EXHIBIT 10.4
REXAIR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of March
24, 2000 by and among U.S. Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("USI"),
JUSI Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of USI ("JUSI" and collectively with USI, the "Parent"), Strategic
Industries, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("SILLC") and Strategic
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Rexair Holdings, Inc.
that is wholly-owned subsidiary of JUSI (the "Company").
RECITALS
A. Parent, SILLC, the Company and Automotive Interior Products LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the "Buyer") have entered into a
Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2000 and amended and restated as
of the date hereof (the "Subscription Agreement"), relating to, among other
things, the issuance and sale by the Company to SILLC of seventy-five percent
(75%) of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Company Shares").
B. The parties acknowledge that it is their intention that, effective
upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement
(the "Closing Date"), Parent shall retain responsibility for the Parent
Liabilities (as hereinafter defined) except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, the Subscription Agreement or the Tax Sharing and Indemnification
Agreement (as hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties
and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
"Litigation and Claims" means litigation pending or threatened or
claims alleged against the Rexair Parties and/or the Parent Parties, including,
without limitation, civil and criminal actions, workers' compensation
proceedings, administrative and regulatory proceedings, investigations, audits,
inquiries, demands, claims (including any title claims relating to any real
property) and threatened actions.
"Parent Businesses" means all of the businesses, operations and
assets of Parent and its subsidiaries (or any predecessor to such businesses or
operations), except for the Rexair Business.
"Parent Liabilities" means, except as otherwise expressly provided
for in this Agreement, the Subscription Agreement or the Tax Sharing and
Indemnification Agreement, any and all of the obligations, liabilities and
expenses incurred by Parent, the Company or any of their respective subsidiaries
and affiliates arising out of, or any Litigation and Claims alleged to arise out
NY2:\867394\10\78595.0031
of, the Parent Businesses, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, in
each case whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or
contingent, known or unknown, and whether arising out of circumstances existing
prior to, on or subsequent to the Closing Date and regardless of where or
against whom such obligations, liabilities and expenses are asserted or
determined or whether asserted or determined prior to, on or subsequent to the
Closing Date, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from
negligence, recklessness, violation of law, or misrepresentation by any of the
Rexair Parties, and including, without limitation, the following items:
(i) all obligations, liabilities and expenses with respect
to health, safety, personal injury, property damage, employment, benefits,
compensation, pension rights, claims arising out of contracts,
intellectual property rights, product liability, warranty, merchantability
or fitness for any particular purpose of goods, conformity of goods to
contractual requirements, deceptive trade practice, misrepresentation, or
any other alleged or actual breach or violation of any obligation or
requirement arising out of, or associated with, the Parent Businesses;
(ii) all Litigation and Claims pending as of the Closing
Date against Parent, the Company and/or any of their respective
subsidiaries and affiliates ("Pending Parent Litigation") and all
Litigation and Claims brought, threatened or alleged against Parent, the
Company or any of their respective subsidiaries and affiliates after the
Closing Date ("New Parent Litigation"), in each case if and solely to the
extent that such Litigation and Claims (in whole or in part) arise out of
or are alleged (regardless of the party named in the allegation or
complaint) to arise out of the Parent Businesses;
(iii) all obligations, liabilities and expenses (including,
without limitation, all fines or penalties or costs of closure,
investigation and feasibility studies, attorneys' or consultants' fees or
remediation costs) of Parent, the Company or any of their subsidiaries and
affiliates arising under any federal, state, local or foreign statutes,
laws (including common law), codes, rules, regulations, policies or
guidelines or any administrative or judicial interpretations thereof
relating to the environment, natural resources and public or employee
health and safety arising out of or relating to, or alleged to arise out
of or relate to, the Parent Businesses;
(iv) any Litigation and Claims brought after the Closing
Date against the Company or its subsidiaries and affiliates by employees
of Parent or the Company or any of their subsidiaries and affiliates
claiming that they suffered personal injuries of any kind, whether prior
to, on or subsequent to, the Closing Date, arising out of, or alleged to
arise out of, the Parent Business;
(v) all obligations, liabilities and expenses (including
those arising solely due to joint and several liability under ERISA) with
respect to any employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3)
of ERISA), including any multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA), sponsored by, maintained by, contributed to, or obligated
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to be contributed to, at any time, by Parent or any of its subsidiaries,
other than any employee benefit plan sponsored as of the Closing Date by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to any
liability with respect to: (A) the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
under Title IV of ERISA; (B) a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA); (C) any non-compliance with the notice and
benefit continuation requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended; (D) any non-compliance with ERISA
or any other applicable laws; and (E) any suit, proceeding or claim which
is brought against the Company or any of the Rexair Parties, any Company
plan, and any fiduciary or former fiduciary of any such plan; and, without
limiting the generality of, and notwithstanding the foregoing, all
obligations, liabilities and expenses arising with respect to any
multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA) other
than a multiemployer plan to which the Company or its subsidiaries first
become obligated to contribute after the Closing Date;
(vi) all obligations, liabilities and expenses with respect
to the employment or termination of employment, including a constructive
termination, of any individual by (A) Parent or (B) any officer, director,
employee or agent of Parent or any Parent Business attributable to any
action or inaction by Parent or any Parent Business;
(vii) any liability, obligation or expense attributable to
the Rexair Parties to the extent that the amount of such liability,
obligation or expense is covered by a policy of insurance (excluding any
deductible or self insurance retention) or an indemnity agreement
maintained by or for the benefit of any of the Parent Parties and to the
extent that cash is received (net of any expenses incurred for collection
thereof) by any of the Parent Parties pursuant to such policy or
agreement, unless the rights under such policy of insurance or indemnity
agreement have been assigned to the Rexair Parties;
"Parent Parties" means USI and any direct or indirect subsidiary or
Affiliate of USI, and any of their respective directors, shareholders, officers,
employees, agents, consultants, customers, representatives, successors,
transferees or assignees.
"Rexair Business" means the businesses, entities, operations, assets
and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries or any predecessor to such
business or operation, notwithstanding the fact that prior to the Closing Date
(i) any such business or operation was closed, wound up or otherwise terminated
or (ii) such asset ceased to be used in connection with such business or
operation.
"Rexair Parties" means the Company and any direct or indirect
subsidiary of the Company, and any of their respective directors, shareholders,
officers, employees, agents, consultants, customers, representatives,
successors, transferees or assignees.
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"Subscription Agreement" means the Subscription Agreement, dated as
of the date hereof, by and among Parent, SILLC and the Company.
"Tax Sharing and Indemnity Agreement" means the Tax Sharing and
Indemnity Agreement to be entered into by Parent, SILLC, the Company and Buyer,
substantially in the form of Annex VI to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof, by and among Parent, SILLC and Buyer.
Words and expressions defined in the Subscription Agreement shall
have the same meaning herein, except that, to the extent that such definitions
are inconsistent with any definitions in this Agreement, the definitions herein
shall take precedence.
ARTICLE II.
INDEMNIFICATION BY PARENT
Section 2.1. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4 and Article III
hereof, Parent shall, without any further responsibility or liability of, or
recourse to, the Rexair Parties, absolutely and irrevocably be solely liable and
responsible for the Parent Liabilities. None of the Rexair Parties shall be
liable to any of the Parent Parties for any reason whatsoever on account of any
Parent Liabilities.
Parent shall indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless each of the
Rexair Parties from and against all claims, liabilities, obligations, losses,
costs, costs of defense (as and when incurred, and including reasonable outside
attorneys' and consultants' fees), expenses, fines, charges, penalties,
allegations, demands, damages (including but not limited to actual, punitive or
consequential, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown), settlements, awards or
judgments of any kind or nature whatsoever (all of which are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Company Damages"), arising out of (i) the
Parent Liabilities, (ii) the breach by any of the Parent Parties of any of their
obligations under this Agreement or the Subscription Agreement or any agreement
executed at the Closing thereunder and (iii) any misrepresentation or breach of
representation or warranty of Parent contained in Sections 3.01 (Corporate
Organization), 3.02 (Capitalization), 3.04 (Parent's Authority Relative to the
Agreement) and 3.16 (Brokers and Finders) of the Subscription Agreement, which
representations and warranties shall survive indefinitely.
Section 2.2. Company Damages with respect to which, but only to the
extent that, any proceeds are received by the Company, or by any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, from any third party insurance policy (and are
non-reimbursable by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates under
any self insurance policy), shall not be the subject of indemnification under
this Agreement.
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ARTICLE III.
SPECIFIC INDEMNIFICATION ISSUES
Section 3.1. In the event a claim, demand, action or proceeding is
brought by a third party (other than with respect to Taxes) in which the
liability as between the Parent Parties and the Rexair Parties is determined
after trial in any judgment, award or decree to be joint or concurrent and in
which the entitlement to indemnification hereunder is not readily determinable
or if no judgment exists and the allocation of such liability or entitlement is
unknown (e.g., a settlement), the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an
effort to agree, as between Parent and the Company, on the proper allocation of
such liability, as well as the proper allocation of the costs of any joint
defense or settlement pursuant to Section 5.4, all in accordance with the
provisions of, and the principles set forth in, this Agreement. In the absence
of any such agreement, such allocation of liability, entitlement to
indemnification and allocation of costs shall be subject to ultimate resolution
between Parent and the Company pursuant to Section 7.8.
Section 3.2. It is acknowledged that after the Closing Date the
parties may have arms-length negotiated business relationships, which
relationships will be described in contracts, agreements and other documents
entered into in the normal course of business. Such documents may include
agreements by the parties and their affiliates and subsidiaries to supply
materials, products, services and leases after the Closing Date. Such business
relationships shall not be subject to the indemnity provisions hereof, unless
the parties expressly agree to the contrary in the agreements governing such
relationships.
Section 3.3. It is acknowledged and agreed that on or prior to the
Closing Date (i) the Company shall name Parent as an "additional insured" on all
of the Company's insurance policies and (ii) Parent shall novate all the
insurance policies covering the businesses, entities, operations, assets and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries. Parent shall promptly reimburse
all of the Rexair Parties' expenses incurred to provide the Parent with the
benefit of being named as an "additional insured," including, but not limited
to, deductibles and premium increases and none of the Rexair Parties shall have
liability for any shortfall or other coverage limitations.
Section 3.4. It is acknowledged and agreed that if, after the Closing
Date, there shall be a draw down on any letter of credit which is either (a)
guaranteed by the Parent or one of Parent's subsidiaries for any of the Rexair
Businesses, or (b) issued by the Parent or one of Parent's subsidiaries for any
of the Rexair Businesses, then within five (5) business days of such draw down,
the Company shall reimburse, or cause one of its subsidiaries to reimburse, the
Parent or Parent's subsidiary, as the case may be, for such amount drawn to the
extent such drawn amount is in satisfaction of a liability or obligation of a
Rexair Business.
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ARTICLE IV.
NOTICE AND PAYMENT OF THIRD PARTY CLAIMS
Section 4.1. If as the result of any Litigation and Claims any person
entitled to a defense and/or indemnification under this Agreement (the
"Indemnified Party") determines that it is or may be entitled to a defense or
indemnification by Parent (the "Indemnifying Party"), under this Agreement:
(a) The Indemnified Party shall deliver promptly to the Indemnifying
Party a written notice and demand for a defense or indemnification, specifying
the basis for the claim for defense and/or indemnification, the nature of the
claim, and if known, the amount for which the Indemnified Party reasonably
believes it is entitled to be indemnified. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be
interpreted to invalidate any claim by the Indemnified Party to be entitled to
indemnification, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party can show that
it is actually prejudiced by the failure of the Indemnified Party to deliver
such notice.
(b) The Indemnifying Party shall have the right, exercisable by
written notice to the Indemnified Party within 30 days from receipt of the
notice requesting indemnification, to either: (A) assume the defense of,
litigate or control the settlement of any Litigation and Claim which involves
(and continues to involve) solely monetary damages; (B) pay the claim in
immediately available funds; (C) reserve its rights pending negotiations under
Section 5.4; or (D) object in accordance with Section 4.2. This 30-day period
may be extended by agreement of the parties. Nothing in this subparagraph shall
be interpreted to abrogate or delay a party's obligation to provide the other
with a defense under this Agreement.
Section 4.2. The Indemnifying Party may object to the claim for
defense and/or indemnification set forth in any notice; provided, however, that
if the Indemnifying Party does not give the Indemnified Party written notice
setting forth its objection to such claim (or the amount thereof if reasonably
determinable) and the grounds therefor within the same 30 day period (or any
extended period), the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have acknowledged
its liability to provide a defense and the Indemnified Party may exercise any
and all of its rights under applicable law to obtain such defense and the
Indemnified Party shall be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party for the
reasonable attorneys' fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining
such defense. Any objection to a claim for a defense or indemnification shall be
resolved in accordance with Section 7.8.
Section 4.3. The right to a defense or indemnification under this
Agreement applies only insofar as defense and indemnification are not provided
for by insurance. Nevertheless, the potential availability of insurance coverage
to USI or Strategic shall not relieve the other party of its obligations for
defense or indemnification hereunder, or delay either party's obligation to the
other to assume a defense or pay any sums due hereunder.
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Section 4.4. Payments due to an Indemnified Party under this
Agreement shall carry interest from the date on which the Indemnified Party
became entitled to indemnification until the date of actual payment (whether
before or after judgment) at the prime rate charged by The Chase Manhattan Bank
to its corporate customers in effect during such period.
Section 4.5. Payments due to be made under this Agreement shall be
free and clear of all set-offs or counterclaims whatsoever, except as may be
required by law.
Section 4.6. Payments due to be made under this Agreement shall not
include the amount by which any taxes for which the Indemnified Party would have
been accountable or liable to be assessed are (i) actually reduced prior to
payment falling due hereunder or (ii) likely to be reduced subsequent to payment
falling due hereunder in the reasonable opinion of the Indemnified Party acting
in good faith in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time of
delivery of written notice in accordance with Section 4.1. The reduction of any
payments in accordance with this Section 4.6 shall be made without regard to the
time value of money. The parties hereto agree to treat the indemnification
payments hereunder as adjustments to the purchase price paid by SILLC for the
Company Shares.
ARTICLE V.
DEFENSE OF THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS
Section 5.1. If the Indemnified Party's claim for indemnification is
based, under this Agreement, on a claim, demand, investigation, action or
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, brought by a third party, and the
Indemnifying Party does not object under Section 4.2 hereof, the Indemnifying
Party shall, within the 30-day period (or any extended period) referred to in
Section 4.1(b) above, assume and conduct the defense of such third-party claim
at its sole cost and expense (thereafter designated as the "Case Handler"), with
attorneys employed by the Indemnifying Party and reasonably acceptable to the
Indemnified Party; provided that (i) the third party claim solely seeks (and
continues to seek) monetary damages and (ii) the Indemnifying Party expressly
agrees in writing that as between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified
Party, the Indemnifying Party shall be solely obligated to satisfy and discharge
the third party claim (the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) are
collectively referred to as "Litigation Conditions"). The Indemnifying Party or
the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, may retain attorneys of its own
choosing to participate in (but not control) the defense of any third party
claim which the other is defending at its sole cost and expense.
Section 5.2. If the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of a
third party claim as provided in Section 5.1, the Indemnifying Party will not be
liable for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that if (i) the
Litigation Conditions cease to be met, or (ii) the Indemnifying Party fails to
take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently such third party claim, the
Indemnified Party may assume its own defense, and the Indemnifying Party will be
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liable for all reasonable costs or expenses paid or incurred in connection
therewith. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any such third-party
claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle or compromise the claim without the
prior consent of the Indemnified Party so long as all present and future claims
relating to the compromised claim against the Indemnified Party (i) are
irrevocably and unconditionally released in full and (ii) do not involve the
grant of any injunctive or equitable relief.
Section 5.3. The Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified
Party in immediately available funds the amount for which the Indemnified Party
is entitled to be indemnified within 30 days after the settlement or compromise
of such third-party claim or the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction
(or within such longer period as agreed to by the parties). If the Indemnifying
Party does not assume the defense of any such third-party claim, the
Indemnifying Party shall be bound by the result obtained with respect thereto by
the Indemnified Party, except that the Indemnifying Party has the right to
contest that it is obligated to the Indemnified Party under the terms of this
Agreement, provided the Indemnifying Party shall have raised its objection in a
timely manner under Section 4.2 and prior to any settlement or result the
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to consent to such settlement or result,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 5.4. In the event a claim, demand, action or proceeding is
brought by a third party (other than with respect to Taxes) in which the
liability as between a Strategic Liability and a Parent Liability is alleged to
be joint and in which the entitlement to indemnification hereunder is not
readily determinable, the parties shall cooperate in a joint defense. Such joint
defense shall be under the general management and supervision of the party which
is expected to bear the greater share of the liability, and which will be
considered the Case Handler, unless otherwise agreed; provided, however, that
neither party shall settle or compromise any such joint defense matter without
the written consent of the other. The costs of such joint defense, any
settlement and any award or judgment (unless the award or judgment specifies
otherwise) shall be borne as the parties may agree; or in the absence of such
agreement, such costs shall be borne by the party incurring such costs, subject
to ultimate resolution between the Company and Parent pursuant to Section 7.8.
ARTICLE VI.
COOPERATION AND PRESERVATION OF RECORDS
Section 6.1. The Rexair Parties and Parent Parties shall use
reasonable efforts to cooperate with one another fully and in a timely manner in
connection with the defense of any Pending Rexair Litigation, New Rexair
Litigation, Pending Parent Litigation, New Parent Litigation or any other actual
or threatened claim, including the pursuit of any rights pursuant to indemnity
agreements under (vi) of the definition of Parent Liabilities in Article I
hereof.
Section 6.2. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation,
making available to the other party, during normal business hours and upon
reasonable notice, all books, records and information ("Litigation Records"),
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officers and employees (without substantial interruption of employment) insofar
as such Litigation Records and officers and employees are reasonably necessary
in connection with any actual or threatened claim, investigation, audit, action
or proceeding; provided, however, that no party shall be under any obligation by
reason of this Section 6.2 to make available any of the foregoing persons or
Litigation Records in connection with any action commenced or threatened against
such party.
Section 6.3. The party requesting access to Litigation Records or
officers and employees pursuant to Section 6.2 shall bear all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (except reimbursement of salaries and employee benefits)
incurred by the other party in connection with providing such Litigation Records
or officers and employees.
Section 6.4. The party providing Litigation Records under Section 6.2
may elect, upon a reasonable basis and within a reasonable time, to designate
all or a portion of the Litigation Records as confidential or proprietary. If
Litigation Records are so designated, the party receiving them will treat them
as it would its own confidential or proprietary information and will take all
reasonable steps to protect and safeguard the Litigation Records while in its
own custody and will attempt to shield such information from disclosure by
motions to quash, motions for a protective order, redaction or other appropriate
actions.
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, regardless of the
laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.
Section 7.2. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented
only by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto.
Section 7.3. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Parent without
the prior written consent of Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
This Agreement may be assigned by the Company to any Affiliate or to one or more
of its lenders if required by same without the prior written consent of Parent.
In the event that Company sells or otherwise transfers any business, entity,
operation, asset or property included in the Rexair Businesses, such purchaser
or transferee shall be entitled to all or a portion of the indemnification
provided in Article II herein.
Section 7.4. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Rexair
Parties and is not intended to confer upon any other Person except the parties
any rights or remedies hereunder. There are no third party beneficiaries to this
Agreement other than the Rexair Parties.
Section 7.5. This Agreement may be entered into in any number of
counterparts and by the parties to it on separate counterparts, each of which
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when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all the counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 7.6. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held
to be illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any enactment or rule
of law, such term or provision or part shall to that extent be deemed not to
form part of this Agreement but the enforceability of the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected. Subject thereto, should any term or provision
of this Agreement be or become ineffective, in whole or in part, for reasons
beyond the control of the parties, the parties shall use reasonable efforts to
agree upon a new provision which shall as nearly as possible have the same
commercial effect as the ineffective term or provision or part thereof.
Section 7.7. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered personally or by facsimile transmission or telexed or three days after
being mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage
prepaid, and one Business Day after deposited with an overnight courier service
if delivered by overnight courier, to the parties at the following addresses (or
at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice;
provided, that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof):
if to the Company, to:
Automotive Interior Products LLC
c/o Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Dechert Price & Xxxxxx
4000 Xxxx Atlantic Tower
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: G. Xxxxxx X'Xxxxxxx
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if to Parent, to:
c/o U.S. Industries, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
Section 7.8. Resolution of any and all disputes arising from or in
connection with this Agreement, whether based on contract, tort, statute or
otherwise, including, but not limited to, disputes over arbitrability and
disputes in connection with claims by third parties (collectively, "Disputes")
shall be exclusively governed by and settled in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 7.8; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall
preclude a party hereto from seeking or obtaining (a) injunctive relief or (b)
equitable or other judicial relief to enforce the provisions hereof or, pending
resolution of Disputes hereunder, to preserve the status quo. Any party hereto
may commence proceedings hereunder against any other party hereto (each a
"Party") by delivering a written notice (a "Demand") to the other Parties
providing a reasonable description of the Dispute and expressly requesting
arbitration hereunder. The parties hereto hereby agree to submit all Disputes to
arbitration under the terms hereof, which arbitration shall be final, conclusive
and binding upon the parties, their successors and assigns. The arbitration
shall be conducted in New York City by three neutral arbitrators acting by
majority vote (the "Panel") selected by agreement of the Parties not later than
ten (10) days after delivery of the Demand or, failing such agreement, appointed
pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association, as amended from time to time (the "AAA Rules"). If an arbitrator so
selected becomes unable to serve, his or her successors shall be similarly
selected or appointed. The arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the
Federal Arbitration Act and such procedures as the Parties may agree, or, in the
absence of or failing such agreement, pursuant to the AAA Rules. Notwithstanding
the foregoing: (i) each Party shall have the right to have an independent third
party audit the books and records of the other Party that are reasonably related
to the Dispute upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours;
(ii) each Party shall provide to the other, reasonably in advance of any
hearing, copies of all documents which a Party intends to present in such
hearing; and (iii) each Party shall be allowed to conduct reasonable discovery
through written requests for information, document requests, requests for
stipulation of fact and depositions, the nature and extent of which discovery
shall be determined by the Panel, taking into account the needs of the Parties
and the desirability of making discovery expeditious and cost effective. All
hearings shall be conducted on an expedited schedule, and all proceedings shall
be confidential. A Party may at its expense make a stenographic record thereof.
The Panel shall complete all hearings not later than ninety (90) days after its
selection or appointment, and shall make a final award not later than thirty
(30) days thereafter. The award shall be in writing and shall specify the
factual and legal basis for the award. The Panel shall apportion all costs and
expenses of arbitration, including the Panel's fees and expenses and fees and
expenses of experts, between the prevailing and non-prevailing Party as the
Panel deems fair and reasonable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may
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the Panel award multiple, punitive or exemplary damages. Any arbitration award
shall be binding and enforceable against the parties hereto and judgment may be
entered thereon in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 7.9. None of the parties hereto shall impeach this Agreement
on the grounds that any of the Directors of Parent stand in any fiduciary
position to the Company or that the Directors of either party do not constitute
an independent Board.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first written above.
STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President
STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: President
U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. XxxXxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. XxxXxxx
Title: Vice President
JUSI HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. XxxXxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. XxxXxxx
Title: Vice President
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