1
EXHIBIT 10.12
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as
of June 30, 2000 is by and among AUTONATION, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), and ANC RENTAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent (the "Company"). Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article
I hereof.
WHEREAS, Parent's Board of Directors has determined pursuant to one
overall integrated plan, (i) to separate the Company, which comprises the
Parent's automotive rental businesses and operations (the "Automotive Rental
Business"), from Parent's other businesses and operations (the "Separation") and
(ii) to distribute to Parent's stockholders on a tax-free basis all of the
outstanding shares of the Company's common stock (the "Distribution");
WHEREAS, Parent's Board of Directors has determined that it is in the
best interests of Parent and its stockholders to consummate the Separation and
Distribution (i) to allow Parent to raise additional capital through an increase
in its borrowing capacity to pursue its strategic business plan; (ii) to
separate management and ownership structures for Parent and Company and provide
each party's management with direct incentives and accountability to their
respective public investors; and (iii) to enable each party's management team to
focus on improving each party's operations thereby maximizing stockholder value
over the long term for each of Parent and the Company; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal
corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution
and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to such
transactions and the relationship of Parent and the Company following the
consummation of such transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Agreement the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
1.1 "Action" means any demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration,
inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any federal, state, local,
-1-
2
foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation
tribunal or any assertion of any claim by a third party.
1.2 "Affiliate" of any Person means a Person that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such Person. As used herein,
"control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether
through ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or
otherwise. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term "Affiliate" shall refer
to Affiliates of a person as determined immediately after the Distribution.
1.3 "Ancillary Agreements" means the Transitional Services Agreement,
the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Benefits Agreement, the Reimbursement Agreement,
and such additional agreements between Parent and the Company and other related
documents as may be necessary to complete the Separation and the Distribution.
1.4 "ANC Preliminary Equity" means the Intercompany Balance, plus the
Company Group's consolidated stockholder's equity as of the Distribution Date,
which amount shall include the value of the net assets of International
Automotive Group Insurance Company, Ltd. ("IAG"), less a dividend in the amount
of the IAG Repayment by IAG to Parent, as further described in Section 2.2(e)
hereto.
1.5 "Applicable Deadline" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(b).
1.6 "Arbitration Act" means the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.
Sections 1-14, as the same may be amended from time to time.
1.7 "Arbitration Demand Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section
8.3(a).
1.8 "Assets" means assets, properties and rights (including goodwill),
wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other third parties
or elsewhere), whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or
contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be
recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any
Person, including the following:
(a) all accounting and other books, records and files whether
in paper, microfilm, microfiche, computer tape or disc, magnetic tape or any
other form;
(b) all apparatus, computers and other electronic data
processing equipment, fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, office
equipment, automobiles, trucks, aircraft, rolling stock, vessels, motor vehicles
and other transportation equipment, special and general tools, test devices,
prototypes and models and other tangible personal property;
-2-
3
(c) all inventories of materials, parts, raw materials,
supplies, work-in-process and finished goods and products;
(d) all interests in real property of whatever nature,
including easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security
Interest in real property, lessor, sublessor, lessee, sublessee or otherwise;
(e) all interests in any capital stock or other equity
interests of any Subsidiary or any other Person, all bonds, notes, debentures or
other securities issued by any Subsidiary or any other Person, all loans,
advances or other extensions of credit or capital contributions to any
Subsidiary or any other Person and all other investments in securities of any
Person;
(f) all license agreements, leases of personal property, open
purchase orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services, unfilled orders
for the manufacture and sale of products and other contracts, agreements or
commitments;
(g) all deposits, letters of credit and performance and surety
bonds;
(h) all written technical information, data, specifications,
research and development information, engineering drawings, operating and
maintenance manuals, and materials and analyses prepared by consultants and
other third parties;
(i) all domestic and foreign copyrights, trade names,
trademarks, service marks and registrations and applications for any of the
foregoing, trade secrets, other proprietary information and licenses from third
Persons granting the right to use any of the foregoing;
(j) all computer applications, programs and other software,
including operating software, network software, systems documentation and
instructions;
(k) all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer
prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and
vender data, correspondence and lists, product literature, artwork, design,
development and manufacturing files, vendor and customer drawings, formulations
and specifications, quality records and reports and other books, records,
studies, surveys, reports, plans and documents;
(l) all prepaid expenses, trade accounts and other accounts
and notes receivables;
-3-
4
(m) all rights under contracts or agreements, all claims or
rights against any Person arising from the ownership of any Asset, all rights in
connection with any bids or offers and all claims, choses in action or similar
rights, whether accrued or contingent;
(n) all rights under insurance policies and all rights in the
nature of insurance, indemnification or contribution;
(o) all licenses (including radio and similar licenses),
permits, approvals and authorizations which have been issued by any Governmental
Authority;
(p) all cash or cash equivalents, bank accounts, lock boxes
and other deposit arrangements; and
(q) all interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap,
collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements.
1.9 "Benefits Agreement" means the Benefits Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof, by and between Parent and the Company.
1.10 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.11 "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.12 "Consents" means any consents, waivers or approvals from, or
notification requirements to, any third parties.
1.13 "Company Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
1.14 "Company Balance Sheet" means the consolidated balance sheet of
the Company, including the notes thereto, as of March 31, 2000.
1.15 "Company Business" means: (a) the Automotive Rental Business,
including without limitation, the business and operations of the Company or
Affiliates consisting principally of all operations conducted under the name of
Alamo, National or CarTemps USA including the rental of automobiles, trucks and
other vehicles in the daily rental or replacement market; and (b) any
terminated, divested or discontinued businesses or operations that at the time
of termination, divestiture or discontinuation primarily related to the
Automotive Rental Business as then conducted.
-4-
5
1.16 "Company Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, $.01
par value per share, entitled to one vote per share.
1.17 "Company Contracts" means all contracts and agreements relating to
the Company Business to which Parent or any of its Affiliates is a party or by
which the Company or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Assets is
bound, whether or not in writing, except for any such contract or agreement that
is to be retained by Parent or any member of the Parent Group pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the following:
(a) completed and pending acquisition agreements and any
supply or vendor or customer contracts or agreements entered into in the name
of, or expressly on behalf of, any division, business unit or member of the
Company Group;
(b) any federal, state and local government and other contract
and agreement and any other government contract or agreement entered into in the
name of, or expressly on behalf of, any division, business unit or member of the
Company Group that relates primarily to the Company Business;
(c) any contract or agreement representing capital or
operating equipment lease obligations reflected on the Company Balance Sheet,
including obligations as lessee;
(d) any contract or agreement that is otherwise expressly
contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to be
assigned to the Company or any member of the Company Group; and
(e) any guarantee, indemnity, representation, warranty or
other Liability of any member of the Company Group or the Parent Group in
respect of any other Company Contract, any Company Liability or the Company
Business (including guarantees of financing incurred by customers or other third
parties in connection with purchases of products or services from the Company
Business).
1.18 "Company Group" means the Company, each Subsidiary of the Company
and each other Person that will be controlled directly or indirectly by the
Company immediately after the Distribution Date.
1.19 "Company Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
1.20 "Company Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
1.21 "CPR" means the Center for Public Resources.
-5-
6
1.22 "Dispute" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
1.23 "Distribution Agent" means the distribution agent to be appointed
by Parent to effect the Distribution.
1.24 "Distribution Date" means the date determined pursuant to Section
3.1 on which the Distribution occurs.
1.25 "Distribution Ratio" means the number of shares of Parent Common
Stock that a stockholder must own at the Record Date that will entitle such
stockholder to receive one share of Company Common Stock at the Distribution
Date.
1.26 "Distribution Time" means 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time or
Eastern Daylight Time (whichever shall be then in effect), on the Distribution
Date.
1.27 "Effective Date" means the date on which the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
1.28 "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local, foreign or
international law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit,
authorization, approval, consent, common law (including tort and environmental
nuisance law), legal doctrine, order, judgment, decree, injunction, requirement
or agreement with any Governmental Authority, now or hereafter in effect
relating to health, safety, pollution, the environment (including ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of any substance currently or at any
time hereafter listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic,
waste, radioactive or dangerous, or otherwise regulated, under any of the
foregoing, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of any such substances,
including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act and comparable provisions in state, local, foreign
or international law.
1.29 "Environmental Liabilities" means all Liabilities relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any Environmental Law or contract or agreement
relating to environmental, health or safety matters (including all removal,
remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, governmental response costs,
natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages, costs of
compliance with any settlement, judgment or other determination of Liability and
indemnity, contribution or similar obligations) and all costs and expenses
(including allocated costs of in-house counsel and other personnel), interest,
fines, penalties or other monetary sanctions in connection therewith.
-6-
7
1.30 "Escalation Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
1.31 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.32 "Excluded Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
1.33 "Excluded Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b).
1.34 "Exclusive Contingent Gain" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.3.
1.35 "Exclusive Contingent Liability" has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2.
1.36 "Form 10" means the Registration Statement No. 1-15421 on Form 10
filed by the Company with the Commission to effect the registration of the
Company Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the
Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended from time to time.
1.37 "Governmental Approvals" means any notices, reports or other
filings to be made, or any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or
authorizations to be obtained from, any Governmental Authority.
1.38 "Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local, foreign
or international court, government, department, commission, board, bureau,
agency, official or other regulatory, administrative or governmental authority.
1.39 "Group" means any of the Parent Group or the Company Group, as the
context requires.
1.40 "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
1.41 "Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
1.42 "Indemnity Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
1.43 "Information" means information, whether or not patentable or
copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible
forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books,
contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how,
techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models,
prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes,
computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names,
communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged
-7-
8
communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their
direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial,
employee or business information or data.
1.44 "Information Statement" means the information statement to be sent
to each holder of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Distribution.
1.45 "Insurance Policies" means the insurance policies written by
insurance carriers unaffiliated with Parent pursuant to which the Company or one
or more of its Subsidiaries (or their respective officers or directors) will be
insured parties after the Distribution Date.
1.46 "Insurance Proceeds" means those monies:
(a) received by an insured from an insurance carrier
unaffiliated with Parent;
(b) paid by an insurance carrier unaffiliated with Parent on
behalf of the insured; or
(c) received (including by way of set off) from any third
party in the nature of insurance, contribution or indemnification in respect of
any Liability; in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments
(including deductibles, reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments)
and net of any costs or expenses (including allocated costs of in-house counsel
and other personnel) paid by such insured or incurred by such insured in the
collection thereof.
1.47 "Intercompany Balance" means the amount, as of the Distribution
Date, by which the total of all amounts owed to Parent Group by Company Group,
exceeds the total of all amounts owed by Parent Group to Company Group.
1.48 "Letter Ruling" means the private letter ruling dated September
28, 1999, received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect, among other
things, that the Distribution will qualify as a tax-free distribution for
federal income tax purposes under Section 355 of the Code.
1.49 "Liabilities" means any and all liabilities, including
Environmental Liabilities, OFLs, losses, claims, charges, debts, demands,
actions, causes of action, suits, damages, obligations, payments, costs and
expenses, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, specialties, indemnities
and similar obligations, exonerations, covenants, contracts, controversies,
agreements, promises, doings, omissions, variances, guarantees, make whole
agreements and similar obligations, and other liabilities, including all
contractual obligations, whether absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured,
liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever
arising, and including those arising under any law, rule, regulation, Action,
threatened or contemplated Action (including the costs and expenses of demands,
-8-
9
assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and
attorneys' fees and any and all costs and expenses (including allocated costs of
in-house counsel and other personnel), whatsoever reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any such Actions or threatened or
contemplated Actions), order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or
any award of any arbitrator or mediator of any kind, and those arising under any
contract, commitment or undertaking, including those arising under this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, in each case, whether or not recorded or
reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or
financial statements of any Person. The term "Liabilities" does not include
Liabilities for Tax covered by the Tax Sharing Agreement.
1.50 "Maroone Payable" means the amount due to Parent for revenue
earning vehicles purchased through Parent's franchised automotive dealerships.
1.51 "OFLs" mean operating financial liabilities, comprising all
liabilities of any Person of a financial nature with third parties existing on
the date hereof or entered into or established between the date hereof and the
Distribution Date, including any of the following:
(a) foreign exchange contracts;
(b) letters of credit;
(c) guarantees of third party loans to customers;
(d) surety bonds (excluding surety for workers' compensation
self-insurance);
(e) interest support agreements on third party loans to
customers;
(f) performance bonds or guarantees issued by third parties;
(g) swaps or other derivatives contracts; and
(h) recourse arrangements on the sale of receivables or notes.
1.52 "Parent Business" means (a) the business and operations of the
Parent Group, excluding the Company Business; and (b) any terminated, divested
or discontinued businesses or operations that at the time of termination,
divestiture or discontinuation primarily related to the business and operations
set forth in clause (a) above, as then conducted.
1.53 "Parent Common Stock" means the common stock, $.01 par value per
share, of Parent.
-9-
10
1.54 "Parent Group" means Parent, each Subsidiary of Parent and each
other Person that is controlled directly or indirectly by Parent, other than any
member of the Company Group.
1.55 "Parent Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
1.56 "Person" means an individual, a general or limited partnership, a
corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited
liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.
1.57 "Prime Rate" means the rate which Citibank, N.A., New York, New
York (or any successor thereto or other major money center commercial bank
agreed to by the parties hereto) announces from time to time as its prime
lending rate, as in effect from time to time.
1.58 "Record Date" means the close of business on the date to be
determined by the Parent Board of Directors as the record date for determining
stockholders of Parent entitled to receive shares of the Company Common Stock in
the Distribution.
1.59 "Reimbursement Agreement" means the Reimbursement Agreement, dated
as of the date hereof, by and between Parent and the Company.
1.60 "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.61 "Security Interest" means any mortgage, security interest, pledge,
lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction,
right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on
transfer or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.
1.62 "Shared Contingent Gain" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3.
1.63 "Shared Contingent Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 5.2.
1.64 "Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation or other
organization whether incorporated or unincorporated of which at least a majority
of the securities or interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or others performing
similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is
directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more
of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER that no Person that is not directly or indirectly wholly owned
by any other Person shall be a Subsidiary of such other Person unless such other
Person controls, or has the right, power or ability to control, that Person.
-10-
11
1.65 "Tax Sharing Agreement" means the Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as
of the date hereof, by and between Parent and the Company.
1.66 "Tax" has the meaning set forth in the Tax Sharing Agreement.
1.67 "Third Party Action" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.5(a).
1.68 "Transitional Services Agreement" means the Transitional Services
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Parent and the Company.
ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION
2.1 THE SEPARATION. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
contained in this Agreement and the Letter Ruling, and the facts and
representations submitted to the Internal Revenue Service, Parent and the
Company shall effect on or before the Distribution Date the corporate
reorganization transactions set forth in the Letter Ruling as part of one
overall integrated plan, the effect of which is intended to be (a) the
satisfaction of the requirement that the Company and Parent each be engaged in
the "active conduct of a trade or business" (as defined in the Code) in order
for the Distribution to qualify as a tax-free distribution pursuant to Section
355 of the Code and (b) the tax-free distribution pursuant to Section 355 of the
Code by Parent to Parent's stockholders of all of the Company Common Stock.
2.2 TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES.
(a) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, Parent
hereby agrees to assign, transfer, convey and deliver to the Company, and agrees
to cause each member of the Parent Group to assign, transfer, convey and deliver
to the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to accept from Parent and each
member of the Parent Group, all of Parent's and Parent Group's respective right,
title and interest in the Company Assets, if any, not otherwise assigned,
transferred, conveyed or delivered to Company in accordance with the Letter
Ruling.
(b) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, the Company
hereby agrees to assume and faithfully to perform and fulfill all of the Company
Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms. The Company shall
thereafter be responsible for all of the Company Liabilities, regardless of when
or where such Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are
based occurred prior to or subsequent to the date hereof, regardless of where or
against whom such Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any Company
Liabilities arising out of claims made by Parent's directors, officers,
-11-
12
employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Parent
Group or the Company Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date
hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from
negligence, recklessness, violation of law, fraud or misrepresentation by any
member of the Parent Group or the Company Group or any of their respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
(c) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, the Company
hereby agrees to assign, transfer, convey and deliver to the Parent and agrees
to cause each member of the Company Group to assign, transfer, convey and
deliver to the Parent, and the Parent hereby agrees to accept from Company and
each member of the Company Group, all of the Company's and the Company Group's
respective right, title and interest in the Excluded Assets, if any, not
otherwise assigned, transferred, conveyed or delivered to Parent in accordance
with the Letter Ruling.
(d) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, Parent
hereby agrees to assume and agrees faithfully to perform and fulfill all of the
Excluded Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms. Parent agrees
that it shall thereafter be solely responsible for all of the Excluded
Liabilities, regardless of when or where such Liabilities arose or arise, or
whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the
date hereof, regardless of where or against whom such Liabilities are asserted
or determined (including any Excluded Liabilities arising out of claims made by
the Company's directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates
against any member of the Company Group or the Parent Group) or whether asserted
or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from
or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of law, fraud or
misrepresentation by any member of the Company Group or the Parent Group or any
of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.
(e) Before the Distribution Date, (i) Parent hereby agrees to
repay the total outstanding principal and accrued interest owed to IAG (the "IAG
Repayment"), and (ii) Company will borrow from IAG an amount equal to the IAG
Repayment and declare and pay a dividend to Parent in the amount of the IAG
Repayment.
(f) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, Parent and
Company hereby agree to use their respective best efforts to have the licenses
or leases that currently are in the name of Parent and are listed on SCHEDULE
2.2(F), assigned or transferred to Company as set forth on SCHEDULE 2.2(F), and
Company shall assume all duties and obligations under such licenses or leases in
full, except as expressly agreed to in writing by Parent.
(g) Effective on or before the Distribution Date, Parent and
Company hereby agree to use their respective best efforts to assign and transfer
to Company the interest rate swaps, caps and floors listed on SCHEDULE 2.2(G).
To the extent that Parent cannot, without a guaranty or otherwise
-12-
13
unconditionally, assign and transfer the floors listed on SCHEDULE 2.2(G) to
Company, Parent will retain swaps listed on SCHEDULE 2.2(G) of sufficient
economic value to Parent to offset the economic cost to Parent resulting from
the termination of such floors.
(h) In the event that at any time or from time to time
(whether prior to or after the Distribution Date), any party hereto (or any
member of such party's respective Group), shall receive or otherwise possess any
Asset that is allocated to any other Person pursuant to this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, such party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be
transferred, such Asset to the Person so entitled thereto. However, Parent shall
not cause any Company Asset to be transferred prior to the Distribution Date
without the written consent of the Company. Before any such transfer, the Person
receiving or possessing such Asset shall hold such Asset in trust for any such
other Person.
2.3 COMPANY ASSETS AND EXCLUDED ASSETS.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, "Company Assets" shall
mean (without duplication):
(i) any and all Assets that are set forth in this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be
transferred to the Company or any other member of the Company
Group;
(ii) any and all Company Contracts (including any
consideration subject to off-set thereunder);
(iii) all issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Subsidiaries of Parent listed on SCHEDULE
2.3(a)(iii) hereto;
(iv) any and all Assets reflected in the Company
Balance Sheet, subject to any dispositions of such Assets
subsequent to the date of the Company Balance Sheet; and
(v) any and all Assets owned or held immediately
prior to the Distribution Date by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries that are used primarily in the Company Business.
The intention of this clause (v) is only to rectify any
inadvertent omission of transfer or conveyance of any Assets
that, had the parties given specific consideration to such
Asset as of the date hereof, would have otherwise been
classified as a Company Asset. No Asset shall be deemed to be
a Company Asset solely as a result of this clause (v) if such
-13-
14
Asset is within the category or type of Asset expressly owned
by Parent as a result of transactions pursuant to Section 2.1
or the subject matter of an Ancillary Agreement. In addition,
no Asset shall be deemed a Company Asset solely as a result of
this clause (v) unless a claim with respect thereto is made by
the Company on or prior to the first anniversary of the
Distribution Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company Assets shall not in any event include
the Excluded Assets referred to in Section 2.3(b) below.
(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, "Excluded Assets"
shall mean any and all Assets that are set forth in this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by Parent or any other member of
the Parent Group.
2.4 COMPANY LIABILITIES AND EXCLUDED LIABILITIES.
(a) For the purposes of this Agreement, "Company Liabilities"
shall mean (without duplication):
(i) any and all Liabilities that are set forth in
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed
by the Company or any member of the Company Group, including without
limitation those Liabilities set forth on SCHEDULE 2.4(A)(I) hereto,
and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the
Company Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(ii) all Liabilities, other than Taxes dealt with in
the Tax Sharing Agreement, whether arising before, on or after the
Distribution Date, including any employee-related Liabilities and
Environmental Liabilities, relating to, arising out of or resulting
from:
(A) the operation of the Company Business,
as conducted at any time prior to, on or after the
Distribution Date, including any Liability relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any act or failure to act by
any director, officer, employee, agent or representative,
whether or not such act or failure to act is or was within
such Person's authority;
(B) the operation of any business conducted
by any member of the Company Group at any time after the
Distribution Date (including any Liability relating to,
arising out of or resulting from any act or failure to act by
any director, officer, employee, agent or other representative
of the Company Group (whether or not such act or failure to
act is or was within such Person's authority)); or
(C) any Company Assets (including any
Company Contracts and any real property and leasehold
interests);
-14-
15
(iii) all other Liabilities of any member of the
Company Group, including those liabilities reflected as liabilities or
obligations of the Company in the Company Balance Sheet, subject to any
discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the Company
Balance Sheet.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company Liabilities shall not include the
Excluded Liabilities referred to in Section 2.4(b) below.
(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, "Excluded Liabilities"
shall mean (i) any and all Liabilities that are set forth in this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to
be retained or assumed by Parent or any other member of the Parent Group, (ii)
all agreements and obligations of any member of the Parent Group under this
Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements and (iii) all Liabilities relating
to, arising out of or resulting from the Parent Business.
(c) On the Distribution Date, Parent will contribute to the
Company the Intercompany Balance, except that on and as of the Distribution Date
the Company shall be obligated to make the following payment to Parent as a
set-off or reduction of such Intercompany Balance:
(i) The amount equal to the sum of items (A) through
(F) below, less the sum of items (G) and (H) below (the "ANC Equity
Adjustment") which Company shall repay to Parent on the Distribution
Date from the proceeds of certain debt financing to be received by the
Company on such date:
(A) An amount equal to the amount by which
the Maroone Payable exceeds $65.0 million;
(B) The amount, as of the Distribution Date,
of any vehicle fleet financing funded by Parent with respect
to CarTemps USA, which has been advanced to Company by Parent,
but which has not been repaid by Company, which amount was
equal to $0 at May 31, 2000;
(C) The amount, as of the Distribution Date,
of any of Company's summer fleet over-collateralization, as
set forth in SCHEDULE 2.4(C)(I)(C), funded by Parent, which
has been advanced to Company by Parent, but which has not been
repaid by Company, which amount was equal to $45.0 million at
May 31, 2000;
-15-
16
(D) $32.2 million, representing funds
advanced by Parent to repay the Company's working capital
lines of credit from Citibank International, N.A.;
(E) $255.0 million, representing funds
advanced by Parent to Company to allow Company to repay
certain fleet letters of credit; and
(F) $10.0 million, representing funds
advanced by Parent to Company with respect to fees paid to
Xxxxxx Brothers in connection with certain debt financing.
The foregoing amounts shall be reduced by the sum of the following:
(G) $200.0 million, representing the
capital contribution of $200.0 million from Parent to Company
made in connection with the Distribution, $180.0 million of
which was made in February 2000;
(H) the amount by which the Maroone Payable
is less than $65.0 million; and
(I) the amount received by the Company upon
the sale of the former National headquarters in Minneapolis
and the "1401" building in Fort Lauderdale (to the extent
those sales are closed prior to the Distribution Date and the
proceeds thereof were added to the Intercompany Balance prior
to this adjustment), and
(ii) The amount by which the ANC Preliminary Equity,
as adjusted to account for the ANC Equity Adjustment ("ANC Adjusted
Equity"), exceeds $851.0 million at the Distribution Date, which
Company shall repay to Parent on the Distribution Date from the
proceeds of certain debt financing to be received by the Company on
such date, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if ANC Adjusted Equity is less than
$851.0 million at the Distribution Date, then Parent will contribute to
Company an amount equal to the amount by which ANC Adjusted Equity is
less than $851.0 million at the Distribution Date.
On the Distribution Date, as Parent's and
the Company's books and records may not be final and complete as to
transactions occurring through to the Distribution Date, Parent shall
prepare and provide an estimate to the Company of the amount of the
payment to Parent which is owed as a set-off or reduction of such
Intercompany Balance in accordance with the foregoing and the Company's
payment to Parent in accordance with the foregoing shall be made based
on Parent's estimate on the Distribution Date. On or before the date
that is thirty (30) days following the Distribution Date, Parent shall
prepare and provide a final calculation to the Company of the amount of
-16-
17
such payment. Within five (5) days after delivery of such final
calculation, Parent shall pay to the Company the amount of the
difference between the estimated payment amount made as of the
Distribution Date minus the final calculation amount to the extent that
the estimated payment amount is greater than the final calculation
amount, or, alternatively, the Company shall pay to Parent the amount
of the difference between the final calculated amount minus the
estimated payment amount to the extent that the final calculated amount
is greater than the estimated amount. If the Company disputes any
determination by Parent of either the estimated amount prepared as of
the Distribution Date or the final calculation amount prepared within
thirty days thereafter, then within the five day period after Parent's
delivery of the final calculation amount, the parties shall submit any
such unresolved dispute to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP for prompt resolution
within five days following submission of the dispute to it, and the
parties agree to be bound by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP's resolution of such
dispute.
2.5 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENTS.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.5(b), in furtherance of
the releases and other provisions of Section 4.1 hereof, the Company and each
member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and Parent and each member of the
Parent Group, on the other hand, hereby agrees to terminate any and all
agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in
writing, between or among the Company and/or any member of the Company Group, on
the one hand, and Parent and/or any member of the Parent Group, on the other
hand, on or before the Distribution Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that to the extent
any such agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding is inconsistent
with any Ancillary Agreement, such termination shall be effective as of the date
of effectiveness of the applicable Ancillary Agreement. No such terminated
agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding (including any provision
thereof which purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or
effect after the Distribution Date (or, to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, after the effective date of the
applicable Ancillary Agreement). Each party shall, at the reasonable request of
any other party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be
necessary to effect the foregoing.
(b) The provisions of Section 2.5(a) shall not apply to any of
the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any
of the provisions thereof): (i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and
each other agreement or instrument set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement to be entered into by any of the parties hereto or any of the members
of their respective Groups); (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or
understandings listed or described on SCHEDULE 2.5(b)(ii); (iii) any agreements,
arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Person other than the
parties hereto and their respective Affiliates is a party (it being understood
that to the extent that the rights and obligations of the parties and the
members of their respective Groups under any such agreements, arrangements,
-17-
18
commitments or understandings constitute Company Assets or Company Liabilities,
they shall be assigned pursuant to Section 2.2); (iv) any intercompany accounts
payable or accounts receivable accrued as of the Distribution Date that are
reflected in the books and records of the parties or otherwise documented in
writing in accordance with past practices; and (v) any other agreements,
arrangements, commitments or understandings that this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement states will survive the Distribution Date.
2.6 DOCUMENTS RELATING TO OTHER TRANSFERS OF ASSETS AND
ASSUMPTIONS OF LIABILITIES.
(a) COMPANY ASSETS AND COMPANY LIABILITIES. In furtherance of
the assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Company Assets and the assumption
of the Company Liabilities set forth in Section 2.2 (a) and (b), simultaneously
with the execution and delivery hereof or as promptly as practicable thereafter,
(i) Parent shall execute and deliver, and shall cause each member of the Parent
Group to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, stock powers, certificates of
title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance
and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer,
conveyance and assignment of all of Parent's, and Parent Group's right, title
and interest in and to Company Assets to the Company and (ii) the Company shall
execute and deliver, to Parent and Parent Group such bills of sale, stock
powers, certificates of title, assumptions of contracts and other instruments of
assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective
assumption of the Company Liabilities by the Company.
(b) EXCLUDED ASSETS AND EXCLUDED LIABILITIES. In furtherance
of the assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Excluded Assets and the
Excluded Liabilities set forth in Section 2.2 (c) and (d), simultaneously with
the execution and delivery hereof or as promptly as practicable thereafter, (i)
the Company shall execute and deliver, and shall cause each member of the
Company Group to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, stock powers,
certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of
transfer, conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence
the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of the Company's and the Company
Group's right, title and interest in and to the Excluded Assets to Parent and
(ii) Parent shall execute and deliver, to the Company and the Company Group such
bills of sale, stock powers, certificates of title, assumptions of contracts and
other instruments as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and
effective assumption of Excluded Liabilities by Parent.
2.7 OTHER ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS. Effective on or before the Distribution
Date, each of Parent and the Company shall execute and deliver each of the
following Ancillary Agreements:
-18-
19
(a) the Transitional Services Agreement;
(b) the Tax Sharing Agreement;
(c) the Benefits Agreement; and
(d) the Reimbursement Agreement.
2.8 DISCLAIMER OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
(a) Each of Parent (on behalf of itself and each member of the
Parent Group) and the Company (on behalf of itself and each member of the
Company Group) understands and agrees that, except as expressly set forth herein
or in any Ancillary Agreement, no party to this Agreement, any Ancillary
Agreement or any other agreement or document contemplated by this Agreement, any
Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, is representing or warranting in any way as to
(i) the Assets, businesses or Liabilities transferred or assumed as contemplated
hereby or thereby, (ii) any consents or approvals required in connection
therewith, (iii) the value of, or freedom from any Security Interests of, or any
other matter concerning, any Assets of such party, or as to the absence of any
defenses or right of setoff or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any
claim or other Asset, including any accounts receivable, of any party, or (iv)
as to the legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or instrument delivered
hereunder to convey title to any Asset or thing of value upon the execution,
delivery and filing hereof or thereof. Except as may expressly be set forth
herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, all such Assets are being transferred on
an "as is," "where is" basis (and, in the case of any real property, by means of
a quitclaim or similar form of deed or conveyance) and the respective
transferees shall bear the economic and legal risks that any conveyance shall
prove to be insufficient to vest in the transferee good and marketable title,
free and clear of any Security Interest.
2.9 GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS AND CONSENTS.
(a) Each of Parent and the Company shall use their reasonable
best efforts to obtain the Governmental Approvals and Consents as set forth on
SCHEDULE 2.9(A) required to assign, transfer, convey and deliver the Company
Assets to the Company and the Excluded Assets to Parent.
(b) If and to the extent that the valid, complete and
perfected transfer or assignment (or novation of any federal government
contract) to the Company Group of any Company Assets (or from the Company Group
of any Excluded Assets) would be a violation of applicable laws or require any
Consent or Governmental Approval in connection with the Separation or the
Distribution, then, unless Parent shall otherwise determine, the transfer or
assignment to or from the Company Group, as the case may be, of such Company
-19-
20
Assets or Excluded Assets, respectively, shall be automatically deemed deferred
and any such purported transfer or assignment shall remain pending until such
time as all legal impediments are removed and/or such Consents or Governmental
Approvals have been obtained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Asset shall be
deemed a Company Asset for purposes of determining whether any Liability is a
Company Liability.
(c) If the transfer or assignment of any Assets intended to be
transferred or assigned hereunder is not consummated prior to or at the
Distribution Date, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.9(b) or
for any other reason, then the Person retaining such Asset shall thereafter hold
such Asset for the use and benefit, insofar as reasonably possible, of the
Person entitled thereto (at the expense of the Person entitled thereto). In
addition, the Person retaining such Asset shall take such other actions as may
be reasonably requested by the Person to whom such Asset is to be transferred in
order to place such Person, insofar as reasonably possible, in the same position
as if such Asset had been transferred as contemplated hereby and so that all the
benefits and burdens relating to such Company Assets or such Excluded Assets, as
the case may be, including possession, use, risk of loss, potential for gain,
and dominion, control and command over such Assets, are to inure from and after
the Distribution Date to the Company Group or the Parent Group, as the case may
be.
(d) If and when the Consents and/or Governmental Approvals,
the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer of any Asset pursuant to
Section 2.9(b), are obtained, the transfer of the applicable Asset shall be
effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable
Ancillary Agreement.
(e) The Person retaining an Asset due to the deferral of the
transfer of such Asset pursuant to Section 2.9(b) or otherwise, shall not be
obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the
necessary funds are advanced by the Person entitled to the Asset, other than
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys' fees and recording or similar
fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by the Person entitled to such
Asset.
2.10 NOVATION OF ASSUMED COMPANY LIABILITIES.
(a) Each of Parent and the Company, at the request of the
other, shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained,
any Consent or Governmental Approval required to novate (including with respect
to any Governmental Authority contract) or assign all Company Liabilities, or to
obtain in writing the unconditional release of all parties to such Company
Liabilities other than any member of the Company Group, so that, in any such
case, the members of the Company Group will be solely responsible for such
Liabilities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that none of Parent or the Company shall be
obligated to pay any consideration therefor to any third party from whom such
Consents or Governmental Approvals are requested other than filing and other
fees required by applicable law.
-20-
21
(b) If Parent and the Company are unable to obtain, or to
cause to be obtained, any such required Consent or Governmental Approval, the
applicable member of the Parent Group, as the case may be, shall continue to be
bound by such Company Liability and, unless not permitted by law or the terms
thereof, the Company shall, as agent or subcontractor for Parent, or such other
Person, as the case may be, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations
or other Liabilities of Parent, or such other Person, as the case may be,
thereunder from and after the date hereof, and the Company shall indemnify each
Parent Indemnitee and hold each of them harmless against any Liabilities arising
in connection therewith. Parent shall, without further consideration, pay and
remit, or cause to be paid or remitted, to the Company promptly all money,
rights and other consideration received by it or any member of Parent Group in
respect of such performance (unless any such consideration is an Excluded
Asset). If and when any such Consent or Governmental Approval shall be obtained
or such Liability shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated,
Parent shall thereafter assign, or cause to be assigned, such Liability or any
rights or obligations of any member of Parent Group to the Company or to another
member of the Company Group specified by the Company without payment of further
consideration and the Company shall assume, or shall cause such other member of
the Company Group to assume, without the payment of any further consideration,
such Liability.
2.11 NOVATION OF ASSUMED LIABILITIES OTHER THAN COMPANY
LIABILITIES.
(a) Each of Parent and the Company at the request of the
other, shall use their best efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any
Consent or Governmental Approval required to novate (including with respect to
any Governmental Authority Contract) or assign all Liabilities of any nature
whatsoever that do not constitute Company Liabilities, or to obtain in writing
the unconditional release of all parties to such Liabilities other than any
member of the Parent Group, so that, in any such case, the members of the Parent
Group will be solely responsible for such Liabilities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
none of Parent and the Company shall be obligated to pay any consideration
therefor to any third party from whom such consents, approvals, substitutions
and amendments are requested other than filing fees required by applicable law.
(b) If Parent and the Company are unable to obtain, or to
cause to be obtained, any such required Consent or Governmental Approval, the
applicable member of the Company Group shall continue to be bound by such
Excluded Liability and, unless not permitted by law or the terms thereof, Parent
shall cause a member of the Parent Group, as agent or subcontractor for such
member of the Company Group, to pay, perform and discharge fully all the
obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the Company Group thereunder
from and after the date hereof, and Parent shall indemnify each Company
Indemnitee and hold each of them harmless against any Liabilities arising in
connection therewith. The Company shall cause each member of the Company Group
without further consideration, to pay and remit, or cause to be paid or
remitted, to Parent or to another member of the Parent Group specified by
-21-
22
Parent, promptly all money, rights and other consideration received by it or any
member of the Company Group in respect of such performance. If and when any such
Consent or Governmental Approval shall be obtained or such Liability shall
otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, the Company shall promptly
assign, or cause to be assigned, such Liability or any rights or obligations of
any member of the Company Group to Parent or to another member of the Parent
Group specified by Parent without payment of further consideration and Parent,
without the payment of any further consideration shall, or shall cause such
other member of the Parent Group to, assume such Liability.
ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTION
3.1 THE DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Subject to Section 3.3 hereof, Parent and the Company will
take all reasonable steps necessary and appropriate to cause all conditions to
the Distribution to be satisfied and to effect the Distribution. The Parent's
Board of Directors will have the sole discretion to determine the Distribution
Date, and Parent will consummate the Distribution subject to the satisfaction or
waiver by the Parent's Board, in its sole discretion, of the conditions set
forth in Section 3.3.
(b) On or prior to the Distribution Date, Parent will deliver
to the Distribution Agent for the benefit of holders of record of Parent Common
Stock on the Record Date, stock certificates, endorsed by Parent in blank,
representing all of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock then
owned by Parent or any member of the Parent Group, and shall cause the transfer
agent for the shares of Parent Common Stock to instruct the Distribution Agent
to distribute on the Distribution Date the appropriate number of such shares of
the Company Common Stock to each such holder or designated transferee or
transferees of such holder.
(c) Subject to Section 3.4, each holder of Parent Common Stock
(or such holder's designated transferee or transferees) on the Record Date (or
such holder's designated transferee or transferees) will be entitled to receive
in the Distribution that number of shares of such Company Common Stock (rounded
down to the nearest whole share) equal to that number of shares of Parent Common
Stock owned by a stockholder on the Record Date divided by a number equal to the
Distribution Ratio established by Parent's Board, with all fractional amounts
rounded down to the nearest whole number.
-22-
23
3.2 ACTIONS PRIOR TO THE DISTRIBUTION.
(a) The Company and Parent agree that prior to the
Distribution Date, none of the parties will take, or permit any of its
Affiliates to take, any action which reasonably could be expected to prevent the
Distribution from qualifying as a tax-free distribution to Parent and Parent's
stockholders pursuant to Section 355 of the Code or that is inconsistent with
any representation of fact or submission made by Parent in connection with or in
the Letter Ruling. The parties will also take any reasonable actions necessary
in order for the Distribution to qualify as a tax-free distribution to Parent
and Parent's stockholders pursuant to Section 355 of the Code.
(b) Parent and the Company shall prepare and the Company shall
file with the Commission the Form 10, which shall include or incorporate by
reference the Information Statement, which shall set forth appropriate
disclosure concerning the Company and the Distribution. Parent and the Company
shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Form 10 to become effective under the
Exchange Act as soon as practicable. After the Form 10 has become effective,
Parent shall mail the Information Statement to the holders of Parent Common
Stock as of the Record Date.
(c) Parent and the Company shall take all such action as may
be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky laws of the United
States, and any comparable laws that may be applicable under any foreign
jurisdiction, in connection with the Distribution.
(d) Parent and the Company shall take all reasonable steps
necessary and appropriate to cause the conditions set forth in Section 3.3
(subject to Section 3.3(d)) to be satisfied and to effect the Distribution on
the Distribution Date.
(e) The Company shall prepare and file, and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to have approved, an application for the listing of the
Company Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution on the Nasdaq
National Market, subject to official notice of distribution.
(f) Parent shall distribute to each of its stockholders, as of
the Record Date, any information which may be required to be filed by Parent's
stockholders pursuant to the Code or the Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) Parent shall prepare the information required by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.355-5(b) to be attached to the tax returns of Parent's
stockholders as of the Record Date and any other information required by the
Code or Regulations thereunder, and shall distribute such information (or cause
such information to be distributed), along with any other information Parent
deems advisable, to such stockholders no later than sixty (60) days after the
Distribution Closing Date.
-23-
24
3.3 CONDITIONS TO DISTRIBUTION. Parent shall consummate the
Distribution no later than July 31, 2000 subject to the satisfaction, or waiver
by the Parent's Board in its sole discretion, of the conditions set forth below:
(a) the Letter Ruling shall continue in effect that, among
other things, the Distribution will qualify as a tax-free distribution for
federal income tax purposes under Section 355 of the Code and the Distribution
by Parent of Company Common Stock to stockholders of Parent will not result in
recognition of any income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes to
Parent or Parent's stockholders.
(b) the Form 10 shall have become effective under the Exchange
Act;
(c) the Company Common Stock to be delivered in the
Distribution shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official
notice of issuance;
(d) The Parent's Board of Directors shall be satisfied that
the Distribution will be made out of surplus within the meaning of Section 170
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;
(e) Parent's Board of Directors shall have approved the
Distribution and shall not have abandoned, deferred or modified the Distribution
at any time prior to the Record Date;
(f) the separation of assets and liabilities referred to in
Section 2.1 of this Agreement shall have been effected;
(g) the Company's certificate of incorporation (the "Restated
Company Charter") and bylaws, in substantially the same forms attached as
Exhibits A and B, respectively, hereto shall be in effect;
(h) each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly
executed and delivered by the parties thereto;
(i) any material Governmental Approvals and Consents necessary
to consummate the Distribution shall have been obtained and be in full force and
effect;
(j) the credit facilities pertaining to the Company shall have
been restructured or assigned to the satisfaction of the Parent, and Parent
shall have been released from all guaranties and other obligations relating to
the Company Business and the Company's credit facilities, medium term notes,
commercial paper programs and other indebtedness except Parent shall continue
its guarantee as reflected on the Reimbursement Agreement;
-24-
25
(k) no order, injunction or decree issued by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition
preventing the consummation of the Distribution shall be in effect, and no other
event outside the control of Parent shall have occurred or failed to occur that
prevents the consummation of the Distribution; and
(l) no other events or developments shall have occurred that,
in the judgment of the Parent's Board, would result in the Distribution having a
material adverse effect on Parent or on the stockholders of Parent or if the
Parent Board determines that the Distribution would not be in the best interests
of Parent or the stockholders of Parent.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and shall not give
rise to or create any duty on the part of Parent or the Parent's Board of
Directors to waive or not waive any such condition.
3.4 FRACTIONAL SHARES. As soon as practicable after the Distribution
Date, Parent shall direct the Distribution Agent to determine the number of
whole shares and fractional shares of the Company Common Stock allocable to each
holder of record or beneficial owner of Parent Common Stock as of the Record
Date, to aggregate all such fractional shares and sell the whole shares obtained
thereby in open market transactions at then prevailing trading prices, and to
cause to be distributed to each such holder or for the benefit of each such
beneficial owner, in lieu of any fractional share, such holder's or owner's
ratable share of the proceeds of such sale, without interest, after making
appropriate deductions of the amount required to be withheld for federal income
tax purposes and after deducting an amount equal to all brokerage charges,
commissions and transfer taxes attributed to such sale. Parent and the
Distribution Agent shall use their reasonable best efforts to aggregate the
shares of Parent Common Stock that may be held by any beneficial owner thereof
through more than one account in determining the fractional share allocable to
such beneficial owner.
3.5 COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Parent and the Company shall each take
all actions which may be required to elect or otherwise appoint as directors of
the Company, on or prior to the Distribution Date, persons to be designated by
the Company's Board of Directors as additional or substitute members of the
Board of Directors of the Company on the Distribution Date.
3.6 TERMINATION OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS ARTICLE III. Except as
provided in Article X, the obligations of the Company and Parent under this
Article III, or under any other provision of this Agreement relating to the
Distribution or the Letter Ruling shall terminate on the earliest occurrence of
any of the following:
(a) the revocation of the Letter Ruling;
-25-
26
(b) action being taken by Parent or the Company that would
prevent a distribution of Company Common Stock from qualifying as a tax-free
distribution to Parent and Parent's stockholders under Section 355 of the Code;
(c) the mutual consent of Parent and the Company; or
(d) the failure of the Distribution Date to occur on or prior
to July 31, 2000.
ARTICLE IV
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION
4.1 RELEASE OF PRE-CLOSING CLAIMS.
(a) Except as provided in Section 4.1(c), effective as of the
Distribution Date, the Company does hereby, for itself and each other member of
the Company Group, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of the
Parent Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons (other than any member of
the Parent Group) who at any time prior to the Distribution Date have been
stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the
Company Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise,
release and forever discharge Parent, the members of the Parent Group, its
respective Affiliates (other than any member of the Company Group), successors
and assigns, and all Persons (other than any member of the Company Group) who at
any time prior to the Distribution Date have been stockholders, directors,
officers, agents or employees of any member of the Parent Group (in each case,
in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Liabilities whatsoever,
whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether
arising under any contract or agreement, by operation of law or otherwise,
existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or
alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing
or alleged to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, including in
connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement any of
the Separation and the Distribution.
(b) Except as provided in Section 4.1(c), effective as of the
Distribution Date, Parent does hereby, for itself and each other member of the
Parent Group, its respective Affiliates (other than any member of the Company
Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the
Distribution Date have been stockholders, directors, officers, agents or
employees of any member of the Parent Group, in each case, in their respective
capacities as such, remise, release and forever discharge the Company, the
respective members of the Company Group, their respective Affiliates (other than
any member of the Parent Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at
any time prior to the Distribution Date have been stockholders, directors,
officers, agents or employees of any member of the Company Group (in each case,
-26-
27
in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Liabilities whatsoever,
whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether
arising under any contract or agreement, by operation of law or otherwise,
existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or
alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing
or alleged to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, including in
connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the
Separation and the Distribution.
(c) Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or (b) shall impair
any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or
any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are specified
in Section 2.5(b), in each case in accordance with its terms. In addition,
nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or (b) shall release any Person from:
(i) any Liability provided in or resulting from any
agreement among any members of the Parent Group or the Company Group
that is specified in Section 2.5(b) or any other Liability specified in
such Section 2.5(b);
(ii) any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed,
transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is
a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of
any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;
(iii) any Liability for the sale, lease, construction
or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used
in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a
member of any other Group prior to the Distribution Date;
(iv) any Liability for unpaid amounts for products or
services or refunds owing on products or services due on a
value-received basis for work done by a member of one Group at the
request or on behalf of a member of another Group;
(v) any Liability that the parties may have with
respect to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement
for claims brought against the parties by third Persons, which
Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article IV and,
if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements;
or
(vi) any Liability the release of which would result
in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to
this Section 4.1; provided that the parties agree not to bring suit or
permit any of their Subsidiaries to bring suit against any Person with
respect to any Liability to the extent that such Person would be
-27-
28
released with respect to such Liability by this Section 4.1, but for
the provisions of this clause (vi).
(d) The Company shall not make, and shall not permit any
member of the Company Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action
asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any
indemnification, against Parent, or any member of the Parent Group or any other
Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(a), with respect to any Liabilities
released pursuant to Section 4.1(a). Parent shall not, and shall not permit any
member of the Parent Group, to make any claim or demand, or commence any Action
asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any
indemnification, against the Company or any member of the Company Group, or any
other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(b), with respect to any
Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(b).
(e) It is the intent of each of Parent and the Company by
virtue of the provisions of this Section 4.1 to provide for a full and complete
release and discharge of all Liabilities existing or arising from all acts and
events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have
failed to occur and all conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or
before the Distribution Date, whether or not such acts, events or conditions are
deemed or alleged to be within the control of Parent, or any member of the
Parent Group, or of the Company, or any member of the Company Group, between or
among the Company or any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, and
Parent, or any member of the Parent Group, on the other hand, including any
contractual agreements or arrangements existing or alleged to exist between or
among any such members on or before the Distribution Date, whether or not
related to the Separation or the Distribution, except as expressly set forth in
Section 4.1(c). At any time, at the request of any other party, each party shall
cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases
reflecting the provisions hereof.
4.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY COMPANY. Except as provided in Section 4.4, the
Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent, each member of the
Parent Group and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, and
each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Parent Indemnitees"), from and against any and all
Liabilities of the Parent Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting
from any of the following items (without duplication):
(a) the failure of the Company or any other member of the
Company Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly
discharge any Company Liabilities, or any of the Company Contracts in accordance
with their respective terms, whether prior to or after the Distribution Date or
the date hereof;
(b) the Company Business, any Company Liability, any Exclusive
Contingent Liability of the Company or any Company Contract; and
-28-
29
(c) any breach by the Company or any member of the Company
Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.
(d) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
with respect to any information in the Information Statement, or any prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement to such Information Statement
or prospectus, based upon our or in conformity with information furnished in
writing to Parent by or on behalf of the Company which related to the Company,
the Company's business, its operations or its relationship with Parent.
4.3 INDEMNIFICATION BY PARENT. Except as provided in Section 4.4,
Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, each member of the
Company Group and each of their respective directors, officers and employees,
and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Company Indemnitees"), from and against any and all
Liabilities of the Company Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting
from any of the following items (without duplication):
(a) the failure of Parent or any other member of the Parent
Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any
Excluded Liability or any Liabilities of the Parent Group other than the Company
Liabilities, whether prior to or after the Distribution Date or the date hereof;
(b) the Parent Business, any Excluded Liability, any Exclusive
Contingent Liability of Parent or any Liability of the Parent Group other than
the Company Liabilities;
(c) any breach by Parent or any member of the Parent Group of
this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements; and
(d) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
with respect to any information in the Information Statement, or any prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement to such Information Statement
or prospectus, based upon our or in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by or on behalf of Parent which related to Parent,
Parent's business, its operations or its relationship with the Company.
4.4 INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS NET OF INSURANCE PROCEEDS AND
OTHER AMOUNTS.
-29-
30
(a) The parties intend that any Liability subject to
indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IV or Article V will
be net of Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of the Liability.
Accordingly, the amount which any party (an "Indemnifying Party") is required to
pay to any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder (an "Indemnitee") will
be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds theretofore actually recovered by or on
behalf of the Indemnitee in reduction of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee
receives a payment (an "Indemnity Payment") required by this Agreement from an
Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives
Insurance Proceeds, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an
amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of
the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds had
been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.
(b) An insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay any
claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or,
solely by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof, have any subrogation
rights with respect thereto, it being expressly understood and agreed that no
insurer or any other third party shall be entitled to a "windfall" (i.e., a
benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the
indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof.
Nothing contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall obligate
any member of any Group to seek to collect or recover any Insurance Proceeds.
4.5 PROCEDURES FOR INDEMNIFICATION OF THIRD PARTY ACTIONS.
(a) If an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn
of the assertion by a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a
member of the Parent Group or the Company Group of any Action (collectively, a
"Third Party Action") with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be
obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4.2
or 4.3, or any other Section of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such
Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party written notice thereof within 20
days after becoming aware of such Third Party Action. Any such notice shall
describe the Third Party Action in reasonable detail. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the failure of any Indemnitee to give notice as provided in this
Section 4.5(a) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under
this Article IV, except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is actually
prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
(b) An Indemnifying Party may elect to defend (and, unless the
Indemnifying Party has specified any reservations or exceptions, to seek to
settle or compromise), at such Indemnifying Party's own expense and by such
Indemnifying Party's own counsel, any Third Party Action. Within 30 days after
the receipt of notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.5(a) (or
sooner, if the nature of such Third Party Action so requires), the Indemnifying
Party shall notify the Indemnitee of its election to assume responsibility for
defending such Third Party Action, which election shall specify any reservations
or exceptions. After notice from an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnitee of its
election to assume the defense of a Third Party Action, such Indemnitee shall
have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate reasonably in (but
-30-
31
not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be the expense of such Indemnitee; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such fees and expenses of separate counsel shall be paid by the
Indemnifying Party if in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnitee a conflict
of interest would arise from the use by the Indemnifying Party of its proposed
counsel in the defense of the Third Party Action. With respect to any such Third
Party Action assumed by the Indemnifying Party, the parties agree to provide
each other with all material information that they request relating to the
handling of such matter.
(c) If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume
responsibility for defending a Third Party Action, or fails to notify an
Indemnitee of its election as provided in Section 4.5(b), such Indemnitee may
defend such Third Party Action at the cost and expense (including allocated
costs of in-house counsel and other personnel) of the Indemnifying Party.
(d) Unless the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the
defense of the Third Party Action in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, no Indemnitee may settle or compromise any Third Party Action without
the consent of the Indemnifying Party which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
4.5, the Indemnifying Party shall have no right to settle or compromise any
Action for which it has assumed the defense of (i) to the extent the settlement
or compromise provides for any injunctive or other equitable relief against the
Indemnified Party or otherwise provides for any continuing obligations of any
nature against the Indemnified Party or loss of rights of the Indemnified Party,
and (ii) unless such settlement or compromise includes an unconditional release
of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action and does
not include a statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to
act by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party.
(f) The provisions of this Section 4.5 and Section 4.6 shall
not apply to Taxes, which are covered by the Tax Sharing Agreement.
4.6 ADDITIONAL MATTERS.
(a) Any claim on account of a Liability, which does not result
from a Third Party Action, shall be asserted by written notice given by an
Indemnitee to an Indemnifying Party. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period
of 30 days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If
such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such 30-day period, such
Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have refused to accept responsibility to
make payment. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such 30-day
-31-
32
period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall be free
to pursue such remedies as may be available to such party as contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) In the event of payment by or on behalf of any
Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third Party Action,
such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of
such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such
Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third Party
Action against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third Party Action or
against any other person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying
Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense (including allocated
costs of in-house counsel and other personnel) of such Indemnifying Party, in
prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.
(c) In the event of an Action in which the Indemnifying Party
is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnified Party or Indemnifying Party
shall so request, the parties shall endeavor to substitute the Indemnifying
Party for the named defendant. If such substitution cannot be achieved for any
reason or is not requested, the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying
Party to manage the Action as set forth in this Section and the Indemnifying
Party shall fully indemnify the named defendant against all costs of defending
the Action (including court costs, sanctions imposed by a court, attorneys'
fees, experts' fees and all other external expenses, and the allocated costs of
in-house counsel and other personnel), the costs of any judgment or settlement,
and the cost of any interest or penalties relating to any judgment or
settlement.
4.7 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The remedies provided in this Article IV shall
be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article VIII, shall not preclude
assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all
other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.
4.8 SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITIES. The rights and obligations of each of
Parent and the Company and their respective Indemnitee under this Article IV
shall survive the sale or other transfer by any party of any Assets or
businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities.
ARTICLE V
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND CONTINGENT GAINS
5.1 CONTINGENT CLAIMS COMMITTEE. The Company and Parent shall establish
a Contingent Claims Committee, comprising one representative designated from
time to time by each of Parent and the Company, which Committee shall establish
procedures to resolve disagreements among the parties as to contingent gains and
contingent liabilities.
-32-
33
5.2 SHARED CONTINGENT LIABILITIES. The Company and Parent will have the
exclusive responsibility for any contingent liability that relates to the
Company Business or the Parent Business, respectively, or is expressly assigned
to the Company or Parent pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
respectively, including, but not limited to, those contingent liabilities listed
on SCHEDULE 5.2 to this Agreement (an "Exclusive Contingent Liability"). The
parties shall share responsibility for any contingent liabilities that are not
Exclusive Contingent Liabilities (a "Shared Contingent Liability"). With respect
to any Shared Contingent Liability, the responsibility therefor shall be
allocated one-half to each of the Company and the Parent, or on such other
methodology to be established by the Contingent Claims Committee. Parent will
assume the defense of, and may seek to settle or compromise, any Third Party
Action that is a Shared Contingent Liability, and the Company and Parent shall
share the costs and expenses thereof.
5.3 CONTINGENT GAINS. The Company and Parent will have the exclusive
right to any benefit received with respect to any contingent gain that primarily
relates to the business of, or that is expressly assigned to, the Company or
Parent, respectively (an "Exclusive Contingent Gain"). Each of the Company and
Parent will have sole and exclusive authority to manage, control and otherwise
determine all matters whatsoever with respect to an Exclusive Contingent Gain
that primarily relates to its respective business. The parties will share any
benefit that may be received from any contingent gain other than any Exclusive
Contingent Gain (a "Shared Contingent Gain") equally between the Company and the
Parent, or on such other methodology to be established by the Contingent Claims
Committee. Parent will have the sole and exclusive authority to manage, control
and otherwise determine all matters whatsoever with respect to any Shared
Contingent Gain. Parent may elect not to pursue any Shared Contingent Gain for
any reason whatsoever, including a different assessment of the merits of any
action, claim or right or any business reasons that are in the best interest of
Parent without regard to the best interests of the Company, and Parent will have
no liability to any Person, including the Company, as a result of any such
determination.
ARTICLE VI
INSURANCE MATTERS
6.1 SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST RIGHTS.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in any Ancillary Agreement,
the parties intend by this Agreement that the Company and each other member of
the Company Group be successors-in-interest to all rights that any member of the
Company Group may have as of the Distribution Date as a subsidiary, affiliate,
division or department of Parent prior to the Distribution Date under any policy
of insurance issued to Parent by any insurance carrier unaffiliated with Parent
or under any agreements related to such policies executed and delivered prior to
the Distribution Date, including any rights such member of the Company Group may
have, as an insured or additional named insured, subsidiary, affiliate, division
-33-
34
or department, to avail itself of any such policy of insurance or any such
agreements related to such policies as in effect prior to the Distribution Date.
At the request of the Company, Parent shall take all reasonable steps, including
the execution and delivery of any instruments, to effect the foregoing;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent shall not be required to pay any amounts, waive
any rights or incur any Liabilities in connection therewith.
(b) Except as otherwise contemplated by any Ancillary
Agreement, after the Distribution Date, none of Parent or the Company or any
member of their respective Groups shall, without the consent of the other,
provide any such insurance carrier with a release, or amend, modify or waive any
rights under any such policy or agreement, if such release, amendment,
modification or waiver would adversely affect any rights or potential rights of
any member of the other Group thereunder; provided, HOWEVER, that the foregoing
shall not (i) preclude any member of any Group from presenting any claim or from
exhausting any policy limit, (ii) require any member of any Group to pay any
premium or other amount or to incur any Liability, or (iii) require any member
of any Group to renew, extend or continue any policy in force. Each of the
Company and Parent will share such information as is reasonably necessary in
order to permit the other to manage and conduct its insurance matters in an
orderly fashion.
6.2 NO ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is not intended as an attempted
assignment of any policy of insurance or as a contract of insurance and shall
not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any member of the Parent Group
in respect of any Insurance Policy or any other contract or policy of insurance.
6.3 NO LIABILITY. The Company does hereby, for itself and each other
member of the Company Group, agree that no member of the Parent Group or any
Parent Indemnitees shall have any Liability to the Company or to any other
member of the Company Group whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and
practices of Parent and its Affiliates as in effect at any time prior to the
Distribution Date, including as a result of the level or scope of any such
insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and
conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any
insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.
6.4 ADDITIONAL INSURANCE. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
restrict any member of the Company Group from acquiring at its own expense any
other insurance policy in respect of any Liabilities or covering any period.
-34-
35
ARTICLE VII
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY
7.1 AGREEMENT FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; ARCHIVES.
(a) Each of Parent and the Company, on behalf of its
respective Group, agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, to the other
Group, at any time before or after the Distribution Date, as soon as reasonably
practicable after written request therefor, any Information in the possession or
under the control of such respective Group which the requesting party reasonably
needs (i) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements
imposed on the requesting party, including under applicable securities or tax
laws by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the requesting party,
(ii) for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative, tax or other
proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory,
litigation, tax or other similar requirements, or (iii) to comply with its
obligations under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any Liability;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that any party determines that any such
provision of Information could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or
agreement, or waive any attorney-client privilege or other privilege, the
parties shall take all reasonable measures to permit the compliance with such
obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.
(b) After the Distribution Date, each of Parent and the
Company shall have access during regular business hours to the documents and
objects of historic significance located in the other's records that relate to
each party's respective business. Each of Parent and the Company may (i) obtain
copies (but not originals) of documents for bona fide business purposes and (ii)
may obtain objects for exhibition purposes for commercially reasonable periods
of time if required for bona fide business purposes, provided that the parties
shall cause any such objects to be returned promptly in the same condition in
which they were delivered, the parties shall comply with any rules, procedures
or other requirements, and shall be subject to any restrictions (including
prohibitions on removal of specified objects), that are then applicable to the
party providing the documents or objects. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
restrict the access of any member of the Parent Group or the Company Group to
any such documents or objects or to impose any liability on any member of the
Parent Group or the Company Group if any such documents or objects are not
maintained or preserved by the Parent or Company, as the case may be.
(c) After the date hereof, (i) the Company shall maintain in
effect at its own cost and expense adequate systems and controls to the extent
necessary to enable the members of the Parent Group to satisfy their respective
reporting, accounting, audit and other obligations, and (ii) the Company shall
provide, or cause to be provided, to Parent in such form as Parent shall
request, at no charge to Parent, all financial and other data and information as
Parent determines necessary or advisable in order to prepare Parent financial
statements and reports or filings with any Governmental Authority.
-35-
36
(d) Parent's human resources department shall have access to
the PeopleSoft Payroll System to review all history data for current and former
Parent employees. Such access shall be continuously available until such time as
an adequate extract of the data is provided to Parent's human resources
department. The specifications of the extract are to be determined by Parent's
human resources department and will be coordinated with the Company's and
Parent's information technology departments.
7.2 OWNERSHIP OF INFORMATION. Any Information owned by one Group that
is provided to a requesting party pursuant to Section 7.1 shall be deemed to
remain the property of the providing party. Unless specifically set forth
herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or
conferring rights of license or otherwise in any such Information.
7.3 COMPENSATION FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION. The party requesting
Information agrees to reimburse the other party for the reasonable costs, if
any, of creating, gathering and copying such Information, to the extent that
such costs are incurred for the benefit of the requesting party. Except as may
be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other
agreement between the parties, such costs shall be computed in accordance with
the providing party's standard methodology and procedures.
7.4 RECORD RETENTION. To facilitate the possible exchange of
Information pursuant to this Article VII and other provisions of this Agreement
after the Distribution Date, the parties agree to use their reasonable best
efforts to retain all Information in their respective possession or control on
the Distribution Date in accordance with the policies of Parent as in effect on
the Distribution Date. No party will destroy, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to destroy, any Information which the other party may have the right to obtain
pursuant to this Agreement prior to the third anniversary of the date hereof
without first using its reasonable best efforts to notify the other party of the
proposed destruction and giving the other party the opportunity to take
possession of such information prior to such destruction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that in the case of any Information relating to Taxes or to Environmental
Liabilities, such period shall be extended to the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions thereof).
7.5 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Except as provided in Section 2.4(b), no
party shall have any liability to any other party in the event that any
Information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement which is an
estimate or forecast, or which is based on an estimate or forecast, is found to
be inaccurate, in the absence of willful misconduct by the party providing such
Information. No party shall have any liability to any other party if any
Information is destroyed after reasonable best efforts by such party to comply
with the provisions of Section 7.4.
-36-
37
7.6 OTHER AGREEMENTS PROVIDING FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION. The rights
and obligations granted under this Article VII are subject to any specific
limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange or
confidential treatment of Information set forth in any Ancillary Agreement.
7.7 PRODUCTION OF WITNESSES; RECORDS; COOPERATION.
(a) After the Distribution Date, except in the case of an
adversarial Action by one party against another party (which shall be governed
by such discovery rules as may be applicable under Article VIII or otherwise),
each party hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to make available to the
other party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors,
officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective
Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control
or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the extent that any
such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors,
officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other
documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action in which the
requesting party may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such
Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought
hereunder. The requesting party shall bear all costs and expenses (including
allocated costs of in-house counsel and other personnel) in connection
therewith.
(b) If an Indemnifying Party or Parent chooses to defend or to
seek to compromise or settle any Third Party Action, or if any party chooses to
prosecute or otherwise evaluate or to pursue any Contingent Gain, the other
parties shall make available to such Indemnifying Party, Parent or such other
party, as the case may be, upon written request, the former, current and future
directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its
respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within
its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the
extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such
directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or
other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense,
settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the
case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in such defense, settlement or
compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the parties shall
cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any
Actions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Gains.
(d) Without limiting any provision of this Section 7.7, each
of the parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its respective
Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any infringement or
similar claim with respect to any intellectual property and shall not claim to
acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to claim to
-37-
38
acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any intellectual property of a
third Person in a manner that would hamper or undermine the defense of such
infringement or similar claim.
(e) The obligation of the parties to provide witnesses
pursuant to this Section 7.7 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to
facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to provide as witnesses
inventors and other officers and employees without regard to whether the witness
or the employer of the witness could assert a possible business conflict
(subject to the exception set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.7(a)).
(f) In connection with any matter contemplated by this Section
7.7, the parties will enter into a mutually acceptable joint defense agreement
so as to maintain to the extent practicable any applicable attorney-client
privilege or work product immunity of any member of any Group.
7.8 CONFIDENTIALITY.
(a) Subject to Section 8.7(c), each of Parent and the Company,
on behalf of itself and each member of its respective Group, agrees to hold, and
to cause its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants,
counsel and other advisors and representatives to hold, in strict confidence,
with at least the same degree of care that applies to Parent's confidential and
proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Distribution
Date, all Information concerning each such other Group that is either in its
possession (including Information in its possession prior to the date hereof, or
the Distribution Date) or furnished by any such other Group or its respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors
and representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary
Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such Information other than for
such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except,
in each case, to the extent that such Information has been (i) in the public
domain through no fault of such party or any member of such Group or any of
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel
and other advisors and representatives, (ii) later lawfully acquired from other
sources by such party (or any member of such party's Group) which sources are
not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation, or (iii) independently
generated without reference to any proprietary or confidential Information of
the other party.
(b) Each party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to
be released or disclosed, any such Information to any other Person, except its
directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors
and representatives who need to know such Information (who shall be advised of
their obligations hereunder with respect to such Information), except in
compliance with Section 7.9. Without limiting the foregoing, when any
Information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement
-38-
39
or any Ancillary Agreement, each party will promptly either return to the other
party all Information in a tangible form (including all copies thereof and all
notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or certify to the other party that
it has destroyed such Information (and such copies thereof and such notes,
extracts or summaries based thereon).
7.9 PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS. In the event that any party or any member
of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required
to disclose any Information pursuant to applicable law or receives any demand
under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide
Information of any other party (or any member of any other party's Group) that
is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such party shall notify the
other party prior to disclosing or providing such Information and shall
cooperate at the expense of the other party in seeking any reasonable protective
arrangements requested by such other party including, without limitation,
injunctive or equitable relief. Subject to the foregoing, the Person that
received such request may thereafter disclose or provide Information to the
extent required by such law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or
such Governmental Authority.
ARTICLE VIII
ARBITRATION; DISPUTE RESOLUTION
8.1 AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. Except as
specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, the procedures for negotiation
and arbitration set forth in this Article VIII shall apply to all disputes,
controversies or claims (a "Dispute")that relate to this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, or result from the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or the commercial or economic relationship of the parties relating
hereto or thereto, between or among any member of the Parent Group and the
Company Group. Each party agrees on behalf of itself and each member of its
respective Group that the procedures set forth in this Article VIII shall be the
exclusive remedy in connection with any Dispute relating to any of the foregoing
matters, and hereby irrevocably waives any right to commence any Action before
any Governmental Authority as well as any right to a jury trial for any action,
except as expressly provided in Sections 8.7(b) and 8.8 and except to the extent
provided under the Arbitration Act in the case of judicial review of arbitration
results.
8.2 ESCALATION.
(a) The parties intend to use their best efforts to resolve
expeditiously any Dispute among them with respect to the matters covered hereby
that may arise on a mutually acceptable basis. In furtherance of the foregoing,
any party may deliver a notice (an "Escalation Notice") demanding an in person
meeting involving senior level management representatives of the parties (or if
the parties agree, of the appropriate strategic business unit or division within
such entity). A copy of any such Escalation Notice shall be given to the General
-39-
40
Counsel, or like official, of each party. Procedures for such negotiations
between the parties may be established by the parties; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the parties shall use their best efforts to meet within 30 days of the
Escalation Notice.
(b) The parties may, by mutual consent, retain a mediator to
aid the parties in their negotiations who will informally provide advice to the
parties. Any opinion expressed by the mediator shall not bind the parties, nor
shall it be admissible in any arbitration proceedings. Costs of the mediation
shall be borne equally by the parties involved in the matter, except that each
party shall be responsible for its own attorney's fees and its other costs and
expenses.
8.3 DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION.
(a) At any time after the first to occur of (i) the date of
the meeting actually held pursuant to the applicable Escalation Notice or (ii)
45 days after the delivery of an Escalation Notice, any party involved in the
Dispute (regardless of whether such party delivered the Escalation Notice) may,
unless the Applicable Deadline has occurred, make a written demand (the
"Arbitration Demand Notice") that the Dispute be resolved by binding
arbitration, which Arbitration Demand Notice shall be given to the parties in
the manner set forth in Section 10.5. In the event that any party shall deliver
an Arbitration Demand Notice to another party, such other party may itself
deliver an Arbitration Demand Notice to such first party with respect to any
related Dispute with respect to which the Applicable Deadline has not passed
without the requirement of delivering an Escalation Notice. No party may assert
that the failure to resolve any matter during any negotiations, the course of
conduct during the negotiations or the failure to agree on mutually acceptable
procedures for the meeting, in each case, as contemplated by this Article VIII,
is a prerequisite to a demand for arbitration under this Section 8.3. In the
event that any party delivers an Arbitration Demand Notice that is the subject
of any then pending arbitration proceeding or of a previously delivered
Arbitration Demand Notice, all such Disputes shall be resolved in the
arbitration proceeding for which an Arbitration Demand Notice was first
delivered unless the arbitrator in his or her sole discretion determines that it
is impracticable or inadvisable to do so.
(b) Except as may be expressly provided in any Ancillary
Agreement, no Arbitration Demand Notice may be given more than one year and 45
days after the later of the occurrence of the act giving rise to the underlying
claim and the date on which such act was, or should have been, in the exercise
of reasonable due diligence, discovered by the party asserting the claim (the
"Applicable Deadline"). Any negotiations or mediations between the parties
pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise will not toll the Applicable Deadline
unless the parties expressly agree in writing.
8.4 ARBITRATORS.
-40-
41
(a) Within 15 days after an Arbitration Demand Notice is
given, the parties involved in the Dispute referenced therein shall attempt to
select a sole arbitrator satisfactory to all such parties.
(b) In the event that such parties are not able jointly to
select a sole arbitrator within such 15-day period, each such party shall
appoint an arbitrator within 30 days after delivery of the Arbitration Demand
Notice. If one party appoints an arbitrator and the other party or parties fail
to appoint an arbitrator within such time period, the arbitrator appointed by
the one party shall be the sole arbitrator of the Dispute.
(c) In the event that a sole arbitrator is not selected
pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above and, instead, two arbitrators are
selected pursuant to paragraph (b) above, the two arbitrators will, within 30
days after the appointment of the later of them to be appointed, select an
additional arbitrator who shall act as the sole arbitrator of the Dispute. In
the event that the arbitrators so appointed do not, within 30 days after the
appointment of the later of them to be appointed, agree on the selection of the
sole arbitrator, any party involved in such Dispute may apply to the CPR to
select the sole arbitrator, which shall make such selection within 30 days after
such application. The arbitrator selected pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall
have no business or other relationship with respect to any of the parties and
the matter and shall be reasonably competent in the applicable Dispute.
(d) The sole arbitrator selected pursuant to paragraph (a),
(b) or (c) above will set a time for the hearing of the Dispute which will
commence no later than 90 days after the date of his or her appointment. The
hearing will be no longer than 30 days (unless in the judgment of the arbitrator
the matter is unusually complex and thereby requires a longer time, in which
event such hearing shall be no longer than 90 days). The arbitrator must render
a final decision to the parties not later than 60 days after the last hearing
date, unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing.
(e) The place for any arbitration hereunder will be Fort
Lauderdale, Florida.
8.5 HEARINGS. Within the time period specified in Section 8.4(d), the
matter shall be presented to the arbitrator at a hearing by means of written
submissions of memoranda and verified witness statements, filed simultaneously.
Responses by the parties as well may be required by the arbitrator. If the
arbitrator deems it to be essential to a fair resolution of the Dispute, live
direct or cross examination may be permitted, but is not generally contemplated
to be necessary. The arbitrator shall actively manage the arbitration with a
view to achieving a speedy and cost-effective resolution of the Dispute. The
arbitrator may, in his or her discretion, set limits on the presentation of each
-41-
42
party's case, and refuse to receive any proffered evidence, which the
arbitrator, in his or her discretion, finds to be cumulative, irrelevant or of
low probative nature. Except as otherwise set forth herein, any arbitration
hereunder will be conducted in accordance with the CPR Rules for
Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes then prevailing (except that
the fee schedule of CPR will not apply). Except as expressly set forth in
Section 8.8(b), the decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the
parties, and judgment thereon may be had and will be enforceable in any court
having jurisdiction over the parties. Arbitration awards will bear interest at
an annual rate of the Prime Rate plus 2% per annum. To the extent that the
provisions of this Agreement and the prevailing rules of the CPR conflict, the
provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
8.6 DISCOVERY AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS.
(a) Any party involved in the applicable Dispute may request
limited document production from the other parties of relevant documents, with
the reasonable expenses of the producing party paid by the requesting party. Any
such discovery shall be conducted expeditiously and shall not cause the hearing
provided for in Section 8.5 to be adjourned, except upon consent of all parties
involved in the applicable Dispute or upon an extraordinary showing of cause
demonstrating that such adjournment is necessary to permit discovery essential
to a party to the proceeding. Depositions, interrogatories or other forms of
discovery (other than the document production described above) shall not occur
except by consent of the parties involved in the applicable Dispute. Disputes
concerning the scope of document production requests will be determined by
written agreement of the parties involved in the applicable Dispute or, failing
such agreement, will be referred to the arbitrator. All discovery requests will
be subject to the parties' rights to claim any applicable privilege. The
arbitrator will adopt procedures to protect the proprietary rights of the
parties and to maintain the confidentiality of the arbitration proceedings (to
the extent permissible by law). Subject to the foregoing, the arbitrator shall
have the power to issue subpoenas to compel the production of documents relevant
to the Dispute.
(b) The arbitrator shall have the authority to determine
issues of arbitrability but shall otherwise be limited to interpreting the
applicable provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and will
have no authority to limit, expand, amend, modify, revoke or suspend any
provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. However, the arbitrator
will have the authority to implement the provisions of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, and to fashion appropriate remedies for breaches of this
Agreement (including interim or permanent injunctive relief); provided that the
arbitrator shall not have (i) any authority in excess of the authority a court
having jurisdiction over the parties and the Dispute would have absent these
arbitration provisions or (ii) any right to award punitive damages.
(c) If a party fails to appear at an arbitration hearing after
due notice, the arbitrator may determine the Dispute upon evidence produced by
the appearing party or parties, as the case may be.
-42-
43
(d) Arbitration costs will be borne equally by each party
involved in the matter, except that each party will be responsible for its own
attorney's fees and other costs and expenses, including the costs of witnesses
selected by such party.
8.7 CERTAIN ADDITIONAL MATTERS.
(a) Any arbitration award shall be limited to a holding for or
against a party without findings as to facts, issues or conclusions of law and
without a statement of the reasoning on which the award rests, but must be in
adequate form so that a judgment of a court may be entered thereupon by any
court having jurisdiction thereof.
(b) Prior to the time at which an arbitrator is appointed
pursuant to Section 8.4, any party may seek a more temporary restraining order
in a court of competent jurisdiction if necessary in order to preserve the
status quo. Neither the request for, or grant or denial of, any such temporary
restraining order shall be deemed a waiver of the obligation to arbitrate as set
forth herein and the arbitrator may dissolve, continue or modify any such order.
(c) Except as required by law, the parties shall hold the
existence, content and result of mediation or arbitration in confidence in
accordance with the provisions of Article VII, except as may be required in
order to enforce any award. Each party shall request that any mediator or
arbitrator selected comply with such confidentiality requirement.
8.8 LIMITED COURT ACTIONS.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the
event that any party reasonably determines the amount in controversy in any
Dispute (or any series of related Disputes) under this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement is, or is reasonably likely to be, in excess of $25 million
and if such party desires to commence an Action in lieu of complying with the
arbitration provisions of this Article, such party shall so state in its
Arbitration Demand Notice or by notice given to the other parties within 20 days
after receipt of an Arbitration Demand Notice with respect thereto. If the other
parties to the arbitration do not agree that the amount in controversy in such
Dispute (or such series of related Disputes) is, or is reasonably likely to be,
in excess of $25 million, the arbitrator selected pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof
shall decide whether the amount in controversy in such Dispute (or such series
of related Disputes) is, or is reasonably likely to be, in excess of $25
million. There shall not be any discovery in connection with such issue. The
arbitrator shall set a date that is no later than ten days after the date of his
or her appointment for submissions by the parties with respect to such issue.
The arbitrator shall render his or her decision on such issue within five days
-43-
44
of such date so set by the arbitrator. In the event that the arbitrator
determines that the amount in controversy in such Dispute (or such series of
related Disputes) is or is reasonably likely to be in excess of $25 million, the
provisions of Sections 8.4(d) and (e), 8.5, 8.6, 8.7 and 8.10 hereof shall not
apply and on or before (but, except as expressly set forth in Section 8.8(b),
not after) the tenth business day after the date of such decision, any party to
the arbitration may elect, in lieu of arbitration, to commence an Action with
respect to such Dispute (or such series of related Disputes) in any court of
competent jurisdiction. If the arbitrator does not so determine, the provisions
of this Article (including with respect to time periods) shall apply as if no
determinations were sought or made pursuant to this Section 8.8(a).
(b) In the event that an arbitration award in excess of $25
million is issued in any arbitration proceeding commenced hereunder, either
party may, within 60 days after the date of such award, submit the Dispute (or
series of related Disputes) giving rise thereto to a court of competent
jurisdiction, regardless of whether such party or any other party sought to
commence an Action in lieu of proceeding with arbitration in accordance with
Section 8.8(a). In such event, the applicable court may elect to rely on the
record developed in the arbitration or, if it determines that it would be
advisable in connection with the matter, allow the parties to seek additional
discovery or to present additional evidence. Each party shall be entitled to
present arguments to the court with respect to whether any such additional
discovery or evidence shall be permitted and with respect to all other matters
relating to the applicable Dispute.
(c) No party shall raise as a defense the statute of
limitations if the applicable Arbitration Demand Notice was delivered on or
prior to the Applicable Deadline and, if applicable, if the matter is submitted
to a court of competent jurisdiction within the 10-day period or 60-day period
specified in Section 8.8(a) or Section 8.8(b), respectively.
8.9 CONTINUITY OF SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE. Unless otherwise agreed in
writing, the parties will continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement
and each Ancillary Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to
the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to matters not subject to such
Dispute.
8.10 LAW GOVERNING ARBITRATION PROCEDURES. The interpretation of the
provisions of this Article VIII, only insofar as they relate to the agreement to
arbitrate and any procedures pursuant thereto, shall be governed by the
Arbitration Act and other applicable federal law. In all other respects, the
interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed as set forth in Section 10.2.
ARTICLE IX
FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
9.1 FURTHER ASSURANCES.
-44-
45
(a) In addition to the actions specifically provided for
elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable
best efforts, prior to, on and after the Distribution Date, to take, or cause to
be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements
to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the
Distribution Date, each party hereto shall cooperate with the other parties, and
without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting party,
to execute and deliver, or use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be
executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance,
assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all
consents, approvals or authorizations of, any Governmental Authority or any
other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument
(including any Consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other
actions as such party may reasonably be requested to take by any other party
hereto from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the Company Assets
and the assignment and assumption of the Company Liabilities, the transfers of
the Excluded Assets and the assignment and assumption of the Excluded
Liabilities, and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Without
limiting the foregoing, each party will, at the reasonable request, cost and
expense of any other party, take such other actions as may be reasonably
necessary to vest in such other party good and marketable title, free and clear
of any Security Interest, to Company Assets or Excluded Assets, as the case may
be, if and to the extent it is practicable to do so.
(c) On or prior to the Distribution Date, Parent and the
Company in their respective capacities as direct and indirect stockholders of
their respective Subsidiaries, shall each ratify any actions which are
reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by Parent or the Company, or any
other Subsidiary of Parent or Company, as the case may be, to effectuate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Parent and the Company and each of the members of their
respective Groups waive, and agree not to assert against any of the others, any
claim or demand that any of them may have against any of the others for any
Liabilities or other claims relating to or arising out of: (i) the failure of
the Company or any member of the Company Group, on the one hand, or of Parent,
or any member of the Parent Group, on the other hand, to provide any
notification or disclosure required under any state Environmental Law or to any
airport authority in connection with the Separation or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the transfer by any member of any
Group to any member of any other Group of ownership or operational control of
any Assets not previously owned or operated by such transferee; or (ii) any
inadequate, incorrect or incomplete notification or disclosure under any such
state Environmental Law or to any airport authority by the applicable
transferor. To the extent any Liability to any Governmental Authority or any
-45-
46
third Person arises out of any action or inaction described in clause (i) or
(ii) above, the transferee of the applicable Asset hereby assumes and agrees to
pay any such Liability. The Company and each of the members of the Company Group
waive, and agree not to assert against Parent or any member of the Parent Group
any claim or demand for any liabilities or other claims relating to or arising
out of the failure of Parent or any member of the Parent Group to obtain any
approval from any airport authority of the assignment of any airport lease
concession or any rights with respect thereto.
(e) Prior to the Distribution Date, if either party identifies
any commercial or other service that is needed to assure a smooth and orderly
transition of the businesses in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and that is not otherwise governed by the
provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the parties will
cooperate in determining whether there is a mutually acceptable arm's-length
basis on which one of the parties will provide such service.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 COUNTERPARTS; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; CORPORATE POWER.
(a) This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and
the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts
have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.
(b) This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the
Exhibits, Schedules and Appendices hereto and thereto together contain the
entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings,
understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to the subject matter
herein or therein, and there are no agreements or understandings between the
parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.
(c) Parent represents on behalf of itself and each other
member of the Parent Group, and the Company represents on behalf of itself and
each other member of the Company Group:
-46-
47
(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or
other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action
necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and
each other Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and
(ii) this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to
which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes a valid and binding agreement enforceable against such
party in accordance with the terms thereof.
(d) Each party hereto acknowledges that it and each other
party hereto is executing certain of the Ancillary Agreements by facsimile,
stamp or mechanical signature. Each party hereto expressly adopts and confirms
each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature made in its respective name
as if it were a manual signature, agrees that it will not assert that any such
signature is not adequate to bind such party to the same extent as if it were
signed manually and agrees that at the reasonable request of any other party
hereto at any time it will, as promptly as reasonably practicable, cause each
such Ancillary Agreement to be manually executed, any such execution to be as of
the date of the date thereof.
10.2 GOVERNING LAW. Except as set forth in Section 8.10, this Agreement
and, unless expressly provided therein, each Ancillary Agreement, shall be
governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the
State of Florida.
10.3 ASSIGNABILITY. Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement,
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their
respective successors and assigns; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no party hereto or
thereto may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations
under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior
written consent of the other parties hereto or thereto.
10.4 THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Except for the indemnification rights
under this Agreement of any Parent Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee in their
respective capacities as such, (i) the provisions of this Agreement and each
Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the parties and are not
intended to confer upon any Person except the parties any rights or remedies
hereunder, and (ii) there are no third party beneficiaries of this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement
shall provide any third person with any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement,
claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
10.5 NOTICES. All notices or other communications under this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly
given when (i) delivered in person or (ii) deposited in the United States mail
or private express mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the principal executive
-47-
48
office of the other party to the attention of such party's chief executive
officer with a copy to such party's general counsel. Any party may, by notice to
the other party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.
10.6 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the
remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to
Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has
been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
as the case may be, is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon
such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to
agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent
of the parties.
10.7 FORCE MAJEURE. No party shall be deemed in default of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to the extent that any delay or failure in
the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement results from any cause beyond its reasonable control and without its
fault or negligence, such as acts of God, acts of civil or military authority,
embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes,
floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or unavailability of
parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any failure in electrical or air
conditioning equipment. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for
performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of
the delay.
10.8 PUBLICITY. Prior to the Distribution, each of the Company and
Parent shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases or
otherwise making public statements with respect to the Distribution or any of
the other transactions contemplated hereby and prior to making any filings with
any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.
10.9 EXPENSES. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in
any Ancillary Agreement, whether or not the Distribution is consummated, all
third party fees, costs and expenses paid or incurred by Parent in connection
with the Separation and Distribution will be paid by Parent. Also, Parent will
pay all the fees, costs and expenses associated with obtaining the IRS Letter
Ruling. Furthermore, all third party fees, costs and expenses paid or incurred
by Company in connection with the Separation and Distribution will be paid by
Company. Also, Company will pay all the fees, costs and expenses associated with
obtaining debt financing to operate as an independent company.
-48-
49
10.10 HEADINGS. The article, section and paragraph headings contained
in this Agreement and in the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
10.11 SURVIVAL. Except as expressly set forth herein or in any
Ancillary Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, and liability for the breach of any
obligations contained herein, shall survive each of the Separation and the
Distribution.
10.12 WAIVERS OF DEFAULT. Waiver by any party of any default by the
other party of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall
not be deemed a waiver by the waiving party of any subsequent or other default,
nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other party.
10.13 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. In the event of any actual or threatened
default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the party or parties who are or are to be
thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or
other equitable relief of its rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary
Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in
equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The parties agree
that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary
damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any
action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is
waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such
remedy are waived.
10.14 AMENDMENTS.
(a) No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement
shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by any party, unless
such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by
the authorized representative of the party against whom it is sought to enforce
such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the parties anticipate
that, prior to the Distribution Date, some or all of the Schedules to this
Agreement may be amended or supplemented and, in such event, such amended or
supplemented Schedules shall be attached hereto in lieu of the original
Schedules.
-49-
50
10.15 INTERPRETATION. As used herein, words in the singular shall be
held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held
to include the other genders as the context requires. The terms "hereof,"
"herein," and "herewith" and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise
stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole, including all of the
Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices hereto, and not to any particular provision
of this Agreement. Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule and Appendix references
are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and Appendices to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified. The word "including" and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall mean "including, without limitation,"
unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified. The word
"or" shall not be exclusive.
(SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE)
-50-
51
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Separation and
Distribution Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
AUTONATION, INC.
By: /s/ XXX X. XXXXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: XXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: S.V.P.
ANC RENTAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
-----------------------------
Name: XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Title: S.V.P.
-51-
