall apply mutatis mutandis.
9.1 The Covenantor or its duly authorised agents shall prepare the tax
returns and computations of the Company for all accounting periods ended on
or prior to the Last Accounts Date to the extent that the same shall not have
been prepared before Completion;
9.2 The Purchaser shall procure that the returns and computations mentioned
in sub-clause 9.1 above shall be authorised signed and submitted within the
prescribed time limits to the appropriate Taxation authority without
amendment or with such amendments as the Covenantor shall agree and shall
give the Covenantor or its agents all such assistance as may be required to
agree those returns and computations with the appropriate authorities and the
Company shall consent to such group relief claims which give effect to such
provisional claims as have been made and disclosed prior to the date of the
Agreement together with such further group relief claims to be surrendered
from the Company relating to any accounting periods ended on or prior to
Completion and shall submit all notices consents and claims as required to
make such group relief claim PROVIDED THAT the Purchaser shall not be obliged
to take any such action as is mentioned in this sub-clause in relation to any
tax return that is not full true and accurate in all material respects;
9.3 The Covenantor or its duly authorised agents shall prepare all
documentation and shall have conduct of all matters (including
correspondence) relating to the tax returns and computations of the Company
for all accounting periods ended on or prior to the Last Accounts Date and
the Company shall afford such access to its books accounts and records as is
necessary and reasonable to enable the Covenantor or its duly authorised
agents to prepare those returns and conduct matters relating thereto in
accordance with the Covenantor's rights under this clause 9.
9.4 The Purchaser or its duly authorised agents shall prepare the tax
returns and computations of the Company for the accounting period in which
Completion falls subject to all such computations and replies to enquiries
from the Inland Revenue or other relevant Taxation authority being submitted
in draft form to the Covenantor for approval such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
10. GENERAL
10.1 This deed shall be binding on the Covenantors and their respective
successors and personal representatives.
10.2 The benefit of this deed may not be assigned in whole or in part by the
Company or the Purchaser.
10.3 The provisions of the Agreement relating to notices shall apply to any
notice to be given under, or in connection with, this deed.
10.4 The construction, validity and performance of this deed shall be
governed by the laws of England.
10.5 All payments made under this deed shall be by way of an adjustment to
the purchase consideration for the 'A' and 'B' Shares equally.
10.6 If any sum payable under this deed shall be subject to Taxation in the
hands of the recipient the payer shall be obliged to pay such sum as will
after such Taxation be the same amount as the recipient would have been
entitled to receive in the absence of the charge to Taxation and such amount
shall constitute a Liability to Taxation for the purposes of the deed.
47
IN WITNESS WHEREOF this deed has been executed by the parties in the manner
hereinafter appearing on the day and year first herein written
EXECUTED as a deed by EURODIS :
ELECTRON PLC acting by :
Director :
in the presence of:- :
:
:
:
:
EXECUTED as a deed by CEM :
COMPUTERS LIMITED acting by :
Director :
in the presence of:- :
:
:
:
EXECUTED as a deed by UNICOMP :
HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED acting by :
Xxxxxxx X Xxxxx Director :
in the presence of:- :
:
:
:
:
48
SCHEDULE 4
Short particulars of the properties
Part 1: Freehold properties - NONE
Part 2: Leasehold properties and details of the leases
(i) XXXXX 0-0 XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX
Lease dated 1 March 1993 from Fortwilliam Estates Ltd to the Company
Term 20 years from 1 November 1992
Initial Rent L115,200 per annum reviewable every five years
Additional Rent L31,140 per annum for first ten years only for fitting
out
Service Charge L5078 for year ended 30 April 1996
Refund of insurance premium per annum in year to
Full repairing Lease
Covenant against assignment
Covenant restricting use to "offices showrooms (for demonstration and
training) computer and/or electronic repair centre and ancillary storage"
Option for Lessee to terminate on 6 months notice on 15 May 2002
(ii) WAREHOUSE XXXX 0 XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXX
Agreement for Lease dated 1995 from Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx and anor to the Company
Term to 31 October 2012
Rent L9,900
(iii) OFFICE AT XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXX 00 XXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX 0
Licence dated 6 January 1997 from Merrion Business Centre to the Company
Fee L14,975 per annum with deposit of L3,743.75
Terminable on one month's notice
Part 3: Particulars of tenancies - NONE
49
SCHEDULE 5
Pension arrangements
1. At Completion the Company will cease to participate as an associated
employer of the Eurodis Electron plc Retirement Benefits Scheme ("the
Scheme") The Vendor will use its reasonable endeavours to arrange for any
formal documentation evidencing such cessation as may be required under the
rules of the Scheme to be completed.
2. On the cessation of the Company's participation in the Scheme the
employees of the Company who are in pensionable service under the Scheme will
be treated as leaving pensionable service. Such members will be entitled to
such benefits in respect of pensionable service to the date of Completion as
is set out in the Rules of the Scheme.
3. Any life assurance benefits expressed to be payable to employees of the
Company under the rules of the Scheme which are expressed under the rules of
the Scheme to cease on leaving the service of the Company shall cease to be
provided under the Scheme at Completion.
4. Any employees of the Company, or such persons who have been offered
employment with the Company, who have been offered membership of the Scheme
but have not become members of the Scheme at Completion will no longer be
eligible to join the Scheme after Completion.
50
SCHEDULE 6
Exclusions and Limitations of Liability of the Vendor
(1) No Warranty Claim shall be made to the extent that such Warranty Claim
shall be in respect of a matter which has been:
(a) referred to in the Disclosure Letter;
(b) referred to in the Accounts;
(c) referred to in the Management Accounts; or
(d) otherwise disclosed in writing to the Purchaser or its professional
advisers prior to the date of this agreement.
(2) The liability of the Vendor in relation to the Warranties shall cease
on the expiration of a period of eighteen months after the date of this
agreement save as regards any alleged specific breach of which notice in
writing is served in accordance with clause 8 of this Schedule has been given
to the Vendor prior to that anniversary and the liability of the Vendor shall
absolutely cease if proceedings in respect of such notice shall not have
commenced within twelve months of service of such notice.
(3) The Vendor shall not be liable for any Warranty Claim of less than L500
and unless the aggregate liability of the Vendor in respect of all such
Warranty Claims and all qualifying claims under the Tax Deed (or what would
be their liability apart from this paragraph) exceeds L25,000 in which case
the Vendor shall be liable only for the excess.
(4) The total liability of the Vendors under the Warranties and the Tax
Deed shall not in any event exceed the purchase consideration for the Shares
referred to at clause 3 of the agreement as reduced from time to time by any
partial repayment thereof pursuant to clause 3.2 and/or clause 6 of the
agreement and/or as a result of a successful Warranty Claim.
(5) The Vendor shall have no liability in respect of any Warranty Claim to
the extent that the loss giving rise to such Warranty Claim is a loss against
which the Company is insured immediately prior to Completion:
(a) if at any time following Completion such insurance is cancelled or not
renewed; or
(b) to the extent that at any time following Completion the amount of such
insurance is reduced.
(6) The Vendor shall have no liability in respect of any Warranty Claim to
the extent that the loss giving rise to such Warranty Claim is a loss against
which the Company is insured and in relation thereto:
(a) where it appears that the Company is or may be insured against such
loss then the Purchaser shall as soon as practicable submit or procure
the submission of an appropriate insurance claim to the insurers and
shall thereafter procure that such insurance claim is diligently pursued;
(b) such Warranty Claim shall not be pursued against the Vendor until such
insurance claim shall have been finally dealt with by the insurers; and
(c) the liability of the Vendor in respect of such Warranty Claim shall not
exceed the amount (if any) by which the loss giving rise to such Warranty
Claim exceeds any amount paid or payable by the insurers pursuant to such
insurance claim.
51
(7) The Vendor shall have no liability in respect of any Warranty Claim to the
extent that the loss giving rise to such Warranty Claim:
(a) would not have arisen or could reasonably have been expected to be
reduced or mitigated as a consequence of any act or omission which it
would have been reasonable for the Purchaser and/or the Company to
undertake at any time:
(b) arises or is increased wholly or partly as a result of the sale and
purchase of the Shares pursuant to this agreement
(c) arises or is increased as a consequence of any legislation or
administrative practice (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere)
not in force at the date of this agreement or any change in legislation
or administrative practice (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere)
made after the date of this agreement or any decision of the courts
altering the accepted interpretation of any legislation as at the date
of this agreement or any practice followed or concession issued by any
Taxation authority after the date of this agreement;
(e) arises or is increased as a consequence of any claim election surrender
or disclaimer made or omitted to be made or notice or consent given or
omitted to be given by or any other thing done by the Purchaser and/or
the Company or any person connected with either of them (within the
meaning of Section 839 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988)
after the date of this agreement under the provisions of any
legislation relating to Taxation;
(f) would not have arisen but for a voluntary act or omission of the
Purchaser and/or the Company or any person connected with either of
them (within the meaning of Section 839 of the Income and Corporation
Taxes Act 1988) after the date of this agreement and otherwise than in
the ordinary course of the business of the Company as carried on at the
date of this agreement; or
(g) arises or is increased as a consequence of any act or omission
occurring (whether before or after the date of this agreement) at the
written request or with the written approval of the Purchaser or any
person connected with it (within the meaning of Section 839 of the
Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988) or as a consequence of anything
required to be done or not to be done under the terms of this agreement
in each case whether before or after the date of this agreement.
(7) The Vendor shall have no liability in respect of any Warranty Claim to
the extent that specific provision or reserve was made in the Accounts
or the Management Accounts in respect of the subject matter of such
Warranty Claim (whether such subject matter is contingent unquantified
and disputed or otherwise).
(8) Without limiting paragraph (5) of this Schedule:
(a) the Purchaser shall as soon as possible after circumstances arise which
will or may give rise to a Warranty Claim give to the Vendor written
notice thereof setting out in reasonable detail the matter which gives
rise to the Warranty Claim the breach that results therefrom and the
amount claimed in relation to the Warranty Claim and the Purchaser will
thereafter keep the Vendor informed of all material developments
relating thereto;
(b) the Purchaser will give and will procure that there is given to the
Vendor and its professional advisors such information and such access
to the books and records of the Company as the Vendor may require in
order to assess the subject matter of such claim and to exercise the
rights under sub-paragraph (c) below; and
52
(c) at the Vendor's expense the Purchaser shall take and shall procure that
the Company shall take such action as the Vendor may reasonably request to
avoid dispute resist appeal compromise or defend the subject matter of
such Warranty Claim or any threat liability penalty or demand which may
give rise to such Warranty Claim.
(9) Neither the Purchaser nor the Company shall be entitled to recover
damages or obtain reimbursement restitution or indemnity more than once in
respect of any one shortfall damage deficiency or breach giving rise to a
Warranty Claim.
(10) (a) At the Vendor's expense the Purchaser shall take and shall procure
that the Company shall take such action as the Vendor may reasonably
request against any third party to obtain reimbursement of any sum
paid by the Vendor in respect of any Warranty Claim; and
(b) the Purchaser shall forthwith reimburse to the Vendor an amount
equal to any sum paid by the Vendor in respect of any Warranty Claim
which is subsequently recovered by or paid to the Purchaser or the
Company by any third party (including (but without limitation) by
the insurers) less the Purchaser's or the Company's reasonable and
proper costs in connection with such recovery.
(11) In the event that the Purchaser and/or the Company shall be entitled
to recover or to claim reimbursement from some other person (other than the
Vendor) of any sum which is or may be the subject of a Warranty Claim then
the Purchaser and/or the Company (as the case may be) shall first take all
necessary steps to enforce such recovery or reimbursement before taking any
steps against the Vendor in respect of such Warranty Claim.
(12) The Vendor shall have no liability to satisfy a Warranty Claim if and
to the extent that the subject matter thereof is merely a contingent
liability on the part of the Company unless and until such contingent
liability becomes an actual liability.
(13) Nothing contained in this agreement shall be deemed to relieve the
Purchaser and/or the Company from a duty to the Vendor to mitigate its and/or
their loss.
(14) Any amount paid by the Vendor under this agreement in relation to any
Warranty Claim shall be treated as a reduction in the consideration payable
by the Purchaser to the Vendor for the Shares.
(15) Except as expressly provided in this Schedule none of the paragraphs of
this Schedule shall be limited by reference to any other or others of them.
(16) In the event of any Warranty claim being established, the Vendors shall
be entitled to set off against the amount of any depletion in or reduction in
the value of the assets of the Company giving rise to the Claim the amount by
which (after adjustment where appropriate for Taxation in respect of revenue
items) the position of the Company (taken as a whole) in respect of any other
matter is established to be better than as so warranted (after adjustments
where appropriate for Taxation).
(17) If the Purchaser and the Company, or either of them, are entitled to
make a claim in respect of any act, event or default both under the
Warranties and under the Tax Deed, the claim shall be made first under the
Warranties and any amount payable to the Purchaser or the Company under the
Tax Deed shall be reduced to the extent of the claim.
(18) The Purchaser shall indemnify the Vendor against any liability to
Taxation arising under ICTA s 767A (Change in company ownership corporation
tax) and charged in the name of the Company.
53
LETTER OF DISCLOSURE
To: Unicomp Holdings (UK) Limited
Xxxx Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
From: Eurodis Electron Plc
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0 OAU
Dated: February 20th, 1997
Dear Sirs
Re: CEM Computers Limited (the "Company")
We refer to an agreement (the "Agreement") of even date herewith made between
Eurodis Electron Plc (the "Vendor") (1) Unicomp Holdings UK Limited (the
"Purchaser") (2) and Unicomp Inc. (3) relating to the sale and purchase of
the whole of the issued share capital of the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions therein contained.
In accordance with the Agreement, the Vendor is to deliver to the Purchaser a
letter (the "Disclosure Letter") making disclosures which, by agreement
between the Vendor and the Purchaser, constitute exceptions to the warranties
contained in clause 5 and Schedule 2 to the Agreement (the "Warranties"). We
therefore set out in this Disclosure Letter disclosures which are to be
treated as exceptions to the Warranties.
By way of interpretation of this letter:-
(a) All references to paragraphs are references to those paragraphs in
Schedule 2 to the Agreement.
(b) Expressions contained in this Disclosure Letter shall, unless the
context otherwise requires, bear the meanings assigned to them in the
Agreement.
(c) Any matter, whether disclosed generally or by reference to a particular
paragraph of Schedule 2 to the Agreement, is disclosed for the purposes of
all the Warranties, which shall be qualified accordingly.
(d) In the event of any inconsistency between the Agreement and this
Disclosure Letter, the Agreement shall prevail and the Vendor shall not
be under any liability in respect of any inconsistency.
The "Disclosure Documents" means those disclosure documents listed in the
annexed Schedule 1 copies of which have already been supplied to you with the
exception of the binders and other documents referred to as Document 19 of
the Disclosure
1
Documents of which there is only one copy which has been fully disclosed to
and inspected by you. It has been agreed that Document 19 of the Disclosure
Documents shall be held by the Purchaser's Solicitors for the duration of the
Warranties to the order of the Vendor and the Purchaser. All information
contained in the Disclosure Documents forms part of this letter as if the
Disclosure Documents were set out expressly in it.
GENERAL MATTERS
The following matters and/or information are disclosed generally and shall be
deemed to be incorporated herein:
(i) All information contained or referred to in the audited financial
statements of the Company for all accounting periods up to and
including that ended 31 May 1996.
(ii) All information contained or referred to in the Management Accounts.
(iii) All entries and information contained or referred to in the files
of the Company at the Companies Registry on the date of this
Disclosure Letter.
(iv) All entries and information recorded or referred to in the Minute
Books and other statutory books of the Company.
(v) All entries and information in relation to the Properties which
would be disclosed by searches and enquiries made with all relevant
statutory and local authorities and at the Land Charges Registry and
at H M Land Registry.
(vi) The Agreement and all information contained in it including its
recitals and Schedules.
(vii) All matters which would be revealed by a search of the Bankruptcy
Office on the date of this Disclosure Letter.
(viii) All matters and/or information which would be revealed by searches
of registers maintained by the Registrar of Trade Marks and the
Registrar of Patents on the date of this Disclosure Letter.
(ix) All information contained or referred to in documents supplied by
the Vendor's Accountants to the Purchaser and the Purchaser's
Accountants and contained in the files of documents of which both
the Vendor's Accountants and the Purchaser's Accountants have
identical copies.
(x) All information contained or referred to in a memorandum dated 5
February 1997 from Xxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx of Unicomp Inc. to
Xxxxxx Xxxxx of Unicomp Inc. regarding matters arising from the due
diligence process carried out by the Purchaser.
(xi) All information contained or referred to in all correspondence up
to and including the date hereof passing from the Company, the
Vendor, the Vendor's Solicitors and the Vendor's Accountants to the
Purchaser the Purchaser's Solicitors and the Purchaser's
Accountants, together with all enclosures attached to or enclosed
therewith and all matters referred to in such enclosures.
SPECIFIC MATTERS
The following specific matters are disclosed.
2
Paragraph Disclosure Document
No.
1.2.2 Stock is not written down in the Accounts but ongoing provision is
made for such future writing down as may be judged necessary.
1.4.1 The deferred taxation computation papers have been supplied by the
Vendor's Accountants to the Purchaser's Accountants and the Vendor
assumes that the Purchaser has therefore satisfied itself in this
regard.
1.6.1 Please see the sales ledger printouts forming part of Document 19
of the Disclosure Documents which contains a full aged debtor
report. It is in the nature of the Company's business that many
debts are outstanding for longer than 12 weeks but these are not
considered to be bad. As the Vendor is aware, the purchase
consideration for the Shares takes into account certain debtors; in
particular the Purchaser is referred to the memorandum mentioned at
sub-paragraph (x) of the general matters set out above.
Please also see the list of debts written off since the Last
Accounts Date which forms Document 79 of the Disclosure Documents.
1.6.2 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 1.6.1 above.
The Purchaser is, of course, aware of the provisions of Clause 6 of
the Agreement.
2.6.1 A copy of the Company's memorandum and articles of association is
annexed hereto and as far as the Vendor is aware is accurate and
complete in all respects.
2.6.4 As the Purchaser is aware, a written resolution amending the
Company's articles of association will be passed at Completion.
2.8 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 8.1.3 below.
3.1.1 The 1996 corporation tax computation is in draft format and has
been disclosed as part of the information referred to at
sub-paragraph (ix) of the general matters.
The company has a branch located in the Republic of Ireland for
taxation purposes and in respect of which an annual return must be
made to the Irish taxation authorities. Accordingly, a computation
and tax return have been submitted for the year ended 31 May 1995.
No queries have yet been raised by the Inspector of Taxes on this
submission. The 1996 return and computation are currently with the
Company for approval and signature.
3.1.5 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 6.2.2 below.
3.2.1 In previous years the Company's liability to corporation tax has
been reduced as a consequence of losses and surplus advance
corporation tax surrendered to it by other group companies.
3
3.3.3 In the course of its trade the Company does incur expenditure which
is disallowable under S74 ICTA 1988. The Vendor is unable to
quantify such expenditure incurred since the Last Accounts Date.
During the year ended 31 May 1995 the following disallowable
expenditure was incurred:-
Entertainment L3,608.00
Charitable donations L510.00
Car leasing rentals L3,658.00
3.6.1 In the year ended 31 May 1993 the Company incurred expenditure of
an unknown amount on plant and machinery acquired in the course of
fitting out of premises but no capital allowances claim was made
due to quantification difficulties. In the absence of final figures
post 31 May 1995 the Vendor is unable to comment on the position
after this date.
3.6.2 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 3.6.1 above.
3.6.3 During the course of its ongoing trading operations the Company
disposes of fixed assets.
3.8.1 There is insufficient time and information to compare the book
value of each asset to its base cost for capital gains tax purposes
or its tax written down value. In aggregate, however, the Accounts
were finalised on the basis that the tax written down values of
all assets qualifying for capital allowances exceeded their net
book value and that no chargeable gains would arise if all assets
were sold at net book value.
4.1.1 Please see the schedule of capital disposals made between June 1996
to January 1997 forming Document 80 of the Disclosure Documents.
4.3.2 The Company has a confidential invoice discounting facility with
Northern Factors Limited. The Purchaser has undertaken to close
this with effect from Completion and, in accordance with Clause
4.6, to procure the unconditional release of the Vendor's guarantee
/ comfort letter in respect of the Company's liabilities under this
facility on Completion.
It should be noted that the borrowings at 31 January 1997 as
disclosed in the Management Accounts exceed the amount show in the
Last Accounts.
5.1.1 The Company frequently comes to individual agreements with
(e) creditors under which arrangements are made as regards payment
outside their usual credit terms. Accordingly, it is usual for
amounts owning to creditors to be due for longer than six weeks but
this is by agreement with the creditor concerned.
5.3.1/2 Please see the disclosure made against paragraphs 5.16.2 and 5.17.1.
As the Purchaser is aware, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx has expressed reservations
regarding his ongoing relationship with the Company post Completion
and this is to be the subject of discussion between Xx Xxxxxxx and
the Purchaser after Completion has taken place.
4
5.3.2 The Company's articles of association currently specify that the
(a) Vendor must be a director of the Company but a written resolution
to delete the relevant provisions will be passed at Completion.
5.6.1 As disclosed against paragraph 5.3.2(a), the Company's articles of
association require the Vendor to be a director of the Company.
As the Purchaser is aware, the Company designs and supplies
software for and to the Vendor and these arrangements going forward
are contained in the Software Development Agreement.
5.7 The following trading agreements have been entered into by the
Company and are material to its business:
(a) the Company is all Ireland dealer for Estate Computer Systems
software;
(b) the Company is Northern Ireland agent for Xemplar Limited but
has entered into an informal unwritten agreement with Xemplar
to act as dealer rather than agent.
(c) the Company is Northern Ireland dealer for RM Limited and has
been since 1985 although no written agreement exists;
(d) the Company has been the Northern Ireland dealer for Agfa
since 1990 and again no written agreement exists in respect
of this arrangement.
5.9.3 The Company has recently settled a sex discrimination case
concerning a temporary employee. The total cost to the Company was
L8,223 inclusive of legal fees.
The Company has also been notified by the Fair Employment
Commission of a potential claim by one of the Company's sales
directors; please see Document 77 of the Disclosure Documents.
Whilst the Company is of the view that the claim is unlikely to
succeed, there is no cap on the award that could be made to the
employee in question if his claim succeeds.
5.11.1 The Company has not complied with the requirements of the Data
Protection Xxx 0000 relating to the registration of date users.
5.12 The beneficial ownership in the Shares has been transferred to the
Vendor, and the registered holders hold the Shares as nominee for
the Vendor.
5.16.2 Prior to November 1996 the Company's Re-seller Agreement with
Microsoft also entitled the Company to use Microsoft software for
its internal office use. The terms of the Re-seller Agreement have
now changed resulting in the Company being required to purchase a
new user licence from Microsoft. The Company is currently in
negotiations with
5
Microsoft regarding this and it would appear that the likely cost
will be up to L13,200.
The Company currently uses Strategix software for its accounting
distribution system under a licence from TIS Group. As the Company
is a re-seller for Strategix software, no charge is made by TIS
Group for this licence. It should be noted that if for any reason
post-completion the Company's Re-seller Agreement with TIS Group
relating to the Strategix software should terminate, (for example,
if the Purchaser sells a competing product) then it is likely that
the Company will no longer be able to use the Strategix software
free of charge, giving rise to a potential one off charge of
approximately L84,500 and a potential annual cost of approximately
L14,800.
5.17.1 In connection with the software development functions carried out by
the Company, the Company uses certain development platforms and
toolkits under licence. Examples of these include a licence from
Informix to use the Informix Development System, a licence from TIS
Group to use the Strategix Toolset and a licence to use "Macromind
Director" for multimedia development. In addition, the Company
enters into various other development licences in order to carry on
its business of software development. It may be that the terms of
these licences provide for termination by the licensor on change of
control of the Company.
In all these cases, where the developed software is sold by the
Company, the customer will enter into a separate licence with the
supplier of the development software as well as obtaining a licence
from the Company.
5.17.2 The contract with the Department of Health and Social Security
(c) (Northern Ireland) is terminable on 90 days' notice. Please see the
disclosure made against paragraph 5.18.2 below.
5.17.2 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 7.2.1 below.
(f)
5.18.2 The Company's contract with the Department of Health and Social
Services (Northern Ireland) dated 10 July 1992 and which has been
disclosed to the Purchaser allows the Department to terminate the
contract in 14 days' notice in the event of a change of control of
the Company.
5.22.1 Please see the standard terms and conditions of the Company's
maintenance contracts referred to at Document 7 of the Disclosure
Documents.
Please also see the management buy-out documentation relating to
CEM Systems which forms Document 71 of the Disclosure Documents
under which the Company agreed to support certain sites at
commercial rates in respect of software written by the Company.
Some of these sites still exist and are therefore serviced by the
Company.
5.23.1 Since June 1996 32% of the aggregate amount of purchases have been
from Xemplar. In the financial year ended 31 May 1995 34% of
6
aggregate purchases were from, Apple, and in the financial year
ended 31 May 1995 the percentage was 37%, again from Apple.
5.24.1 Please see the list of guarantees which forms Document 76 of the
Disclosure Documents.
5.25.1 Dr B Xxxxxxx was a non-executive director of CEM Systems Limited
until last year.
5.25.2 The Company has been designing and supplying software for and to
the Vendor during the previous three years.
5.26.1 Please see the report of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx of BB Consultancy which
forms Document 19 of the Disclosure Documents.
6.1.1 Please see the terms and conditions of employment of managers and
other employees which forms Document 15 of the Disclosure Documents.
6.2.2 Commission arrangements are in place in respect of salesmen. A
discretionary bonus scheme linked to performance is in force and
payments are regularly made under this. Budgeted payments in respect
of the commission arrangements and discretionary bonus scheme for
the year ended 31 May 1997 amount to L95,100.
With regard to the Company's PRP Scheme in the light of currently
anticipated profits to 31 May 1997, the Vendor does not consider
that there has been any over distribution from the PRP
distributable pool, but if the profits of the Company to 31 May
1997 are less than anticipated by the Vendor or the Company takes
any action or omits to do anything after Completion which affects
the level of the profits then there may have been such an over
distribution.
6.3.1 Please see the schedule of revised salaries in respect of senior
(a) executives forming Document 81 of the Disclosure Documents.
6.3.1 The changes in notice periods set out in Clause 3.2 of the
(b) Agreement have been accepted by all employees listed in that Clause
with the exception of Xxxx Xxxx.
6.3.2 Full details of employee benefits are set out in Document 15 of the
Disclosure Documents.
6.4.1 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 6.3.1(b) above.
7.2.1 The vehicles (a schedule of which forms Document 10 of the
Disclosure Documents), the vending machines and the franking
machine are subject to contract hire agreements.
7.3.2 This warranty is given subject to discounts in the normal course of
trade.
7.4.1 At present the Company is insured under the Vendor's policy and
premiums are paid up until the end of May 1997. Cover under these
7
policies will cease on Completion. The Purchaser is responsible for
instituting replacement cover as required.
7.6.2 The Company services its own computers.
7.7.5 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 5.16.2.
7.7.1 The Company owns copyright in the software it designs.
8.1.3 The lease relating to Xxxxx 0-0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx is retained
by the Company's solicitors, Messrs Xxxxxx XxXxxxxx.
The lease relating to the warehouse at Xxxx 0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx has been lost. An agreement for lease in respect of the
warehouse was entered into but has also been lost. The Company does
as far as it is aware occupy the warehouse on the terms of the
lease annexed to the agreement for lease which lease was
subsequently entered into and lost. The Company is currently
re-negotiating the lease of the warehouse.
The Company occupies a property in Dublin under licence; please see
Document 74 of the Disclosure Documents. The licence is currently
with the licensor for signature but the Company is occupying the
premises under the terms of the licence despite the fact the
licence has yet to be formally completed.
8.1.5 Please see the disclosure made against paragraph 8.1.3.
Please acknowledge receipt of this Disclosure Letter and the Disclosure
Documents by signing and returning to us the enclosed copy of this letter.
Yours faithfully
/s/ X. X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------
For and on behalf of
EURODIS ELECTRON PLC
We hereby acknowledge receipt of a letter of which this is a true copy,
together with the Disclosure Documents (other than all those documents
referred to at Document 19 of the Disclosure Documents which we acknowledge
and agree are to be held to the order of the Vendor and the Purchaser as
referred to above), and all other documents and correspondence referred to in
such letter.
Dated 20th February 1997
/s/ X. X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------
For and on behalf of
UNICOMP HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED
8
Schedule 1
Documents - UniComp - February 1997
1. December Management Accounts Pack
2. Draft Departmental Accounts (6 months to Dec. 96 & YTD Dec. 96)
3. Old Stock Analysis from Stock Meeting, Write off, Sell, Provision for
4. Organisation Charts December '96
5. Copy of IDB CD ROM Tender and Agreement
6. Copy of Lease for Victoria Business Park
7. Sample Maintenance Contracts and Standard Contract Forms
8. List of Staff at 31 Jan '97 with Start Dates and Salaries
9. Terms and Conditions of Sales - Standard - NDO - Short Form on Invoice
10. Car List at 31st December '96
11. Stock Reconciliations and Summary at 31st Dec. '96
12. January '97 Week Four Forecast and Sales Analysis
13. Copy of Education Board Letters of Acceptance
14. Reconciliation of Assets and Debtors Ledgers to General Ledger 31st Dec. '96
15. Copy of Personnel Issues File - PRP, PHI, Pensions, Standard Contract.
Managers Contract.
16. Memorandum and Articles of Association, CEM Computers Ltd.
17. Corporation Tax Computations 1993, 1994, 1995
18. Employee Induction Pack
19. CEM Company Development Plan 1996-1998
20. Due Diligence Draft
21. Key Personnel CEM Computers Ltd.
22. New Stock Loans
23. CEM Staff Salary Bands
24. Software Development Agreement (CEM-Enrodis)
25. Personnel Issues
1
Schedule 1
26. Maternity Leave Policy
27. SCO Premier Reseller Agreement
28. SCO Annual Business Plan
29. RM Class Project Agreement
30. Sherwood Systems Agreement
31. Speemark Proposal
32. TEAM Rental Agreement
33. Strategix Reseller Agreement
34. TIS Software Reseller Licence
35. CEM Company Development Plan
36. Company Development Programme Agreement
37. Teletronix UK Dealer Agreement
38. Vending Machine Agreement (TM Leasing)
39. TETRA Reseller Agreement
40. Xemplar Agreement
41. Pitney Xxxxx Agreement
42. Performing Rights Contract
43. Oracle Systems Reseller Programme
44. Oral Agreement
45. Novell Gold Specialist Agreement
46. Novell Authorised Service Centre Agreement
47. Normal Agreement
48. Tele-ledger Agreement
49. Invoice Discounting Agreement
50. Microsoft Resellar Agreement
51. Microsoft Solution Provider Agreement
52. Mercury Maintenance Contract
53. Lotus Agreement
54. Alarm Inspections and Certificates
2
Schedule 1
55. IBM Dealer Agreement
56. DGL Agreement
57. Farmc Agreement
58. Hewlett Packard
59. Deutz Reseller Partner Programme
60. Northern Bank Reseller Agreement
61. ICL Authorised City Reseller Agreement
62. Compaq Authorisation
63. Apple European Reseller Agreement
64. Danka Service Agreement
65. QUB Kiosk System
66. Pegasus Reseller Agreement
67. Bytech Systems VAR Agreement
68. Informix Partnership Agreement
69. Uniplex Reseller Programme
70. AST Reseller Agreement
71. Sale Contract - CEM Systems - Electron House
72. BT Contracts
73. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx - Xxxx Xxxxx Service Agreements
74. Dublin Property Licence
75. Correspondence and Draft Lease re Warehouse
76. Schedule of Guaranties
77. Letter from FEC re Xxxx Xxxx
78. Management Accounts to 31/1/97
79. List of debts written off since last accounts date
80. Schedule of capital disposals
81. Schedule of revised salaries of senior executives
82. Letters from Eurodis Electron Plc to various
directors and employees re bonuses
Binders
3
Schedule 1
19 a General Ledger Trial Balance 1994
b General Ledger Trial Balance 1995
c General Ledger Trial Balance 1996
d General Ledger Trial Balance 30/11/96
e Customer Analysis to 31.12.96
f Top 99 Customers to 31/12/96
g Deferred Payments Report December '96
h Service Management Month End List December '96
i Aged Creditor Reports at 28/1/97 and General Ledger Screen Dump
j Supplier Turnover Report November '96
k Sales Analysis Top 99 by Turnover at 30/11/96
l Short Asset Master Listing at 30/11/96
Purchase Month End Print Outs May 1996 (2 Binders)
Sales Ledger Daily Print Outs May 1996
Sales Ledger Daily Print Outs December 1996
Sales Ledger Month End Report December 1996
May 1996 Final Accounts
Access to Contracts and Agreements Drawer
Bank Agreements
December 1996 Stock Analysis Aged 6 monthly to 36 monthly
Asset Ledger and Reconciliation
Stock Ledger and Reconciliation
Car Policy
