Share Purchase Agreement Galen Holdings PLC And Clinical Trial Services Limited
Xxxxx Holdings PLC And Clinical Trial Services Limited
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for the sale and purchase of the whole of the share capital of Gaelta Research and Development Limited, a subsidiary undertaking of Xxxxx Holdings PLC |
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8 May 2002 |
CONTENTS
CLAUSE PAGE
1. INTERPRETATION *
2. SALE AND PURCHASE *
3. CONDITIONS *
4. PERIOD TO COMPLETION *
5. ADJUSTMENT TO NET ASSET VALUE AND PREPARATION OF ACCOUNTS *
6. COMPLETION *
7. FUTURE TRADING AND TRADE ENQUIRIES *
8. WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES *
9. PROTECTION OF GOODWILL *
10. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION *
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC. *
12. ASSIGNMENT *
13. COSTS *
14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT *
15. WAIVER, AMENDMENT *
16. FURTHER ASSURANCE *
17. NOTICES *
18. COUNTERPARTS *
19. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION *
20. INVALIDITY *
21. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS *
22. GENERAL *
SCHEDULE 1 *
Particulars relating to the Companies *
SCHEDULE 2A *
Pro Forma Completion Accounts and Statement *
Consolidated profit and loss account of Gaelta and CTS Analytical *
Profit for the financial period *
Dividends *
Consolidated balance sheet of CTS Analytical and Gaelta at 31 May 2002 *
SCHEDULE 2B *
Accounting Policies and Procedures for the Completion Accounts *
SCHEDULE 3 *
Warranties *
SCHEDULE 4 *
The Properties *
SCHEDULE 5 *
Managers *
SCHEDULE 6 *
The Reorganisation *
SCHEDULE 7 *
Action Pending Completion *
SCHEDULE 8 *
Licence *
THIS AGREEMENT is made on 8 May 2002
BETWEEN:
(1) CLINICAL TRIAL SERVICES LIMITED whose registered office is at Xxxxx 0-0, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the "Buyer"); and
(2) XXXXX HOLDINGS PLC (No. NI25836) whose registered office is at Xxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Craigavon, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland BT63 5UA (the "Seller").
RECITALS
(A) The Seller is the ultimate parent of the Companies (as hereinafter defined) and as ultimate beneficial owner of the Shares (as hereinafter defined) is able to procure the transfer of the Shares.
(B) The Seller has agreed to sell, and the Buyer has agreed to purchase, the legal and beneficial interest in the Shares, being the whole issued share capital of Gaelta (as hereinafter defined), together with its wholly owned subsidiary, CTS Analytical (as hereinafter defined).
THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
- INTERPRETATION
- The following words and expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:
- The words and expressions defined in the schedules hereto shall have the meanings set out therein.
- References to the parties hereto include their respective permitted assignees and in the case of individuals their respective successors in title, personal representatives, heirs and estates and references to the masculine gender shall include the feminine and vice versa.
- References to statutes or statutory provisions include references to any orders or regulations made thereunder and references to any statute, provision, order or regulation include references to that statute, provision, order or regulation as re-enacted from time to time before the date hereof (subject as otherwise expressly provided herein) and to any previous statute, statutory provision, order or regulation amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced by such statute, provision, order or regulation before the date hereof.
- References to persons shall include bodies corporate and unincorporated, associations, partnerships and individuals.
- Headings to clauses and paragraphs are for information only and shall not form part of the operative provisions of this agreement and shall be ignored in construing the same.
- References to recitals, clauses or schedules are to recitals to, clauses of and schedules to this agreement.
- The recitals, the schedules and documents in the Agreed Form are part of the operative provisions of this agreement and references to this agreement shall, unless otherwise expressly stated, include references to the recitals, the schedules and documents in the Agreed Form.
- To the extent that any documents in the Agreed Form or any Transaction Documents refer to any currency which is not pounds sterling, as a basis on which liability should be determined the exchange rate to be used shall be the London Interbank Bid Rate for such currency at noon Greenwich Mean Time:
- on the date on which any claim arose solely for the purpose of determining whether or not the Buyer may affect a claim under the provisions of clauses 8.7 to 8.9 (inclusive) of this agreement; and/or
- on the date of which any claim was settled for the purposes of agreeing the extent of the Seller's liability hereunder.
- SALE AND PURCHASE
- Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this agreement, the Seller shall sell, or procure the sale of the Shares, together with all dividends declared after 31 May 2002, to the Buyer, with effect from Completion free from any Encumbrances and together with all accrued benefits and rights attaching thereto.
- The Seller waives or agrees to procure the waiver of any rights or restrictions conferred upon it or any other person which may exist in relation to the Shares whether under the articles of association of Gaelta or CTS Analytical.
- The consideration for the sale and purchase of the Shares shall (subject to adjustment in accordance with clauses 2 and 5 of this agreement) be the net total of L65 million pounds sterling as adjusted by Total Net Debt and Intra-Group Indebtedness (the "Consideration").
- One business day prior to the Completion Date, the Seller (without liability) shall provide to the Buyer a written estimate, together with such evidence (if any) as it may have in support, of the Debt, the Cash, the Intra-Group Receivables and the Intra-Group Payables, in each case, as at the close of business on the Completion Date.
- On Completion, the Buyer shall procure a payment to the Seller in cash for value on the Completion Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Seller's Solicitor's client account the net total of:
- L65 million pounds sterling; and
- the amount of Estimated Total Net Debt; and
- the amount of Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness.
- On Completion if the Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness is negative the Buyer shall procure for value on the Completion Date the payment by the Group of the Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness. On Completion if the Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness is positive the Seller shall procure for value on the Completion Date the payment by the Seller's Group of the Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness.
- If the net total of the Debt and Cash ("the Aggregate Amount") is less than nil, then to the extent that the same has not been satisfied at Completion by the adjustment at 2.5(b) above, the Seller shall make a payment to the Buyer (such payment being the "Adjustment Payment" for the purposes of this clause) together with interest on the amount to be paid at the Agreed Rate from time to time from Completion until the date of actual payment, of the amount equal to the deficit within five business days of the agreement or determination in accordance with clause 5 of this agreement of the Cash and Debt in the Statement. The Adjustment Payment shall be treated as a reduction in the Consideration and shall be paid by means of telegraphic transfer of immediately available funds to the Buyer's Account.
- If the net total of the Debt and Cash ("the Aggregate Amount") is less than nil, then to the extent that the same has been more than satisfied at Completion by the adjustment at 2.5(b) above , the Buyer shall make a payment to the Seller (such payment being the "Adjustment Payment" for the purposes of this clause) together with interest on the amount to be paid at the Agreed Rate from time to time from Completion until the date of actual payment, of the amount equal to the deficit within five business days of the agreement or determination in accordance with clause 5 of this agreement of the Cash and Debt in the Statement. The Adjustment Payment shall be treated as a reduction in the Consideration and shall be paid by means of telegraphic transfer of immediately available funds to the Buyer's Account.
- If the net total of the Debt and Cash ("the Aggregate Amount") is greater than nil, to the extent that the same has not been satisfied at Completion by the adjustment in 2.5(b) above, the Buyer shall repay the amount of excess Cash to the Seller within five business days of the determination in accordance with clause 5 of this agreement of the Cash and Debt in the Statement, by means of telegraphic transfer of immediately available funds to the Seller's Account and for the avoidance of doubt, the repayment of any Cash amount by the Buyer to the Seller shall be treated as an increase in the Consideration.
- If the net total of the Debt and Cash ("the Aggregate Amount") is greater than nil, to the extent that the same has been more than satisfied at Completion by the adjustment in 2.5(b) above, the Seller shall repay the amount of excess Cash to the Buyer within five business days of the determination in accordance with clause 5 of this agreement of the Cash and Debt in the Statement, by means of telegraphic transfer of immediately available funds to the Seller's Account and for the avoidance of doubt, the repayment of any Cash amount by the Buyer to the Seller shall be treated as an increase in the Consideration.
- In the event that the Intra-Group Payables exceed the Intra-Group Receivables, if and to the extent the net amount of the Intra-Group Payables less the Intra-Group Receivables is greater than the net amount of the Estimated Intra-Group Payables less the Estimated Intra-Group Receivables, the Buyer shall procure the payment by the relevant members of the Group (or will pay itself as agent for the relevant members of the Group) an amount equal to the difference between the two sums by way of telegraphic transfer to the Seller's Account in discharge of the net amounts due to the relevant members of the Seller's Group (together with interest thereon at the Agreed Rate for the period from the Completion Date to the actual payment date) against and only at such time as payment is made by the Seller to the Buyer by way of telegraphic transfer to the Buyer's Account of an amount equal thereto (which latter payment shall take effect as an adjustment to the Consideration paid pursuant to clause 2.3);
- In the event that the Intra-Group Payables exceed the Intra-Group Receivables, if and to the extent the net amount of the Intra-Group Payables less the Intra-Group Receivables is less than the net amount of the Estimated Intra-Group Payables less the Estimated Intra-Group Receivables, the Seller shall procure the payment by the relevant members of the Seller's Group (or will pay itself as agent for the relevant members of the Seller's Group) an amount equal to the difference between the two sums by way of telegraphic transfer to the Buyer's Account in discharge of the net amounts due to the relevant members of the Group (together with interest thereon at the Agreed Rate for the period from the Completion Date to the actual payment date) against and only at such time as payment is made by the Buyer to the Seller by way of telegraphic transfer to the Seller's Account of an amount equal thereto (which latter payment shall take effect as an adjustment to the Consideration paid pursuant to clause 2.3);
- In the event that the Intra-Group Receivables exceed the Intra-Group Payables, if and to the extent the net amount of the Intra-Group Receivables less the Intra-Group Payables exceed the net amount of the Estimated Intra-Group Receivables less the Estimated Intra-Group Payables, the Seller shall procure the payment by the relevant members of the Seller's Group (or will pay itself as agent for the relevant members of the Seller's Group) an amount equal to the difference between the two sums by way of telegraphic transfer to the Buyer's Account in discharge of the net amounts due to the relevant members of the Group (together with interest thereon at the Agreed Rate for the period from the Completion Date to the actual payment date) against and only at such time as payment is made by the Buyer to the Seller by way of telegraphic transfer to the Seller's Account of an amount equal thereto (which latter payment shall take effect as an adjustment to the Consideration paid pursuant to clause 2.3);
- In the event that the Intra-Group Receivables exceed the Intra-Group Payables, if and to the extent the net amount of the Intra-Group Receivables less the Intra-Group Payables is less than the net amount of the Estimated Intra-Group Receivables less the Estimated Intra-Group Payables, the Buyer shall procure the payment by the relevant members of the Group (or will pay itself as agent for the relevant members of the Group) an amount equal to the difference between the two sums by way of telegraphic transfer to the Seller's Account in discharge of the net amounts due to the relevant members of the Seller's Group (together with interest thereon at the Agreed Rate for the period from the Completion Date to the actual payment date) against and only at such time as payment is made by the Seller to the Buyer by way of telegraphic transfer to the Buyer's Account of an amount equal thereto (which latter payment shall take effect as an adjustment to the Consideration paid pursuant to clause 2.3).
- CONDITIONS
- Completion is conditional upon the fulfilment of each of the Conditions as follows:
- the Circular (containing a recommendation to vote in favour of the Resolution from the board of the Seller) being duly despatched to the shareholders of the Seller following the signing of this agreement by the parties and the Resolution having been duly passed without amendment; and
- all requisite regulatory consents and clearances having been received and all waiting periods having expired or having been terminated (as the case may be) in respect of the proposed sale of the CTS Business without action on the part of the relevant regulatory authorities to challenge the transaction in a court of competent jurisdiction.
- The Seller shall not waive Condition (a) in whole or in part. Neither party may waive Condition (b) in whole or in part unless otherwise agreed between the parties in writing.
- The Seller undertakes to use all reasonable endeavours to procure the fulfilment of the Conditions set out in clauses 3.1 and the Buyer undertakes to use all reasonable endeavours to procure the fulfilment of the Condition set out in clause 3.1(b) by 31 May 2002 (or such later date as shall be agreed in writing between the parties).
- If both Conditions (save for those compliance with which has been waived in accordance with the terms of this agreement) have not been fulfilled on or before 30 June 2002 (or such later date as shall be agreed in writing between the parties) this agreement shall terminate with effect from that date.
- If this agreement terminates in accordance with clause 3.4 then the obligations of the parties shall automatically terminate and shall be of no further force and effect except for the provisions of clauses 10-15 (inclusive) and 19-22 (inclusive) hereof which shall remain in full force and effect and there shall be no liability on the part of any of the parties hereto.
- The Seller and the Buyer shall keep the other advised of the progress towards the satisfaction of their obligations under clause 3.
- PERIOD TO COMPLETION
- The Seller undertakes with the Buyer to use all reasonable endeavours to procure that each Company shall operate the CTS Business and activities in their ordinary course between today's date and the Completion Date (and in particular shall comply with the undertakings set out in schedule 7 of this agreement), except as otherwise contemplated by the Intellectual Property Agreement.
- Pending Completion the Buyer and any person authorised by it as its agent shall be given reasonable access to the Properties and to all the books and records of each Company and the directors and employees of each Company shall be instructed to give all such information and explanations as the Buyer or any such person may reasonably request provided that such information relates directly to the proposed transactions to be effected under the terms of this agreement. Any such inspection or investigation shall be conducted at reasonable times, on prior notice, and under such circumstances as the Seller may reasonably impose.
- ADJUSTMENT TO NET ASSET VALUE AND PREPARATION OF ACCOUNTS
- The Buyer and the Seller shall procure that, promptly after Completion, the Accounts, the Completion Accounts together with the statement (the "Statement") of the Net Asset Value, the Debt, the Cash, the Intra-Group Payables, the Intra-Group Receivables and the Non-CTS Tax Receivables as at Completion, are prepared in accordance with the provisions of this clause 5 and, in respect of the Completion Accounts and the Statement, in the form set out in schedule 2A hereto. The Accounts, Completion Accounts and the Statement shall be prepared in the form set out in and on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in this clause 5 and in schedule 2. The Buyer shall use its reasonable endeavours to secure compliance with clause 5 and schedule 2 by the Buyer's Accountants and the Seller shall use its reasonable endeavours to secure compliance with this clause 5 and schedule 2 by the Seller's Accountants.
- The parties hereto shall jointly arrange for the Accounts, the Completion Accounts and the Statement to be prepared by the Buyer's Accountants in conjunction with the Companies and the Seller's Accountants in order that such draft Accounts, Completion Accounts and Statement shall be delivered to the Seller within 90 days of Completion. The cost of preparation of the Accounts, the Completion Accounts and the Statement shall be borne equally by the Seller and the Buyer.
- The Seller shall notify the Buyer in writing within 30 days of receipt of the Completion Accounts and the Statement whether or not it accepts them for the purposes of this agreement.
- If the Seller notifies the Buyer that it does not accept such draft Completion Accounts and Statement:
"ACCI" means Applied Clinical Concepts, Inc., a North Carolina corporation;
"Accounts" means the audited statutory financial statements (comprising a balance sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow statement, notes and directors' report and auditors' certificates) for each of the Companies for the financial period commencing on the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date;
"Accounts Date" means 30 September 2001;
"Agreed Form" means, in relation to a document, in the form agreed between the parties on or prior to the date hereof and for the purposes of identification signed on their behalf;
"Agreed Net Asset Value" means the sum of L10 million sterling;
"Agreed Rate" means 2 per cent. above the base rate from time to time of National Westminster Bank plc;
"associated company" has the meaning given to it in sections 416 at seq. TA;
"Bank Facility Letter" means the letter to be dated 8 May 2002 between, inter alia, the Buyer and Northern Bank Limited;
"business day" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) when banks are open for business in Belfast;
"Buyer's Account" means the account in the name of the Buyer, account number and sort code to be provided to the Seller prior to Completion at Northern Bank Limited in Portadown;
"Buyer's Accountants" means PricewaterhouseCoopers of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX;
"Buyer's Group" means the Buyer and the subsidiary undertakings and associated companies, all of them and each of them as the context admits;
"Buyer's Solicitors" means L'Estrange and Xxxxx Solicitors, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 00-00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX;
"Cash" means the aggregate amount of cash held by the Group as at the close of business on the Completion Date, as set out in the Statement and calculated in accordance with clause 5 and on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B;
"Circular" means the explanatory circular to be despatched by the Seller to its shareholders pursuant to the Listing Rules seeking their approval to the transaction contemplated in this agreement;
"Companies" means Gaelta and CTS Analytical and "Company" means any of them;
"Completion" means the completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares in accordance with clause 3;
"Completion Accounts" means the consolidated balance sheet of the Companies as at the Completion Date and the consolidated profit and loss account of the Companies for the period from the day following the Accounts Date to the close of business on the Completion Date, prepared in accordance with clause 5 in the format as set out in schedule 2A and on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B, and as derived from the Accounts of the Companies for the period ended on the Completion Date;
"Completion Date" means the date on which Completion occurs;
"Computer Software Agreement" means the agreement between the Seller and CTS Analytical to be entered into prior to Completion in the Agreed Form relating to certain computer software used by the Companies in the CTS Business;
"Conditions" means the conditions set out in clause 3.1;
"connected person" means a person who is connected with another for the purpose of section 839 of the TA;
"Confidential Information" means, in relation to the obligations of the Seller, all information relating to the CTS Business or the Buyer's Group, or financial or other affairs (including future plans and targets of any Company or the Buyer's Group) which is of a confidential nature and not in the public domain (including but not limited to Know-How) and in relation to the obligations of the Buyer, all information relating to any business of the Seller's Group, or financial or other affairs (including future plans and targets of any member of the Seller's Group) which is of a confidential nature and is not in the public domain;
"Consideration" has the meaning given to it in clause 2.3 of this agreement;
"CTS Analytical" means CTS Analytical Limited, formerly named Xxxxx Limited, (No. NI007005) whose registered office is at Unit 22, Seagoe Industrial Estate, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT6 5UA;
"CTS Deferred Tax" means the aggregate liability of the Group for deferred tax as shown in the Completion Accounts as relating to the CTS Business or any part thereof and as calculated in accordance with clause 5 on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B;
"CTS Delaware" means Clinical Trials Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
"CTS Tax Payables" means the aggregate of the amounts owing by the members of the Group in respect of corporation tax owing on income, profits or gains of the CTS Business for the period commencing the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date, such business being treated as a separate trade for tax purposes;
"CTS Tax Receivables" means the tax benefits of the losses of the CTS Business for the period commencing the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date, such business being treated as a separate trade for tax purposes to the extent that these losses have reduced the Non-CTS Tax Payables;
"CTS Business" means the clinical trial services business of the Seller's Group including but not limited to the granulation and over-encapsulation of active tablets; the manufacture of placebo tablets and capsules; the construction of placebo and blinded comparator medical devices; verification of the integrity of over-encapsulated products; pack design and packaging; tooling and tool design fabrication; label generation; labelling and compilation; drug accountability and destruction; analytical services including but not limited to dissolution and stability testing and distribution and related logistics services insofar as any or all of the same are carried out solely in connection with such clinical trial services business as carried on by the Seller's Group from its sites in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Audubon, Pennsylvania and Durham, North Carolina as at the date of this agreement, excluding the ICTI Business;
"Debt" means the aggregate amount of indebtedness of each of the Companies including indebtedness for borrowed monies and for finance leases, credit facilities, whether from banks or similar institutions (excluding (a) any such indebtedness owing between members of the Group; (b) Intra-Group Payables; and (c) debts arising in the ordinary course of business) as at the close of business on the Completion Date, as set out in the Statement and calculated in accordance with clause 5 and on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B;
"Disclosure Letter" means an Agreed Form letter of today's date together with the attachments thereto addressed by the Seller to the Buyer disclosing exceptions to the Warranties in the Agreed Form;
"Encumbrance" means any mortgage, charge (fixed or floating), pledge, lien, trust, right of set off or other third party right or interest (legal or equitable) including any right of pre-emption, assignment by way of security, reservation of title or any other security interest of any kind however created or arising;
"Environment" means any and all of the following media namely the air, water and land (including any sub-soil) and any living organisms or systems supported by those media;
"Environmental Laws" means all treaties, laws (including the common law), rules, regulations, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority which relate to the Environment, the preservation or reclamation of natural resources, or human health and safety or the Environment as affected by exposure to Hazardous Substances which are applicable in each case to the CTS Business and/or the Companies;
"Environmental Matters" means the Release of Hazardous Substances and the creation of any noise, vibration, radiation, common law or statutory nuisance or other adverse impact on the Environment and any other matters in relation to the Properties and the business of the Companies which are related to pollution or protection of the Environment;
"Estimated Cash" means the amount of Cash estimated by the Seller pursuant to clause 2.4;
"Estimated Debt" means the amount of Debt estimated by the Seller pursuant to clause 2.4;
"Estimated Intra-Group Indebtedness" means the net total of the Estimated Intra-Group Payables and Estimated Intra-Group Receivables (calculated on the basis that the Intra-Group Payables balances shall be treated as being negative and the Intra-Group Receivables shall be treated as positive) which shall be Estimated Intra-Group Payables of at least eleven million pounds sterling (L11,000,000);
"Estimated Intra-Group Payables" means the amount of Intra-Group Payables estimated by the Seller pursuant to clause 2.4;
"Estimated Intra-Group Receivables" means the amount of Intra-Group Receivables estimated by the Seller pursuant to clause 2.4;
"Estimated Total Net Debt" means the net total of the Estimated Debt and Estimated Cash (calculated on the basis that Debt balances shall be treated as being negative and Cash balances shall be treated as positive) which shall be Estimated Total Net Debt of at least four million pounds sterling (L4,000,000);
"Gaelta" means Gaelta Research and Development Limited (No. NI9788) whose registered office is at Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX00 0XX;
"Xxxxx Inc." means Xxxxx Incorporated a Pennsylvania corporation;
"Xxxxx Limited" means Xxxxx Limited with registered number No.NI30077;
"Governmental Authority" means any federal, provincial, state, local, foreign or international governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, central bank, commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitrary body and any other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government;
"Group" means the Companies, either together or any one of them as the context so requires;
"Hazardous Substances" means (a) petroleum products and by-products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances or (b) any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant or contaminant that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law;
"holding company" has the meaning given to it in Article 4 of The Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (as amended);
"ICTI" means Interactive Clinical Technologies Inc., a New Jersey corporation;
"ICTI Business" means the business conducted by ICTI (or business conducted under the trading name "ICTI" or assets held in connection therewith by any other member of the Seller's Group (including Xxxxx Limited) at the date of this agreement, including but not limited to development and provision of interactive voice response systems in connection with clinical studies together with consultancy services in relation thereto;
"ICTI Leases" means a lease dated 31 May 2000 between (1) Derno Estates Limited and (2) Xxxxx Limited (now named CTS Analytical) commencing on 10 May 2000 and expiring on 9 May 2005 comprising premises more particularly described therein on the Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Mary's Walk, Maidenhead, Berkshire and a lease dated 10 December 2001 between (1) Derno Estates Limited and (2) Xxxxx Limited (now named CTS Analytical) for a term commencing on 10 December 2001 and expiring on 9 May 2005 comprising premises more particularly described therein being part of the Xxxxx Xxxxx (Xxxxx), Xxxxx X, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Mary's Walk, Maidenhead, Berkshire;
"Intellectual Property" means any and all patents, trade marks, rights in designs, trade business or domain names, copyrights, rights in inventions, Know-How, rights in data bases and other intellectual property rights of a similar or corresponding character which may subsist in any part of the world;
"Intellectual Property Agreement" means the agreement between Xxxxx Limited and CTS Analytical to be entered into prior to Completion in the Agreed Form relating to the assignment of certain Intellectual Property;
"Intra-Group Indebtedness" means the net total of the Intra-Group Payables and Intra-Group Receivables as determined by the Completion Accounts (calculated on the basis that the Intra-Group Payables balances shall be treated as being negative and the Intra-Group Receivables shall be treated as positive);
"Intra-Group Payables" means the aggregate of the amounts owing from members of the Group to members of the Seller's Group (excluding amounts owing in respect of intra-group trading activities in the ordinary course of trading as at the close of business on the Completion Date and excluding any amounts owing to Xxxxx Inc. and/or its subsidiary undertakings from the Group) as set out in the Statement and calculated in accordance with clause 5 on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B;
"Intra-Group Receivables" means the aggregate of the amounts owing from members of the Seller's Group to members of the Group (excluding amounts owing in respect of intra-group trading activities in the ordinary course of trading as at the close of business on the Completion Date and excluding any amounts owing from Xxxxx Inc. and/or its subsidiary undertakings to members of the Group) as set out in the Statement and calculated in accordance with clause 5 on the basis of the accounting policies and procedures set out in schedule 2B;
"Know-How" means proprietary industrial, technical or commercial information, Confidential Information and techniques in any form (including paper, electronically stored data, magnetic media, files and microfilm) including, without limitation, drawings, data relating to inventions, processes and procedures, formulae, test results, reports, research reports (insofar as the same are in the possession of the Seller's Group), project reports and testing procedures, shop practices, instruction and training manuals, sale statistics, specifications, quotations and pricing policy, lists and particulars of customers and suppliers, marketing methods and procedures, and advertising copy; all relating to the CTS Business;
"Licence" means the licence in the Agreed Form as set out in schedule 8 to this agreement relating to the ICTI Leases;
"Listing Rules" means the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority made pursuant to Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000;
"London Stock Exchange" means London Stock Exchange plc;
"Managers" means those persons listed at schedule 5;
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material and adverse effect on the business, assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of the CTS Business conducted in the United Kingdom, excluding any adverse effects arising out of or resulting from changes in the general economy or the reaction of employees, suppliers or customers to Seller's entering into of this agreement or Buyer acquiring the Shares;
"Net Asset Value" means the amount by which the aggregate of the fixed and current assets of the Group as shown in the Completion Accounts prepared in accordance with clause 5 hereof (excluding Cash, Intra-Group Receivables and any Non-CTS Tax Receivables) exceeds the aggregate of the liabilities (excluding Debt, Intra-Group Payables and any Non-CTS Tax Payables) of the Group as shown in the Completion Accounts as at the Completion Date;
"Non-CTS Tax Payables" means the aggregate of the amounts owing by the members of the Group in respect of corporation tax as shown in the Completion Accounts being amounts which are not CTS Tax Payables;
"Non-CTS Tax Receivables" means the aggregate of the amounts owed to the members of the Group in respect of corporation tax as shown in the Completion Accounts including the tax benefit of the non-CTS division tax losses for the period commencing on the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date to the extent that these have reduced the actual tax payable on the profits of the CTS Business for the same period;
"Open Contracts" means contracts entered into by the Company (or any of them) for the supply of clinical trials services which contracts do not provide for a limit on the liability of such Company in relation to the supply of those services;
"Pension Scheme" means the Xxxxx Limited No. 2 Retirement Benefits Scheme;
"Permit" means a permit, licence, consent, approval, certificate, qualification, specification, registration and a filing of a notification report or assessment necessary in any relevant jurisdiction for the lawful, proper and efficient operation of the CTS Business, its ownership, possession, occupation or use of an asset as at the date of this agreement or the execution and performance of this agreement (insofar as the same is not treated as Intellectual Property);
"Properties" means the properties described in schedule 4 or any part or parts thereof and "Property" shall mean any one of them;
"Related Persons" means, in relation to any party, its holding companies and the subsidiary undertakings and associated companies from time to time of such holding companies, all of them and each of them as the context admits;
"Release" means any spilling, seeping, leaking, pumping, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing or migrating into the Environment;
"Registered Intellectual Property" means the registered Intellectual Property owned by the Companies as listed in schedule 2 of the Intellectual Property Agreement;
"the Reorganisation" means the Seller's Group reorganisation as set out in schedule 6 of this agreement;
"Reorganisation Documents" means those documents disclosed to the Buyer in relation to the reorganisation of the Seller's Group which took place as at 31 March 2002;
"Resolution" means the resolution for the purpose of approving the sale of the Shares on the terms of this agreement, set out in a notice convening an extraordinary general meeting of the Seller contained in the Circular;
"Restricted Services" means the provision of clinical trials services including but not limited to the granulation and over encapsulation of active tablets; the manufacture of placebo tablets and capsules; the construction of placebo and blinded comparator medical devices; verification of the integrity of over-encapsulated products; pack design and packaging; tooling and tool design fabrication, label generation; labelling and compilation; drug accountability and destruction; analytical services including but not limited to dissolution and stability testing and distribution and related logistics services insofar as any and all of the same are carried out solely in connection with such clinical trial services business as carried on by the CTS Business from its sites in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Audubon, Pennsylvania and Durham, North Carolina;
"Restricted Territory" means those parts of Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Africa, to the extent that the CTS Business operates therein at the date hereof;
"Seller's Account" means the account in the name of the Seller, account number 00000000 at The Bank of Ireland, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX00 0XX, sort code 90-23-54;
"Seller's Accountants" means PricewaterhouseCoopers of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX0 0XX;
"Seller's Group" means the Seller, its subsidiary undertakings and associated companies (excluding the Companies, Xxxxx Inc., ACCI and CTS Delaware);
"Seller's Solicitors" means Ashurst Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX;
"September Accounts" means the audited financial statements (comprising a balance sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow statement, notes and directors' report and auditors' certificate) of the Seller for the financial period ended on 30 September 2001;
"Shares" means the whole issued share capital of Gaelta held directly or indirectly by the Seller;
"Statement" has the meaning given to it in clause 5.1 of this agreement;
"subsidiary" has the meaning given to it in Article 4 of The Companies Order 1986 (as amended);
"TA" means the Income and Corporation Taxes Xxx 0000;
"Taxation" or "Tax" means any tax and any duty, impost, levy or governmental charge in the nature of tax whether domestic or foreign and any fine, penalty or interest connected therewith (a) including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) corporation tax, income tax, national insurance and social security contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, capital transfer tax, development land tax, value added tax, customs, excise and import duties and any other payment in the nature of tax which the relevant party is or may be or become bound to make to any person as a result of any enactment relating to any of the foregoing (b) but excluding any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax payable on the transfer of the Shares under the terms of this agreement;
"Tax Deed" means a deed of indemnity in the Agreed Form;
"Tax Warranties" means tax warranties given pursuant to clause 8 and paragraph 17 of schedule 3;
"Total Net Debt" means the net total of the Debt and Cash as determined by the Completion Accounts (calculated on the basis that Debt balances shall be treated as being negative and Cash balances shall be treated as positive);
"Transaction Documents" has the meaning given to it under clause 14 of this agreement;
"Transitional Services Agreement" means the agreement in the Agreed Form to be entered into between the parties hereto governing the provision of services following Completion to and from each of the parties;
"UK Listing Authority" means the Financial Services Authority in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000; and
"Unregistered Intellectual Property" has the meaning attributed to "Unregistered Business IP" in the Intellectual Property Agreement;
"Warranties" means the warranties given pursuant to clause 8 and schedule 3;
- the Seller and the Seller's Accountants shall, at the same time, set out in a notice in writing their reasons for such non-acceptance and specify the adjustments which, in their opinion, should be made to the draft Completion Accounts and the Statement in order to comply with the requirements of this agreement (and in particular clause 5 and schedule 2 hereof) and deliver a copy of such notice to the Seller; and
- the parties shall use all reasonable endeavours to meet and discuss the objections of the Seller and to reach agreement upon the adjustments (if any) required to be made to the draft Completion Accounts and the Statement and will provide each other with such information and explanations and access to working papers as may be reasonably and properly required by the other for this purpose.
- If the Seller is satisfied with the draft Completion Accounts and Statement (either as originally submitted or after adjustments agreed between the Seller and the Buyer) or if the Seller fails to notify the Buyer of its non-acceptance of the draft Completion Accounts and Statement within the 30 business day period referred to in clause 5.3 (or such time period as has been agreed between the parties), then the draft Completion Accounts and Statement (incorporating any agreed adjustments) shall constitute the Completion Accounts and the Statement respectively for the purposes of this agreement.
- If the Buyer and the Seller do not reach agreement within 10 business days of the Seller's notice of non-acceptance pursuant to clause 5.4 then the matters in dispute and in respect of which details have been provided by the Seller to the Buyer at the time that it notified the Buyer that it does not accept the draft Completion Accounts in accordance with clause 5.4(a) shall be referred, on the application of either party, for determination by an independent firm of internationally recognised chartered accountants to be agreed upon by the Seller and the Buyer or, failing agreement, to be selected, on the application of either the Seller or the Buyer, by the President for the time being of the Ulster Branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland or his duly appointed deputy. The following provisions shall apply to such determination:
- the Buyer and/or the Buyer's Accountants and the Seller and/or the Seller's Accountants shall each promptly prepare a written statement on the matters in dispute which (together with the relevant documents) shall be submitted to such independent firm for determination;
- in giving such determination, the firm shall state what adjustments (if any) are necessary to the draft Completion Accounts and Statement in respect of the matters in dispute in order to comply with the requirements of this agreement (and in particular clause 5 and schedule 2 hereof) and shall give its reasons therefor and shall make such determination as soon as reasonably practicable after its appointment and in any event by not later than 30 days after its appointment;
- any such firm shall act as an expert (and not as an arbitrator and the Arbitration (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 shall not apply) in making any such determination which shall be final and binding on the parties hereto (in the absence of manifest error); and
- each party shall bear the costs and expenses of all counsel and other advisers, witnesses and employees retained by it and the costs and the expenses of the independent firm of accountants shall be borne between the Seller and the Buyer in such proportions as the firm shall in its discretion determine or, in the absence of any such determination, equally between the Seller and the Buyer.
- When the Seller and the Buyer reach (or pursuant to clause 5.5 are deemed to reach) agreement on the Completion Accounts and the Statement or when the Completion Accounts and the Statement are finally determined at any stage in accordance with the procedures set out in this clause 5:
- the Completion Accounts and the Statement as so agreed or determined shall be the Completion Accounts and the Statement for the purposes of this agreement and shall be final and binding on the parties; and
- the Net Asset Value, the Debt, the Cash, the Intra-Group Payables and the Intra-Group Receivables (in each case as at the close of business on the Completion Date) shall be as set out in the Statement.
- Subject to any rule of law or any regulatory body or any provision of any contract or arrangement entered into prior to the date of this agreement to the contrary, the Seller shall procure that each member of the Seller's Group shall, and the Buyer shall procure that the Group shall, promptly provide each other, their advisers, and the independent firm of chartered accountants appointed pursuant to clause 5.6 to determine the Completion Accounts and the Statement and the Buyer's Accountants and the Seller's Accountants with all information (in their respective possession or control) relating to the operations of the Seller's Group and/or the Group, as the case may be, including access at all reasonable times to all Seller's Group and Group employees, books and records, and all co-operation and assistance, as may in any such case be reasonably required to:
- enable the production of the Completion Accounts and the Statement; and
- enable any independent firm of chartered accountants appointed pursuant to clause 5.6 to determine the Completion Accounts and the Statement.
The Seller and the Buyer hereby authorise each other, their respective advisers and the independent firm of chartered accountants appointed pursuant to clause 5.6 to take copies of all information which they have agreed to provide under clause 5.6.
- If the Net Asset Value as at Completion, as determined in accordance with this clause 5, is less than the Agreed Net Asset Value, then the Seller shall make a payment to the Buyer (such payment being the "Final Payment"), together with interest on the amount to be paid at the Agreed Rate from time to time from Completion until the date of actual payment, of an amount equal to the difference between the Net Asset Value as at Completion and the Agreed Net Asset Value, within five business days of the agreement or determination of the Completion Accounts in accordance with this clause 5. The Final Payment shall be treated as a reduction in the Consideration and shall be paid by means of telegraphic transfer of immediately available funds to the Buyer's Account.
- For the avoidance of doubt, if the Net Asset Value at Completion, as determined in accordance with this clause 5 and schedule 2 hereto, is more than the Agreed Net Asset Value, the Buyer shall not be required to make any further payment to the Seller in respect of the difference between the Net Asset Value and the Agreed Net Asset Value.
- The Buyer undertakes to use all reasonable endeavours to (and the Seller undertakes to use all reasonable endeavours to assist the Buyer to) file the Accounts with the registrar of companies within 120 days of the Completion Date.
- COMPLETION
- Completion shall take place at the registered office of the Seller (or at such other location as the Seller and Buyer shall agree) on the Completion Date.
- On Completion, the Seller shall deliver or procure the delivery to the Buyer or the Company:
- transfers in common form relating to all the Shares duly executed in favour of the Buyer (or as it may direct) and in relation to all the issued shares in each Company;
- share certificates relating to the Shares;
- resignations in the Agreed Form duly executed as deeds of Xx. Xxxx X. Xxxx, Mr. R. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Xxxxx XxXxxxxx and Mr. Xxx Xxxx being all the directors of CTS Analytical from their offices as director and from Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as Secretary and containing a confirmation that they have no claims (whether statutory, contractual or otherwise) against CTS Analytical for compensation for loss of office or termination of employment or for unpaid remuneration or otherwise together with delivery to the Buyer of all property of CTS Analytical in their possession or under their control;
- resignations in the Agreed Form duly executed as deeds of Xx. Xxxx X. Xxxx and Mr. R. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx being all the directors of Gaelta from their offices as director and from Mr. R. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx as Secretary and containing a confirmation that they have no claims (whether statutory, contractual or otherwise) against Gaelta for compensation for loss of office or termination of employment or for unpaid remuneration or otherwise together with delivery to the Buyer of all property of Gaelta in their possession or under their control;
- the common seals, certificates of incorporation and statutory books, share certificate books and cheque books of each of Gaelta and CTS Analytical;
- the Tax Deed duly executed by the Seller;
- to the extent not in the possession of Gaelta and/or CTS Analytical all books of account or references as to customers and/or suppliers and other records exclusively relating to the CTS Business;
- to the extent not in the possession of Gaelta and/or CTS Analytical all Permits and such contracts, deeds or other documents (including assignments of any such licences which relate exclusively to the CTS Business);
- written confirmation, in the Agreed Form, from the Seller that there are no liabilities whatsoever (actual or contingent) which may be owing from any of the Companies to the Seller's Group except those arising in the ordinary course of trade and the L11 million pounds sterling owed by CTS Analytical Limited to the Seller;
- an executed counterpart of the Licence if required under the provisions of clause 22.3 hereto;
- an executed counterpart of the Intellectual Property Agreement and of the Computer Software Assignment Agreement;
- an executed counterpart of the Transitional Services Agreement; and
- executed Reorganisation Documents as listed in schedule 6 of this agreement.
- At or prior to Completion (and prior to the taking effect of the resignations of the directors and secretary referred to in clause 6.2(c) above) the Seller shall procure the passing of board resolutions of CTS Analytical:
- appointing Xx. Xxxxx X. XxXxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx as directors of CTS Analytical;
- appointing Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as company secretary of CTS Analytical;
- revoking any existing mandates to bankers and giving authority in favour of the directors appointed under clause 6.3(a) above or such other persons as the Buyer may nominate to operate the bank accounts thereof;
- resolving that the registered office of CTS Analytical be changed to Xxxxx 0-0, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; and
- resolving that the current financial year of CTS Analytical be shortened to end on the Completion Date and further resolving to instruct the auditors of CTS Analytical (which shall be the Buyer's Accountants) to prepare audited accounts for the period commencing the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date.
- At or prior to Completion (and prior to the taking effect of the resignations of the directors and secretary referred to in clause 6.2(d) above) the Seller shall procure the passing of board resolutions of Gaelta:
- sanctioning for registration (subject where necessary to due stamping) the transfers in respect of the Shares;
- authorising the delivery to the Buyer of share certificates in respect of the Shares;
- appointing Xx. Xxxxx X. XxXxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx as directors of Gaelta;
- appointing Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as company secretary of Gaelta;
- revoking any existing mandates to bankers and giving authority in favour of the directors appointed under clause 6.4(c) above or such other persons as the Buyer may nominate to operate the bank accounts thereof;
- resolving that the registered office of Gaelta be changed to Xxxxx 0-0, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; and
- resolving that the current financial year of Gaelta be shortened to end on the Completion Date and further resolving to instruct the auditors of Gaelta (who shall be the Buyer's Accountants) to prepare audited accounts for the period commencing the day following the Accounts Date and ending on the Completion Date.
- The Seller shall procure that at Completion each Company is released from any Encumbrance given or incurred by it which relates in whole or in part to debts or other liabilities or obligations of any person.
- Upon compliance by the Seller with the provisions of clauses 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 the Buyer shall deliver to the Seller:
- a counterpart of the Tax Deed duly executed;
- an executed counterpart of the Licence if required under the provisions of clause 22.3 hereto; and
- a duly executed counterpart of the Transitional Services Agreement.
- At or prior to Completion:
- the Seller shall pass (or procure the passing of) written resolutions (which shall include amending the memorandum of association of each Company to include an express power to give financial assistance and to broaden the power to give guarantees and to disapply Regulation 10 of Table A to the Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960 and to make such other amendments to the memoranda of association of each Company as the Buyer reasonably requests) in the Agreed Form of the shareholders of Gaelta and CTS Analytical approving the financial assistance (within the meaning of Article 161 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986) to be given by Gaelta and CTS Analytical in connection with the acquisition by the Buyer of the Shares arising from the arrangements described in the Bank Facility Letter; and
- the Buyer shall procure the compliance by Gaelta and CTS Analytical with the remaining requirements of Articles 165 to 168 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 in connection with the financial assistance referred to in clause 6.7(a).
- If any of the obligations of the Seller or the Buyer are not complied with on Completion whichever of the Buyer or the Seller is not in default of their obligations under this agreement may:
- defer Completion to a date not more than one month after Completion should have taken place but for the said default (and so that the provisions of this clause 6, apart from this clause 6.8(a), shall apply to Completion as so deferred); or
- proceed to Completion so far as practicable (without prejudice to its rights hereunder); or
- terminate this agreement which shall be of no further force and effect except for the provisions of clauses 10-15 (inclusive) and 19-22 (inclusive) hereof which shall remain in full force and effect,
- The Seller acknowledges that, immediately following Completion until such time as the transfer(s) of the Shares have been registered in the register of members of Gaelta, the Seller will hold the Shares registered in its name on trust for and as nominee for the Buyer or its nominees and undertakes to hold all dividends and distributions and exercise all voting rights available in respect of the Shares in accordance with the directions of the Buyer or its nominees and if the Seller is in breach of the undertakings contained in this clause the Seller irrevocably authorises the Buyer to appoint some person or persons to execute all instruments or proxies (including consents to short notice) or other documents which the Buyer or its nominees may reasonably require and which may be necessary to enable the Buyer or its nominees to attend and vote at general meetings of Gaelta and/or CTS Analytical, whichever shall be relevant, and to do any thing or things necessary to give effect to the rights contained in this clause.
- The Buyer acknowledges and agrees on behalf of itself and each member of the Buyer's Group that nothing in this agreement shall operate as an agreement to transfer any right, title or interest in the name or xxxx "Xxxxx" or in any name or xxxx which includes the name or xxxx "Xxxxx" or in any name or xxxx which consists of or includes or is confusingly similar to the name or xxxx "Xxxxx" in translational or transliteral form or otherwise (together, the "Xxxxx Xxxxx"), save for any right title or interest in the name or xxxx "Technigal";
- If any documentation (whether in written form or held by any electronic means) provided or required to be provided to the Buyer pursuant to this clause 6 or otherwise on transfer of the Shares bears any Xxxxx Xxxx, the Buyer shall be required to procure that no such documentation shall be used in any public manner and, to the extent possible without breaching the terms of this agreement or any requirement of law or regulation and subject to clause 6.13, the Buyer shall procure the destruction of any existing documentation bearing the Xxxxx Xxxxx or any of them, including invoicing and general stationery and similar types of documentation.
- Subject to clause 6.11, the Buyer agrees that for a period of at least six years from Completion it will cause the Companies to retain all documents in their possession at the Completion Date and will provide the Seller with copies of such documents upon the Seller's reasonable request provided that the Seller shall provide to the Buyer for the cost of the same. The Seller agrees that for a period of at least six years from Completion it will retain all documents in its possession at the Completion Date relating to the CTS Business and will provide the Buyer with copies of such documents upon the Buyer's reasonable request provided that the Buyer shall provide to the Seller for the cost of the same. The provisions of clause 10 shall apply to any information provided under this clause if such information or documentation comprises Confidential Information.
- On or as soon as practicable after Completion, the parties shall send out a joint notice in the Agreed Form to all suppliers and customers of the CTS Business advising them of the sale of the Shares.
- FUTURE TRADING AND TRADE ENQUIRIES
- WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES
- The Buyer hereby warrants that:
- it has all requisite individual and corporate power to enter into and perform this agreement and the transactions and matters contemplated thereby and it has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into and performance of this agreement and the transactions and matters (including each Transaction Document) contemplated thereby; and
- subject to the terms of the Bank Facility Letter, a copy of which has been provided to the Seller, and to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent thereunder the Buyer has available funding in order to complete the purchase of the Shares by the Completion Date being no later than 30 June 2002 (or such later date as shall be agreed in writing between the parties).
- In consideration of the Buyer agreeing to purchase the Shares on the terms contained in this agreement, the Seller hereby in relation to each Company, warrants to the Buyer that, save in relation to the Resolution upon which this agreement is conditional, it has all requisite individual and corporate power to enter into and perform this agreement and the transactions and matters contemplated thereby and it has taken all necessary action to authorise the entry into and performance of this agreement and the transactions and matters (including each Transaction Document) contemplated thereby, and it warrants to the Buyer in the terms of the Warranties set out in schedule 3 to this agreement.
- Where any of the Warranties are made or given "so far as the Seller is aware" or "to the best of the Seller's knowledge" such Warranty shall be deemed to have been given to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the Seller after making due and careful enquiries of Mr. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Mr. Xxxx Xxxx, Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Mr. Xxxxxxx XxXxxx, Mr. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xx. Xxxxx Hara, Mr. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Mr. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Mr. Xxxxxx Xxxx and, in relation only to matters relating to regulatory licensing of the CTS Business, Xx. Xxxxxxxx XxXxx, and in relation to matters concerning Taxation, the Seller's Accountants only and without any of them having made enquiry of any other person.
- The Seller acknowledges that the Buyer has entered into this agreement upon the basis of and in reliance upon the Warranties.
- Each of the Warranties shall be construed as a separate Warranty and (save as expressly provided to the contrary) shall not be limited by the terms of any of the other Warranties. Only those warranties set out in paragraph 11 of schedule 3 of this agreement shall be given in relation to any Environmental Matters and no other warranties given under this agreement shall be construed in such a manner as would enable the Buyer to make such a claim otherwise.
- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and save in the case of fraud or fraudulent concealment by the Seller, the Seller shall be under no liability in respect of any claim under the covenants to be performed by the Seller prior to Completion or the Warranties contained in schedule 3 or the Tax Deed (to the extent that claims thereunder are subject to the terms of this clause 8) and any such claim shall be wholly barred and unenforceable unless written notice of such claim setting out details of the relevant claim (including the grounds on which such claim is based and an estimated amount claimed to be payable in respect thereof) shall have been served upon the Seller by the Buyer promptly after it becomes likely that a claim will be made, and in any event:
- in the case of a claim under the Warranties (other than the Tax Warranties) contained in schedule 3 by not later than 5.00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on the date which is eighteen months from the Completion Date; and
- in the case of a claim under the Tax Warranties or the Tax Deed by not later than 5.00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on the seventh anniversary of the date hereof,
- if legal proceedings have not been instituted in respect of such claim by the due service of process on the Seller within six months of the date of such written notice; or
- in the event that the Seller shall make in respect thereof a request to the Buyer to make recovery in the circumstances referred to in clause 8.14(b) and clause 8.15 and if legal proceedings have not been instituted by the Buyer in respect of such claim by the due service of process on the Seller within six months of the date on which judgment is given by a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of such third party proceedings as shall have been instituted by the Buyer pursuant to such request or the date settlement is reached in such third party proceedings with the consent of the Seller or on which the Seller and the Buyer agree that proceedings or other action against the third party shall be abandoned.
- Save in the case of fraud or fraudulent concealment, the Seller shall be under no liability in respect of any claim under the Warranties contained in schedule 3 unless and until the liability in respect of that claim when aggregated with the liability of the Seller in respect of all other such claims made under this agreement (save for those claims for which liability is excluded under clause 8.8 below) solely in respect of any loss suffered in respect of the Group shall exceed one million three hundred thousand pounds sterling (L1,300,000) at which time the Seller shall be liable for the full amount of the claim not merely the excess over that sum.
- Save in the case of fraud or fraudulent concealment, the Seller shall be under no liability in respect of any claim under the Warranties where the liability of the Seller in respect of that claim would (but for this clause) have been less than five thousand pounds sterling (L5,000) and such claim shall be disregarded in determining the aggregate value of claims pursuant to the provisions of clause 8.7.
- Save in the case of fraud or fraudulent concealment, the aggregate liability of the Seller in respect of all claims under this agreement and the Tax Deed shall not in any circumstances exceed the sum of one hundred and thirty million pounds sterling (L130,000,000).
- The Seller shall be under no liability in respect of any claim under the Warranties if the facts or circumstances giving rise thereto have been fairly disclosed prior to entering into of this agreement or are otherwise known to the Managers, the Buyer or any employees, officers or directors of the Buyer at the date hereof. For the purposes of this clause "fairly disclosed" shall mean disclosed in the Disclosure Letter in such a manner and in such detail as to enable the Buyer to make a reasonably well informed assessment of the matter.
- No liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) shall attach to the Seller in respect of any claim under:
- the Warranties and the indemnities contained in this agreement to the extent that the claim or the events giving rise to the claim would not have arisen but for an act, omission or transaction following Completion of the Buyer's Group or which would not have arisen but for any claim, election or surrender or disclaimer relating to Taxation made or omitted to be made or notice or consent given or omitted to be given by the Buyer's Group under the provisions of any statutes relating to Taxation the making, giving or doing of which was assumed in computing the Taxation liabilities of the Seller's Group for the purposes of the Accounts;
- the Warranties to the extent that the claim occurs wholly or partly out of or the amount thereof is increased as a result of:
- any change in the accounting principles or practices of the Buyer's Group introduced or having effect after the date of Completion unless the same is introduced to bring the accounting practices and principles into line with generally accepted accounting principles and practices in the UK in relation to a business of the type carried on by the CTS Business; or
- any increase in the rates of Taxation made after Completion and which affects matters occurring prior thereto; or
- any change in law or regulation or in its interpretation or administration by the English or Northern Irish courts, by the Inland Revenue or by any other fiscal, monetary or regulatory authority or the equivalent laws, regulations or authorities in any jurisdiction in which the Companies operate or in each case occurring after Completion and which affects matters occurring prior thereto; or
- this agreement to the extent that the loss or damage giving rise to the claim is actually recovered by the Buyer's Group under any policy of insurance; or
- the Warranties to the extent that the claim relates to a claim or liability for Taxation and would not have arisen but for any winding-up or cessation of trading after Completion of either Company or any part thereof; or
- the Warranties to the extent that the facts or circumstances giving rise to the claim also give rise to a claim under clause 8.21 of this agreement or the Tax Deed and the Seller shall have satisfied such claim; or
- clause 8.21 of this agreement or the Tax Deed to the extent that the facts or circumstances giving rise to the claim also give rise to a claim under the Warranties and the Seller shall have satisfied such claim.
- In assessing any liabilities, damages or other amounts recoverable by the Buyer as a result of any claim under the Warranties there shall be taken into account any benefit which actually accrues to the Buyer's Group arising out of the same subject matter or circumstances giving rise to the claim under the Warranties including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any amount of any relief for Taxation actually obtained by the Buyer's Group and any amount by which any Taxation for which the Buyer's Group is or may be liable to be assessed or accountable is actually reduced or extinguished, arising directly or indirectly in consequence of the matter which gives rise to such claim.
- No liability will arise and no claim may be made under any of the Warranties to the extent that the matter giving rise to such claim is remediable unless within the period of 30 days following the Buyer becoming aware of such matter having served written notice thereof to the Seller in accordance with this clause 8, such matter shall not have been remedied or such remediation shall not have substantially commenced to the reasonable satisfaction of the Buyer within that period of 30 days following the date of service of such notice.
- Clause 8.15 shall apply in circumstances where, subject to the notice provisions set out in clause 8.6:
- any claim is made against the Buyer's Group which may give rise to a claim by the Buyer against the Seller under the Warranties; or
- the Buyer's Group is or may be entitled to make recovery from some other person of any sum in respect of any facts or circumstances by reference to which the Buyer has or may have a claim against the Seller under the Warranties; or
- the Seller shall have paid to the Buyer an amount in respect of a claim under the Warranties and subsequent to the making of such payment the Buyer's Group becomes or shall become entitled to recover from some other person a sum which is referable to that payment.
- In the circumstances provided in clause 8.14 and in the event of a claim being made pursuant to clause 8.21, the Buyer shall and shall procure that the Buyer's Group shall:
- subject to receiving an undertaking from the Seller in respect of all costs reasonably and properly incurred thereby by the Buyer's Group, promptly and diligently take all such action as the Seller may reasonably request including the institution of proceedings and the instruction of professional advisers approved by the Seller (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to act on behalf of the Buyer to avoid, dispute, resist, compromise, defend or appeal against any such claim against the Buyer's Group as is referred to in clause 8.14(a) or clause 8.21 or to make such recovery by the Buyer's Group as is referred to in clause 8.14(b) or clause 8.14(c), as the case may be;
- not settle or compromise any liability or claim to which such action is referable without the prior written consent of the Seller which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and
- in the case of clause 8.14(c) only, promptly repay to the Seller an amount equal to the amount so recovered or, if lower, the amount paid by the Seller to the Buyer, less in each case any costs incurred by the Buyer's Group in so recovering or any Taxation incurred by the Buyer's Group on the amount received.
- The Buyer shall covenant but not as a condition precedent to liability on the part of the Seller as soon as practicable to:
- inform the Seller in writing of any fact, matter, event or circumstance which comes to its notice or to the notice of the Buyer's Group whereby it appears that the Seller is or is likely to be liable to make any payment in respect of any claim under the Warranties or clause 8.21 or whereby it appears the Buyer's Group shall become or is likely to become entitled to recover from some other person a sum which is referable to a payment already made by the Seller in respect of such a claim;
- thereafter keep the Seller informed of all material developments in relation thereto; and
- provide at the cost of the Seller all such information and documentation (no matter how it is recorded or stored) as the Seller shall reasonably request and which the Buyer may lawfully provide in connection therewith and also in connection with any proceedings instituted by or against the Buyer's Group under clause 8.15.
- No liability in respect of any claim for Taxation under the Warranties shall become payable:
- in the case of a claim for Taxation involving an actual payment of tax or the loss or set off of a relief against Taxation, prior to the date which is five business days before the date on which a payment of Taxation becomes actually due and payable under or in consequence of the claim for Taxation in question; or
- in the case of a claim for Taxation involving the loss of or reduction of a right to repayment of Taxation, five business days prior to the day on which any repayment or increased repayment of Taxation which, but for such claim for Taxation, would have been available would have been due.
- In the event that the Seller at any time after the date hereof shall wish to take out insurance against its liability hereunder, the Buyer undertakes to provide such information as the prospective insurer may require before effecting such insurance.
- The Buyer hereby warrants and confirms that having made due and careful enquiry (which shall include due and careful enquiry of the Managers) at the date hereof, it has not already formulated and is not aware of any claim it may have against the Seller under the Warranties PROVIDED THAT such confirmation shall not constitute a general waiver by the Buyer of any rights which it may have under this agreement in respect of any breach of Warranty arising from information subsequently in the Buyer's possession which may in the future form a basis of a claim under the Warranties or the Tax Deed.
- The Buyer undertakes to take or procure the taking of all such reasonable steps and action as are necessary or as the Seller may reasonably require in order to mitigate any claim under the Warranties and the Buyer's Group shall act in accordance with such request subject to the Buyer being indemnified by the Seller against all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith. Nothing in this agreement shall or shall be deemed to relieve the Buyer of any common law or other duty to mitigate any loss or damage incurred by it.
- Subject to the provisions of clause 8.22, in consideration of the Buyer entering into the sale and purchase of the Shares, the Seller agrees with the Buyer that it shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Buyer and each member of the Buyer's Group against all losses, claims, expenses and damages including legal and other professional fees and expenses reasonably and properly incurred arising following Completion in respect of:
- the disability discrimination claim brought by Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx (case number 1191/01) on 23 January 2001 against the Seller's Group;
- the sexual discrimination claim brought by Xxxxx Xxxxx (case number 3440/01) on 18 October 2001 against the Seller's Group;
- any assets or liabilities whatsoever contained within Gaelta which do not relate to the CTS Business but which relate to businesses carried on prior to the Completion Date by Gaelta or any other member of the Seller's Group (other than the CTS Business) to the extent that such loss, claim, expense or damages arises by reason of the Buyer becoming the legal and beneficial owner of the Shares; and
- the assumption of the benefit and burden by the Buyer of any Open Contracts to the extent that any such loss, claim, expense or damage arises from any claim made by contracting parties as a consequence of any error or omission on the part of the Company or any claims by such contracting parties under the indemnity provisions contained within any Open Contracts in any such case in connection with the performance of those contracts in the period prior to the date of this agreement and to the extent that any of the Companies have not received any payment under any such Open Contracts at the date of this agreement, any such payment received by either of the Companies in this respect following the date of this agreement shall be deducted from the amount of any claim under this clause 8.21(d).
- (a) The Buyer:
- shall seek, where possible, to mitigate any loss, damage or liability in relation to a claim which is made against the Seller pursuant to clause 8.21; and
- shall not make (and shall procure that no member of the Buyer's Group will make) any admission of liability, agreement, settlement or compromise with any third party in relation to the subject of the matters referred to at clause 8.21 without the prior written consent of the Seller (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
- No claim shall be brought against the Seller under clause 8.21(c) and (d) unless the Buyer shall have given written notice to the Seller of such claim giving such reasonable details as are then available on or before the date falling:
- five years after the Completion Date in relation to the indemnity at clause 8.21(c); and
- three years after the date of this agreement in relation to the indemnity at clause 8.21(d).
- The Seller shall be under no liability in respect of any claim under clause 8.21(d) if the facts or circumstances giving rise thereto are known to the Managers, the Buyer or any employees, officers or directors of the Buyer at the date hereof.
- PROTECTION OF GOODWILL
- In consideration of the Buyer entering into the sale and purchase of the Shares, the Seller agrees with the Buyer that it will not, whether on its own account, or by any of its subsidiary undertakings or through any of their respective employees or agents or through any other person, firm or company either directly or indirectly and either solely or jointly with any other person (either on its own account or as the agent of any other person) and in any capacity whatsoever:
- for a period of three years from the Completion Date, provide services to or be employed or otherwise engaged or interested in any business which is engaged in the provision or supply of Restricted Services (or any of them) in the Restricted Territory which competes with the CTS Business. Both parties agree that the carrying on of the ICTI Business by the Seller or any member of the Seller's Group at any time after Completion shall not be in contravention of this undertaking;
- for a period of three years from the Completion Date, solicit or canvass away from the Buyer any person, firm or company or other organisation (which was a customer or supplier of any of the Companies in respect of the CTS Business at any time during the twelve month period prior to Completion only for the provision of Restricted Services (or any of them));
- for a period of two years from the Completion Date, solicit or entice away or endeavour to solicit or entice away from the Buyer any senior manager, director, project manager or sales staff (excluding support staff) and any key employee who would be treated as a "relevant employee" for the purposes of the Model Code contained in the Listing Rules, employed or retained by any of the Companies in relation to the CTS Business on Completion, whether or not such person would commit any breach of his contract of employment or terms of engagement by reason of his leaving the service of the Buyer PROVIDED THAT this restriction will not apply to any advertisements for recruitment made available generally through any recruitment agency or advertisement available to the public; or
- use any trade or domain name (including but not limited to the expressions "CTS" or "Technigal") or e-mail address used by the Group at any time during the two months immediately preceding the date of this agreement solely in relation to the CTS Business or any other name intended or likely to be confused with any such trade or domain name or e-mail address; or
- for a period of three years following the Completion date, use in the course of its business either of the domain names xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx or xxxxx-xxxxxxxx.xxx as the universal resource locator of any web site accessible on the internet.
- Nothing in this clause 9 shall prevent or restrict any member of the Seller's Group from doing the following if they would otherwise be prohibited by this clause 9:-
- holding, or being interested in, up to but not exceeding 15 per cent. of the issued share or loan capital of any company (or any amount of such issued share or loan capital carrying in aggregate up to but not exceeding 15 per cent. of the votes which could be cast at a general meeting of such company) including without limitation a listed company; or
- acquiring the whole or any part of a business which, or the share capital of a company or group of companies whose business or a part of whose business, includes operations the carrying on of which would otherwise amount to a breach of the undertaking contained in clause 9.1 (the "Competitive Operations"), as part of a larger acquisition or series of related acquisitions PROVIDED THAT the relevant member of the Seller's Group shall within the following twelve months use their best endeavours to sell the Competitive Operations as soon as is reasonably practicable following such acquisition (which shall, without limitation, include inviting the Buyer to make a competitive bid for the sale of the Competitive Operations) save that the relevant member of the Seller's Group shall not be obliged to sell the Competitive Operations if those Competitive Operations comprise a minor part of the business or business of such company, group of companies or businesses acquired or in which the Seller's Group has acquired an interest. For the purpose of this clause 9.2(b), "minor part" of the business of such company, group of companies or business shall be part of its overall business in which the turnover of the Competitive Operations does not exceed the lower of ten per cent of the gross turnover per annum or L5 million gross turnover per annum of the Company, group of companies or business acquired.
- The Seller agrees with the Buyer that it will not at any time after Completion, whether by itself or through any other member of the Seller's Group, whether directly or indirectly, in the course of carrying on its business, claim or represent any continuing association with the Buyer in respect of the CTS Business for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any business or custom.
- The Seller agrees with the Buyer that the restrictions contained in this clause 9 are considered reasonable and necessary for the protection of value of the CTS Business (in particular the goodwill of the CTS Business) by the parties hereto and the Seller acknowledges that, in the light of the total price paid under this agreement and the manner of computation thereof, the nature of the business of the Group and all other relevant matters, the provisions of this clause 9 are considered reasonably necessary for the protection of the interests of the Buyer, and the restrictive covenants do not go beyond what is reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Buyer.
- In the event that any restriction in this clause 9 shall be found to be unenforceable but would be enforceable if some part thereof were deleted or the area of operation or the period of application reduced, such restriction shall apply with such modification as may be necessary to make it legal and enforceable. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if such invalidity arises by reason of the period of restriction being excessive, such period as shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be reasonable shall be able to be substituted for the period herein in order to make the restriction binding on the relevant parties.
- Each undertaking contained in this clause 9 shall be construed as a separate undertaking and if one or more of the undertakings contained in this clause 9 is held to be against the public interest or unlawful or in any way an unreasonable restraint of trade the remaining undertakings shall continue to bind the Seller and its subsidiary undertakings.
- CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
- In consideration of the mutual promises contained in this agreement each party undertakes to the other that they shall:-
- not, and shall procure that none of their connected persons or any director, officer or employee or adviser or agent shall use or disclose to any person Confidential Information; and
- use all reasonable endeavours to prevent the use or disclosure of Confidential Information by any person other than by members of their respective Group.
- Clause 10.1 does not apply to:
- disclosure of Confidential Information to or at the written request of the other party;
- use or disclosure of Confidential Information required to be disclosed by law, regulation, any revenue authority or the London Stock Exchange, the UK Listing Authority, Nasdaq National Market or any other exchange on which securities of the Seller are listed; or
- Confidential Information which is in the public domain other than by a breach by either party of clause 10.1.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC.
- No party shall disclose the making of this agreement nor its content (except those matters set out in the press release in the Agreed Form) and each party shall procure that each of its Related Persons and its professional advisers shall not make any such disclosure without the prior consent of the other party unless disclosure is to its professional advisers or required by law or the rules or standards of the London Stock Exchange or the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority or the rules and requirements of any other regulatory body or other applicable stock exchange Provided that this clause 11.1 does not apply to announcements, communications or circulars made or sent by either party after Completion to customers, clients or suppliers of the Group to the extent that it informs them of the Buyer's acquisition of the Shares or to any announcements containing only information which has become generally available.
- The restrictions contained in clause 11 shall apply without limit of time and whether or not this agreement is terminated.
- ASSIGNMENT
- COSTS
- ENTIRE AGREEMENT
- Each party, on behalf of itself and as agent for each of its Related Persons, acknowledges and agrees with the other party (each such party acting on behalf of itself and as agent for each of its Related Persons) that save as otherwise agreed in writing by the parties:
- this agreement together with any other documents referred to in this agreement (together the "Transaction Documents") constitutes the entire and only agreement between the parties and their respective Related Persons relating to the subject matter of the Transaction Documents;
- neither it nor any of its Related Persons has been induced to enter into any Transaction Document in reliance upon, nor has any such party been given, any warranty, representation, statement, assurance, covenant, agreement, undertaking, indemnity or commitment of any nature whatsoever other than as are expressly set out in the Transaction Documents and, to the extent that any of them has been, it (acting on behalf of itself and as agent on behalf of each of its Related Persons) unconditionally and irrevocably waives any claims, rights or remedies which any of them might otherwise have had in relation thereto; and
- the only remedies available to it, save as otherwise agreed hereunder (including the provisions of clause 8.21 of this agreement) and in the Transaction Documents, in respect of the Transaction Documents (and, where appropriate, to its Related Persons) are damages for breach of contract and, for the avoidance of doubt, (neither it nor its Related Persons, where appropriate) have any right to rescind or terminate any Transaction Documents either for breach of contract or for negligent or innocent misrepresentation or otherwise;
- WAIVER, AMENDMENT
- A waiver of any term, provision or condition of, or consent granted under, this agreement shall be effective only if given in writing and signed by the waiving or consenting party and then only in the instance and for the purpose for which it is given.
- No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
- No breach of any provision of this agreement shall be waived or discharged except with the express written consent of the Seller and the Buyer.
- No variation to this agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by all the parties.
- FURTHER ASSURANCE
- At any time after Completion, the Seller shall execute all such documents and do such acts and things as the Buyer may reasonably require for the purpose of vesting in the Buyer the full legal and beneficial interest in the Shares.
- The terms of this agreement shall insofar as they are not performed at Completion and subject as specifically otherwise provided in this agreement continue in force after and notwithstanding Completion.
- NOTICES
- Any notice, demand or other communication given or made under or in connection with the matters contemplated by this agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by fax or prepaid first-class post (air mail if posted to or from a place outside the United Kingdom):
- Any party may notify the other parties to this agreement of a change to its name, relevant addressee, address or fax number for the purposes of clause 17.1 provided that such notification shall only be effective on:
- COUNTERPARTS
- GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
- This agreement (and any dispute, controversy, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to this agreement or its formation) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Northern Irish law.
- Each of the parties to this agreement irrevocably agrees that the courts of Northern Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any suit, action or proceedings, and/or to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this agreement (respectively, "Proceedings" and "Disputes") and, for these purposes, each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of Northern Ireland.
- Each party irrevocably waives any objection which it might at any time have to the courts of Northern Ireland being nominated as the forum to hear and decide any Proceedings and to settle any Disputes and agrees not to claim that the courts of Northern Ireland are not a convenient or appropriate forum for any such Proceedings or Disputes and further irrevocably agrees that a judgment in any Proceedings or Disputes brought in any court referred to in this clause 19 shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties and may be enforced in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
- Without prejudice to any other permitted mode of service the parties agree that service of any claim form, notice or other document ("Documents") for the purpose of any Proceedings begun in Northern Ireland shall be duly served upon it if delivered personally or sent by registered post, in the case of:
- INVALIDITY
- the validity, legality and enforceability under the law of that jurisdiction of any other provision; and
- the validity, legality and enforceability under the law of any other jurisdiction of that or any other provision
- THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
- GENERAL
- The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favouring or disfavouring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this agreement.
- The Buyer acknowledges that the tenant's interests in the ICTI Leases as now vested in CTS Analytical are not intended to be sold or transferred by virtue of this agreement and the tenant's interests under the ICTI Leases, subject to the consent of the landlord of the ICTI Leases, are intended to be assigned by CTS Analytical to Xxxxx Limited (company registration number NI30077) or such other subsidiary company or undertaking of the Seller as the Seller shall decide.
- In the event the tenant's interests in the ICTI Leases have not been assigned by CTS Analytical to Xxxxx Limited or such other subsidiary company or undertaking of the Seller as the Seller shall decide by the Completion Date, the Buyer shall:-
- procure the execution by CTS Analytical of the assignments (in the form to be agreed by the Buyer and Seller, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the ICTI Leases by CTS Analytical to Xxxxx Limited or such other subsidiary company or undertaking of the Seller as the Seller shall decide; and
- grant the Licence to Xxxxx Limited or such other subsidiary company or undertaking of the Seller as the Seller shall decide in the Agreed Form to occupy the premises comprised in the ICTI Leases until the date of the assignments of the ICTI Leases referred to in clause 22.3(a) provided that CTS Analytical Limited is not required to enter into any form of guarantee in order to get consent to such assignment.
by means of a notice to that effect in writing served on the other.
Following Completion, the Seller shall and shall procure that any member of the Seller's Group shall as soon as possible refer to the Buyer all enquiries relating to the CTS Business for so long as the provisions of clause 9 of this agreement are in effect.
and the liability of the Seller for any claim specified in such notice shall absolutely determine and cease (unless the amount payable in respect of the relevant claim has been agreed by the Seller within six months of the date of such written notice); or
For the purpose of this clause 8.6 legal proceedings shall not be deemed to have been commenced unless they shall have been properly issued and validly served upon the Seller.
For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of clause 8.21 shall not be subject to any of the foregoing provisions of this clause 8 save for clause 8.9, 8.11(a) and (c) and 8.22.
This agreement is personal to the parties and accordingly no party without the prior written consent of the other shall assign, transfer or declare a trust of the benefit of all or any of any other party's obligations nor any benefit arising under this agreement except that following Completion the Buyer may assign the benefit of all its obligations and benefits arising hereunder to any member of the Buyer's Group PROVIDED THAT such assignee shall remain within the Buyer's Group. In the event that such assignee ceases to be a member of the Buyer's Group such assignment shall be voidable and the relevant party shall procure that the assignee shall assign in full any and all benefits to the Buyer or another member of the Buyer's Group.
Unless expressly otherwise provided in this agreement, each of the parties shall bear its own legal, accountancy and other costs, charges and expenses connected with the sale and purchase of the Shares, the preparation and negotiation of this agreement and any transaction contemplated hereunder.
PROVIDED THAT the provisions of this clause 14 shall not exclude any liability which any of the parties or, where appropriate, their Related Persons would otherwise have to any other party or, where appropriate, to any other party's Related Persons or any right which any of them may have in respect of any statements made fraudulently by any of them prior to the execution of this agreement or any rights which any of them may have in respect of fraudulent concealment by any of them.
In the case of the Buyer to:
Almac Sciences Limited
Xxxxx 0 - 0
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: 00000 000000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. XxXxxx
In the case of the Seller to both of: Xxxxx Holdings PLC Seagoe Industrial Estate Xxxxxxxxx Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx XX00 0XX Fax: 00000 000000 Attention: Company Secretary |
Xxxxx Holdings PLC 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 XXX Fax: + 000 000 0000 Attention: Company Secretary |
and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made as follows:
(a) if personally delivered, upon delivery at the address of the relevant party;
(b) if sent by first class post in the UK or international courier service specifying a 48 hour delivery time (or less), two business days after the date of despatch;
(c) if sent by air mail, five business days after the date of posting; and
(d) if sent by fax, when despatched;
provided that if, in accordance with the above provisions, any such notice, demand or other communication would otherwise be deemed to be given or made after 5.00 p.m. (local time in the jurisdiction in which such communication was despatched) on a business day such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to be given or made at 9.00 a.m. (local time) on the next business day.
(a) the date specified in the notification as the date on which the change is to take place; or
(b) if no date is specified or the date specified is less than five days after the date on which notice is given, the date falling five days after notice of any such change has been given.
This agreement may be executed in counterpart which together shall constitute one agreement. Either party may enter into this agreement by executing a counterpart and this agreement shall not take effect until it has been executed by both parties.
(a) the Seller to its registered office (marked for the attention of the Company Secretary); and
(b) the Buyer to the registered office of Almac Sciences Limited (marked for the attention of Xx. Xxxxx X. XxXxxx)
or such other person and address in the United Kingdom as the Seller shall notify the Buyer in writing or vice versa from time to time.
If any provision of this agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction:
shall not be affected or impaired in any way.
The operation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties Act) 1999 is hereby excluded.
IN WITNESS whereof this agreement has been executed on the date first above written.
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by for and on behalf of XXXXX HOLDINGS PLC: |
)) ) )) |
Director: /s/ Director/Secretary: /s/ |
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by for and on behalf of CLINICAL TRIAL SERVICES LIMITED: |
))))) |
Director: /s/ Director/Secretary: /s/ |