AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT among GRAMET HOLDINGS CORP., DIAGEO PLC and BURGER KING ACQUISITION CORPORATION Dated as of December 13, 2002
Exhibit 1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
among
GRAMET HOLDINGS CORP.,
and
BURGER KING
ACQUISITION CORPORATION
Dated as of December 13, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||||||
Section 1.1 |
Certain Definitions | 1 | ||||||||
Section 1.2 |
Other Terms | 11 | ||||||||
Section 1.3 |
Other Definitional Provisions | 11 | ||||||||
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES |
11 | |||||||||
Section 2.1 |
Purchase and Sale of Shares | 11 | ||||||||
Section 2.2 |
Purchase Price | 11 | ||||||||
Section 2.3 |
Estimated Cash Purchase Price | 11 | ||||||||
Section 2.4 |
Closing; Delivery and Payment | 12 | ||||||||
Section 2.5 |
Post-Closing Adjustment | 12 | ||||||||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER |
14 | |||||||||
Section 3.1 |
Organization and Authority of Seller and Diageo | 15 | ||||||||
Section 3.2 |
Organization and Qualification of the Company | 15 | ||||||||
Section 3.3 |
Capitalization of the Company | 16 | ||||||||
Section 3.4 |
Subsidiaries of the Company | 16 | ||||||||
Section 3.5 |
Financial Accounts | 17 | ||||||||
Section 3.6 |
Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 18 | ||||||||
Section 3.7 |
Licenses | 20 | ||||||||
Section 3.8 |
Litigation | 20 | ||||||||
Section 3.9 |
Compliance with Law | 20 | ||||||||
Section 3.10 |
Contracts | 20 | ||||||||
Section 3.11 |
Consents and Approvals | 22 | ||||||||
Section 3.12 |
Tax Matters | 22 | ||||||||
Section 3.13 |
Employee Benefits | 24 | ||||||||
Section 3.14 |
Environmental Matters | 26 | ||||||||
Section 3.15 |
Brokers and Finders | 27 | ||||||||
Section 3.16 |
Undisclosed Liabilities | 27 | ||||||||
Section 3.17 |
Intellectual Property | 27 | ||||||||
Section 3.18 |
Real Property | 29 | ||||||||
Section 3.19 |
Sufficiency of Assets | 29 | ||||||||
Section 3.20 |
Labor Matters | 29 |
i
Page | ||||||||||
Section 3.21 |
Insurance | 30 | ||||||||
Section 3.22 |
Affiliate Transactions | 30 | ||||||||
Section 3.23 |
Franchisees | 31 | ||||||||
Section 3.24 |
Franchisee Circulars | 32 | ||||||||
Section 3.25 |
Indebtedness | 32 | ||||||||
Section 3.26 |
Franchisee Investments | 33 | ||||||||
Section 3.27 |
Powers of Attorney | 33 | ||||||||
Section 3.28 |
Acknowledgement by Seller | 33 | ||||||||
Section 3.29 |
Bank Accounts of the Business | 33 | ||||||||
Section 3.30 |
No Other Representations or Warranties | 33 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER |
33 | |||||||||
Section 4.1 |
Organization and Authority of Buyer | 33 | ||||||||
Section 4.2 |
Consents and Approvals | 34 | ||||||||
Section 4.3 |
Brokers and Finders | 34 | ||||||||
Section 4.4 |
Financial Capability | 34 | ||||||||
Section 4.5 |
Securities Act | 35 | ||||||||
Section 4.6 |
Litigation | 35 | ||||||||
Section 4.7 |
Acknowledgment by Buyer | 35 | ||||||||
Section 4.8 |
No Other Representations or Warranties | 35 | ||||||||
Section 4.9 |
Senior Notes | 35 | ||||||||
ARTICLE V TAX MATTERS |
35 | |||||||||
Section 5.1 |
Liability for Taxes and Related Matters | 35 | ||||||||
Section 5.2 |
Information to be Provided by Buyer | 37 | ||||||||
Section 5.3 |
Assistance and Cooperation | 38 | ||||||||
Section 5.4 |
Miscellaneous | 38 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VI CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF SELLER AND BUYER |
38 | |||||||||
Section 6.1 |
Access and Information | 38 | ||||||||
Section 6.2 |
Registrations, Filings and Consents | 39 | ||||||||
Section 6.3 |
Employee Compensation and Benefit Plans | 40 | ||||||||
Section 6.4 |
Retention of Books and Records | 42 |
ii
Page | ||||||||||
Section 6.5 |
Directors | 42 | ||||||||
Section 6.6 |
Diageo Arrangements and Other Guarantees | 43 | ||||||||
Section 6.7 |
Intercompany Accounts | 44 | ||||||||
Section 6.8 |
Non-Company Related Assets | 44 | ||||||||
Section 6.9 |
Certain Insurance Matters | 45 | ||||||||
Section 6.10 |
Non-Solicitation | 45 | ||||||||
Section 6.11 |
Financial Statements and Reports | 45 | ||||||||
Section 6.12 |
Financing | 46 | ||||||||
Section 6.13 |
Cash Undertaking | 46 | ||||||||
Section 6.14 |
Hedging Instruments | 46 | ||||||||
Section 6.15 |
Transition Arrangements | 46 | ||||||||
Section 6.16 |
Further Assurances | 47 | ||||||||
Section 6.17 |
Closing L/C | 47 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING |
47 | |||||||||
Section 7.1 |
Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Transaction | 47 | ||||||||
Section 7.2 |
Conditions to Obligations of Buyer | 48 | ||||||||
Section 7.3 |
Conditions to Obligations of Seller | 48 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION |
48 | |||||||||
Section 8.1 |
Termination | 48 | ||||||||
Section 8.2 |
Effect of Termination | 48 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IX SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION |
49 | |||||||||
Section 9.1 |
Survival of Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements; Knowledge of Breach | 49 | ||||||||
Section 9.2 |
Indemnification by Buyer | 50 | ||||||||
Section 9.3 |
Indemnification by Seller | 50 | ||||||||
Section 9.4 |
Indemnification as Sole Remedy | 51 | ||||||||
Section 9.5 |
Mitigation of Losses | 51 | ||||||||
Section 9.6 |
Method of Asserting Claims, Etc | 51 | ||||||||
Section 9.7 |
Calculation of Losses | 52 | ||||||||
Section 9.8 |
Assignment of Claims | 52 | ||||||||
Section 9.9 |
No Recourse | 52 |
iii
Page | ||||||||||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
52 | |||||||||
Section 10.1 |
Amendment and Waiver | 52 | ||||||||
Section 10.2 |
Expenses | 53 | ||||||||
Section 10.3 |
Public Disclosure | 53 | ||||||||
Section 10.4 |
Assignment | 53 | ||||||||
Section 10.5 |
Entire Agreement | 53 | ||||||||
Section 10.6 |
Fulfillment of Obligations | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.7 |
Parties in Interest; No Third Party Beneficiaries | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.8 |
Schedules | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.9 |
Counterparts | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.10 |
Section Headings | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.11 |
Notices | 54 | ||||||||
Section 10.12 |
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum | 55 | ||||||||
Section 10.13 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 56 | ||||||||
Section 10.14 |
Severability | 56 | ||||||||
Section 10.15 |
Guarantee | 56 | ||||||||
Section 10.16 |
Construction | 57 | ||||||||
Section 10.17 |
Company's Fiscal Year | 57 |
iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of December 13, 2002, among Gramet Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”); solely for the purposes of Section 10.15, Diageo plc, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales (“Diageo”); and Burger King Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (formerly called “Delaware Champion Acquisition Corporation”) (“Buyer”).
WHEREAS, Seller, Diageo and Buyer entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2002 (the “Original Agreement”), and they now desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement as of the date hereof as provided herein;
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.1 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth or referenced below:
“Advertising Fund” shall mean the fund maintained by the Company in the United States on behalf of Franchised Restaurants and restaurants owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries in the United States for the purpose of collecting dollars to be spent on advertising
and promotional activities which fund also includes contributions from certain Persons which supply goods to the Company and its Subsidiaries and which fund receives contributions from owners of Franchised Restaurants pursuant to franchise agreements.
“Advertising Fund Expenditures” shall mean, for any period of calculation, the total amount of expenditures incurred by the Advertising Fund calculated in accordance with UK GAAP as applied by the Company for its management reporting purposes.
“Affiliate”, as applied to any Person, means any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.
“Agreement” shall mean this Agreement and all Schedules and Annexes hereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Applicable Rate” shall mean the sum of (i) the three-month London InterBank Offered Rate, as published in the Wall Street Journal, New York City edition, on the Closing Date and (ii) 200 basis points; provided that the Applicable Rate shall be deemed to be 20% if the Post-Closing Adjustment has not been paid when due.
“Base Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Benefit Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“BKL Lease” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(b).
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by Law to close.
“Buyer” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Buyer Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).
“Calculation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Capex” shall mean the sum of all amounts incurred and paid (it being understood that all such payments shall be actual cash expenditures, except for relevant internal costs not to exceed $7,000,000 per annum for the Company’s 2002 fiscal year and $5,000,000 per annum for the Company’s 2003 fiscal year by the Company and its Subsidiaries) during the period from July 1, 2001 through the Closing that are capital expenditures (including relevant internal costs) as such term was used by the Company in connection with the preparation of the materials underlying Annex 2.5(d) for the Company’s 2002 and 2003 fiscal year, provided that Capex shall not include any amount if it gives rise to an asset that is reflected in the Closing Working Capital or if it is included in the Franchisee Adjustment Amount.
“Capex Adjustment” shall mean the amount (positive or negative) equal to (A) minus (B); where (A) shall be equal to the sum of (i) the amount set forth on Annex 2.5(d) hereto for the Company’s 2002 fiscal year plus (ii) the “Total WW” amount set forth on Annex 2.5(d)
2
hereto under the column “Adjusted First Half F’03” prorated for the period from July 1, 2002 through the Closing Date; and where (B) shall be equal to the amount of Capex from July 1, 2001 through the Closing Date; provided, that any Capex from July 1, 2002 through the Closing Date in any of the four subcategories in Annex 2.5(d) ((i) Company Operations, (ii) Property income/BKL, (iii) Strategic and New Restaurant Acquisitions and (iv) MIS/Corporate) in excess of 115% of such subcategory’s amount of Capex set forth on such Annex under the column “Original First Half F’03” prorated for the applicable period of calculation shall be disregarded for purposes of this calculation, except such exception shall not apply in respect of cash paid in the Company’s 2003 fiscal year for the amount set forth on Annex 2.5(d) hereto for the Company’s 2002 fiscal year.
“Capex Payables” shall mean an amount (expressed as a positive number) equal to accounts payable and accrued liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the Closing, calculated by applying the accounting treatments, practices, methodologies, policies and bases used to prepare the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements and by applying the equivalent level of prudence contained in such statements, in respect of capital expenditures, as such term was used by the Company in connection with the preparation of the materials underlying Annex 2.5(d).
“Capex Payables Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Capex Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Cash Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Chosen Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.12.
“Claim Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Closing Date Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Closing L/C” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).
“Closing L/C Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).
“Closing Net Indebtedness” shall mean the Net Indebtedness as of the Closing.
“Closing Net Indebtedness Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Closing Working Capital” shall mean the amount as of the Closing determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in Annex 2.5(a).
3
“Closing Working Capital Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company Financial Accounts” shall mean the U.S. GAAP Company Financial Statements and the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements.
“Company Licenses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.
“Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Control”, and its correlative meanings, “Controlling” and “Controlled”, shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“CPA Firm” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(d).
“Diageo” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Diageo Guarantees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.
“Deductible” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a).
“De Minimis Claim” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a).
“Employees” shall mean all employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Encumbrances” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Environmental Law” shall mean any Law, permit or approval granted by a Government Entity concerning: (i) pollution or the investigation, restoration, preservation or protection of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, soil and natural resources) or the presence, use, storage, handling, Release, control, cleanup or disposal of any Hazardous Substance, or (ii) health and safety as it relates to Hazardous Substances.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(c).
“ERISA Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“Estimated Capex Adjustment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
4
“Estimated Capex Payables” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Estimated Cash Purchase Price” shall mean the amount equal to (A) minus (B); where (A) is equal to the sum of (i) the Base Purchase Price and (ii) the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Closing Working Capital exceeds the amount equal to (x) negative $69,300,000 plus (y) the Estimated Capex Payables and (B) is equal to the sum of (i) the amount, if any, by which the amount equal to (x) negative $103,400,000 plus (y) the Estimated Capex Payables exceeds the Estimated Closing Working Capital; (ii) the amount (positive or negative) of the Estimated Closing Net Indebtedness; (iii) the amount (positive or negative) of the Estimated Franchisee Adjustment Amount; and (iv) the amount (positive or negative), if any, of the Estimated Capex Adjustment.
“Estimated Closing Working Capital” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Estimated Franchisee Adjustment Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Estimated Net Indebtedness” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Executive Employment Agreements” shall mean those Contracts identified as executive employment agreements and set forth on Schedule 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.
“Executive Officers” shall mean the Employees who are counterparties to the Executive Employment Agreements and any Employees who are senior or executive vice presidents or senior thereto.
“Existing UK DB Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(d).
“Foreign Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(h).
“Franchised Restaurant” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Franchisee Adjustment Amount” shall mean the amount (positive or negative) equal to (A) minus (B); where
(A) is equal to the amount (in no event less than zero), if any, by which the sum of amounts in respect of the transactions with the Persons listed on Annex 2.5(c) exceeds the amount actually advanced, invested or paid after July 25, 2002 and prior to the Closing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such transactions; and |
(B) is equal to if, and only if, the amount actually advanced, invested or paid after July 25, 2002 and prior to the Closing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the second transaction listed on Annex 2.5(c) exceeds $15,000,000, the lesser of (i) $1,500,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of any amounts actually advanced, invested or paid after July 25, 2002 |
5
and prior to the Closing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) in connection with such second transaction in excess of $15,000,000 and (2) in any other franchisees. |
For the avoidance of doubt, references in this definition to “advanced, invested or paid” do not include commitments in respect of which the cash expenditure has not been made or escrowed.
“Franchisee Adjustment Amount Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Franchisee Circulars” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.24.
“Government Regulatory Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any court, arbitration panel, governmental or regulatory authority, agency, stock exchange, commission or body.
“Hazardous Substance” shall mean any substance, material or waste, listed, defined, designated, regulated or classified as hazardous, toxic or as a pollutant, contaminant or radioactive under any applicable Environmental Law, including petroleum and any derivative or by-products thereof, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos and radioactive materials.
“HSR Act” shall mean the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Identified Contract” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Income Tax” shall mean any Tax based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to income, profits or capital (including any capital gains Tax, franchise Tax, minimum Tax and any Tax or items of Tax preference, and capital Tax of a type that is imposed when the amount of such Tax exceeds the amount of an otherwise applicable franchise Tax or Tax based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to income or profits, but not including sales, use, real or personal property, gross receipts, employer, withholding, transfer or similar Taxes).
“Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a).
“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.
“Insurance Policies” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.21(a).
“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(a).
“Intercompany Accounts” shall mean all balances related to indebtedness, including any intercompany indebtedness, loans, guaranty, receivable, payable or other account between Diageo and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) on the one hand, and the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the other hand.
6
“IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge”, with respect to Seller, shall mean the actual knowledge of the Persons whose names are set forth on Annex 1.1(a) hereto, and, with respect to Buyer, shall mean the actual knowledge of the Persons whose names are set forth on Annex 1.1(b) hereto.
“Law” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a).
“Litigation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.
“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean an effect that is materially adverse to the business or financial condition, assets, properties or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, but shall exclude any change or development resulting from (i) any change in general economic conditions or in conditions in the industry in which the Company operates (unless such change has a materially disproportionate effect on the Company) or (ii) any adverse effect from the announcement that Buyer is the anticipated acquiror of the Company.
“Most Recent Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(c).
“Net Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date, the amount equal to (i) the sum of the following obligations (whether or not then due and payable) to the extent they are of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) all outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money owed to third parties, (B) accrued interest payable with respect to indebtedness referred to in Clause (A), (C) all obligations included in leases of the types of capitalized leases in the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements, (D) all Intercompany Accounts payable to Diageo and its Subsidiaries (other than to the Company and its Subsidiaries), and (E) to the extent a liability, (i.e., a negative amount on a balance sheet) deferred income on the MAA fund of the Company (expressed here as a positive number) minus (ii) the difference between (A) the sum of (I) the aggregate cash and any cash equivalents (net of all overdrafts) of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than cash held in escrow for the benefit of Sydran Services LLC and other cash held in escrow or otherwise held for the benefit of a Person who is not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, as of July 25, 2002, the cash held on behalf of the replacement franchisee in Hawaii and cash provided by a third party for use by the franchisee in Puerto Rico shall be deemed cash held for the benefit of a Person who is not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries)) and (II) the lesser of (1) Intercompany Accounts payable by Diageo and its Subsidiaries (other than by the Company and its Subsidiaries) and (2) the amount in clause (i)(D) and (B) the sum of (I) all cash amounts received by the Company or its Subsidiaries from sales of restaurants or real property after July 25, 2002 and prior to the Closing (other than those set forth on Annex 2.5(b)), net of any related out of pocket expenses, in each case calculated by applying the accounting treatments, practices, methodologies, policies and bases used to prepare the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements and to the extent not covered thereby otherwise in accordance with U.K. GAAP consistently applied and (II) the W/C Cash Amount; provided
7
that in no event shall Net Indebtedness include any amount which is included in the Closing Working Capital and; provided further that no individual item shall be included more than once in clause (i) and (ii).
“New UK DB Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(d).
“Notice Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6.
“Order” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(b).
“Ordinary Course of Business” shall mean the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole consistent with past practice under the current management team prior to July 25, 2002.
“Original Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Owned Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(c).
“Owned Real Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(a).
“Pension Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b).
“Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean (i) Encumbrances for Taxes (and assessments and other governmental charges) not yet due and payable or due, but not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, warehousemen’s, landlord’s, carriers’ or other like Encumbrances (including Encumbrances created by operation of Law), (iii) Encumbrances in respect of easements, permits, licenses, rights-of-way, restrictive covenants, reservations or encroachments or irregularities in, and other similar exceptions to title and any conditions with respect to real property that would be disclosed by a physical inspection of the property or a current survey or title report or other public record, in each case that do not have a material adverse effect on the value, transferability or current use of the underlying asset, (iv) Encumbrances in respect of pledges or deposits under workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security or to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety and appeal, bonds, bids, leases, government Contracts and similar obligations in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business, (v) municipal by-laws, development restrictions or regulations, facility cost sharing and servicing Contracts and zoning, building or planning restrictions or regulations, (vi) Encumbrances and defects or irregularities in title or other Encumbrances that, in each case under this clause (vi), do not materially affect the value, transferability or current use of the underlying asset, and (vii) Encumbrances expressly contemplated by this Agreement; provided that Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Encumbrance which is not reserved for in the Most Recent Financial Statements to the extent it was required, as of the date of such financial statements, to be reserved therein based on the accounting treatments, practices, methodologies, policies and bases used in preparing such statements.
8
“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, governmental or regulatory body or other entity.
“Post-Closing Adjustment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(e).
“Post-Closing Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).
“Potential Contributor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.8.
“Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Reimbursement Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(b).
“Release” shall mean any actual or threatened release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or surface substrata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
“Resolution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).
“Resolved Items” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).
“Review Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Seller” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Seller Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to Article III.
“Seller Disclosure Update” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to Article III.
“Seller First Disclosure Schedule” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to Article III.
“Seller Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Seller Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.15.
“Senior Facility” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(a).
“Senior Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
9
“Significant Subsidiaries” shall have the meaning assigned in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act.
“SOBAs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(e).
“Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person (i) of which such Person directly or indirectly owns, securities or other equity interests representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the aggregate voting power or (ii) of which such Person possesses the right to elect fifty percent (50%) or more of the directors or Persons holding similar positions.
“Taxes” shall mean all federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, windfall or excess profits, severance, property, production, sales, use, license, excise, franchise, employment, withholding, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, stamp, payroll, unemployment, disability, excise, production, value added, occupancy or other taxes, duties or assessments of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.
“Tax Package” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
“Tax Returns” shall mean all federal, state, local or foreign tax returns, tax reports, and declarations of estimated tax, including, without limitation, consolidated federal income tax returns of Seller and the Persons consolidated with Seller.
“Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(b).
“Transfer Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(h).
“Transitional Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(d).
“Transition Services” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.15(b).
“U.K. Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(d).
“U.K. GAAP” shall mean United Kingdom generally accepted accounting principles.
“U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
“Unresolved Items” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(d).
“U.S. GAAP” shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“U.S. GAAP Company Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(b).
“Waivers” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
10
“W/C Cash Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.13.
Section 1.2 Other Terms. Other terms may be defined elsewhere in the text of this Agreement and, unless otherwise indicated, shall have such meaning indicated throughout this Agreement.
Section 1.3 Other Definitional Provisions. (a) The words “hereof ”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(b) The terms defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa.
(c) The terms “dollars” and “$” shall mean United States Dollars. All payments and adjustments hereunder shall be made in United States Dollars.
ARTICLE II
11
(b) At the Closing:
(i) Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates representing the Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, duly endorsed and in a form for transfer to Buyer; and |
(ii) Buyer shall (A) pay to Seller, by wire transfer to an account designated by Seller, immediately available U.S. Dollar funds in an amount equal to (x) the Estimated Cash Purchase Price minus (y) $219,600,000 (the “Closing L/C Amount”, (B) cause $212,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes to be issued to Seller and (C) cause a letter of credit in the stated amount of the Closing L/C Amount and in the form set forth in Exhibit E to be provided to Seller (the “Closing L/C”). |
(c) On or prior to December 16, 2002, Buyer shall pay to Seller, by wire transfer to the account designated by Seller pursuant to Section 2.4(b), immediately available U.S. Dollar funds in an amount equal to the Closing L/C Amount (the “Post-Closing Payment”).
(d) Seller represents that all transactions, transfers of assets and distributions of assets between the Company and its Subsidiaries on the one hand, and Diageo and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), on the other hand, had ceased by 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date, except as has otherwise been approved in writing by Buyer.
12
prior to the Closing Date are similar in all material respects to the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements (the “Closing Date Financial Statements”). Seller shall, and shall cause Diageo and its Affiliates, to provide Buyer with reasonable access to data within its control to the extent necessary in connection with the preparation of the Calculation and the Closing Date Financial Statements. Buyer shall provide the unaudited Closing Date Financial Statements to Seller together with reasonable back-up documentation reasonably necessary to evaluate or understand the Closing Date Financial Statements and the Calculation at the time of delivery of the Calculation.
(b) During the period of any review or dispute as provided in this Section 2.5, Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause each of their Affiliates to: (i) provide each other party and its representatives with reasonable access to its and its Affiliates’ relevant books, records and employees (to the extent any of such books, records or employees relate to the Calculation) and (subject, in the case of accountant or auditor work papers, to providing any customary confidentiality, hold harmless or other agreements reasonably requested by the accountant or auditor) relevant work papers of accountants or auditors and permit copies to be made of any of the foregoing documentation and (ii) cooperate fully with such other party and its authorized representatives, including the provision on a timely basis of all information relevant for purposes of the Calculation; provided that, without prejudice to any of Buyer’s other rights under this Agreement, after the submission of the Calculation, Seller shall be required to provide such access and cooperation only to the extent relevant to items disputed by Seller pursuant to Section 2.5(c).
(c) After receipt of the Calculation, Seller shall have sixty (60) days to review the Calculation. Unless Seller delivers written notice to Buyer on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day after Buyer’s delivery of the Calculation stating that Seller has objections to the Calculation, Seller shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the Calculation. Matters included in the Calculation, which are not objected to in writing by Seller, shall be deemed to be accepted by Seller (“Resolved Items”) and any amounts included within such items shall be deemed to be final, binding and conclusive. If Seller notifies Buyer in writing of its objections to the Calculation, Buyer and Seller shall, within forty-five (45) days (or such longer period as Buyer and Seller may agree in writing) following such notice (the “Resolution Period”), attempt to resolve their differences, and any written resolution by them as to any disputed amounts shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(d) Any amounts remaining in dispute at the conclusion of the Resolution Period (“Unresolved Items”) shall be submitted by Buyer and Seller to Deloitte and Touche LLP (such firm being referred to as the “CPA Firm”) or, if such firm shall be unable or unwilling to serve in such capacity or if Seller and Buyer shall otherwise mutually agree in writing, such other nationally recognized firm of independent accountants mutually agreed in writing by Seller and Buyer (and, in such case, such firm shall be deemed to be the CPA Firm), within 10 days after the expiration of the Resolution Period or as soon as practicable after Buyer and Seller have engaged the CPA Firm. Seller and Buyer agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to engage the CPA Firm as promptly as practicable. Each party agrees to execute, if requested by the CPA Firm, an engagement letter with the CPA Firm containing reasonable terms and to provide the CPA Firm such work papers and other documents and information related to the Unresolved Items as the CPA Firm may reasonably request if available to such party or its
13
Affiliates (or their accountants or auditors). All fees and expenses relating to the work, if any, to be performed by the CPA Firm shall be borne 50% by Buyer and 50% by Seller. The CPA Firm shall act as an arbitrator and not as an expert, to determine, based on the provisions of this Section 2.5, only the Unresolved Items; provided, however, that the CPA Firm shall have authority to determine, and the term “Unresolved Items” as used in this Section 2.5 shall mean, only the amount(s) of the Calculation and no other matter whatsoever, absent an express written agreement to the contrary by Buyer and Seller. Seller and Buyer shall request that the CPA Firm provide its determination of the Unresolved Items within 30 days after the submission of the Unresolved Items to the CPA Firm, and a calculation of the Closing Working Capital Statement, the Closing Net Indebtedness Statement, the Capex Statement, the Capex Payables Statement and the Franchisee Adjustment Amount Statement, based upon the amount of Resolved Items and the CPA Firm’s determination of the Unresolved Items, shall be set forth in a written statement delivered to Seller and Buyer by the CPA Firm and shall be final, binding and conclusive on Buyer and Seller.
(e) Within five (5) Business Days following either (i) an agreement or deemed agreement by Buyer and Seller as to the Closing Working Capital, the Closing Net Indebtedness, the Capex Adjustment and the Franchisee Adjustment Amount, or (ii) the CPA Firm’s determination of all Unresolved Items, Seller shall pay to Buyer the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Cash Purchase Price exceeds the final calculation of the Cash Purchase Price, or Buyer shall pay to Seller the amount, if any, by which the final calculation of the Cash Purchase Price exceeds the Estimated Cash Purchase Price (the “Post-Closing Adjustment”).
(f) Any payments made pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available U.S. Dollar funds to an account indicated by the party to receive such funds and shall be accompanied by interest at the Applicable Rate calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the Closing Date up to and including the date of payment.
(g) Any payments made in respect of the Post-Closing Adjustment shall be deemed to be adjustments to the Base Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.2, for all tax purposes.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties of Seller
Except as otherwise (i) subject to Section 10.8, set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by Seller to Buyer on July 25, 2002 (the “Seller First Disclosure Schedule”, and as amended by the Seller Disclosure Update, the “Seller Disclosure Schedule”) as amended by the schedule delivered by Seller to Buyer on the date hereof, which updated specified sections of the Seller First Disclosure Schedule to reflect changes in the information contained in the Seller First Disclosure Schedule (the “Seller Disclosure Update”) (provided, however, that Section 3.6 shall be qualified only by the Seller Disclosure Update), (ii) required by this Agreement or (iii) set forth in the Company Financial Accounts, Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof as follows:
14
Section 3.1 Organization and Authority of Seller and Diageo. Seller and Diageo are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, have all requisite corporate power and authority, and have taken all corporate action (including obtaining any and all required shareholder approvals) necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform their obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Seller and Diageo and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Seller and Diageo, enforceable in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of Seller and Diageo does not, and the consummation by each of Seller and Diageo of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Seller or Diageo, (B) a breach or violation of, a default under, or the acceleration of any obligations or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, option, transfer restriction or other restriction or third party right, including restrictions on the right to vote equity interests (collectively, “Encumbrances”) on the assets, properties or rights of Seller or Diageo (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) pursuant to, any agreement, lease, contract, note, mortgage, indenture, instrument, arrangement or other obligation (“Contracts”) binding upon Seller or Diageo, or any of their assets, or give any party with rights thereunder the right to terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights or obligations of Seller or Diageo thereunder or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.11 (Consents and Approvals) and Section 4.2 (Consents and Approvals), a violation of or loss of rights or triggering of new obligations under any federal, state, local or foreign law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order, decree, ordinance or arbitration award or other restriction of any court or Governmental Entity (“Law”) or permit or license issued by a Governmental Entity to which Seller or Diageo or any of their assets, properties or rights is subject except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any breach, violation, default, acceleration, creation or loss of rights that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Seller or Diageo to perform its obligations contemplated by this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
15
any Contracts binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or give any party with rights thereunder the right to terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder, or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.11 (Consents and Approvals) and Section 4.2 (Consents and Approvals), a violation of or loss of rights or triggering of new obligations under any Law or governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or rights are subject, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any breach, violation, default, creation, modification, acceleration, other change or loss of rights that would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
16
Disclosure Schedule are owned by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary free and clear of all Encumbrances, and all such capital stock is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and all other equity interests are duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid. Schedule 3.10(a)(v) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists all legally binding documents that set forth the allocation of profit and loss, voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions of cash associated with each voting security, share of capital stock and equity interest of each Person (other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company) in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company owns equity securities. Except as contemplated hereby, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to sell, transfer or assign or has entered into a Contract regarding the sale, transfer or assignment of any of its rights, securities or interests in any Subsidiary of the Company or any of the other equity interests owned by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Each Subsidiary of the Company currently conducting business is duly organized or formed, as the case may be, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as the case may be, has the power and authority to own or lease its assets and to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of its properties and assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or materially impair the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) Schedule 3.5(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth the audited consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2000, June 30, 2001 and June 30, 2002, and audited statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and of income and cash flow for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2000, 2001 and 2002, for the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared as if such Subsidiaries had been Subsidiaries throughout each of the years (such statements being the “U.S. GAAP Company Financial Statements”). The U.S. GAAP Company Financial Statements, except as otherwise specified therein, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the results of their operations and cash flows as of the dates specified therein and for the respective fiscal years then ended in accordance with U.S. GAAP on a combined basis consistently applied.
(c) Schedule 3.5(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth unaudited U.K. GAAP combined and U.S. GAAP consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ended
17
September 30, 2002 prepared as if such Subsidiaries had been Subsidiaries through such period (such statements being the “Most Recent Financial Statements”). The Most Recent Financial Statements, except as otherwise stated therein and except for normal year-end closing procedures and adjustments (which are expected by the Company to be either (i) not material or (ii) consistent with the procedures noted in the Most Recent Financial Statements), present fairly in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the results of their operations and cash flows as of the date specified therein and for the three-month period then ended in accordance with U.K. GAAP or U.S. GAAP, as applicable, on a combined basis consistently applied.
(d) The financial statements referred to in Sections 3.5(a), 3.5(b) and 3.5(c) include as of their respective dates reserves in respect of liabilities relating to matters covered by workers’ compensation, casualty and auto liability insurance calculated in all material respects in accordance with U.K. GAAP or U.S. GAAP, as applicable.
(e) The items specified in the definition of Net Indebtedness are calculable from the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries underlying the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements.
(i) become legally committed to any new individual item of Capex requiring expenditures following the Closing Date that is materially inconsistent with Annex 2.5(d); |
(ii) transferred, sold, leased or licensed any of its assets, properties or rights (other than the grant of a franchise including sales of no more than 10 restaurants and associated sales of real property and other assets) with a fair market value at the time of sale in excess of $2,000,000 or subjected any of its material assets, properties or rights to an Encumbrance which is outstanding as of the date hereof, except Permitted Encumbrances; |
(iii) become legally committed to make any equity investment in any of its franchisees that has not been satisfied in full; |
(iv) except as required by Law or the terms of any collective bargaining agreement, (x) granted any salary or wage increases, other than to Employees (other than the Executive Officers) in the Ordinary Course of Business, (y) terminated, |
18
modified, amended, entered into, established, adopted or assumed an obligation to contribute to any existing or new Benefit Plan in any manner that increased the amount of any current or future liability attributable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any such Benefit Plan other than to an immaterial extent or (z) established or communicated any financial performance targets for annual or long-term bonuses for any Employees for any period after July 25, 2002; |
(v) except for in the Ordinary Course of Business, entered into any employment agreement with any of its Employees; |
(vi) taken any action or failed to take any action with respect to any individual who is a party to an Executive Employment Agreement that resulted in the termination of such individual party’s employment prior to the date hereof by the Company without “Cause” or by such individual party for “Good Reason” (each as defined in such individual’s Executive Employment Agreement) or that may result in such a termination of employment after the Closing pursuant to notice delivered under such agreement by such individual party or the Company prior to the date hereof; |
(vii) declared, set aside or paid any non-cash dividend or made any non-cash distribution with respect to its capital stock other than from a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company; |
(viii) changed its accounting policies; |
(ix) failed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) preserve substantially intact its business organization, (b) keep available the services of its management and Employees and (c) preserve its relationships with landlords, franchisees, suppliers, distributors, lessees and joint venture and alliance counterparties; |
(x) failed to use its commercially reasonable efforts on a basis consistent with past practice to maintain its material assets in their current physical condition, except for ordinary wear and tear; |
(xi) failed to pay or otherwise satisfy (except if being contested in good faith) any material accounts payable, liabilities or obligations when due and payable (subject to any applicable grace periods) on a basis consistent with past practice; |
(xii) securitized any of its trade accounts receivable or any other accounts receivable; |
(xiii) except in the Ordinary Course of Business, amended or authorized an amendment in its articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation or similar applicable organizational document; or |
(xiv) authorized or entered into a Contract or transaction that would have been in contravention of any of the foregoing. |
19
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since July 1, 2000 have been, in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as amended, and all other similar applicable Laws relating to illegal payments, gifts or activities.
(c) All of the investments by the Company and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries have been registered with Governmental Entities to the extent required by applicable Law for exchange control, repatriation, currency convertibility and similar purposes.
20
been an Identified Contract had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002 and (y) each amendment, modification or express waiver to any of the material terms of any Identified Contract made after July 25, 2002 and prior to the date hereof. Schedule 3.10(a) of the Seller First Disclosure Schedule lists the following Contracts to which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries was a party as of July 25, 2002 and which are currently in effect (each Contract required to be listed on Schedule 3.10(a), an “Identified Contract”):
(i) any Contract requiring capital expenditures involving consideration in excess of $5,000,000 in any twelve-month period; |
(ii) (A) any Contract which restricts or limits the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to freely engage in the quick service restaurant business in any geographic area or (B) any Contract which restricts or limits the ability of Affiliates of the Company (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) to conduct any legal line of business in any geographic area other than Contracts which restrict or limit the ability to conduct a business at a particular site of real property; |
(iii) any collective bargaining agreement; |
(iv) any Contract pursuant to which (A) payments were made during the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2002, or (B) are reasonably anticipated, as of the date hereof, by the Company to be made during the twelve-month period ending on June 30, 2003, by or to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of more than $2,000,000 to or from any Person, except for Contracts among only Affiliates of the Seller, BKL Leases or franchise agreements with franchisees of the Company or its Subsidiaries; |
(v) any Contract relating to the ownership, management or control of any Person in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owns any equity securities other than direct and indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company; |
(vi) any Contract relating to the acquisition or disposition outside the Ordinary Course of Business of any assets or any business (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise) to the extent any material actual or contingent express obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder remain in effect; |
(vii) other than Intercompany Accounts, any Contract relating to indebtedness for borrowed or loaned money or the deferred purchase price of property (in each case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured or unsecured by any asset) under which at least $2,000,000 is outstanding; |
(viii) other than Intercompany Accounts, any Contract relating to outstanding letters of credit or performance bonds or creating any liability as guarantor, surety, co-signer, endorser, co-maker or indemnitor, in each case in respect of the obligation of any Person to make payments or perform services with a value of at least $2,000,000; |
(ix) any material Contract with any Executive Officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and |
21
(x) any Contract with outstanding obligations relating to the settlement of any Litigation. |
(b) Each Identified Contract is (and each Contract entered into between July 25, 2002 and the Closing that would have been an Identified Contract had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002, will, at the Closing be (unless it shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (other than as a result of a breach or default by the Company or its Subsidiaries)) valid, binding, in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company, unless it shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (other than as a result of a breach or default by the Company or its Subsidiaries), and, to the Knowledge of Seller, against any other party thereto, in accordance with its terms. The Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company is not in breach or default under any Identified Contract (or a Contract entered into between July 25, 2002 and the Closing that would have been an Identified Contract had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002) and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under any Identified Contract (or a Contract entered into between July 25, 2002 and the Closing that would have been an Identified Contract had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002) by any party thereto, except where the failure to be so valid, binding, in full force and effect or enforceable, or such breach or default, termination, modification or acceleration, would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or materially impair the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) True and complete copies of each Identified Contract and each Contract entered into between July 25, 2002 and the date hereof that would have been an Identified Contract had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002, including all amendments thereto entered into prior to the date hereof, have been made available by Seller to Buyer prior to the date hereof.
22
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries have paid in full all material Taxes due, whether or not assessed, or set up reserves in accordance with U.K. GAAP or U.S. GAAP, as applicable, in respect of all material Taxes for the periods covered by such Tax Returns, as well as other material Taxes (and any penalties, interest, fines, deficiencies, assessments and governmental charges relating thereto) that have become due or payable (including, without limitation, all such Taxes that the Company and its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts paid or payable to or benefits conferred upon employees, creditors and third parties).
(c) No issues that have been raised by the relevant taxing authority in connection with the examination of any of the Tax Returns referred to in clause (a) of this Section 3.12 are pending. As of the date hereof, there is no proposed liability for any material Tax to be imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the tax year ended June 30, 2002 and all prior years for which there is not an adequate accounting reserve.
(d) As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has executed any outstanding waivers or comparable consents regarding the application of the statute of limitations with respect to any material Taxes or Tax Returns.
(e) As of the date hereof, there are no Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) with respect to any material Taxes upon any of the assets and properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations section 1.6011-4T(b).
(g) The Company has not executed any closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any predecessor provision thereof, or any corresponding provision of state or local law.
(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed or is required to make any material adjustments pursuant to section 481(a) of the Code or any corresponding provision of state, local, or foreign law by reason of a change in accounting method initiated by it or any other relevant party and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice in writing from the IRS or other relevant authority proposing any such adjustment or change in accounting method, nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have any application pending with any governmental or regulatory authority requesting permission for any changes in accounting methods that relate to the business or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed or is required to make any material adjustments pursuant to section 482 of the Code or any corresponding provision of state, local, or foreign law with respect to transfers of intangibles or any other intercompany transaction, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice in writing from the IRS or other relevant authority proposing any such adjustment. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have entered into a qualified cost sharing arrangement (or an arrangement purporting to be a qualified cost sharing arrangement) under section 482 of the Code.
23
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has filed, or is otherwise subject to, a dual consolidated loss election under Treasury Regulations section 1.1503-2(g)(2), a gain recognition agreement under Treasury Regulations section 1.367(a)-8, deferred gain recognition pursuant to the installment sale provisions under section 453 of the Code or any corresponding provision under state or foreign Tax law which would have a material effect on the Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) All ERISA Plans have been operated and administered in accordance with, and are in compliance with, ERISA and the Code and all Benefit Plans have been operated and administered in accordance with, and are in compliance with, all other applicable Laws, except for any failure that would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each ERISA Plan which is an “employee pension benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA and which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Pension Plan”) has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to its qualified status and to Seller’s Knowledge there are no circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in the revocation of such letter or the loss of such qualified status and, within the remedial amendment period under Section 401(b) applicable with respect to the current provisions of the Code, an application has been filed with the IRS for a renewed determination of the qualified status of each such Pension Plan under the current provisions of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) engaged in any transactions with respect to any Benefit Plan that, assuming the “taxable period” (as defined in Section 4975(f) of the Code) with respect to such transaction expired as of the date hereof, could be reasonably likely to subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) to a tax or penalty imposed by Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA and (ii) no transaction has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that could be reasonably likely to subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability in respect of a
24
breach of fiduciary duty, in any such event, in either clause (i) or (ii) in an amount which would be material.
(c) No liability under Subtitle C, D or E of Title IV of ERISA has been incurred which has not been satisfied or is expected to be incurred (in any such case, either directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, as a result of any indemnification obligation or joint and several liability) by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated “single-employer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by any of them, the single-employer plan currently or formerly maintained by any entity which is considered one employer with the Company under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an “ERISA Affiliate”) or any “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA). No notice of a “reportable event”, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived or extended, other than pursuant to Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Reg. Section 4043.66, has been required to be filed for any Pension Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate within the preceding 12-month period or will be required to be filed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) All contributions required to be made under the terms of any Benefit Plan or applicable law have been timely made and, to the extent not yet due, will be reflected on the FY02 U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements. Neither any Pension Plan nor any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate has an “accumulated funding deficiency” (whether or not waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has an outstanding funding waiver. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided, or is (or is reasonably expected to be) required to provide, security to any Pension Plan or to any single-employer plan of an ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.
(e) Under each Pension Plan which is a single-employer plan, as of the last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date hereof, the actuarially determined present value of all “benefit liabilities”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, as determined on the basis of the actuarial assumptions contained in such Pension Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation for purposes of ERISA, did not exceed the then current value of the assets of such Pension Plan, and there has been no material change in the financial condition of such Pension Plan since the last day of such most recent plan year.
(f) There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened claim, litigation proceeding, action or audit relating to any of the Benefit Plans other than claims for benefits in the Ordinary Course of Business. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations for retiree health and life benefits under any Benefit Plan.
(g) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan which would increase materially the expense of maintaining or liabilities under such Plan above the level of the expense and liability incurred therefor for the most recent fiscal year. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will, alone or in combination with termination of employment or any other event, (i)
25
entitle any current or former employee, consultant or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay or other benefits or entitlements or any increase in severance pay or other benefits or entitlements in connection with any termination of employment, (ii) accelerate the timing of payment or vesting or result in any payment or funding of any compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or result in any other material obligation pursuant to, any of the Benefit Plans or otherwise to or in respect of any current or former employee, consultant or director, (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer to merge, amend or terminate any of the Benefit Plans (except as contemplated by Section 6.4 of this Agreement) or (iv) result in payments under any Benefit Plan that would not be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code.
(h) All Benefit Plans maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries outside of the United States (“Foreign Plans”) comply in all material respects with applicable Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries have no material unfunded liabilities with respect to any such Foreign Plan that has not been reflected on the U.K. GAAP Company Financial Statements. Any Foreign Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan that is required by applicable Law to be funded complies in all material respects with such applicable funding requirements.
(i) The SOBAs have not been amended since July 25, 2002 except as related to the covenant set forth in Section 6.3(e).
(j) Each of the representations set forth in this Section 3.13, other than subparagraphs (a), (b), (g) and (h), shall be deemed to be accurate unless the failure to be so accurate would be reasonably likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or materially impair the transaction contemplated hereby.
26
presence or Release of any Hazardous Substances to the extent related to the real property owned or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(b) Notwithstanding any other representation and warranty in Article III, the representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.14 constitute the sole representations and warranties of Seller concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Environmental Laws and Hazardous Substances.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any assets, operations or liabilities (on or off balance sheet) (i) other than those arising out of or those related to the ownership and operation of a fast food hamburger restaurant business, selling of franchises for a fast food hamburger restaurant business and matters incident or ancillary thereto, including the purchase and sale of real property (whether or not operated as restaurants) whether or not arising out of breach of Contract, violation of Law or tort or (ii) that arise out of or relate to the activities of the Franchisee Acceptance Corporation Limited.
(c) Seller has made available to Buyer all material documents in the possession of either Diageo or any of its Subsidiaries that relate primarily to or address the matter and risks referred to in item 1 of Schedule 3.16(a) of the Seller First Disclosure Schedule and, to the Knowledge of Seller, all such documents shall be in the exclusive possession of the Company as of the Closing.
(d) To the Knowledge of Seller, as of the date hereof, no beef products which have been purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are the subject of the ConAgra Beef Company recall which was ongoing at July 25, 2002.
27
applications, tangible and intangible proprietary information and materials and any other intellectual property or similar proprietary rights in any jurisdiction where such property or rights are used or exercised (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) that are material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted. Such rights are owned free and clear of any Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Schedule 3.17 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth all material patents, patent applications, material unregistered trademarks, trademark and copyright applications and registrations, and Internet domain name registrations owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof, in each case listing the current registered owner thereof, and a list of all material Contracts under which (x) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses or has the right to use any material Third Party Intellectual Property Rights and (y) the Seller, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has licensed others the right to use any Owned Intellectual Property Rights.
(b) The Company is not, nor will it be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Diageo or Seller or the performance by Diageo or Seller of its obligations hereunder, in material violation of any material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which the Company is a party and pursuant to which either (i) the Company is authorized to use any third-party patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade secrets or other Intellectual Property Rights (collectively, “Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights”) or (ii) the Seller, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has authorized others to use any Owned Intellectual Property Rights.
(c) No claims with respect to (i) the Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Owned Intellectual Property Rights”); (ii) Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights or (iii) any other Intellectual Property Rights that are used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted are, with respect to clause (i), pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller currently pending with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) or threatened by any Person against the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
(d) To the Knowledge of Seller, there are no grounds for any material claims (A) to the effect that the manufacture, sale, importation, licensing or use of any product as now manufactured, used, sold, imported or licensed or the offering of any product or service now offered, in each case by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, infringes upon, misappropriates, violates or conflicts with any patent, trademark, service xxxx, copyright, trade secret or other Intellectual Property Right of any Person; (B) relating to the use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, of any Owned Intellectual Property Right or Third-Party Intellectual Property Right used in the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted; (C) challenging the ownership, validity or enforceability of any of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights; or (D) challenging the license or legally enforceable right to use the Third-Party Intellectual Rights by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Seller, there are no unauthorized uses, disclosures, infringements, or misappropriations by any Person of any Owned Intellectual Property Rights, or breaches by any Person of any Contract pursuant to which such Person has the right to use any Owned Intellectual Property Rights or Third-Party Intellectual Property
28
Rights, except for such uses, disclosures, infringements and misappropriations that would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) the Company or its relevant Subsidiary has marketable title to the real property owned by it and a valid leasehold interest in the real property leased to it, as the case may be, free and clear of any Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances; and |
(ii) except for leases and subleases of restaurants set forth in Schedule 3.23(b) and 3.18(a)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no leases, subleases, licenses, concessions, or other agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries granting to any Person or Persons the right of use or occupancy to any portion of the parcel of any of such real property. |
(b) Schedule 3.18(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule identifies all mortgages, deeds of trust and other Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) upon Owned Real Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which secure (i) indebtedness for money borrowed, (ii) judgments or (iii) other obligations to pay a sum certain.
(c) Schedule 3.18(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule reflects at least 90% of the gross rental revenue received by the Company and its Subsidiaries from the rental of U.S. real property to third parties that are not Affiliates of the Company during the periods indicated therein.
(b) Schedule 3.19(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule is a list of at least 95% of all restaurants which are branded as Burger King or Hungry Jack’s that are owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof.
29
labor practice under applicable Law, nor is there pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened, nor has there been since July 1, 2001, any organized effort or demand for recognition by any labor organization or any labor dispute or labor slow-down with respect to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole in the United States, except for those that would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or impair the transactions contemplated hereby. As of the date hereof, there is not pending, nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, is there threatened in the United States any labor strike, walk-out, work stoppage or lockout in the United States with respect to Employees, except for such strikes, walk-outs, work stoppages or lockouts as would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or impair the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) (i) Each Insurance Policy is in full force and effect, and is valid, outstanding and enforceable, and all premiums due thereon have been paid in a timely fashion and cover against the risks of the nature normally insured against by Persons in the same or similar lines of business in coverage amounts typically and reasonably carried by such Persons; (ii) none of the Insurance Policies shall terminate or lapse as a result of the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and each of their Affiliates that maintains a policy on their behalf with respect to them, has complied in all material respects with the provisions of each Insurance Policy under which it is the insured party; (iv) no insurer under any Insurance Policy has cancelled or generally disclaimed liability under any such Insurance Policy or indicated in writing to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or to an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries that maintains a policy on their behalf, any intent to do so or not to renew any such Insurance Policy; and (v) all material claims of the Company and its Subsidiaries for which insurance was available under the Insurance Policies have been filed in a timely fashion since July 1, 2001.
30
(b) Schedule 3.22(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule includes all Contracts between Diageo or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, other than those that will be terminated at or prior to the Closing.
(c) Since July 1, 2001, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any arrangement or transaction that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act by the Company if the Company was a Person both (i) subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) with no other Person owning more than 0.5% of the equity of the Company.
(d) During the period from July 25, 2002 through the execution hereof, Seller has used reasonable efforts to cause all Intercompany Accounts to be settled prior to the date hereof, including by being contributed to capital in its discretion.
(b) Set forth as Schedule 3.23(b) of the Seller First Disclosure Schedule is a list, as of July 25, 2002, of all leases (land and/or building) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as landlord or sublandlord) to the applicable franchisee or other counterparty (as lessee or sublessee) for the site of Franchised Restaurants (each lease required to be listed on such Schedule, a “BKL Lease”) and set forth as Schedule 3.23(b) of the Seller Disclosure Update is a list, as of the date hereof, of each lease entered into after July 25, 2002 that would have been a BKL Lease had it been entered into prior to July 25, 2002. To the Knowledge of Seller, each BKL Lease listed on Schedule 3.23(b) of the Seller First Disclosure Schedule is (and each lease that was entered into after July 25, 2002 and prior to the Closing that would have been a BKL Lease if it had been entered into prior to July 25, 2002) is valid, binding, in full force and effect and enforceable against the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company and, to the Knowledge of Seller, against the lessee or sublessee thereto, in accordance with its terms, and the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the Company is not in breach or default under any such lease and to the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default, or permit termination, modification or acceleration, under any such lease by any party thereto, except where the failure to be so valid, binding, in full force and effect or enforceable, or such breach or default, termination, modification or acceleration, would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or materially impair the transactions contemplated hereby, or where such lease has expired or been terminated pursuant to its terms (other than as a result of a breach or default by the Company or its Subsidiaries).
(c) (i) None of the franchisees who own or operate any of the Franchised Restaurants in the United States are, as of November 30, 2002, more than sixty days in arrears in
31
royalty, advertising, lease or other payments pursuant to the terms of any of their franchise agreements or BKL Leases with the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(ii) None of the Franchises who own or operate any of the Franchised Restaurants in jurisdictions other than the United States are, as of October 31, 2002, more than sixty days in arrears in royalty, advertising, lease or other payments pursuant to the terms of any of their franchise agreements or BKL Leases with the Company or its Subsidiaries. |
(d) To the Knowledge of Seller, as of the date hereof, there are no restaurants that are branded as Burger King or Hungry Jack’s that are not either owned or operated by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or operated pursuant to a franchise agreement with the Company or one its Subsidiaries. Such franchise agreements conform in all material respects to a form of franchise agreement made available to Buyer prior to the date hereof. There are no defaults by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of Seller, events that have occurred or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would be reasonably likely to constitute a breach or default, or permit termination, modification or acceleration, under any franchise agreement by any party thereto (other than monetary defaults by franchisees who own or operate any of the franchised restaurants), except for defaults that would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or materially impair the transactions contemplated hereby. Such franchise agreements are (when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the counterparties thereto), in all material respects, legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to customary exceptions relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar Laws of general applicability relating to creditors’ rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not own or operate, or franchise to any Person the right to own or operate any restaurant, that is not branded Burger King or Hungry Jack’s or that is not engaged in the fast food hamburger restaurant business.
(e) During the period from July 1, 2002 through October 31, 2002 the total amount of Advertising Fund Expenditures did not exceed $144.3 million.
(f) During November 2002, to the knowledge of Seller, the total amount of Advertising Fund Expenditures did not exceed $30.4 million.
32
definition of Net Indebtedness with respect to indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding at Closing shall not exceed $1,000,000. The amount of indebtedness referred to in clause (i) of the definition of Net Indebtedness (other than subclauses (C) or (E)) that is not prepayable pursuant to its terms shall not exceed $2,000,000 at the Closing. To the Knowledge of Seller, the Diageo Guarantees set forth on Schedule 3.25(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule shall be the only Diageo Guarantees in effect at the Closing.
(b) As of the date hereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any deferred income liabilities required to be set forth in financial statements complying with U.K. GAAP (other than the MAA Fund) that will require a cash expenditure by the Company and its Subsidiaries to decrease such liability.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties of Buyer
Except as required by this Agreement, Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as of the date hereof as follows:
33
obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer does not, and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents of Buyer, (B) a breach or violation of, a default under, or the acceleration of any obligations or the creation of any Encumbrance on the assets, properties or rights of Buyer (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) pursuant to any Contracts binding upon Buyer or any of its assets or giving any party with rights thereunder the right to terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights or obligations of Buyer thereunder or (C) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.11 (Consents and Approvals) and Section 4.2 (Consents and Approvals) and Schedules 3.1, 3.2 and 3.11 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, a violation of or loss of rights or trigger of any new substantial obligations under any Law or governmental or nongovernmental permit or license to which Buyer or any of its assets, properties or rights is subject, except, in the case of clause (B) or (C) above, for any breach, violation, default, acceleration, creation, modification, termination, other change or loss of rights that would not be reasonably likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Buyer to perform its obligations and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Buyer acknowledges that Seller and its Affiliates have relied upon assurances of Buyer that, assuming receipt of the funds referred to in Section 7.2(b), Buyer shall
34
have adequate capitalization at Closing to permit it to effect the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE V
Section 5.1 Liability for Taxes and Related Matters.
35
of its Subsidiaries may be liable as transferor or successor, by Contract or otherwise, (but excluding any liability for Taxes included in the Closing Working Capital) (i) for events occurring or periods ending on or before the Closing Date and, (ii) with respect to any taxable year or period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable year ending on and including the Closing Date. Seller shall be entitled to any refund of Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, received for any taxable year or period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date and Buyer shall cause such refund to be paid to Seller promptly following its receipt.
36
the other an amount equal to the Taxes for which the payor is liable pursuant to Section 5.1 but which are payable with Tax Returns to be filed by the payee at least 10 days prior to the due date (including any extensions) for the filing of such Tax Returns.
Seller shall be entitled to participate at its expense in the defense of any claim for Income Taxes for a year or period ending after the Closing Date which may be the subject of indemnification by Seller pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and, with the written consent of Buyer, and at Seller’s expense, may assume the entire defense of such Income Tax claim. Neither Buyer nor the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries may agree to settle any Income Tax claim for the portion of the year or period ending on the Closing Date which may be the subject of indemnification by Seller under Section 5.1(a) without the prior written consent of Seller, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(i) Any Tax allocation or sharing agreement that may have been entered into by Seller (or any Affiliate of Seller) and the Company shall be terminated as to the Company as of the Closing Date, and no payments which are owed by or to the Company pursuant thereto shall be made thereunder, except to the extent such obligation is reflected in the Closing Date Financial Statements.
Section 5.2 Information to be Provided by Buyer. With respect to any taxable year of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which Seller is required to file a Tax Return pursuant to Section 5.1(f) hereof and for the period prior to the Closing Date in any taxable year of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Closing occurs, Buyer shall cause the Company to prepare and provide to Seller a package of tax information materials (the “Tax Package”), which shall be completed in accordance with the past practice of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary including past practice as to providing the information, schedules and work papers and as to the method of computation of separate taxable income or other relevant measure of income. Buyer shall cause the Tax Package for the portion of the taxable period ending on the
37
Closing Date to be delivered to Seller within one hundred fifty (150) days after the close of the taxable year or period in which the Closing Date occurs.
Section 5.3 Assistance and Cooperation. After the Closing Date, each of Seller and Buyer shall:
(a) assist (and cause their respective Affiliates to assist) the other party in preparing any Tax Returns or reports which such other party is responsible for preparing and filing in accordance with this Article V;
(b) cooperate fully in preparing for any audits of, or disputes with taxing authorities regarding, any Tax Returns of the Company;
(c) make available to the other party and to any taxing authority, as reasonably requested, all information, records, and documents relating to Taxes of the Company (including information necessary to file extensions and make estimated Tax payments);
(d) provide timely notice in writing to the other party of any pending or threatened tax audits or assessments of the Company for taxable periods for which the other may have a liability under this Article V; and
(e) furnish the other party with copies of all correspondence received from any taxing authority in connection with any Tax audit or information request with respect to any such taxable period.
(b) Buyer shall not, without the prior consent of Seller (which may, in its sole and absolute discretion, withhold such consent), make, or cause to permit to be made, any Tax election, or adopt or change any method of accounting, or undertake any other extraordinary action on the Closing Date, that would affect the Seller or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date.
ARTICLE VI
Certain Covenants and
Agreements of Seller and Buyer
38
securities of the Company. From and after the Closing, Seller shall cause Diageo or an applicable Affiliate of Diageo to assign to Buyer or the Company (or, if assignment is not permitted, enforce for the benefit of Buyer or the Company) any existing confidentiality or similar agreements with such other potential purchasers or underwriters to the extent such confidentiality agreement was executed in connection with a proposed sale of the Company or plan to publicly offer securities of the Company.
(b) From and after the Closing, Buyer shall, and shall cause the Company to, provide to Seller promptly following a request by Seller such information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as Seller reasonably requests in connection with Seller preparing (a) the reports and accounts of Seller’s Affiliates required under applicable stock exchange rules and regulations or (b) the reports of Seller’s Affiliates required to be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; provided that the foregoing shall not require the preparation by Buyer of any interim audited financial data or statements.
(c) Seller shall and shall cause Diageo and its Subsidiaries to maintain the confidentiality of, and not use, (A) confidential or proprietary information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing Date or (B) trade secrets regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the Closing; provided, however, that this Section 6.1(c) shall not apply to information: (i) that becomes available after the Closing Date to Seller, Diageo or Diageo’s Subsidiaries from a source other than the Company (and not as a result of a violation of a contractual restriction or fiduciary duty known to Seller); or (ii) that was or becomes generally available to the public (and not as a result of a violation of a contractual restriction or fiduciary duty known to Seller). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Seller may, and may permit, disclosure of such information (1) in response to any judicial or administrative proceedings (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, Civil Investigation Demand or similar process); (2) if requested by a Governmental Entity; (3) to avoid violating the federal securities laws; or (4) related, as of the Closing Date, to the business of Diageo or its Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided that Seller will, to the extent practicable, promptly notify Buyer and the Company thereof and cooperate with Buyer and the Company at Buyer’s reasonable request and cost if Buyer or the Company should seek to obtain an order that confidential treatment will be accorded to such information. Buyer, without prejudice to any rights to judicial relief it may otherwise have, shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including an injunction, in the event of a threatened or actual breach of this Section 6.1(c) and Seller will not resist such application for relief on the basis that Buyer has an adequate remedy at law.
39
(b) Without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to this Section 6.2, Seller and Buyer (in all cases below) agree to take or cause to be taken the following actions provide promptly to any Government Regulatory Entity information and documents requested by any Government Regulatory Entity or necessary, proper or advisable to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Following the Closing, Buyer shall cause the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, not to decrease the base salary and target annual bonus of any Person who was an active Employee on the Closing Date for a period of at least one year following the Closing from such employees’ base salary and target annual bonus (at achievement of 100% performance) in effect on July 25, 2002 or has been adjusted after July 25, 2002 and prior to the date hereof in accordance with Section 3.6 hereof as set forth in Schedule 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Update.
(c) Employees shall be given credit for all service with the Company, its Subsidiaries, Seller and their respective past and present Affiliates under all employee benefit plans, programs and policies of Buyer in which they become participants for purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit accrual (but not for purposes of benefit accrual under any defined benefit pension plan), to the same extent such service was credited under the comparable Benefit Plan applicable to such Employees. If and to the extent that Employees who are Employees at the Closing Date become covered under a medical, dental, health, life insurance or disability plan
40
maintained by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries effective as of, or after, the Closing, then Buyer shall cause such plan to (i) waive any preexisting condition limitations for conditions that would have been covered under the applicable medical, dental, health, life insurance or disability plan of the Company and its Subsidiaries in which such employee participated immediately prior to participation in a Buyer (or Subsidiary) plan and (ii) honor any deductible, co-payment and other out of pocket expenses incurred by such employees and their beneficiaries under the applicable medical, dental, health, life insurance or disability plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the portion of such calendar year preceding the Closing Date.
(d) Seller shall permit the Employees who participate in the Diageo Pension Scheme sponsored by Diageo in the United Kingdom (the “Existing UK DB Plan”) as of the Closing (the “UK Employees”) to continue to participate in the Existing UK DB Plan for up to one year after the Closing (the “Transitional Period”) subject to the Buyer’s payment of the pension contributions, if any, required to be made to the Existing UK DB Plan under applicable Law or the terms of the Existing UK DB Plan, as such terms are in effect on the date hereof, for the UK Employees during the Transitional Period. Prior to the end of the Transitional Period, but subject to the receipt of the related assets, Buyer shall cause the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to, as provided in Schedule 6.3(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, create a new defined benefit pension plan (the “New UK DB Plan”) which shall provide pension benefits no less favorable than those provided to the UK Employees under the Existing UK DB Plan as of the date hereof. Following the end of the Transitional Period, the New UK DB Plan shall assume the relevant pension liabilities of the Existing UK DB Plan (and shall receive assets from the Existing UK DB Plan equal to the amount of such liabilities) attributable to the UK Employees as provided in Schedule 6.3(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.
(e) Prior to the Closing, Seller shall assume directly or cause an Affiliate of Seller to assume and, from and after the Closing Date, Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates harmless from and against and will promptly pay or reimburse each such Person for, any and all liabilities and obligations for or in respect of all “sale of business awards” that become payable pursuant to the terms of any of the Executive Employment Agreements as in effect on July 25, 2002 or as the same may be, or have been, amended or superceded pursuant to any Contract entered into in substitution therefor, in either case, with the consent of the individual party thereto, (the “SOBAs”). To the extent any such amendment or superceding contract would result in a change to any part of the Executive Employment Agreements other than the SOBAs, then the consent of Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, shall be required. Seller agrees to comply with the terms of the SOBAs or to cause an Affiliate of Seller to comply with the terms of the SOBAs. To the extent that Buyer or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries recognize a tax deduction in respect of payments to the Executive Officers as a result of this Section 6.3(e), then Buyer shall promptly pay, or cause to be paid to Seller, an amount in cash equal to the value of such deduction. Buyer shall cooperate with Seller and provide such assistance as is reasonably requested by Seller in order to effect the intention of this Section 6.3(e).
(f) From and after the Closing, Seller shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates from and against, and shall promptly pay or reimburse them for, any and all Controlled Group Liability, to the extent the occurrence or imposition of which is unrelated to the employees of the Company or its
41
(g) With respect to each Person listed on Schedule 6.3(g) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, Buyer and Seller agree to cause the Company to pay to each such Person, at or immediately following the Closing, the amount set forth on such Schedule 6.3(g) opposite such Person’s name thereon, in each case such payment shall be made net of any and all Taxes or other amounts required to be withheld from compensation paid by the Company to each such Person. In no event shall the Company make such payment unless prior to the Closing Seller or an Affiliate of Seller shall have transferred to the Company the aggregate cash amount equal to the aggregate amounts set forth for all such Persons on such Schedule 6.3(g) plus the Company’s share of any employment taxes related to the payment, if any, which together are equal to $6,952,219.00.
(b) Following the Closing, Seller shall, and shall cause its and Diageo’s Affiliates to, retain, until all applicable tax statutes of limitations (including periods of waiver) have expired, all books, records and other documents pertaining to the Company and its Subsidiaries that relate to the period prior to the Closing Date and that are required to be retained under Diageo’s retention policies in effect as of the date hereof and to make the same available after the Closing Date for inspection (at an office of Diageo or any of its Affiliates, the location of which shall be mutually agreed by the Buyer and the Seller) and copying by Buyer or its agents at Buyer’s expense, during regular business hours of Diageo and upon reasonable request and upon reasonable advance notice. After the expiration of such period, no such books and records shall be destroyed by Seller (and Seller shall not permit such destruction by Diageo or any of its or Diageo’s Affiliates) without first advising Buyer in writing detailing the contents thereof and providing Buyer with at least 120 days of reasonable opportunity to obtain possession thereof.
42
Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 3.21 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule for the benefit of those directors and officers who are covered by such policies at the Closing (or Buyer may substitute therefore policies of at least the same coverage with respect to matters occurring prior to the Closing), at a cost to Buyer not greater than 150% of the annual premium for such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect at Closing or, if Buyer shall not be able to obtain at the least the same coverage for such amount, as much coverage as Buyer may obtain up to such annual premium amount. Following the Closing and for a period of six years thereafter (only to the extent required by the Delaware General Corporation Law), Buyer will not permit Article IX of the Company’s by-laws to be amended (through merger or otherwise) in any manner that would be adverse to any Person who was a current or former director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries at or prior to the Closing and will not permit the Company’s by-laws or articles of incorporation to be amended (through merger or otherwise) in any manner or enter into any other agreement or understanding that would have the effect of amending Article IX of the Company’s by-laws in any manner that would be adverse to any Person who was a current or former director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and subject to paragraph (a) above, after the Closing, Seller shall not, and shall not permit Diageo or any of its Affiliates to, withdraw, revoke, terminate (other than at the scheduled expiration of such guarantee) or modify any Diageo Guarantee if so doing would trigger an obligation to provide cash collateral, the acceleration of an obligation, change in pricing, loss of rights or trigger any new obligations under any obligation underlying a Diageo Guarantee. Buyer shall certify within five days after the end of each calendar quarter to Seller in writing that no event has occurred or circumstances exist which would require payment under any Diageo Guarantee which is listed on Schedule 3.25(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or specified in a notice by Seller to Buyer
43
after the date hereof, or promptly following any event which would require payment under any such Diageo Guarantee. With respect to the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 3.25(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, Buyer agrees to reimburse Seller in U.S. dollars for all fees paid under such letters of credit promptly following written notice to Buyer from Seller requesting reimbursement of such fees.
(c) From and after the Closing, Seller shall reimburse Buyer and its Affiliates for any payments in excess of $4,000,000 made after the Closing by any of such Persons in respect of any guarantee given by the Company or its Subsidiaries in effect as of the Closing; provided that such guarantee supports obligations of a Person (other than the Company and its Affiliates) that are of the nature specified in clause (i) of the definition of Net Indebtedness. Seller’s liability under this Section 6.6(c) shall be limited to the amounts outstanding as of the Closing under the obligations underlying such guarantees plus any additional amounts outstanding under such obligations after the Closing resulting from accrued, but unpaid interest. Buyer further agrees not to amend or modify any guarantee or waive any material rights under any guarantee without the consent of Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Buyer agrees to cause the Company and its Affiliates to use their commercially reasonable efforts (but without incurring out-of-pocket costs) to cause the obligations underlying such guarantees to be performed.
(b) With respect to any Intercompany Accounts disregarded from the definition of Net Indebtedness pursuant to such definition, Buyer agrees to cause the Company or its applicable Affiliate which is paid an amount under such Intercompany Account to promptly reimburse such amount to Seller. In connection with any offset pursuant to the second sentence of Section 6.7(a) or any such reimbursement, the original payment obligation under the applicable Intercompany Account shall be treated as if it were cancelled immediately prior to the Closing.
44
Buyer’s agreement to cause the Company to bear all liabilities and obligations with respect to such property (other than liabilities and obligations to the extent resulting from actions taken by Seller or any of its Affiliates after Closing).
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing, Seller shall cause Diageo and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) to use their reasonable best efforts to transfer their rights and obligations under the leases listed on Annex 6.8(b) to the Company. Pending such transfers, Seller shall provide Buyer with all of the benefits under such leases and Buyer shall satisfy all obligations under such leases.
(b) In addition to any remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of Sections 6.1(c) or 6.10, Buyer, in addition to any other relief available to it, shall be entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctive relief and Seller will not oppose such relief on the basis that Buyer has an adequate remedy at law.
45
financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act that will include or reflect the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for periods prior to the Closing to the extent such information or documents are within the possession or control of Diageo or its Affiliates. In no event shall Seller have any liability with respect to any information supplied pursuant to this Section 6.11 unless the information was provided fraudulently.
(b) At the Closing, Buyer shall enter into a reimbursement agreement with Diageo pursuant to the agreement attached as Exhibit C (the “Reimbursement Agreement”).
(b) Seller shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide for a period of up to three months after Closing the management information systems services provided by Affiliates of Seller (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) immediately prior the Closing that are not provided pursuant to a Contract that would survive the Closing (the “Transition Services”) at a quality that is similar to the quality of such services provided by it to its Affiliates from time to time after the Closing to the extent Buyer and Seller, after using commercially reasonable efforts, are able to reach an agreement with respect to the payments by Buyer for the Transition Services.
(c) From and after the Closing, Seller shall permit the Company and its representatives to have reasonable access, during regular business hours and upon reasonable
46
advance notice, to Seller’s and its Affiliates’ books, Contracts, records and documents (including, without limitation, claims information for obtaining new insurance policies) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the Company’s transition to operating on a stand-alone basis; provided that the foregoing shall not (i) require Seller to permit any inspection, or to disclose any information, that in its reasonable judgment would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets or violate any of Seller’s, or any of its Affiliates’ obligations with respect to confidentiality or (ii) require any disclosure by Seller, or any of its Affiliates that reasonably could, as a result of such disclosure, have the effect of causing the waiver of any legal privilege. Seller agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain waivers of any of the foregoing confidentiality obligations and Buyer and Seller agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into appropriate joint defense agreements.
Section 6.17 Closing L/C. Seller shall surrender the Closing L/C to JPMorgan Chase Bank at the address stated in the Closing L/C for surrender and cancellation as promptly as practicable following its receipt of the Post-Closing Payment.
ARTICLE VII
Section 7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Transaction. The respective obligations of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing) at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:
(a) (i) The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby under the HSR Act shall have expired or been earlier terminated and (ii) any required material approvals pertaining to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the European Commission under European Union Council Regulation (EEC) No. 4064/89 of December 21, 1989 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, as amended by the European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1310/97 of June 30, 1997 shall have been obtained.
(b) No court or Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (an “Order”) and no Governmental Entity shall have initiated any proceeding that is pending and that seeks to have such a result if such a result would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or, if proceeding with the Closing while such proceeding was pending, would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
47
(a) Buyer shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date and executed by a duly authorized officer of Seller to the effect that the representations and warranties of Seller contained herein are true and correct as of the Closing in all material respects.
(b) Buyer shall have received (i) $750,000,000 in proceeds of the term loan included in the Senior Facility and (ii) to the extent requested by Buyer, loans under the revolving credit facility included in the Senior Facility, in each case on terms no less favorable to Buyer than the terms set forth in Exhibit A.
(a) Seller shall have received a certificate dated the Closing Date and executed by a duly authorized officer of Buyer to the effect that the representations and warranties of Buyer contained herein are true and correct as of the Closing in all material respects.
(b) The Reimbursement Agreement shall have been duly executed by the Buyer.
ARTICLE VIII
48
ARTICLE IX
(b) Except as set forth in the Agreement, regardless of whether any party or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective representatives had or should have had knowledge or notice of any facts or circumstances which would result in the breach of, or inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty of the other parties or the failure of any condition for its benefit to be satisfied or the breach of any covenant for its benefit, for purposes of this Agreement, such party shall not be deemed to have waived such breach or inaccuracy or condition. Actual or constructive knowledge, diligence investigations, access to information, sophistication, experience, notices and any other actual or deemed sources of information outside the express provisions of this Agreement shall in no way limit the scope of any representation, warranty or condition or heighten any materiality or Material Adverse Effect threshold herein.
(c) In determining any liability for breach of a representation or warranty under Sections 9.2(a)(i) and Section 9.3(a)(i), Section 3.13(j) and all references to a materiality or similar qualifier or Material Adverse Effect shall be disregarded, (i) except with respect to the representations set forth in Section 3.5, Section 3.6(x) and (xi), Section 3.10(a)(vi), Section 3.10(a)(ix), Section 3.16(c), the third sentence of Section 3.17(a) in that it relates to
49
matters expressly listed on the Seller Disclosure Schedule and (ii) it being understood that an express “Knowledge” qualifier shall not be disregarded in determining any such liability.
(b) Any payments pursuant to this Section 9.2 or Section 9.3 shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for all Tax purposes.
(b) No amounts shall be recoverable under Section 9.3(a) by the Buyer Indemnified Parties with respect to any matter to the extent such matter was reflected in the Calculation (provided, however, if the Losses in connection with such matter exceed the extent of the adjustment in respect of such matter in the Calculation, then this Section 9.3(b) shall not bar a claim for the amount by which such Losses exceed the amount of such adjustment) and any adjustments reflected in the Calculation shall not be counted in determining if the Deductible has been satisfied.
50
Section 9.4 Indemnification as Sole Remedy. Following the Closing, the indemnities provided in Article V, this Article IX, Section 6.3(e), Section 6.8 and the provisions of Section 10.15 (provided that the foregoing shall not increase Diageo’s obligations hereunder) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties with respect to any and all claims for Losses sustained or incurred arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for claims for fraud and except for actions for equitable relief under Section 6.1(c) and Section 6.10.
51
relief other than payments of monetary damages that are not to be paid by the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates. To the extent the Indemnifying Party shall direct, control or participate in the defense or settlement of any third party claim or demand, the Indemnified Party shall provide the Indemnifying Party and its counsel reasonable access to all relevant business records and other documents, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to assist, and to cause the employees and counsel of the Indemnified Party to assist, in defense of such claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Indemnifying Party elects not to defend the Indemnified Party or if an actual conflict of interest exists, the Indemnified Party shall (at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party in accordance with and subject to this Article IX) have the right and the obligation to vigorously defend the claim or demand by appropriate proceedings and shall have the sole power to direct and control such defense with respect to itself, subject to the restriction on settlement pursuant to this Article IX. In any event, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in the defense or settlement of any third party claim or demand for which the Indemnifying Party may be liable hereunder at its own expense.
ARTICLE X
52
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
53
(a) if to Seller or Diageo, to:
Gramet Holdings Corp. c/o Corporation Trust Company 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 |
Attention: General Counsel, Diageo North America Inc. |
facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
with a copy to: |
54
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx |
(b) if to Buyer, to:
Burger King Acquisition Corporation c/o Texas Pacific Group 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 |
facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Vice President |
with a copy to: |
Cleary, Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 |
facsimile: (000) 000-0000 |
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
Any notice given by mail shall be effective when received.
Section 10.12 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Selection of Forum. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT IT SHALL BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTAINED IN OR CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS AGAINST DIAGEO), WHETHER IN TORT OR CONTRACT OR AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, EXCLUSIVELY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK OR, IF SUCH COURT DOES NOT HAVE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK (THE “CHOSEN COURTS”). BUYER AND SELLER HEREBY (I) IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE CHOSEN COURTS, (II) WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO LAYING VENUE IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE CHOSEN COURTS, (III) WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT THE CHOSEN COURTS ARE AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR
55
DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY PARTY HERETO, (IV) AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 10.11 (NOTICES) OF THIS AGREEMENT OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF AND (V) AGREE THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(b) The liabilities and obligations of Diageo shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:
(i) any acceleration, extension or renewal in respect of any Seller Obligation, by operation of Law or otherwise; |
56
(ii) the invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of this Agreement; |
(iii) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement; |
(iv) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of either Seller or Diageo or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting either of them or their assets; or |
(v) if any payment by Seller is rescinded in connection with any matter referenced in clause (iv) above; or |
(vi) by any provisions of English law expressly applicable to guarantees. |
(c) Diageo’s obligations hereunder shall remain in full force and effect until the Seller Obligations shall have been performed in full.
(d) Upon performance by Diageo of any Seller Obligation, Diageo shall be subrogated against Seller, with respect to such Seller Obligation; provided that Diageo shall not enforce any Seller Obligation by way of subrogation against Seller while any Seller Obligation is due and unperformed by Seller.
57
GRAMET HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
|
||
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Title: SVP |
||
BURGER KING ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
|
||
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Title: Vice President |
||
Solely with respect to Section 10.15, DIAGEO PLC | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
|
||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Title: Director Business Support |
58