KAMLOOPS AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF PULP
Exhibit 10.22
KAMLOOPS AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF PULP
THIS KAMLOOPS AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF PULP (“Agreement”) is made as of March 5, 2007, by and between WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY, a Washington corporation (“Weyerhaeuser”), and DOMTAR PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTS INC., a Canadian corporation (“Domtar”).
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Amended and Restated Transaction Agreement dated as of January 25, 2007 (“Transaction Agreement”), on or prior to the Closing Date Weyerhaeuser will transfer the Newco Assets and Newco Liabilities to Newco (as those terms are defined therein) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Contribution and Distribution Agreement of even date therewith (“Contribution Agreement”), which include those Newco Assets and Newco Liabilities relating to the wood pulp mill in Kamloops, British Columbia (“Kamloops Mill”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement, at a time on or prior to the Distribution Date (as defined therein), Weyerhaeuser will sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Domtar, and Domtar will accept from Weyerhaeuser, all the Newco Assets, and Domtar will assume and agree to faithfully pay, perform and discharge when due all the Newco Liabilities, which Newco Assets and Newco Liabilities include certain Transferred Contracts (as defined therein) relating to the Kamloops Mill, as more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto (“Kamloops Pulp Contracts”);
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, in lieu of assigning and assuming the Kamloops Pulp Contracts at a time on or prior to the Distribution Date (and obtaining the necessary Consents relating thereto), such assignment and assumption will be deferred and the Kamloops Pulp Contracts will be deemed Delayed Transfer Assets and Delayed Transfer Liabilities (as such terms are defined in the Contribution Agreement), such that, until the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement: (i) Weyerhaeuser will retain and hold such Kamloops Pulp Contracts for the benefit of Domtar, and (ii) Weyerhaeuser purchase from Domtar, and Domtar will sell to Weyerhaeuser, under the terms hereof, those quantities and grades of pulp, at those certain prices, described herein (the “Goods”); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire that, upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Weyerhaeuser and Domtar will carry out the assignment and assumption of the Kamloops Pulp Contracts and obtain the necessary Consents therefor, and Weyerhaeuser will commence its appointment as Domtar’s sales agent for the Goods under the terms of that certain Kamloops Agency Agreement of even date herewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
| SECTION 1.0: QUANTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF GOODS |
Domtar agrees to sell, and Weyerhaeuser agrees to purchase, during the Term, the grades and quantities (measured in Air Dry Metric Tons of 2,204.6 pounds per ton) of pulp manufactured by Domtar in accordance with the table on Exhibit B attached hereto. Weyerhaeuser agrees to order Goods at least twenty one (21) days from the Kamloops Mill before the delivery date specified on Weyerhaeuser’s purchase order (“Purchase Order”). Domtar agrees that the Goods shall be delivered to the designated delivery area at the Port of Vancouver dock specified on the Purchase Order on the dates provided therein and in the time window allowed by the marine shipper, unless the parties agree otherwise in |
| writing. If upon receipt of a Purchase Order, or any time thereafter, Goods cannot be shipped or rendered
Weyerhaeuser shall be deemed to have fulfilled its obligations to purchase
the quantities provided for in this
If by the end of the Term Weyerhaeuser has not issued Purchase Orders for at least 95% of the total quantity
Domtar and Weyerhaeuser agree to cooperate in the implementation of ordering, accounting and other |
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| SECTION 2.0: TERM |
This Agreement shall become effective as of March 5, 2007 and terminate on June 3, 2007, unless terminated earlier as provided herein (the “Term”). | |
| SECTION 3.0: PRICE AND TERMS OF PAYMENT |
See Exhibit C attached hereto with respect to Price. Domtar shall assume the costs of transportation and insurance from point of manufacture to the destination specified on Exhibit B. Terms of payment shall be net 30. Remittances shall be made free of exchange or other charges in U.S. funds to the location specified by Domtar. A late payment charge of 1.25% per month on the unpaid balance will be made on all past due accounts. Should this rate exceed the maximum rate that is lawful under the circumstances, that maximum rate shall apply. | |
| SECTION 4.0: GENERAL TERMS OF SALE | 4.1. WARRANTY AND LIMITATIONS Domtar warrants that the Goods to be delivered hereunder will meet the specifications and tolerances described in Section 4.6 below, free and clear of liens and encumbrances. Domtar’s obligation under this warranty is limited to refund to Weyerhaeuser its purchase price or replace the non-conforming Goods with Goods conforming to the specifications set forth in Section 4.6. THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, AND ALL OTHER OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES ARISING OUT OF DOMTAR’S FAILURE TO MEET SAID SPECIFICATIONS, INCLUDING LIABILITIES ARISING FROM CLAIMS OF CONTRACT OR TORT. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE FOREGOING, AND DOMTAR’S SOLE OBLIGATION THEREUNDER IS AS EXPRESSLY STATED HEREIN. DOMTAR AND WEYERHAEUSER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES.
4.2. PRODUCTION, SHIPMENT AND DELIVERY Unless agreed to by Weyerhaeuser in advance in writing, Domtar shall produce and ship from the mill specified on Exhibit B as the exclusive source of supply and shall make delivery on the delivery date(s) specified in Weyerhaeuser’s Purchase Order. All Goods shall be delivered subject to Weyerhaeuser’s inspection and right of rejection and/or revocation of acceptance.
4.3. INSPECTION AND CLAIMS Weyerhaeuser shall have 120 days to inspect and/or test the Goods for conformance with the applicable specifications and grade profile set forth in Section 4.6 and if Weyerhaeuser fails to give notice of acceptance or non-conformance within such 120-day period the Goods shall be deemed accepted. If Weyerhaeuser gives written notice to Domtar of any failure of Goods to meet the foregoing standards, and if such failure is established under procedures customary in the industry or otherwise established to Domtar’s satisfaction, then at Domtar’s option Domtar will make an allowance for such Goods, refund to Weyerhaeuser its purchase price or replace it with Goods conforming to the warranty described in Section 4.1 above and those specifications described in Section 4.6 below. | |
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| 4.4. TITLE AND RISK OF LOSS Title and risk of loss shall pass from Domtar to Weyerhaeuser upon delivery to the destination specified on Exhibit B.
4.5 ASSIGNMENT Neither party may assign this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other; provided, however, Domtar and Weyerhaeuser may assign this Agreement to a subsidiary or affiliate.
4.6. QUALITY The Goods delivered and invoiced hereunder must (i) conform with the specifications on the Purchase Order, which shall be within the established grade profiles for Kamloops Pulp and within the permitted specifications set forth in the Kamloops Pulp Contracts, unless otherwise agreed to by Domtar. If Weyerhaeuser’s test of any of the parameters in the grade profile or the air dry contents of any shipment indicates non-conformance with the specifications and/or the grade profile or an air dry weight difference greater than 1% of the invoiced weight, Weyerhaeuser shall notify Domtar immediately. If the parties are unable to resolve the difference, a retest or joint test shall be made in accordance with the then prevailing rules for testing approved by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry of the U.S. (“TAPPI”). All incidental expenses relating to this Section 4.6 shall be paid by the party in error.
4.7. FORCE MAJEURE/SUSPENSION OF PERFORMANCE The duties of either party hereunder shall be excused to the extent and for the period of time necessitated by the occurrence of any fire, flood, earthquake, other natural disaster, labor dispute, market curtailment, war, direct act or intervention of any government or subdivision thereof, or other event of force majeure beyond the control of any party. The affected party invoking this provision shall promptly notify the other party in writing of the nature and estimated duration of the suspension period, and shall exercise all reasonable diligence in curing such condition, except in cases where such suspension is of a permanent nature and such condition is not curable as a result. The party unable to obtain performance by reason of force majeure shall be free to deal with third parties, provided it acts in a manner not inconsistent with its obligations under this Agreement. In the event of any cause or circumstance excusing Domtar, Domtar shall have the right to utilize its available production and/or supply of Goods to satisfy its own requirements, including those of its subsidiaries and affiliates, in full, and to allocate any remaining production and/or supply of Goods among its contract customers, in a fair and reasonable manner.
4.8. TAXES Any and all taxes or charges of any nature (other than taxes imposed on the gross or net income of Domtar), imposed by any governmental authority, which shall become payable by reason of the sale, delivery and/or use of Goods hereunder shall be deemed for Weyerhaeuser’s account.
4.9. TERMINATION Except for any payment obligations, if either party fails to comply in any material respect with all of the covenants, agreements or conditions of this | ||
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| Agreement and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice from the non-breaching party,
4. 10. WAIVER No right of either party hereunder shall be deemed to have been waived by any failure of such party to | ||
| SECTION 5.0: ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF KAMLOOPS PULP CONTRACTS |
In lieu of assigning and assuming the Kamloops Pulp Contracts at a time on or prior to the Distribution Date (and obtaining the necessary Consents relating thereto), such assignment and assumption shall be deferred and the Kamloops Pulp Contracts shall be deemed Delayed Transfer Assets and Delayed Transfer Liabilities (as such terms are defined in the Contribution Agreement), such that, until the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Weyerhaeuser will retain and hold such Kamloops Pulp Contracts for the benefit of Domtar. Upon the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement, Weyerhaeuser and Domtar will carry out the assignment and assumption of the Kamloops Pulp Contracts and obtain the necessary Consents therefor. If the parties are unable to obtain the Consent for assignment and assumption from a customer with respect to any Kamloops Pulp Contract, Weyerhaeuser will continue to hold such Kamloops Pulp Contract for the remainder of its term (determined as of the March 5, 2007) for the benefit of Domtar and Domtar shall pay, perform and discharge its obligations thereunder. Any monies received by Weyerhaeuser from customers as payment for Goods ordered from Domtar after the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement shall be paid over to Domtar, less only those amounts permitted to be paid or reimbursed to Weyerhaeuser under the terms of the Contribution Agreement. | |
| SECTION 6.0: JURISDICTION; DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof, and the parties expressly agree that the Convention on the International Sale of Goods shall not apply. Any issue, dispute or controversy arising pursuant to this Agreement (a “Dispute”) shall be settled in the following manner. Upon written request of either party, the representatives of Domtar and of Weyerhaeuser shall promptly confer and exert their commercially reasonable efforts without the necessity of any formal proceeding related thereto to reach a reasonable and equitable resolution of such Dispute. If such representatives are unable to resolve such Dispute within ten (10) business days, the Dispute shall be referred to the responsible senior management of each party for resolution. Neither party shall seek any other means of resolving any Dispute arising in connection with this Agreement until both parties’ responsible senior management have had at least five (5) business days to resolve the Dispute following its referral to them. If the Dispute cannot be resolved by senior management, then the parties may proceed with binding arbitration. The Dispute shall be settled by a single arbitrator in the city of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of ADR Xxxxxxxx International (or successor) then in effect. The procedures for | |
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| arbitration shall be governed by the Arbitration Act (Ontario) as amended or supplemented from time to time. The single arbitrator shall have expertise in the area of the pulp and forestry industry. The arbitrator may award costs to the substantially prevailing party. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon the parties. | ||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Pulp to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first above mentioned.
| WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY | DOMTAR PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTS INC. | |||||
| By: | /S/ XXXXX XXXXXX |
By: | /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXX | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx XxXxxx |
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
| Title: | Senior Vice President |
Title: | Vice President | |||
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