Sciele Pharma, Inc. Five Concourse Parkway Suite 1800 Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Exhibit (d)(3)
Sciele Pharma, Inc.
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 1800
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 1800
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
May 29,
2008
Shionogi & Co., Ltd.
0-0, Xxxxxxxxxx 0-xxxxx
Xxxx-xx, Xxxxx 000-0000
Xxxxx
0-0, Xxxxxxxxxx 0-xxxxx
Xxxx-xx, Xxxxx 000-0000
Xxxxx
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Ph.D.
| Re: | Corporate Transaction Confidentiality and Standstill Agreement |
Dear Xx. Xxxxxxxxx:
In connection with the consideration of a possible transaction (the “Proposed Transaction”)
between Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (“Shionogi”) and Sciele Pharma, Inc. (“Sciele”), each party has
requested of the other certain financial, technical and other information concerning the business
and affairs of the other party. As a condition to the disclosure of such information by either
party to the other, each party agrees to comply with the terms and conditions set forth below. For
ease of reference, Shionogi and Sciele shall each be referred to as the disclosing party, the
receiving party, the nonbreaching party and the enforcing party as the context requires.
1. Confidential Information.
(a) During the Confidentiality Period from the date of this Agreement, all Review Material (as
defined in paragraph 1(d)) disclosed by the disclosing party to the receiving party shall be used,
reproduced or disclosed by the receiving party only for the purpose of evaluating the Proposed
Transaction. In performing its obligations under this paragraph I(a), the receiving party shall use
the same care and discretion, but in no event less than reasonable care and discretion, to protect
and prevent disclosures of Review Material as the receiving party uses to prevent disclosures of
similar information of its own. “Confidentiality Period” means (i) seven years in the case of
information relating to products under development by the disclosing party, and (ii) three (3)
years in the case of any other Review Material.
(b) The receiving party may disclose the disclosing party’s Review Material only to the
receiving party’s Representatives (as defined in paragraph led)) who have a need to know such
information for the purpose of evaluating the Proposed Transaction and have obligated themselves
to hold such Review Material in confidence and otherwise agree to be bound by and comply with the
terms and provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if a signatory
hereto. The receiving party will be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by its
Representatives.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the receiving party or its Representatives have been
requested or are required by law (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or
documents, subpoena, civil or criminal investigative demand or similar process or in order to
comply with the disclosure required by Japanese or U.S. securities and similar laws) to disclose
any of the disclosing party’s Review Material, the receiving party will promptly notify the
disclosing party in writing of such request(s) or requirement(s) so that the disclosing party may
seek an appropriate protective order or similar order or treatment or waive the receiving party’s
compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, in the absence of a protective order or
similar order or treatment or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the receiving party is,
nonetheless, in the reasonable written opinion of counsel to the receiving party, compelled to
disclose the disclosing party’s Review Material, the receiving party may disclose such information
pursuant to such request or requirement without liability hereunder.
(d) The term “Review Material” includes all information furnished to the receiving party or
its Representatives by the disclosing party or its Representatives, whether written or oral, and
all analyses, compilations, studies or other material prepared by the receiving party or its
Representatives containing or based in whole or in part upon such information furnished to
receiving party or its Representatives by the disclosing party or its Representatives, but does
not include information which (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a
result of an act or failure to act on the part of the receiving party or its Representatives as
required or, in the case of disclosures, permitted under this Agreement; (ii) was available to
the receiving party on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to the receiving party or
its Representatives by the disclosing party or its Representatives; (iii) becomes available to
the receiving party. on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the disclosing party or
its Representatives, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with
the disclosing party known to the receiving party or its Representatives; or (iv) is
independently developed by the receiving party.
The term “Representatives” with respect to either party includes the agents, representatives,
counsel, accountants, directors, officers, employees and investment bankers of such party.
References in this Agreement to a “party” or “parties” to this Agreement do not include
Representatives unless specifically so stated.
2. Confidentiality of the Proposed Transaction.
(a) Neither party nor its Representatives will, without the prior written consent of the other
party or as required by law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange on which either party’s
securities are traded, disclose to any person (other than to the Representatives of the party
considering disclosure or the Representatives of the other party) any information about the
Proposed Transaction or the terms, conditions or other facts relating thereto, including the fact
that discussions are taking place with respect thereto or the status thereof, or the fact that the
disclosing party’s Review Material has been made available to receiving party.
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(b) Each party hereby acknowledges that it is aware, and that it will advise each of its
Representatives who are aware of the consideration by the parties of the Proposed Transaction,
that the Japanese and US securities laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer or
publicly traded securities material, nonpublic information concerning the matters which are the
subject of this Agreement from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from
communicating such information to any person under circumstances in which it is reasonably
foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities, all as provided in and
subject to such securities laws.
3. Return of Review Material. If the receiving party determines that it does not wish
to proceed with the Proposed Transaction, the receiving party will promptly advise the disclosing
party of that decision in writing. In that case, or in the event that discussions concerning the
Proposed Transaction are terminated, each party will, promptly upon the request of the other party,
deliver to the other party the other party’s Review Material and will use its best efforts to cause
all copies and summaries or synopses thereof to be returned or destroyed. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the receiving party or its Representatives may maintain a copy of the disclosing party’s
Review Material in its restricted access files for actual or anticipated litigation, regulatory
compliance or corporate record keeping purposes. Such destruction shall be confirmed in writing to
the other party.
4. Non-Solicitation.
(a) Employees. Except with the prior written consent of the other party, each party agrees
that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of this Agreement, such party will not, either
directly or indirectly, solicit for hire or hire any employee or former employee of the other
party within one (1) year of the last day of their employment at the other party, unless such
employee approaches the hiring party as a result of a general employment solicitation not targeted
to the other party’s employees.
(b) Customers. Except with the prior written consent of the other party, each party agrees
that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of this Agreement, such party will not, either
directly or indirectly, solicit or divert away the business of a customer of the other with whom
the covenanting party had contact during any aspect of the negotiation of the Proposed
Transaction.
5. Conduct of Sale. Each party understands and agrees that it shall not contact
customers or suppliers of the other party with respect to the Proposed Transaction or for the
purpose of obtaining information for use in its evaluation of the Proposed Transaction without
the prior written consent of the other party.
6. No Transactions in other Party’s Securities; Standstill.
(a) During due diligence regarding, and negotiations with respect to, the Proposed
Transaction, neither party shall trade in the other party’s securities.
(b) Each party further agrees that, for a period of two years from the date of this
Agreement, unless one party shall have been specifically invited in writing by the other party,
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neither the party nor any of its affiliates (as such term is defined under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act"» will in any manner, directly or indirectly, (a)
effect or seek, offer, or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or
participate in or in any way assist any other person to effect or seek, offer or propose (whether
publicly or otherwise) to effect or participate in, (i) any acquisition of any securities (or of
beneficial ownership thereof) or assets of the other party or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any
tender or exchange offer, merger, or other business combination involving the other party or any of
its subsidiaries, (iii) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution, or other
extraordinary transaction with respect to the other party or any of its subsidiaries, or (iv) any
solicitation of proxies or consents to vote any voting securities of the other party; (b) form,
join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the 0000 Xxx) with respect to the
beneficial ownership of any securities of the other party; (c) take any action which might force
the other party to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in
(a) above; (d) enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any
of the foregoing; or (e) request or propose that the other party or any of the other party’s
Representatives amend, waive or consider the amendment or waiver of any provision set forth in this
paragraph. The provisions of this Section 6(b) shall be inoperative and of no force or effect if
any other person or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the 0000 Xxx) shall propose in any
manner, directly or indirectly, to the other party, any action specified in clauses (a), (b), or
(c) of this Section 6(b) provided that the party relying on this sentence is 110t otherwise in
breach of this Agreement.
7. Remedies. Each party agrees that money damages alone may not be a sufficient
remedy for any breach of this Agreement by it or its Representatives and that the other party may
be entitled to specific performance as a remedy for any such breach. Money damages awarded for a
breach by either party or its Representatives of their obligations hereunder shall not be deemed
to be the exclusive remedy for the breach of this Agreement by either party or its
Representatives, but shall be in addition to all other legal and equitable remedies available to
the nonbreaching party. In the event that either party enforces its obligations hereunder in a
court of law, the other party shall reimburse the enforcing party if successful, for all costs and
expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by the enforcing party in this regard.
8. Dispute Resolution. If a dispute arises between the parties in connection with
this Agreement, the complaining party must notify the other party in writing regarding the nature
of the dispute. Upon receipt of such written notice, the parties shall attempt to work together
in good faith to resolve the dispute. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute, either
party to this Agreement may file suit in any federal or New York state court located in the
Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek
appropriate injunctive relief.
9. Miscellaneous. It is further understood and agreed by each party that no failure
or delay by the other party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate
as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right power or privilege hereunder. This
Agreement supersedes and terminates all prior non-disclosure and similar agreements between the
parties including, without limitation, any such agreements to which one (l) or more of their
subsidiaries are
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parties, if any exist. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York,
United States of America, without giving effect to choice of law doctrines. Shionogi agrees
that it may be served with process at the address set forth on the first page hereof. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterpart originals, which together shall be
considered one agreement and shall be enforceable as one agreement.
If Shionogi is in agreement with the foregoing, please sign, date and return one copy of this
letter, which will constitute our legally binding agreement with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| SCIELE PHARMA, INC. | ||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Chief Executive Officer |
ACKNOWLEDGED, AGREED AND CONFIRMED,
SHIONOGI & CO., LTD.
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
||
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Ph.D. |
||
President and Representative Director
|
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