Purchase Agreement by and between GSE Lining Technology Chile S.A. as Buyer Inversiones Bellavista Uno S.A. and Inversiones Bellavista Tres as Sellers Inversiones Vesta Limitada (Former Recubrimientos e Impermeabilizaciones SL Limitada) the Company...
Execution Version - December 28,
2005
Private
and Confidential
EXECUTION
DOCUMENTS
by
and between
GSE
Lining Technology Chile S.A.
as
Buyer
Inversiones
Bellavista Uno S.A. and Inversiones Bellavista
Tres
as
Sellers
Inversiones
Vesta Limitada (Former Recubrimientos e
Impermeabilizaciones
SL Limitada)
the
Company
with
guaranty of
Technología
Hidráulica en Minería y Construcción S.A.
DATED
DECEMBER 28TH,
2005
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
1.1 EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
- Assignment of Rights in Recubrimientos Industriales SL Limitada.
Exhibit
B
- Non
-
compete Agreement.
Exhibit
C
- Right
of
First Refusal No 1
Exhibit
D
- Right
of
First Refusal Agreement N 2
Exhibit
E
- Inventory
Purchase Agreement
Exhibit
F
- Pledge
over 30% of the shares
Exhibit
G
- Comfort
Letter
Exhibit
H
- Leases
of
Offices and Warehouses
1.2 SCHEDULES
Schedule
3.1(ai)
|
Related
Party Arrangements
|
Schedule
3.1 (aii)
|
Company’s
Bylaws
|
Schedule
3.4
|
Restrictions
|
Schedule
3.5(a)
|
Fin.
Stat. & B.B. Sheet
|
Schedule
3.5(b)
|
Newco’s
Initial B. Sheet
|
Schedule
3.7(a)
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.8
|
Actions
since B.B. Sheet
|
Schedule
3.9
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
3.10(a)(i)
|
Real
Property owned, leased or utilized by the Company
|
Schedule
3.10(a)(ii)
|
Real
Property owned, leased or utilized by Newco
|
Schedule
3.10(b)
|
Piece
of Land to be Transferred
|
Schedule
3.11(a)
|
Tangible
Assets owned, leased or utilized by the Company
|
Schedule
3.11(b)
|
Tangible
assets purchased but not yet arrived
|
Schedule
3.13(a)
|
Company’s
Contract List
|
Schedule
3.13(b)
|
Newco’s
Contract List
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Newco’s
Powers of Attorney
|
Schedule
3.15
|
Insurance
Policies
|
Schedule
3.16(b)
|
Newco’s
Bank Accounts
|
Schedule
3.17
|
Litigation
and Claim List
|
Schedule
3.18(a)
|
Pending
Bids
|
Schedule
3.18(b)
|
Backlog
and Pending Orders
|
Schedule
3.19(a)
|
Governmental
Authorizations
|
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
Schedule
3.20
|
Hazardous
Materials
|
Schedule
3.22
|
Workers’
Injuries
|
Schedule
3.24(b)
|
Employees
|
Schedule
3.24(c)
|
Service
Contractors
|
Schedule
3.25
|
Tax
Claims
|
Schedule
3.26
|
Product
Liability
|
Schedule
3.27
|
Contracts
subject to Potential Warranty Claims
|
Schedule
7.3(a)
|
Offices
and Warehouses
|
Schedule
7.3(b)
|
Space
at Newco’s Real Property at which Sellers Inventory shall be
maintained
|
2.
|
CLOSING
DOCUMENT - EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY OF EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENTS
|
3.
|
CLOSING
CERTIFICATE
|
4.
|
LEGAL
OPINION BY ALLAMAND & SCHAULSOHN
ABOGADOS
|
5.
|
POWERS
OF ATTORNEY
|
6.
|
NOTARY
INSTRUCTIONS
|
7.
|
ASSIGNMENTS
OF RIGHTS IN RECUBRIMIENTOS INDUSTRIALES SL
LIMITADA
|
8.
|
COMPLEMENTARY
PUBLIC INSTRUMENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS IN RECUBRIMIENTOS INDUSTRIALES
SL LIMITADA
|
9.
|
NON
- COMPETE AGREEMENT
|
10.
|
RIGHT
OF FIRST REFUSAL AGREMENT N 1
|
11.
|
RIGHT
OF FIRST REFUSAL AGREEMENT N 2
|
12.
|
INVENTORY
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
|
13.
|
PLEDGE
OVER 30% OF THE SHARES
|
14.
|
COMFORT
LETTER
|
15.
|
LEASES
OF OFFICES AND WAREHOUSES
|
16.
|
RELEASE
OF MORTGAGE BY CORPBANCA
|
17.
|
RELEASE
OF PLEDGE WITHOUT CONVEYANCE BY
CORPBANCA
|
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
__________________________________________
GSE
Lining Technology Chile S.A.
__________________________________________
as
Buyer
Inversiones
Bellavista Uno S.A. and Inversiones Bellavista Tres S.A.
___________________________________________
as
Sellers
Inversiones
Vesta Limitada (Former Recubrimientos e Impermeabilizaciones SL
Limitada)
____________________________________
the
Company
with
guaranty of
Tecnología
Hidráulica en Minería y Construcción S.A.
_____________________________________
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
1.
|
DEFINITIONS |
2
|
|
1.1
|
Construction.
|
2
|
|
1.2
|
Definitions.
|
2
|
|
2.
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; CLOSING |
8
|
|
2.1
|
Purchase
and Sale.
|
8
|
|
2.2
|
Base
Purchase Price.
|
8
|
|
2.3
|
Definitive
Purchase Price .
|
8
|
|
2.4
|
Closing.
|
9
|
|
2.5
|
Method
of Payment.
|
11
|
|
2.6
|
Allocation
of Purchase Price.
|
11
|
|
2.7
|
Exchange
Rate.
|
11
|
|
2.8
|
Additional
Covenant.
|
11
|
|
3.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS |
12
|
|
3.1
|
Corporate
Status.
|
12
|
|
3.2
|
Capitalization
and Ownership.
|
12
|
|
3.3
|
Corporate
Authority.
|
13
|
|
3.4
|
Restrictions.
|
13
|
|
3.5
|
Financial
Statements.
|
13
|
|
3.6
|
Intentionally
Left Blank.
|
14
|
|
3.7
|
Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
|
14
|
|
3.8
|
Actions
Since date of Base Balance Sheet.
|
14
|
|
3.9
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
15
|
|
3.10
|
Real
Property and Leases.
|
15
|
|
3.11
|
Personal
Property.
|
16
|
|
3.12
|
Title
to Property.
|
16
|
|
3.13
|
Contracts
and Commitments.
|
17
|
|
3.14
|
Powers
of Attorney.
|
18
|
|
3.15
|
Insurance
|
18
|
|
3.16
|
Indebtedness;
Bank Accounts.
|
19
|
|
3.17
|
Legal
Proceedings.
|
19
|
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
3.18
|
Pending
Bids, Customers Backlog and Sales Volume.
|
19
|
|
3.19
|
Governmental
Authorizations.
|
19
|
|
3.20
|
Hazardous
Materials.
|
19
|
|
3.21
|
Environmental
Matters.
|
20
|
|
3.22
|
Workers'
Injuries.
|
20
|
|
3.23
|
Trade
Union Activity.
|
20
|
|
3.24
|
Employees;
Employee Benefits.
|
21
|
|
3.25
|
Taxes.
|
21
|
|
3.26
|
Product
Liability.
|
22
|
|
3.27
|
Customer
Warranty Claims.
|
22
|
|
3.28
|
Sufficiency
of the Assets.
|
23
|
|
3.29
|
Legal
Compliance.
|
23
|
|
3.30
|
Accuracy
of Statements.
|
23
|
|
3.31
|
Brokers
and Finders.
|
23
|
|
3.32
|
Certain
Practices.
|
23
|
|
3.33
|
Books
and Records/Accounting Controls.
|
24
|
|
3.34
|
US
export control and trade sanction laws.
|
24
|
|
4.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER |
24
|
|
4.1
|
Corporate
Status.
|
24
|
|
4.2
|
Capitalization
and Ownership.
|
24
|
|
4.3
|
Authority.
|
25
|
|
4.4
|
Restrictions.
|
25
|
|
4.5
|
Government
Approvals.
|
25
|
|
4.6
|
Brokers
and Finders.
|
25
|
|
5.
|
COVENANTS OF SELLERS PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE |
25
|
|
5.1
|
Access
and Investigation.
|
25
|
|
5.2
|
Spin-off.
|
26
|
|
5.3
|
Operation
of the Business of the Company and Newco.
|
26
|
|
5.4
|
Negative
Covenant.
|
26
|
|
5.5
|
Required
Approvals.
|
26
|
|
5.6
|
Notification.
|
28
|
|
5.7
|
Newco
free of Liabilities and Indebtedness.
|
28
|
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
5.8
|
Agreement
for the purchase and sale of Inventory.
|
28
|
|
5.9
|
Execution
of Ancillary Agreements.
|
29
|
|
5.10
|
Bonuses,
Vacations and Sales Commissions.
|
29
|
|
5.11
|
No
Negotiation.
|
29
|
|
5.12
|
Best
Efforts.
|
29
|
|
6.
|
COVENANTS OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE |
30
|
|
6.1
|
Approvals
of Governmental Bodies.
|
30
|
|
6.2
|
Best
Efforts.
|
30
|
|
7.
|
COVENANTS OF SELLERS AND BUYER AFTER THE CLOSING DATE |
30
|
|
7.1
|
Transfer
of Piece of Land.
|
30
|
|
7.2
|
Severance
Payments.
|
30
|
|
7.3
|
Right
to use Real Property.
|
31
|
|
7.4
|
Transition
Period.
|
31
|
|
8.
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING |
32
|
|
8.1
|
Conditions
to Buyer's Obligations.
|
32
|
|
8.2
|
Conditions
to Sellers’ Obligations.
|
32
|
|
9.
|
TERMINATION |
33
|
|
9.1
|
Termination
Events.
|
33
|
|
9.2
|
Effect
of Termination.
|
34
|
|
10.
|
INDEMNIFICATION |
34
|
|
10.1
|
Scope
of Sellers' and Guarantor’s Indemnity.
|
34
|
|
10.2
|
Scope
of Buyer’s Indemnity.
|
35
|
|
10.3
|
Indemnity
Procedures.
|
35
|
|
10.4
|
Limitations
on Liability.
|
37
|
|
10.5
|
Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Indemnity.
|
37
|
|
10.6
|
Collateral
and Guaranties.
|
37
|
|
11.
|
MISCELLANEOUS |
38
|
|
11.1
|
Further
Assurances.
|
38
|
|
11.2
|
Notices.
|
38
|
|
11.3
|
Entire
Agreement.
|
40
|
|
11.4
|
Confidentiality
and Public Announcements.
|
40
|
|
11.5
|
Governing
Law and Arbitration.
|
40
|
|
11.6
|
Expenses
and Taxes.
|
441
|
|
11.7
|
Severability.
|
542
|
|
11.8
|
Waiver.
|
42
|
|
11.9
|
Assignment.
|
42
|
|
11.10
|
Governing
Language.
|
42
|
|
11.11
|
Counterparts.
|
43
|
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
THIS
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
("Agreement")
is
made this 28 day of December, 2005, by and between:
· |
GSE
Lining Technology Chile S.A., a
stock company organized and existing under the laws of Chile, with
head
offices at Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx ("Buyer");
|
and
the following parties:
· |
Inversiones
Bellavista Uno S.A. and Inversiones Bellavista Tres
S.A.,
both
sociedades anónimas
organized and existing under the laws of Chile, with head offices
at Xxxx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx.0.000 Xxxx 0, Xxxxxx xx Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx (hereinafter,
collectively, referred to as
"Sellers").
|
· |
Tecnología
Hidráulica en Minería y Construcción S.A., (hereinafter,
referred to as
"Guarantor").
|
RECITALS
A. |
Sellers
are the owners, in the aggregate, of: (a) 100% percent of the outstanding
equity interests of Inversiones
Vesta Limitada (previously
named Recubrimientos e Impermeabilizaciones SL Limitada),
a
sociedad
de responsabilidad limitada
organized and existing under the laws of Chile, with head office
at Avda.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Nro.3.120 Piso 0, Xxxxxx xx Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company");
and (b) 100% percent of the outstanding equity interests of Recubrimientos
Industriales SL Limitada, a
sociedad
de responsabilidad limitada
organized and existing under the laws of Chile (hereinafter referred
to as
the "Newco").
|
B. |
Newco
has been created recently by Sellers as a result of the reorganization
and
spin off of Recubrimientos e Impermeabilizaciones SL Limitada, pursuant
to
which all Operating Assets of the Company (as hereinafter defined)
were
contributed and assigned to Newco.
|
C. |
On
the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
and
subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, Sellers wish
to sell
to Buyer the totality of the equity interests of Newco (hereinafter
referred to as "Newco’s
Equity Interests").
|
D. |
On
the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
and
subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, Buyer wishes
to
purchase Newco’s Equity Interests.
|
In
consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, Buyer, Sellers and
Guarantor (each one a Party and collectively, the "Parties")
mutually agree as follows:
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 Construction
Any
reference in this Agreement to an “Article,” “Section” or “Schedule” refers to
the corresponding Article, Section or Schedule of or to this Agreement, unless
the context indicates otherwise. The headings of Articles and Sections are
provided for convenience only and should not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement. All words used in this Agreement should be
construed to be of such gender or number, as the circumstances require. The
terms “include” and “including” indicate examples of a foregoing general
statement and not a limitation on that general statement. Any reference to
a
statute refers to the statute, any amendments or successor legislation, and
all
decrees, regulations and Orders promulgated under or implementing the statute,
as in effect at the relevant time. Any reference to a Contract or other document
as of a given date means the Contract or other document as amended, supplemented
and modified from time to time through such date. Any reference to a party
includes
his or its respective successors and permitted assigns.
References to US$ or $ are references to United States dollars, the legal
currency of the United States of America. References to CLP are references
to
Chilean peso, the legal currency of Chile.
1.2 Definitions
In
this
Agreement and the Recitals, where the context so admits, the following terms
and
variations on them have the following meanings:
“Adverse
Consequence”
means
any Liability, loss, damage (including incidental and consequential damage),
claim, cost, deficiency, (assessment, fine, penalty, settlement, judgment,
award, diminution of value, interest or expense (including cost of investigation
and defense, costs of bonds and similar litigation costs, and reasonable legal,
accounting, consultant and expert witness fees and costs), whether or not
involving a third-party claim.
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person means any Person or entity, directly or indirectly, Controlling,
Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.
"Ancillary
Agreements"
are
defined in Section 2.4(d).
“Base
Balance Sheet”
means
the unaudited balance sheet of the Company dated October 31, 2005 a copy of
which is included within Schedule
3.5(a).
"Base
Purchase Price"
is
defined in Section 2.2.
“Best
Efforts”
means
the efforts that a prudent person desirous of achieving a result would use
in
similar circumstances to ensure that the result is achieved as expeditiously
as
possible.
“Business”
means
the
manufacturing, marketing and sales of polyethylene and polypropylene based
geomembranes in sheets or rolls of a thickness between 0.5 millimeters and
3.0
millimeters, smooth or textured, used in the following applications: (i) Solid
waste landfills; (ii) Xxxxx pads; (iii) Water management, including canals,
waste water treatment, sewage systems and ponds; and (iv) Aquaculture
applications, excluding applications for the salmon industry. The above
definition excludes those sales made by Membrantec S.A. as a part of its
Geosynthetics installation business.
2
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
“Business
Day”
means
any
day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any date that shall be a legal holiday in
Santiago, Chile.
“Buyer’s
Advisors”
are
defined in Section 5.1(a).
“By-laws”
means
the constitutional and organizational documents including the constitution,
by-laws, and “estatutos”.
"Closing"
means
the
consummation and completion of the purchase and sale of Newco’s Equity Interests
and all other transactions to be completed and consummated by the Parties and
any third party on the Closing Date.
"Closing
Date"
is
defined in Section 2.4(a).
“Company”
means
Inversiones Vesta Limitada (previosly named Recubrimientos e
Impermeabilizaciones SL Limitada).
"Company’s
Contract List"
is
defined in Section 3.13.(a) herein.
“Contemplated
Transactions”
means
all of the transactions to be carried out in accordance with this Agreement,
including the purchase and sale of the Equity Interests, the performance by
the
parties of their other obligations under this Agreement and the execution,
delivery and performance of the Ancillary Agreements.
"Contract"
means
any contract, agreement, commitment, understanding, lease, license, franchise,
warranty, guaranty, mortgage, note, bond or other instrument or consensual
obligation (whether written or oral and whether express or implied) that is
legally binding.
“Contravene” —
an act or omission would “Contravene” something if, as the context
requires:
(a) |
the
act or omission would conflict with it, violate it, result in a breach
or
violation of or failure to comply with it, or constitute a default
under
it;
|
(b) |
the
act or omission would give any Governmental Body or other Person
the right
to challenge, revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify
it,
to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under it, or to declare
a
default or accelerate the maturity of any obligation under it;
or
|
(c) |
the
act or omission would result in the imposition or creation of any
Encumbrance upon or with respect to Newco’s Equity Interets or the equity
interests of the Company or any of the assets owned or used by the
Company
or Newco.
|
3
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
“Control”
means
(i) the ownership, in the case of a corporation, of more than 50% of the voting
stock of the corporation, or in the case of any other entity, the ownership
of a
majority of the beneficial or voting interest or (ii) the power, directly or
indirectly, to direct the management of the controlled entity, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.
"Defense
Costs"
is
defined in Section 10.3(b)(ii).
"Deferred
Purchase Price"
is
defined in Section 2.3(d)(ii).
"Definitive
Purchase Price"
is
defined in Section 2.3(a).
“Encumbrance”
means
any charge, claim, mortgage, servitude, easement, right of way, marital property
interest, condition, equitable interest, license, lease or other possessory
interest, lien, option, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal,
preference, priority, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction
on
use, voting, transfer, receipt of income, or exercise of any other attribute
of
ownership.
"Event
Subject to Indemnification"
is
defined in Section 10.3.
“Excluded
Assets”
means
the following assets: (a) Hyundai Atos Prime GL1.0, white, plate number
UF2680-K; (b) Nissan Terrano Pick-Up, silver, plate number VU4524-3; (c) Solomon
ERP software/hardware; (d) Offices in Santiago; (e) Office furniture in
Santiago; (e) warehouse in Xxxxxxxx; (f) Telephone lines and switchboard
equipment in Xxxxxxxx.
"Financial
Statements"
means
the audited financial statements of the Company for the last three years, and
an
unaudited financial statement for the period January 1 through October 31,
,
2005, including the balance sheets and related statements of income and expense
for the periods then ended.
"GAAP"
means
generally accepted accounting principles in effect in Chile.
“Governing
Document”
means
the
By-laws and any other document adopted, filed or registered in connection with
the creation, formation, organization or management of an entity, and any
Contract among all equity holders, partners or members of an
entity.
“Governmental
Authorization”
means
any Consent, permit, license, franchise, registration or authorization issued,
granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any
Governmental Body or pursuant to any Legal Requirement relative to the conduct
of the Company's or Newco’s business, manufacturing and other operations, and
the sale of its products.
“Governmental
Body”
means
any:
4
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(i)
|
international
or multinational organization, nation, region, province, state,
department, county, city, town, village, or district government,
or other
jurisdiction of any nature;
|
(ii)
|
governmental
or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental
agency, branch department, official, or entity and any court or other
tribunal); or
|
(iii)
|
body
exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive,
judicial, legislative, policy, regulatory, or taxing authority or
power of
any nature.
|
"Guarantor"
means
Tecnología Hidráulica en Minería y Construcción S.A. (also known as Tehmco
S.A.), Rut N° 84.912.700-4.
"Hazardous
Materials"
means
all dangerous, hazardous or toxic substances as defined in the applicable
Chilean legislation.
"Indebtedness"
means,
in respect of any Person, the aggregate of: (a) all indebtedness for borrowed
money, all the xxxx to market value of any agreement for managing or hedging
currency and/or interest rates and all indebtedness for unsatisfied deferred
purchase consideration for property, shares, assets, services or sales
commissions (including without limitation, any liability outstanding under
any
such instrument and the costs of closing out); (b) all obligations evidenced
by
notes, bonds, loan stock, debentures or similar instruments; (c) all
indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
retention agreements with respect to property acquired by such Person; (d)
all
guarantees of such Person (save to the extent that such underlying indebtedness
shall already have been taken into account for the purposes of calculating
Indebtedness); (e) all finance leases (as the term is generally accepted under
GAAP) (but limited to the principal portions of such capital lease payments);
(f) any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale
or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing; (g)
indebtedness of the type referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f) above secured
by
(or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent
or otherwise, to be secured by) any Encumbrance over property or assets owned
by
such Person, even if such Person has not assumed or become liable for the
payment of such indebtedness (save to the extent that such underlying
indebtedness shall already have been taken into account for the purposes of
calculating indebtedness), provided that, where the market value of the property
or assets so encumbered is lower than the amount of such indebtedness, only
the
market value of the relevant property or assets shall constitute Indebtedness;
(h) accrued interest in respect of paragraphs (a) to (f) above; provided that
this definition shall not operate to double count any Liability.
"Intellectual
Property"
means
(a) all inventions, industrial designs and models, all improvements thereto,
and
all patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with all
reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions and
reexaminations thereof; (b) all trademarks, services marks, trade dress, logos,
trade names and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations and combinations thereof and including all good will associated
therewith, and all applications, registrations and renewals in connection
therewith; (c) all copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith; (d) all mask works and
all
applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith; (e) all trade
secrets and confidential business information (including ideas, research and
development, know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production
processes and techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications,
customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and
marketing plans and proposals); (f) all computer software (including data and
related documentation); (g) all domain names; (h) all other proprietary rights;
and (i) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or
medium).
5
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
"Knowledge"
means
the actual knowledge of a Person after due inquiry, or of any of the Sellers’,
Guarantor’s or Company’s officers or senior managerial employees, as well as
their consultants Xx. Xxxxx Lavados Germain, Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Cristinich
and
Xx. Xxxxxx Rifo Xxxxxx, provided that such Person, officers or senior managerial
employees, and consultants shall be presumed to know any matter which has been
notified with Legal Requirements.
For
these purposes senior managerial employees shall mean those officers acting
as
General Manager, the Chief Financial Manager, Commercial Manager and Chief
Operational Manager.
"Legal
Requirement"
means
any constitution, law, statute, treaty, rule, regu-lation, ordinance, binding
case law, order, injunction, notice, approval or judg-ment of any Governmental
Body, which applies to either the Company or Newco or any of their assets,
businesses, or activities, and any Contract with any Governmental Body relating
to com-pliance with any of the foregoing.
"Liability"
means
any liability absolute, contingent or inchoate, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated
or unliquidated, and due or to become due, including, but not limited to
liabilities with respect to tax, labor, environmental, import/export, licenses
or permits, product, contractual, corporate or civil matters. Expressly excluded
from this definition are those contingent liabilities consisting solely in
severance payments accrued, but not yet due, in favor of Newco’s Employees as of
the Closing Date.
"Litigation
and Claims List"
means
those Proceedings and claims, pending or Threatened against the Company or
Newco, set forth in Schedule
3.17.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
-
something would be considered to have a "material adverse effect" on an the
Company or Newco if it (i) materially adversely affects the financial or other
condition or result of operations, assets, Liabilities, equity, business or
prospects of the Company or Newco, (ii) materially impedes the ongoing
operations of the Company or Newco, or (iii) significantly adversely affects
a
material asset of the Company or Newco.
"Newco"
means
the Chilean sociedad
de responsabilidad limitada
incorporated pursuant to the Spin-off, under the name of Recubrimientos
Industriales SL Limitada.
"Newco’s
Contract List"
means
the list set forth in Schedule
3.13(b),
including all Contracts contributed or transferred to Newco upon its
incorporation.
"Newco’s
Employees"
are
defined in Section 5.2(d).
"Newco’s
Equity Interests"
means
the totality of the equity interests of Newco.
6
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
"Newco’s
Initial Balance Sheet"
is
defined in Section 3.5(b).
"Notification"
means
written notice in connection with an Event Subject to Indemnification, as set
forth in Section 10.3.
"Obsolete"
means,
with respect to materials, any material that is not being incorporated into
a
finished product actively promoted and sold; and with respect to products,
any
product that is not actively promoted and sold.
"Operating
Assets"
means
all right, title and interest in and to all of the assets, both tangible and
intangible, currently used by the Company in its business and operations,
including, but not limited to (a) all the Intellectual Property listed on
Schedule
3.9;
(b) all
the Real Property listed on Schedule
3.10(a)(ii) and Schedule 3.10(b);
(c) all
tangible personal property listed on Schedule
3.11;
(d) all
Contracts listed on Newco’s Contract List; (e) all Governmental Authorizations
listed on Schedule
3.19(a);
and (f)
all customers information, data and lists in possession of the Company.
Expressly excluded from this definition are the Excluded Assets.
“Order”
means
any order, injunction, judgment, judicial decree, ruling, assessment or
arbitration award of any Governmental Body or arbitrator, and any Contract
with
any Governmental Body relating to compliance with Legal
Requirements.
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
refers
to actions taken in the Company’s normal operation, consistent with its past
practice and practices of other Persons in its same line of business and having
no material adverse effect on the financial or other condition, results of
operations, assets, Liabilities, equity, business or prospects of the
Company.
"Person"
means
an individual, corporation, partnership, or any other entity.
“Proceeding”
means
any action, arbitration, audit, examination, investigation, hearing, litigation
or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, judicial or investigative,
whether formal or informal, and whether public or private) commenced, brought,
conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body
or arbitrator.
"Real
Property"
means
all real or immovable property interests of the Company, including all parcels
and tracts of land which the Company owns, leases or utilizes under any title,
all real or immovable property operated by the Company, and all Improvements
thereon.
“Representative”,
with
respect to a particular Person, means any director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant, advisor, or other representative of such Person, including legal
counsel, accountants, and financial advisors;
"Sellers"
means
Inversiones Bellavista Uno S.A. and Inversiones Bellavista Tres
S.A.
"Senior
Officers"
are
defined in Section 11.5(a).
7
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
"Spin-off"
means
the reorganization and spin-off of Recubrimientos
e Impermeabilizaciones SL Limitada
pursuant
to which Newco was incorporated, and pursuant to which all Operating Assets
were
contributed and transferred to Newco, and all remaining assets, all Liabilities
and Indebtedness of the Company remained in the Company.
"Taxes"
means
any federal, state or municipal taxes, which includes income tax, social
security tax, excise tax, value-added tax, gross sales tax, import tax, export
tax, financial operations tax, service tax, welfare contributions and real
estate taxes, and respective interest, penalty or addition thereto.
"Tax
Return"
means
any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, tax books, invoices or
information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment or amendment thereto, filed or required to be filed with any tax
authority.
“Threatened”
-
a
matter
would be considered to have been "threatened" if any demand, statement or notice
has been made (whether orally or in writing) or any notice has been given
(whether orally or in writing), or any other event has occurred or any other
circumstances exist that would lead a prudent person to conclude that such
matter is likely to be asserted, commenced, taken or otherwise pursued in the
future.
"Up-front
Purchase Price"
is
defined in Section 2.3(d)(i).
2. PURCHASE
AND SALE OF SHARES; CLOSING
2.1 Purchase
and Sale.
On
the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Sellers hereby
sells, and Buyer hereby Purchases Newco’s Equity Interests. At the Closing,
Sellers will assign and transfer Newco’s Equity Interests to Buyer and Buyer
will acquire, Newco’s Equity Interests from Sellers.
2.2 Base
Purchase Price.
The
base
purchase price for Newco’s Equity Interests and consideration for Sellers
obligation to execute or to cause that the Ancillary Agreements be executed,
and
for the non-hire covenants given by the Sellers under in Section 2.8 shall
be
the amount of US$ 15,500,000 (fifteen million five hundred thousand U.S.
Dollars), (the "Base
Purchase Price").
2.3 Definitive
Purchase Price .
(a) Buyer
and
Sellers agree that the definitive purchase price (the “Definitive
Purchase Price”)
shall
be the result of the amount equal to the Base Purchase Price plus any Cash
owned
by Newco, less the following amounts: (i) an amount to be agreed in good faith
between the Parties, for the event there exist Contracts or open orders for
products sold at prices below market conditions, provided that said Contracts
or
open orders have been executed after the date of this Agreement without the
prior written approval from Buyer. For this purposes it shall be understood
that
a Contract or open order has been executed below market conditions if the gross
raw material spread margin generated by such contract or open order is less
than
the actual aggregate gross raw material spread margin realized by the Company
during the first nine months of the year 2005. Gross raw material spread margin
being the difference between the ex-work selling prices minus the resin cost;
(ii) the amount equivalent to the amount of deferred custom duties owed by
Company (and to be owed by Newco) in connection with the import of certain
assets to be transferred to Newco pursuant to the Spin-Off; and (iii) the
aggregate amount equivalent to any and all Liabilities and Indebtedness of
Newco
as of the Closing Date, except those contingent liabilities consisting solely
in
severance payments accrued, but not yet due, in favour of Newco’s Employees as
of the Closing Date.
8
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(b) Sellers
hereby represents Buyer that as of the Closing Date, Newco will have no
Indebtedness and no Liabilities, including without limitation, no Liabilities
for any of the items referred under Section 8.1(a), subsections (i), (ii) and
(iii) above, with the sole exception of the following Liabilities: (i) Acrrued
vacations of Newco’s Employees in the amount of US$62,087.31; and (ii)
Contingent liabilities consisting solely in severance payments accrued, but
not
yet due, in favour of Newco’s Employees, being the latter not subject to
adjustment to the Base Purchase Price, but to the arrangement agreed under
Section 7.2 of this Agreement.
(c) Based
on
the representation referred on letter (b) above, the Parties agree that the
Definitive Purchase Price is the amount of US$15,437,912.69 (fifteen million
four hundred and thirty seven thousand nine hundred and twelfe U.S. Dollars
and
sixty nine cents)
(d) Buyer
shall pay the Definitive Purchase Price to Sellers as follows:
(i) |
An
amount equivalent to the Definitive Purchase Price less US$ 4,500,000.-
(the “Up-front
Purchase Price”)
shall be payable at the Closing Date; and
|
(ii) |
the
balance, equivalent to US$ 4,500,000.- (the “Deferred
Purchase Price”)
together with accrued interest shall be due and payable in five equal
consecutive annual installments commencing on January 2, 2007 until
paid
in full. Buyer shall pay interest on the unpaid amount of the Deferred
Purchase Price from the Closing Date until paid at an annual interest
rate
of 5% for the first two years, and for the remaining period until
the
Deferred Purchase Price is fully paid, at an annual rate equal to
the rate
of interest that under current practice is listed as the prevailing
three
month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) as published by the Central
Bank of Chile on the Closing Date and on each subsequent date an
installment is due, plus 2,75% per
year.
|
2.4 Closing.
(a) Subject
to satisfaction of the conditions precedent in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, the Closing
of this Agreement shall take place on December 29, 2005 or on such other date
agreed in writing by the Parties (the "Closing
Date")
at the
offices of Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx at Nueva Tajamar, 481, Torre Norte, piso 21, Las
Condes, Santiago, or at such other place agreed in writing by the
Parties.
9
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(b) At
the
Closing, Sellers shall deliver to Buyer, in form and substance satisfactory
to
Buyer:
(i) |
certificate
signed by duly authorized representatives of Sellers stating that
all the
representations and warranties of Sellers contained in Article 3
herein
are true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date, and
that the
conditions precedents referred to in Section 8.1 have been complied
on or
before the Closing Date;
|
(ii) |
copy
of the relevant empowerment documents of Sellers as necessary to
authorize
the execution of this Agreement, any other documents delivered in
connection herewith and the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions;
|
(iii) |
authorized
copies of the public deeds, registries, balance sheets and publications
on
the Official Gazzete proving that Newco has been duly incorporated
and
that the Company’s Operating Assets have been duly contributed and
assigned to Newco;
|
(iv) |
authorized
copies of all employment agreements of Newco’s Employees duly executed by
Newco and each Newco Employee in terms and conditions identical to
the
terms and conditions of the employment agreements currently in effect
among said employees and the
Company;
|
(v) |
written
evidence proving that any legal or voluntary/contractual bonuses
accrued
as of the Closing Date, based on past practices of the Company, have
been
paid to all employees, either by the Company or by Newco, or that
Newco
has in its bank accounts sufficient Cash to pay all such accrued
bonuses;
|
(vi) |
written
evidence proving that Newco has paid any and all sale commissions
due or
accrued on or before the Closing Date, and a certificate signed by
duly
authorized representatives of Sellers stating that Newco has no obligation
to pay any sales commissions to any Employee or third party, and
that no
such obligation would be triggered against Newco for sales services
provided by Employees or third parties on or before the Closing
Date;
|
(vii) |
a
written legal opinion from Chilean counsel to Sellers regarding the
corporate status of Newco and the Company, and with regard to the
legal
and valid contribution of the Operating Assets to Newco;
and
|
(viii) |
written
evidence proving termination of all those Company’s employees which will
not be Newco’s Employees, ratified on behalf of public
notary.
|
10
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(c) |
At
the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to
Sellers:
|
(i) |
the
Up-Front Purchase Price, in accordance with Section 2.5;
and
|
(ii) |
copy
of the relevant empowerment documents of Sellers as necessary to
authorize
the execution of this agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
|
(iii) |
authorized
copies of the public deeds, registries, balance sheets and publications
on
the Official Gazzete proving that Buyer has been duly
incorporated.
|
(d) At
the
Closing Sellers and Buyer shall execute or cause to be executed by the relevant
parties the following agreements: (i) Public Deed of Cesión
de Derechos Sociales y Disolución de Sociedad to
be
executed between Sellers and Buyer in the terms of Exhibit
A;
(ii)
Non-Compete Agreement to be executed in the terms of Exhibit
B,
among
Buyer, the Company, Sellers, Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, his immediate
family and any entity owned directly or indirectly by any of the above mentioned
entities or individuals in more than 10%; (iii) Right of First Refusal Agreement
(the “RFR
1”)
to be
executed in the terms of Exhibit
C
between
Buyer and Membrantec S.A.; (iv) Right of First Refusal Agreement (the
“RFR
2”)
to be
executed in the terms of Exhibit
D
between
Buyer and the Company ; (v) the agreement to be executed in the terms of
Exhibit
E
between
Buyer and the Company pursuant to Section 5.8 of this Agreement; (vi) Pledge
over 30% of the shares of Buyer to be executed in the terms of Exhibit
F
between
GSE International, Inc. and Sellers; and (vii) Comfort letter to be delivered
by
GSE International, Inc. in the terms of Exhibit
G
(the
“Ancillary
Agreements”).
2.5 Method
of Payment.
Payment
of the Definitive Purchase Priceshall be made in US Dollars pursuant to the
terms and conditions stated in Section 2.3 above either by bank draft or by
wire
transfer of immediately available funds to Sellers to their respective bank
accounts, at Buyer's option, in accordance with the allocation in Section
2.6.
2.6 Allocation
of Purchase Price.
The
Definitive Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Sellers as follows:
(a)
2% for Inversiones Bellavista Uno S.A.; and (b) 98% for Inversiones Bellavista
Tres S.A.
2.7 Exchange
Rate.
The
effective exchange rate to convert any adjustment to the Purchase Price
expressed in Chilean pesos into US Dollars, shall be the Dolar
Observado
exchange
rate as published by the Central Bank of Chile in effect on the date the payment
of the Up-Front Purchase Price are to be made pursuant to this Agreement.
2.8 Additional
Covenant.
11
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
To
further induce Buyer to purchase the Shares, each Seller hereby covenants,
effective as of the Closing Date and for a period of five years thereafter,
that
it will not, directly or indirectly, solicit or cause to be solicited, or hire,
contract or employ or cause to be hired, contracted or employed, any of Newco’s
Employees, unless agreed in advance in writing by the Parties.
3. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
Sellers
and the Guarantor hereby jointly and severally make the following
representations and warranties to Buyer, which are essential to the latter,
which shall be considered as made on the date hereof and on the Closing
Date.
3.1 Corporate
Status.
(a) The
Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Chile, and
has
the corporate power to own its assets and carry on its business as now being
conducted. Except as set out in Schedule
3.1(ai),
none of
the Sellers or their Affiliates has been involved in any business arrangement
or
relationship with the Company within the past twelve months, and none of the
Sellers or their Affiliates owns any asset, tangible or intangible, which is
used in the business and operations of the Company. There are no shareholders'
agreements to which Sellers and/or the Company may be bound. A true and correct
copy of the current By-laws of the Company is attached as Schedule
3.1(aii).
(b) Newco
is
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Chile, and has the
corporate power to own its assets and carry on the business and operations
as
previously conducted by the Company. None of the Sellers or their Affiliates
(with the exception of the Company) has been involved in any business
arrangement or relationship with Newco within the past twelve months, and none
of the Sellers or their Affiliates owns any asset, tangible or intangible,
which
were used in the business and operations of the Company, and pursuant to the
Spin-off, are in possession and are used in the business and operations of
Newco. There are no shareholders' or partner’s agreements to which Sellers
and/or Newco may be bound.
3.2 Capitalization
and Ownership.
(a) The
total
issued and outstanding capital of the Company is CLP 181,903,817 (one hundred
eighty one million, nine hundred and three thousand, eight hundred seventeen
pesos).
All
of
the outstanding equity interests of the Company have been both duly authorized
and validly issued in
accordance with all Legal Requirements
and are
fully paid.
All of
the equity interest are legally and validly held and owned by Sellers. There
are
no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, conversion
rights, exchange rights, or other Contracts or commitments that could require
the Company or any Seller to issue, sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of
any
of its or their equity interests in the Company.
(b)
The
total issued and outstanding capital of Newco is CLP 353,006,183 (three hundred
and fifty three million, six thousand and one hundred eighty three
pesos).
All
of
the outstanding equity interests of Newco have been both duly authorized and
validly issued in
accordance with all Legal Requirements
and are
fully paid.
All of
the equity interest are legally and validly held and owned by each Seller free
and clear of any and all Encumbrances. There are no outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, purchase rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or
other
Contracts or commitments that could require the Company or any Seller to issue,
sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its or their equity interests
in
Newco.
12
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
3.3 Corporate
Authority.
Each
Seller and the Guarantor has the legal right, power, capacity and authority
to
enter into and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which
he
is a party and to carry out the Contemplated Transactions. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action
of
Sellers and the Guarantor. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of the Sellers and the Guarantor, enforceable against
the Sellers and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
3.4 Restrictions.
(a) Except
as
set out in Schedule
3.4(a),
neither
the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall Contravene any provision of the By-laws or other
Governing Document of the Company or Newco, nor any Order, Contract or
Governmental Authorization to which the Company or Newco is subject or a party.
There is no lawsuit, proceeding or investigation pending or Threatened against
Sellers, the Company or Newco which might prevent the consummation of any of
the
Contemplated Transactions.
(b) Sellers,
the Company and Newco are not and will not be required to give any notice to
any
Person or obtain any Consent or Governmental Authorization in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation or performance
of any of the Contemplated Transactions, with the sole exception of the
authorization and release of security interests over certain Operating Assets
to
be obtained from Corpbanca on or before the Closing Date.
3.5 Financial
Statements.
(a) Attached
hereto as Schedule
3.5(a)
are the
audited financial statements of the Company for the last three years, an
unaudited interim financial statement of the Company for the period January
1
through October 31, 2005, including the balance sheets and related statements
of
income and expense for the periods then ended (hereinafter referred to as
"Financial
Statements").
The
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable Chilean
corporate law and with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods covered by these Financial Statements, and present fairly the financial
position of the Company and Newco as of the balance sheet dates, and the results
of its operations for the periods then ended, are correct and complete and
are
consistent with the books and records of the Company and Newco. The above
representation on Financial Statements does not imply a guarantee on future
financial performance of the Company or Newco. Attached hereto as Schedule
3.5(a)
is a
copy of the Base
Balance Sheet.
Except
as set out in Schedule
3.5(a),
the
Base Balance Sheet has been prepared from the books and records of the Company
and presents fairly the financial position of the Company as at the date of
the
Base Balance Sheet, in accordance with applicable Chilean corporate law and
with
GAAP, consistent with past practices (with exceptions required by applicable
Legal Requirements).
13
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(b) Sellers
have delivered Buyer an unaudited initial balance sheet of Newco as of the
date
of its incorporation (“Newco’s
Initial Balance Sheet”),
which
is attached as Schedule
3.5(b)
to this
Agreement. Sellers and Guarantor represent and warrant that Newco’s Initial
Balance Sheet presents the exact financial position of Newco as of the date
of
its incorporation, and that it has been prepared in accordance with applicable
Chilean corporate law and with GAAP, consistent with past practices of the
Company (with exceptions required by applicable Legal Requirements).
3.6 Intentionally
Left Blank.
3.7 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) Except
as
set out in Schedule
3.7(a),
as of
the date of the Base Balance Sheet and as of the date of the Spin Off, the
Company did not and do not have any Liabilities except for Liabilities reflected
in the Base Balance Sheet and except for such Liabilities arising in the
Ordinary Course of Business subsequent to the date of the Base Balance Sheet
(none of which results from, arises out of, relates to, is in the nature of,
or
was caused by any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, negligence,
infringement or violation of Legal Requirements).
(b) As
of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date, Newco shall have no Liablities and
no
Indebtedness, with the sole exception of those referred in Section 2.3 (b)
of
this Agreement.
3.8 Actions
Since date of Base Balance Sheet.
Except
as
set out in Schedule
3.8,
since
the date of the Base Balance Sheet and until the date of the Spin Off, in the
case of the Company, or until the Closing Date in the case of Newco, the
business of the Company or Newco as applicable, has been or will be conducted
only in the Ordinary Course of Business and neither the Company nor Newco have
or will have:
(a) made
any
general wage or salary increase or any increase in compensation payable or
to
become payable to any management employees, or entered into any employment
contract with any officer or key salaried employee other than consumer price
index adjustments;
(b) sold,
assigned or granted rights under any patent, trade name, trademark or copyright,
or any application therefore, or any trade secrets or designs for any products
currently manufactured or services provided by the Company except in each case
in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(c) become
involved or Threatened with any labor dispute which has had or could have an
adverse effect on the Company or Newco or their respective financial condition;
14
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(d) suffered
any material Adverse Consequence;
(e) suffered
any damage or destruction, whether or not covered by insurance, having an
adverse effect on the Company, Newco or their respective assets;
(f) materially
changed the terms and conditions applicable to the sale of its products;
(g) suffered
any adverse change in its financial condition, business, operations or
prospects; or
(h) experienced
any other event or condition of any character which has, or with the lapse
of
time or occurrence of such event or condition would have, an adverse affect
on
the financial condition, business, assets or operations of the Company or
Newco;
nor
have
the Company or Newco committed to engage in any of the foregoing actions.
3.9 Intellectual Property.
Schedule
3.9
hereto
contains a complete and correct list of (a) each patent, design, copyright,
trademark, trade name and domain name owned by the Company as well as all
registrations thereof (including expiration dates) and pending applications
therefore, and (b) each license or other agreement relating thereto or relating
to any other proprietary information of the Company. On or before the Closing
Date, Newco will have within its possession and control, and will own the entire
title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property which will be transferred
to Newco pursuant to the Spin-off (provided that registrations for publicity
purposes may be pending), and such Intellectual Property includes all the
proprietary information currently used by the Company in its business and
operations and necessary to conduct its business and operations as currently
conducted. Neither the Company nor Newco is a party to any agreement by which
it
has granted a license, or by which it grants a license to any Intellectual
Property owned by it, or by which it agrees to maintain the secrecy or
confidentiality of any proprietary property, except as set forth in Schedule
3.9. None of the Intellectual Property is subject to any pending or Threatened
challenge, nor has the Company or Newco received any notice nor do the Sellers
otherwise know that the foregoing are invalid or that the Intellectual Property
or any products or services made, sold or used by the Company or Newco conflict
with or infringe upon the asserted rights of others except as set forth in
the
Litigation and Claims List (Schedule
3.19).
Neither the Company nor the Sellers have any knowledge that any third party
is
infringing any of its Intellectual Property rights. The Company and Newco are
not liable for, and have not given indemnification for, proprietary rights
infringement as to any equipment, materials or supplies manufactured, used
or
sold by them.
3.10 Real
Property and Leases.
Schedule
3.10(a)(i)
contains
a list of all Real Property owned, leased or utilized by the Company in the
conduct of its business and Schedule
3.10(a)(ii)
contains
a list of the Real Property to be owned, leased or utilized by Newco. Copies
of
all notarial and other deeds, leases and other title documentation are attached
to such Schedule 3.10(a)(ii) and such copies are correct and complete as of
the
date hereof. With regard to the piece of land described on Schedule
3.10(b),
Newco
shall have the exclusive right to use such piece of land without being required
to make any payment, until the date such piece of land be transferred to Newco
in accordance with Article 7 of this Agreement. Except as set out in Schedule
3.10(a) (ii) and Schedule 3.10(b):
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(a) as
of the Closing Date, Newco will have, all easements and rights of ingress and
egress necessary for utilities and services and for all operations conducted
on
the Real Property;
(b) the
Real
Property is not subject to any rights of way, building use restrictions, or
limitations of any nature, and zoning laws, urbanization laws, and other public
land use restrictions that impair the present use of the Real Property;
and
(c) all
buildings, plants, and structures lie wholly within the boundaries of the Real
Property and/or in the piece of land described in Schedule 3.10(b) and do not
encroach upon the property of, or otherwise conflict with the property rights
of, any other person.
(d) all
buildings and constructions owned, leased or utilized and referred in those
Schedules, comply with Legal Requirements, and all such buildings and
constructions shall be owned by Newco and will still comply with all Legal
Requirements.
3.11 Personal
Property.
The
Company owns, leases and/or is legally entitled to use all motor vehicles,
machinery, equipment and other tangible assets necessary for the conduct of
the
Company’s operations and business as presently conducted. As of the Closing
Date, Newco shall be the legal and beneficial owner (and not a mere lessee)
of
all such tangible personal property (provided that registrations for publicity
purposes may be pending). All of such buildings, machinery, motor vehicles,
equipment and other tangible assets are used and in good working condition
(except for those assets currently subject to minor repair in the normal course
of maintenance), and all have been maintained by the Company in accordance
with
sound and prudent maintenance practices. Schedule
3.11(a)
contains
a description of such tangible assets, as well as a distinction between those
assets owned, those leased and those in any other way used by the Company in
the
conduct of its operations and business, being the latter to be acquired by
the
Company and transferred to Newco before the Closing Date. Schedule
3.11(b)
contains
a description of all such tangible assets being purchased by the Company, but
which have not been delivered to the Company as of the date of this Agreement.
All such tangible assets shall be owned by Newco.
3.12 Title
to Property.
At
Closing Date Newco will have good and marketable title to, and, with the sole
exception of the piece of land referred to in Schedule 3.10(b), will own, all
the Operating Assets which the Company uses in the conduct of its operations
and
businesses, located on its premises or shown on the Newco’s Initial Balance
Sheet or acquired after the date thereof, subject to no Encumbrances of any
kind.
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3.13 Contracts
and Commitments.
Schedule
3.13(a)
consists
of a listing of all oral and written Contracts exceeding the equivalent of
US$5,000, which are necessary for the conduct of the Company’s operations and
business as presently conducted, to which the Company is a party (the
"Company’s
Contract List").
Schedule
3.13(b)
consists
of a listing of all those Contracts from the Contract list that shall be
contributed or transferred to Newco upon its incorporation (“Newco’s
Contract List”).
Except
for those set forth in the Company’s Contract List, the Company is not a party
to or bound by any written or oral:
(a) employment,
employment termination or severance, consulting, services, employer's
organization or non-competition Contract;
(b) bonus,
deferred compensation, profit sharing, pension, retirement, stock option, stock
purchase or ownership, hospitalization, insurance or other plan or arrangement
providing employee benefits;
(c) collective
bargaining agreement or other labor Contract;
(d) lease,
license or occupancy agreement with respect to any real or personal property,
whether as grantor, grantee or otherwise;
(e) dealership,
manufacturer's representative, distributor, franchise, license, or agency
agreement;
(f) Contract
for capital expenditures;
(g) Contract
for the sale of any product at a price lower than its general pricing level
for
such product or service in effect on the date of such contract or any rebate
agreement;
(h) partnership
or joint venture agreement;
(i) mortgages,
pledges, charges, conditional sales contracts, security agreements, factoring
agreements or other similar agreements with respect to any assets of the
Company;
(j) Contract
pursuant to which the conduct of the Company, or the use or exploitation of
its
assets, in any manner, is restricted in any way;
(k) agreement
which may be terminated by a party thereto as a result of the Contemplated
Transactions; or
(l) license,
including without limitation, licenses related to any of the Intellectual
Property.
With
respect to each Contract in Newco’s Contract List:
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(i)
|
it
is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect;
|
(ii)
|
it
will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full
force
and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions and the Contemplated Transactions will
not
Contravene such Contract;
|
(iii)
|
no
party has Contravened, and no event has occurred which with notice
or
lapse of time would Contravene the
Contract;
|
(iv)
|
upon
its incorporation, Newco shall become a party to such Contract, and
shall
be the legal successor of any and all rights and obligations of the
Company under such Contract. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that some
of
the Orders and Contracts may not be assignable without the consent
of the
customers or providers thereof, and that in these cases a common
strategy,
bearing in mind normal Business practices, shall be developed between
the
Parties in order to cope with the customers and/or providers and
keep
healthy client-customer relationships. Nothing herein shall be interpreted
as an obligation of the Parties to assume a joint and severall liability
among them in favour of any
provider.
|
(v)
|
all
payments, Liabilities or amounts due or accrued under such Contract
on or
before the Closing Date, shall have been paid by the Company or Newco
before the Closing Date; and,
|
(vi)
|
to
the Knowledge of Sellers, no party has repudiated any provision of
any
such Contract.
|
3.14 Powers
of Attorney.
Sellers
have delivered Buyer a list, attached hereto as Schedule
3.14
to this
Agreement, which includes the name of each Person holding a proxy, general
or
special power of attorney, or other similar instrument from Newco, as well
as
copies of all such proxies, powers of attorney and other documents.
3.15 Insurance
Schedule
3.15
sets
forth a list of all insurance policies entered into by the Company. All such
insurance policies are in force, in conformity with law, and enforceable. The
coverage of such policies is normal and prudent in light of the activities
carried out by the Company, and it is not in default of any of its obligations
under the terms of such policies (including the payment of all premiums due)
and
has served proper and accurate notice of all events or information required
in
connection with such policies in a timely manner. Since its incorporation,
Newco
became the insured and beneficiary under such insurance policies, which shall
remain in full force and effect until the Closing Date. All obligations under
the terms of such policies (including the payment of all premiums) due or
accrued on or before the Closing Date, shall have been paid by the Company
or
Newco before the Closing Date.
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3.16 Indebtedness;
Bank Accounts.
(a) As
of the
Closing Date, Newco shall be free of any and all Indebtedness.
(b) Newco
does not maintain bank accounts, safety deposit boxes or deposit agreements
with
financial institutions.
3.17 Legal
Proceedings.
There
are
no judgments, decrees, claims, or Legal Proceedings pending or Threatened
against the Company, involving the Operating Assets, except as listed in
Schedule
3.17
(hereinafter referred to as the "Litigation
and Claims List").
As of
the Closing Date, there shall be no judgments, decrees, claims, or Legal
Proceedings pending or Threatened against Newco or involving any of its property
or the assets or any products or services made, used or sold by it.
3.18 Pending
Bids, Customers Backlog and Sales Volume.
(a) Schedule
3.18(a)
contains
a list of all pending bids of the Company, specifying the customer, product,
product warranties, quantities, pricing and delivery dates.
(b) Schedule
3.18(b)
contains
a list of the backlog or pending orders, specifying the customer, products,
product warranties, quantities, pricing and delivery dates.
3.19 Governmental
Authorizations.
(a) All
of
the Company's Governmental Authorizations are listed on Schedule
3.19(a)
and are
in full force and effect and good standing, and no notices have been received
or
Threatened relating to termination or cancellation or withdrawal of any of
such
Governmental Authorizations. The Company is not in violation of the terms and
conditions of any such Governmental Authorizations. To the knowledge of Sellers
no Governmental Authorizations are required for the conduct of any aspect the
Company's business other than those listed in Schedule 3.19(a).
(b)
As of
the Closing Date, Newco shall be the legal holder and beneficiary of all the
Company's Governmental Authorizations, which as of the Closing Date, will be
in
full force and effect and good standing, and no notices shall have been received
or Threatened relating to termination or cancellation or withdrawal of any
of
such Governmental Authorizations. Newco will not be in violation of the terms
and conditions of any such Governmental Authorizations.
3.20 Hazardous
Materials.
Schedule
3.20
hereto
contains (a) a description of all Hazardous Materials which is or have been,
used or generated by the Company, (b) a description of past and present waste
and Hazardous Material disposal practices of the Company, including the names
and addresses of owners or operators of each location to which such waste and
Hazardous Materials were sent for treatment, storage or disposal, (c) copies
of
the results of any environmental or safety inspections of the Company's
facilities within the last five years, (d) copies of all former or pending
safety or environmental citations or citations by other authorities received
by
the Company, (e) copies of all forms filed by the Company which contain safety
records and procedures at its facilities, (f) a list and description of the
location of all underground tanks, sumps or pits on or beneath the Real
Property, and (g) copies of any analysis of air, water or other discharge at
or
from the Company's facilities for the last five years and (h) a list of all
environmental permits necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company.
The Real Property listed on the Real Property List is free from all
contamination by Hazardous Materials and there have been no releases, discharges
or emissions of any Hazardous Materials at, into, onto, under or from such
Real
Property, and no Hazardous Materials have at any time been disposed of in any
amount on, at or under such Real Property.
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3.21 Environmental
Matters.
The
Company is, and at all times has been, in compliance with all Legal Requirements
relating to environmental matters. There is no environmental contamination
caused by the Company or emanating from the Real Property including soil or
groundwater contamination, air or water contamination or any air emission or
water discharge above applicable standards. To the knowledge of Sellers the
Company has never been engaged in any inappropriate management, storage,
transportation or final disposal of waste or by-products, whether hazardous
or
non-hazardous. To the knowledge of Sellers there are no (a) proceedings or
governmental investigations pending or Threatened concerning or against the
Company arising from or relating to environmental matters, (b) pending or
Threatened citations, summons, directives, orders or notices of a Threatened
or
actual violation of any Legal Requirement concerning or against the Company
relating to environmental matters, or (c) Encumbrances arising from or related
to environmental matters, or any governmental actions resulting in the
imposition of any such Encumbrance on any of the Real Property related to such
environmental matters. No conditions or circumstances exist and no acts or
omissions have occurred on the Real Property or affecting any of the Real
Property which could be reasonably expected to result in any investigation,
claim, lawsuit, arbitration or regulatory suit or action alleging harm, injury
or non-compliance with any environmental law or regulation, or requiring
remediation or clean-up by the Company or Newco of any environmental
conditions.
3.22 Workers'
Injuries.
Schedule
3.22
describes (a) all closed, pending or to the knowledge of Sellers, Threatened
claims of Newco’s Employees for compensation for any injury, disability or
illness arising out of their employment by the Company and (b) all accidents
in
which any Newco Employee was injured during working hours.
3.23 Trade
Union Activity.
To
the
knowledge of the Sellers there has not been, nor is there currently pending
or
Threatened, any activity by Newco’s Employees or by any trade union relating to
the representation of such employees by any trade union, nor has there been
any
strike, work stoppage or labor troubles involving any Newco Employee.
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3.24 Employees;
Employee Benefits.
(a) The
Company is, and as of the Closing Date Newco will be, in compliance with all
labor agreements and other Legal Requirements with respect to employment or
employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages, hours and
occupational health and safety, regarding Newco’s Employees. To the Knowledge of
the Sellers, there are no, and as of the Closing Date there will not be (i)
proceedings or governmental investigations pending or Threatened concerning
or
against the Company or Newco arising from or relating to any such matters,
(ii)
pending or Threatened citations, summons, directives, orders or notices of
a
Threatened or actual violation of any Legal Requirement concerning or against
the Company or Newco relating to any such matters. There is no labor strike,
individual or collective labor dispute (other than routine individual
grievances), or general slowdown or stoppage pending or Threatened against
the
Company or Newco, including with respect to any matter relating to workers
profits sharing benefits; and no grievance or any arbitration proceeding arising
out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or Threatened
against the Company or Newco.
(b) Schedule
3.24(b)
contains
(i) the name, job title, current monthly gross rate of pay, bonuses and date
and
amount of last salary increase of each of the current employees of the Company
to be transferred to Newco. (ii) all presently outstanding loans and advances
(other than routine travel advances) made by the Company or Newco to any
employee and the current status thereof. All employee benefits, in cash or
in
kind, provided to employees of the Company and that will become employees of
Newco, are also listed in said Schedule 3.24(b), including without limitation
all pension and retirement benefits beyond mandatory Legal Requirements. The
Company is, and as of the Closing Date Newco will be in full compliance with
all
Legal Requirements with respect to its employees, including, salaries, wages,
bonuses, dividends, profit distribution, pay increases, payment of sales
commissions, and the corresponding payment of any labor charges and social
security and other payments under Legal Requirements. As of the Closing Date,
Newco shall have no labour related Liabilities caused before Closing Date,
including without limitation, Liabilities for accrued bonuses, vacations and/or
sales commissions, all of which shall have been paid before the Closing
Date.
(c) Schedule
3.24(c)
contains
a list of all written and oral consulting, distribution, sales agency, alliance
or other service or outsourced contractor. The Company or Newco is not now,
and
neither the Company nor Newco will in the future be, subject to a determination
under Legal Requirements to the effect that any individuals directly or
indirectly performing services to the Company or Newco, are entitled to benefits
granted to employees under Legal Requirements or should otherwise be treated
as
employees for tax purposes or otherwise. As of the Closing Date, Newco shall
have no accrued Liabilities with regard to said written and oral consulting,
distribution, sales agency, alliance or other service or outsourced contractors,
all of which shall have been paid before the Closing Date.
3.25 Taxes.
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(a) The
Company and Newco have duly and timely paid all applicable Taxes and have timely
filed with the appropriate Governmental Body all applicable Tax returns. The
Company and Newco have made such payments and prepared such Tax returns
correctly and in accordance with all Legal Requirements. Except as disclosed
in
Schedule
3.25
under
"Tax Claims", the Company and Newco (i) have not challenged the payment and/or
amount of any Taxes either in Court or in administrative level; (ii) has not
received any injunction allowing it not to pay and/or reduce the amount of
Taxes; (iii) has not executed settlement agreements with tax authorities for
the
payment of late Taxes; (iv) has not received notice of or is a party in any
lawsuit or administrative proceeding for collection of Taxes; (v) has not been
involved in any corporate, commercial or other arrangement for the purpose
of
evading Taxes; and (vi) has not taken advantage of any amnesty regarding Taxes
in the previous six years.
(b) As
of the
Closing Date, Newco shall be free of any and all Tax Liabilities, due or to
become due at the end of the fiscal year.
3.26 Product
Liability.
(a) Except
as
disclosed in Schedule
3.26,
to the
knowledge of the Sellers there are no pending or Threatened Legal Proceedings
with respect to, or any Liabilities of the Company for, any products sold or
distributed by the Company or for any injuries or damages resulting from any
such products. The Company's products have been manufactured and sold in full
compliance with all Legal Requirements, including consumer protection
legislation and regulations.
(b) As
of the
Closing Date, there will not be pending or Threatened Legal Proceedings with
respect to, or any Liabilities of Newco for, any products sold or distributed
by
the Company or Newco or for any injuries or damages resulting from any such
products. Newco’s products shall have been manufactured and sold in full
compliance with all Legal Requirements, including consumer protection
legislation and regulations.
3.27 Customer
Warranty Claims.
To
the
Knowledge of Sellers there are no defects in the design or manufacture of
products sold by the Company or Newco before Closing which would (i) result
in
other than normal warranty claims, (ii) require the recall of such products,
or
(iii) provide customers with a basis to reject such products or revoke
acceptance of such products. The Company shall remain liable for all products
returned, customer warranty claims and breach of contract or related claims
for
products manufactured or sold by either the Company or Newco prior to the
Closing Date. Schedule
3.27
contains
a list of all Contracts for sales of products that are still subject to
potential warranty claims by customers, specifying the name and address of
each
customer, the specifications and quantity of the product, its purchase price,
and the date the product warranty expires.
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3.28 Sufficiency
of the Assets.
The
Operating Assets to be owned by Newco at the Closing Date and the Piece of
Land
to be owned by Newco not later than 6 months following the Closing Date (a)
are,
with the sole exception of the Excluded Assets, all those assets currently
used
in the operation of the business of the Company and (b) will be all of the
assets needed by Newco to continue to operate such business after the date
hereof as currently operated by the Company.
3.29 Legal
Compliance.
(a) The
Company is now and has been in all respects in compliance with all Legal
Requirements (including those relating to antitrust and trade regulation,
environmental protection, hazardous waste disposal, health and safely, labor,
employment, capital market regulations and zoning and building codes). The
Company has not received any complaint, citation or notice of violation from
any
Governmental Body and to the Knowledge of Sellers none is Threatened, alleging
that it has violated any such Legal Requirement.
(b) As
of the
Closing Date Newco shall be and shall have been from the date of its
incorporation, in compliance with all Legal Requirements (including those
relating to antitrust and trade regulation, environmental protection, hazardous
waste disposal, health and safely, labor, employment, capital market regulations
and zoning and building codes). As of the Closing Date, Newco shall have not
received any complaint, citation or notice of violation from any Governmental
Body and none shall have been Threatened, alleging that it has violated any
such
Legal Requirement.
3.30 Accuracy
of Statements.
None
of
the information contained in the representations, warranties or covenants of
Sellers and the Guarantor in this Agreement or in the Ancillary Agreements
contain any untrue statement of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to
make
the statements contained herein, in light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading. All documents provided to Buyer by Sellers and the
Guarantor are true, complete and correct copies of the documents they purport
to
represent.
3.31 Brokers
and Finders.
No
broker, finder or other Person or entity acting in a similar capacity has
participated on behalf of the Company or Sellers in bringing about the
transaction herein contemplated, rendered any services with respect thereto
or
been in any way involved therewith. Any broker or finder fee that a third party
might claim to have a right to will be paid only by Sellers or the Company
and
in no event by Newco or Buyer.
3.32 Certain
Practices.
Neither
Newco nor any of its officers, managers, employees, agents or representatives,
has directly or indirectly, offered, paid or promised to pay, or authorized
the
payment of any money or other thing of value (including any fee, gift, sample,
travel expense, or entertainment with a value in excess of US$50 in the
aggregate to any one individual in any year) to any person who is an official,
officer, agent, employee or representative of any Governmental Body or of any
existing or prospective customer (whether government-owned or
non-government-owned), or to any political party or official thereof, to any
candidate for political or political party office, or to any other individual
or
entity while knowing or having reason to believe that all or any portion of
such
money or thing of value would be offered, given, or promised, directly or
indirectly, to any such official, officer, agent, employee, representative,
political party, political party official, or candidate, (i) to obtain favorable
treatment in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable treatment for business
secured, (iii) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already
obtained, for or in respect of Newco, or (iv) in violation of any Legal
Requirement.
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3.33 Books
and Records/Accounting Controls.
As
of the
Closing Date, each transaction made by Newco shall be properly and accurately
recorded on the books and records of Newco, and each document on which entries
in Newco’s books or records will be based (such as purchase orders, customer or
company invoices, travel or expense reports, service agreements, etc.) shall
be
complete and accurate in all respects. Newco shall maintain a system of internal
accounting controls adequate to insure that Newco maintains no off-the-books
accounts and that Newco’s assets are used only in accordance with such
management’s directives.
3.34 US
export control and trade sanction laws.
From
the
date of its incorporation Newco has at all times complied with the export
control and trade sanction laws of the United States with respect to products,
services and technology obtained from the United States, and with those of
any
other applicable jurisdictions.
4. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
hereby makes the following representations and warranties to Sellers, which
shall be considered as made on the date hereof, and on the Closing
Date:
4.1 Corporate
Status.
(a) Buyer
is
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of Chile, and has the
corporate power to own its assets and carry on its business as now being
conducted.
(b) GSE
International, Inc. is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the
State of Delaware, and has the corporate power to own its assets and carry
on
its business as now being conducted.
4.2 Capitalization
and Ownership.
(a) The
total
issued and outstanding capital of Buyer is US$1,000,000 (One million US
Dollars).
All
of
the outstanding equity interests of the Company have been both duly authorized
and validly issued in
accordance with all Legal Requirements
and will
be fully paid not later than on the Closing Date.
24
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(b)
The
total issued and outstanding capital of GSE International, Inc. is
US$185,823,000 (One hundred eighty five million eight hundred and twenty three
thousand Dollars).
All
of
the outstanding equity interests of GSE
International, Inc.
have
been both duly authorized and validly issued in
accordance with all Legal Requirements
and are
fully paid.
4.3 Authority.
Buyer
has
the legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement; the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the necessary corporate action
of Buyer; and this Agreement constitutes the legal and binding obligation of
Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms.
4.4 Restrictions.
Neither
the execution of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will Contravene any court order, consent decree, agreement
or permit to which Buyer is subject or a party, or the By-laws of Buyer. There
is no lawsuit, proceeding or investigation pending or Threatened against Buyer
which might prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement.
4.5 Government
Approvals.
Buyer
has
made or obtained (as applicable) all actions, consents or approvals of,
registrations or filings with, all Governmental Bodies required by Legal
Requirements in connection with the performance by the Buyer of this Agreement
or in connection with the Contemplated Transactions.
4.6 Brokers
and Finders.
No
broker, finder or other Person or entity acting in a similar capacity has
participated on behalf of Buyer in bringing about the transaction herein
contemplated. Any broker or finder fee that a third party might claim to have
a
right to in connection with the Contemplated Transactions will in no event
be
paid by Sellers.
5. COVENANTS
OF SELLERS PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE
5.1 Access
and Investigation.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers will, and will cause
the Company and its Representatives to:
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(a) afford
Buyer and its Representatives and prospective lenders and their Representatives
(collectively, the "Buyer's
Advisors")
reasonable access to the Company's personnel, properties (including subsurface
testing), Contracts, books and records, and other documents and
data;
(b) furnish
Buyer and the Buyer's Advisors with copies of all such Contracts, books and
records, and other existing documents and data as Buyer may reasonably request,
and
(c) furnish
Buyer and Buyer's Advisors with such additional financial, operating, legal
and
other data and information as Buyer may reasonably request in connection with
this Agreement.
5.2 Spin-off.
Before
the Closing Date, Sellers shall cause the Spin-Off to be completely consummated.
For this purposes it shall be understood that the Spin-Off has been consummated
upon the fulfillment of each of the following actions or
conditions:
(a) Execution
of the public deed of reorganization and spin-off of the Company, contemplating
the incorporation of Newco, Newco’s By-laws and the contribution of the
Operating Assets to Newco.
(b) Registration
at the Registry of Commerce and publication at the Official Gazzete of the
excerpt of the public deed referred in subsection (a) above;
(c) With
the
sole exception of the Piece of Land referred in Section 7.1, registration in
the
name of Newco of all such Operating Assets which transfer is subject to
registration requirements, at the corresponding registries, or compliance of
all
applicable notices which may be necessary to consummate the transfer of any
Operating Asset to Newco; and,
(d) Sellers
shall cause that: (i) all those current employees of the Company which be
determined by Buyer before the public deed referred to in subsection (a) above
is executed (“Newco’s
Employees”)
and
their respective labour agreements, be assigned to Newco, or that new employment
agreements be executed between Newco and Newco’s Employees, in terms and
conditions to be identical to the current terms and conditions of their labour
agreements with the Company; and, (ii) that all other employees remain employed
by Company or otherwise, terminate their labour agreements with the Company,
in
both cases, with no labour related Liabilities for Newco.
5.3 Operation
of the Business of the Company and Newco.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers will, and will cause
each the Company and Newco to:
(a) conduct
their business only in the Ordinary Course of Business;
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(b) use
their
best efforts to preserve intact the current business organization of the
Company, and of Newco; keep available the services of the current officers,
employees, and agents of the Company which shall become officers, employees,
and
agents of Newco, and maintain the relations and goodwill with suppliers,
customers, landlords, creditors, employees, agents, and others having business
relationships with the Company or with Newco;
(c) confer
with Buyer before executing any purchase commitment or any purchase agreement
for the acquisition of raw material, including without limitation, any purchase
pursuant to the purchase commitments listed in Schedule 3.6(b)(ii) of this
Agreement, and not to execute such purchase commitments or agreements unless
with the prior written approval from Buyer, provided that in the event Sellers
deliver a written requirement for Buyer’s approval, and Buyer does not answer
said written requirement within 3 Business Days from the date it was received
by
Buyer, Sellers shall have the right but not the obligation to execute the
corresponding purchase commitment or purchase agreement;
(d) confer
with Buyer before submitting any bid
for
the sale of products, and not to submit any bid unless with
the
prior written approval from Buyer, provided that in the event Sellers deliver
a
written requirement for Buyer’s approval, and Buyer does not answer said written
requirement within 3 Business Days from the date it was received by Buyer,
Sellers shall have the right but not the obligation to submit the corresponding
bid;
(e) confer
with Buyer concerning operational matters with respect to the Company, or upon
its incorporation, with respect to Newco; and
(f) otherwise
report periodically to Buyer concerning the status of the business, and
operations of the Company or Newco upon its incorporation.
5.4 Negative
Covenant.
Except
as
otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, between the date of this
Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers will not, and will cause Newco not
to,
without the prior consent of Buyer, take any affirmative action, or fail to
take
any action within their or its control, as a result of which any of the changes
or events listed in Section 3.8 are likely to occur.
5.5 Required
Approvals.
As
promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, Sellers will, and
will
cause the Company and Newco to, make all filings, notices, and applications
required by Legal Requirements to be made by them in order to consummate the
Contemplated Transactions, including those specified in this Agreement. Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers will, and will cause
the Company and Newco to:
(a) cooperate
with Buyer with respect to all filings, notices, and applications that Buyer
elects to make or is required by Legal Requirements to make in connection with
the Contemplated Transactions contemplated, and
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(b) cooperate
with Buyer in obtaining all Governmental Authorizations for the Contemplated
Transactions.
5.6 Notification.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Sellers will promptly notify
Buyer in writing if Sellers, the Company or Newco become aware of any fact
or
condition that causes or constitutes a breach of any of Sellers' representations
and warranties as of the date of this Agreement, or if Sellers, the Company
or
Newco becomes aware of the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any
fact or condition that would (except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement) cause or constitute a breach of any such representa-tion or warranty,
had such representation or warranty been made as of the time of occurrence
or
discovery of such fact or condition. During the same period, Sellers will
promptly notify Buyer of the occurrence of any breach of any covenant of Sellers
in this Section 5.5 or of the occurrence of any event that may make the
satisfaction of the conditions in Section 8 impossible or unlikely.
5.7 Newco
free of Liabilities and Indebtedness.
Except
as
expressly provided in this Agreement, Sellers will cause Newco to be, as of
the
Closing Date free of any and all Indebtedness and Liabilities, whether due
or to
become due.
5.8 Agreement
for the purchase and sale of Inventory.
Sellers
and Buyer shall conduct jointly a physical count of the inventory as of the
Closing Date, and shall cause the Company to execute with Buyer, on the Closing
Date, an Agreement pursuant to which both parties shall be required, within
15
Business Days following the Closing Date, to sell and purchase, respectively,
all such inventory owned by the Company
that
meet
all
published specifications and at the time be free from all defects in material
and workmanship (including specifically, finished goods and the following
resins: (a) High Density: (i) ChevronPhillips K306; (ii) ChevronPhillips TR400;
(iii) Total 37120; (iv) Innovene G36-10-150; and (v) Daelim LH418S; (b) Low
Density: (i) ChevronPhillips 7104; (ii) ChevronPhillips K203; and (iii) Borealis
FB2230 (collectively the “Inventory”),
but
excluding scrap, resins and others from any other brands (the “Excluded
Inventory”))
at a
purchase price equal to book value of such Inventory, to be paid by Newco no
later than 15 Business Days after the Closing Date (the “Inventory
Purchase Agreement”).
The
Inventory Purchase Agreement shall contemplate the following terms and
conditions: (a) A representation by Sellers and the Company stating that: (i)
a
list to be incorporated as Schedule to the agreement contains a complete and
correct list of the Company's Inventory, including without limitation, finished
goods and raw material, specifying category, quality certifications, quantities
and unit book value;
(ii)
that the finished goods meets
all
published specifications and at the time be free from all defects in material
and workmanship; and (iii) the Inventory value shown in the Company's books
and
records at the date of the Inventory Purchase Agreement accurately reflects
the
book value of the Inventory as of such date, and consist of usable items which,
as to the quality and quantity, are saleable in the ordinary course of business,
and represent all of the inventory on such date, with the sole exception of
the
Excluded Inventory; (b) A representation by Sellers and the Company stating
that
the Inventory is sufficient to enable Newco to comply with its obligations
due
or to become due up to two months after the Closing Date; (c) The obligation
of
Sellers, the Company, Newco and Buyer to conduct jointly a confirmatory physical
review and audit of the Inventory (including finished goods and raw material)
not later than 5 Business Days after the Closing Date, in order to enable Newco
and Buyer to verify that the Inventory to be purchased meets all published
specifications and at the time be free from all defects in material and
workmanship and that the representations and warranties referred in letters
(a)
and (b) above are accurate and correct; and (d) The obligation of Sellers and
the Company to deliver Buyer and Newco the original invoices issued by the
resin
suppliers so that Newco and Buyer be able to verify the quality of the raw
material.
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5.9 Execution
of Ancillary Agreements.
Sellers
covenant as a promesa
de hecho ajeno, that
they
shall cause the Company, Membrantec S.A., Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, his immediate family and any entity owned directly
or indirectly by any of the above mentioned entities or individuals in more
than
10% to execute not later than on the Closing Date, the Ancillary Agreements
to
which each of them is to be a party pursuant to this Agreement.
5.10 Bonuses,
Vacations and Sales Commissions.
Sellers
shall cause the Company or Newco to pay before the Closing Date, any and all
bonuses (legal and contractual), accrued vacations (to the extent possible
under
applicable law) or sales commissions either due or accrued until Closing Date,
to which any Newco Employee or third party may have right against
Newco.
5.11 No
Negotiation.
Until
such time, if any, as this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9,
Sellers will not, and will cause the Company, Newco and each of their
Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, or encourage
any inquiries or proposals from, discuss or negotiate with, provide any
non-public information to, or consider the merits of any unsolicited inquiries
or proposals from, any Person (other than Buyer) relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby, any transaction involving the sale of the business or
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) of the Company or Newco,
or any of the equity interests of the Company or Newco, or any merger,
consolida-tion, business combination, or similar transaction involving the
Company or Newco.
5.12 Best
Efforts.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, each Seller will use its Best
Efforts to cause the conditions in Sections 8.1 to be satisfied.
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6. COVENANTS
OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE
6.1 Approvals
of Governmental Bodies.
As
promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, Buyer will make all
filings required by Legal Requirements to be made by it to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. Between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, Buyer will:
(a) reasonably
cooperate with Sellers with respect to all filings that Sellers are required
by
Legal Requirements to make in connection with the Contemplated Transactions,
and
(b) reasonably
cooperate with Sellers in obtaining all Governmental Authorizations required
by
Legal Requirements or this Agreement;
provided
that this Agreement will not require Buyer to dispose of or make any change
in
any portion of its business or to incur any other burden, financial or
otherwise, in connection with such filings, consents or
authorizations.
6.2 Best
Efforts.
Except
as
set forth in the proviso to Section 6.1, between the date of this Agreement
and
the Closing Date, Buyer will use its Best Efforts to cause the conditions in
Sections 8.2 to be satisfied.
7. COVENANTS
OF SELLERS AND BUYER AFTER THE CLOSING DATE
7.1 Transfer
of Piece of Land.
Sellers
have caused its corresponding Affiliate having the ownership over the piece
of
land described on Schedule 3.10(b) of this Agreement, to execute a Purchase
Agreement with Newco, which agreement was executed on December 23, 2005, and
will ensure that the ownership in favour of Newco be registered not later than
6
months following the Closing Date. Newco has already paid the purchase price
for
said Piece of Land.
7.2 Severance
Payments.
Sellers
will, or will cause the Company to pay or reimburse Newco the proportion of
all
severance and labour related payments required to be made by Newco pursuant
to
Legal Requirements, for the event Newco terminates the employment agreements
of
one or more of Newco’s Employees at any time within the 18-month period
following the Closing Date. Such payment shall be made no later than 5 Business
Days after the date the employment agreement has been terminated, and shall
correspond to the amount which would have been paid if the termination has
occurred on the Closing Date. The difference between the amount that would
have
been paid if the termination had occurred on the Closing Date and the amount
effectively due on the date of the employee termination, shall be paid by
Newco.
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7.3 Right
to use Real Property.
(a) Sellers
and the Guarantor will, or will cause the Company, to permit Newco and Buyer
to
continue using the offices currently used by the Company in Xxxxxxxx, as well
as
the warehouses and other spaces over the Real Properties referred in Schedule
7.3 (a), provided that Buyer shall be required to pay the current monthly rents
paid by the Company, and that Buyer shall have the right to terminate said
leases at any time. For this purpose Buyer shall execute on the Closing Date,
two Lease Agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit
H.
(b) Buyer
and
Newco will permit the Company, to use, for an interim or transition period
not
to exceed 6 months, the spaces over Newco’s Real Property identified in
Schedule
7.3(b),
so that
the Company be able to sell the inventory which will not be acquired by Newco
or
Buyer pursuant to Section 5.8 of this Agreement. If for any reason said
inventory has not been sold during such 6 month period, the Company shall be
required to remove the inventory from Newco’s premises but shall maintain the
right to sell it. The Company’s right to sell said inventory will not be
considered a breach of its obligations under the Non-Compete Agreement to be
executed on the Closing Date.
7.4 Transition
Period.
(a) The
Parties acknowledge that a transition period will be required in order that
Buyer and Sellers be able, among other matters, to communicate the Company’s
customers, clients, providers and other third parties having a business
relationship with the Company, the transfer of Newco and the Operating Assets
to
Buyer, and to enable Buyer to continue such business relationship independently
and directly with certain of said third parties.
(b) Considering
the above, the Parties covenant and agree to cooperate with each other in good
faith in order to enable Buyer to get the benefit and/or to borne the costs
of
the contracts, agreements and services which for any reason cannot be directly
invoiced from Buyer, or to Buyer. In such event, upon the request of Buyer:
(i)
the Company will accept and receive invoices for sales from Buyer, and therafter
re-invoice the sales directly to the customers or clients, for the same
conditions and prices, provided that the amount of the invoices will be paid
from the Company to Buyer upon receipt, and in no event later than one Business
Day, after receipt by the Company of the corresponding amounts from the
customers; and (ii) the Company will receive the invoices from the providers
or
third parties, and re-invoice them to Buyer for the same conditions and
prices.
(c) The
compliance of the above mentioned covenants by the Company, will not be
considered a breach of the Non Compete Agreement or any other Ancillary
Agreement to this Purchase Agreement.
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8. CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
8.1 Conditions
to Buyer's Obligations.
Buyer’s
obligation to Close the Contemplated Transactions is subject to the fulfillment,
on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions
(any
of
which may be waived by Buyer, in whole or in part):
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Sellers contained in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of
the
Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made as of the Closing Date.
(b) Covenants.
All
Agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by Sellers on or before the Closing Date shall have been performed or
complied with in all respects.
(c) No
Injunction.
No
Legal Requirement issued by any court of competent jurisdiction shall be in
effect that restricts or prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(d) Other
Governmental and Regulatory Consents.
All
filings required to be made prior to the Closing with, and all Governmental
Authorizations required to be obtained prior to the Closing from, Governmental
Authorities in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been made
or
obtained.
(e) No
Litigation.
No
Proceeding shall be pending (or to Buyer’s knowledge, Threatened) which seeks to
delay or prevent the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, or seeks
money damages from Buyer or Newco by reason of the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions by this Agreement, or, if resolved adversely to Newco,
would have a material adverse effect on Newco or restrict or limit Buyer's
ability to own or control Newco, operate the business, or consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Other
Consents.
All
consents necessary for completion of the transaction contemplated under this
Agreement have been obtained.
(h) Due
Diligence. Buyer
shall have completed, to its satisfaction, due diligence with respect to the
Company.
8.2 Conditions
to Sellers’ Obligations.
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Sellers’
obligations to Close the Contemplated Transactions is subject to the
fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions (any
of
which may be waived by Sellers, in whole or in part):
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement
and
as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made as of the
Closing Date.
(b) Covenants.
All
Agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by Buyer on or before the Closing Date shall have been performed or
complied with in all material respects.
(c) No
Injunction.
No
Legal Requirement or order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction shall
be in effect that restricts or prohibits consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Other
Governmental and Regulatory Consents.
All
filings required to be made prior to the Closing with, and all Governmental
Authorizations required to be obtained prior to the Closing from, Governmental
Authorities in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions shall have been made or
obtained.
(e) No
Litigation.
No
Proceeding shall be pending (or to Seller’s knowledge, Threatened) which seeks
to delay or prevent the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, or seeks
money damages from Sellers or the Company by reason of the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
9. TERMINATION
9.1 Termination
Events.
This
Agreement may, by notice given prior to or at the Closing, be
terminated:
(a) by
either
Buyer or Sellers if a material breach of any provision of this Agreement has
been committed by the other Party and such breach has not been
waived;
(b) (i)
by
Buyer if (other than due to the failure of Buyer to comply with its obligations
under this Agreement) any of the conditions in Section 8.1 have not been
satisfied as of the Closing Date and Buyer has not waived in writing such
condition on or before the Closing Date; or (ii) by Sellers if (other than
due
to the failure of Sellers to comply with its obligations under this Agreement)
any of the conditions in Section 8.2 have not been satisfied as of the Closing
Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible and Sellers
has not waived in writing such condition on or before the Closing Date;
or
(c) by
mutual
written agreement of Buyer and Sellers.
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9.2 Effect
of Termination.
Each
Party's right of termination under Section 9.1 is in addition to any other
rights it may have under this Agreement or otherwise, and the exercise of such
right of termination will not be an election of remedies. If this Agreement
is
terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, all further obligations of the Parties
under this Agreement will terminate, except that the representations in Sections
3.31 and 4.4, and the obligations in Sections 11.4, 11.5 and 11.6 will survive;
provided, however, that the Parties’ respective rights and obligations with
respect to any prior breach of or failure to comply with this Agreement will
survive any termination of this Agreement.
10. INDEMNIFICATION
10.1 Scope
of Sellers' and Guarantor’s Indemnity.
Sellers
and Guarantor, all of them acting as codeudores
solidarios,
jointly
and severally agree to indemnify and hold Buyer and Newco and their respective
affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns (and their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents) harmless from and against any and all Adverse
Consequences, suffered or incurred by any of them as a result of:
(a) any
breach of any representation or warranty made by Sellers contained in this
Agreement or any other document delivered by Sellers in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions;
(b) any
breach by Sellers of any undertaking, covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement or in any other agreement or document delivered by Sellers in
connection with the Contemplated Transactions;
(c) all
facts, events or conditions which occurred prior to the Closing Date including
any risk or actual incidence of illness, disability, death or other injury
to,
or the contraction of any diseases by, any Person (including any current or
former employee) resulting from exposure to Hazardous Materials, products,
or
other materials before the Closing Date, or arising from a defect in any product
manufactured by the Newco before the Closing Date, without regard to when such
injuries or diseases are first manifested;
(d) any
and
all actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments, costs and expenses
incidental to any and all Adverse Consequences and to any of the matters set
forth in this Section.
(e) a
Contravention by Seller of Section 3.25 (Taxes).
Except
as
disclosed in the Schedules of this Agreement, Sellers and the Guarantor shall
not be exempt from liability if Buyer or its advisors know or should have known
from their review of the transaction that any of the covenants, representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement are not accurate or complete. Except
as disclosed in the Schedules of this Agreement, Sellers and the Guarantor
shall
be liable for Losses whether or not Buyer had knowledge of, or had reason to
know, of the respective Liabilities, as a result of any due diligence by Buyer
or Buyer’s Advisors.
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10.2 Scope
of Buyer’s Indemnity.
Buyer
agrees to indemnify and hold Sellers and their respective affiliates,
predecessors, successors and assigns (and their respective officers, directors,
employees and agents) harmless from and against any and all Adverse
Consequences, suffered or incurred by any of them as a result of:
(a) any
breach of any representation or warranty made by Buyer contained in this
Agreement or any other document delivered by Buyer in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions;
(b) any
breach by Buyer of any undertaking, covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement or in any other agreement or document delivered by Buyer in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions;
(c) any
and
all actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments, costs and expenses
incidental to any and all Adverse Consequences and to any of the matters set
forth in this Section.
Buyer
shall not be exempt from liability if Sellers or their advisors know or should
have known from their review of the transaction that any of the covenants,
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are not accurate
or
complete.
10.3 Indemnity
Procedures.
The
Party
making a claim for indemnification under this Article Ten is hereinafter
referred to as the “Indemnified Party” and the Party against whom such claim is
asserted under this Article Seven is hereinafter referred to as the
“Indemnifying Party”. In the case of Sellers and the Guarantor, the term
Indemnifying Party shall mean the Sellers and the Guarantor, acting jointly
and
severally. Unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, all claims by an
Indemnified Party shall be asserted and resolved as provided for in this Article
Ten.
If
the
Indemnified Party shall become aware of facts which give rise or threaten to
give rise to the Indemnifying Party’s obligations to indemnify the Indemnified
Party pursuant to this Section (an "Event
Subject to Indemnification"),
regardless of whether or not the Event Subject to Indemnification involves
a
third party, the Indemnified Party shall send written notice (the "Notification")
to the
Indemnifying Party promptly after discovery of the Event Subject to
Indemnification disclosing the details thereof, and the Indemnifying Party
shall
respond within five calendar days as of the receipt of Notification (or sooner,
if circumstances require), provided, however, that no delay in delivering any
Notification shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from its obligations hereunder
unless (and then solely to the extent that) the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced
thereby, especially as a result of not being able to file the proper defense
because of the lack of time.
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(a) If
an
Event Subject to Indemnification shall arise which does not involve any third
party, the Indemnifying Party shall send a written response to the Indemnified
Party in which it states its intention to either:
(i) |
pay
the amount involved or commence any required remedial measures in
connection with the Event Subject to Indemnification;
|
(ii) |
refuse
to accept the event as an Event Subject to Indemnification;
or
|
(iii) |
discuss
the matter.
|
In
the
case of (i) above, the Indemnifying Party will either pay the amount involved
or
commence any required remedial measures, in either case within 30 days from
the
date of Notification. In the case of (ii) above, the Indemnified Party may,
at
its option, commence any required action to pursue or defend its rights and
remedies. In the case of (iii) above, the Parties shall in good faith discuss
the issues involved during a period of 30 days from the receipt of the
Notification. If they do not reach an agreement within such period, the
Indemnified Party may commence, at its option, any required action to pursue
its
rights and remedies.
(b) If
an
Event Subject to Indemnification shall arise which involves any third party
claim, the Indemnifying Party’s response shall indicate its intention either
to:
(i) |
pay
the amount involved;
|
(ii) |
assume
the defense of the claim litigation or proceeding, which it shall
have the
right to do (in which case, the Indemnifying Party shall be (joint
and
severally in case of the Sellers and the Guarantor) responsible for
all
costs, expenses, legal and court fees, as well as any guaranties
which may
be required to be placed for the respective defense (the "Defense
Costs"),
and the Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel
at its own expense to monitor the defense);
or
|
(iii) |
not
assume the defense of the litigation or proceeding, in which case
the
Indemnifying Party shall nevertheless be liable for the Defense Costs
of
the Indemnified Party in connection
therewith.
|
Whichever
Party assumes the defense shall be entitled to the cooperation of the other
Party in preparing and conducting the defense. If the defense occurs after
Closing, Buyer agrees to provide Sellers and the Guarantor with reasonable
access to all of Buyer's and Newco’s files and records reasonably necessary for
the preparation and conduct of such defense. If the defense occurs before
Closing, Sellers agree to provide Buyer with access to all of Sellers, Newco’s a
files and records necessary for the preparation and conduct of such
defense.
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(c) If
an
Indemnified Party sends a Notification in accordance with the this Section
10.3
and the Indemnifying Party fails to respond (jointly in the case of Sellers
and
the Guarantor) within the above-mentioned period, such failure to respond shall
be deemed as an acceptance to pay the amount involved or carry out the required
remedial measures in connection with the Event Subject to
Indemnification.
10.4 Limitations
on Liability.
The
indemnification obligations of Sellers and the Guarantor shall terminate five
years after the date hereof, except as they relate to the representations and
warranties contained in: (i) Sections 3.21, 3.24 and 3.25, all of which shall
terminate upon the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or any
extension thereof; (ii) Section 3.27 which shall terminate upon the expiration
of the product warranty pursuant to the corresponding Contract; and (iii)
Section 3.3, which shall survive indefinitely. The indemnification obligations
of Buyer shall terminate five years after the date hereof and not before the
definitive price is paid in full. If a Notification is made prior to such
termination, such termination shall not affect or in any way impair the rights
of the Indemnifying Party to indemnification in respect of the particular matter
as to which the Notification is made, whether or not the amount of
indemnification to which the Indemnifying Party is entitled in respect of such
matter shall have been determined prior to such termination.
10.5 Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Indemnity.
The
covenants, representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this
Agreement or in any schedule or other document delivered pursuant hereto,
including the Parties agreement and obligation to indemnify each other, shall
survive Closing. The
right
to indemnification, payment of damages or other remedy based on such
representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations will not be affected
by
any investigation conducted with respect to, or any knowledge acquired (or
capable of having been acquired) at any time, whether before or after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect
to
the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation,
warranty, covenant, or obligation.
10.6 Collateral
and Guaranties.
To
guarantee any possible indemnification under Article 10 hereof, Sellers and
the
Guarantor agree that if an Event Subject to Indemnification arises, Buyer shall
have the right to retain and set-off the corresponding amount involved and
in no
event more than such amount, from any outstanding installment of the Deferred
Purchase Price due under Section 2.3(d)(ii), provided that said amount retained
shall be delivered to an escrow account to be opened and maintained with Bank
Boston (the “Escrow Agent”). In such an event Buyer shall be required to give
written and irrevocable instructions to the Escrow Agent to release and deliver
the funds to either Buyer or Sellers, once the respective Event Subject to
Indemnification has been resolved or satisfied in accordance with this Article
10, or upon delivery by any of the Parties of a final arbitration award from
the
arbitration panel referred to in Section 11.5 below instructing the Escrow
Agent
to realease and deliver all or part of the funds to such Party. Evidence of
the
establishment of the Escrow Account shall be demonstrated 5 business days after
the retention and set-off has been made. Buyer covenants that it shall use
in
good faith its right hereunder, and that in no event shall retain part of the
Deferred Purchase Price in breach of its obligation to open the escrow account
and deliver the corresponding amount to the Escrow Agent. If this right is
exercised by Buyer in breach of the above mentioned obligations, Buyer shall
be
responsible for all losses and damages incurred by Sellers.
37
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
11. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Further
Assurances.
The
Parties each agree:
(a) to
furnish
upon request to each other such further information;
(b) to
execute
such other documents or agreements; and
(c) do
such
other acts and things,
all
as the
other Party may reasonably and in good faith request for the purpose of carrying
out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this
Agreement;
the
implementation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
11.2 Notices.
Any
notice,
consents, waivers, and other communications under
this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
to
have been duly given when actually received, and
may
be (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by facsimile (with written confirmation
of
receipt) or (c) sent by a internationally recognized overnight delivery service
(receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile
numbers set forth below (or
to
such other address as such Party may designate by written notice to each other
Party in accordance with the provisions of this Section).
to
Sellers:
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
a required copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx 0000, xxxx 0, Xxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
38
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
to
Buyer:
GSE
Lining Technology Chile S.A.
C/O
Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention:
President and Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
With
copy
to:
Leόn
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx & XxxXxxxx Ltda
Xxxxx
& XxXxxxxx
Nueva
Tajamar 481, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx 00
Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
to
Guarantor:
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
39
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
11.3 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement, together with all schedules referenced herein, is the Parties' entire
agreement. It supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written
communications, proposals and representations with respect to its subject matter
and prevails over any conflicting or additional terms of any quote, order,
acknowledgment or similar communications between the parties during the term
of
this Agreement. No modification to this Agreement will be binding, unless in
writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of each Party.
11.4 Confidentiality
and Public Announcements.
(a) Each
Party shall hold confidential all information obtained in connection with this
Agreement with respect to the other Party which is not otherwise public
knowledge, not independently known or developed, not received from a third
party
who is not subject to an obligation of confidentiality or not in the public
domain through no fault of the receiving Party. In the event of termination
of
this Agreement, all documents (including copies thereof) obtained hereunder
by
one Party from any other Party shall be returned to such Party. Each Party
must
not disclose and shall hold confidential the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, including without limitation, the consideration to be paid hereunder,
except to the extent that disclosure of such information is necessary for
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, demanded by any
governmental authority, required by applicable law or stock exchange regulations
to which a Party is subject, or with the consent of all other parties
hereto.
(b) Buyer
and/or any of its Affiliates and Sellers shall make a joint public announcement
or similar publicity with respect to this Agreement, which shall be prepared
by
Buyer, provided that it shall confer with Sellers in order to agree on the
content and timing of such press release. Any other public announcement or
similar publicity with respect to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby will be issued, if at all, at such time and in such form
and
manner as the Parties determine. A Party may not unreasonably withhold its
consent to a request by another Party to make such further public announcements
or similar publicity. If a Party is required
by applicable law or stock exchange regulations to which such Party is subject
to make such public announcement or publicity, it may do so provided such Party
has delivered to the other Parties a copy of the proposed announcement or
publicity not less than 24 hours prior to making such proposed announcement
or
publicity. Sellers
and Buyer will consult with each other concerning the means by which any
employees, customers, and suppliers and others having dealings with Newco will
be informed of this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions
hereby.
11.5 Governing
Law and Arbitration.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
Chile without giving effect to the conflict of law rules thereof.
40
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
(a) In
the
event of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or the performance, breach, termination, or invalidity hereof (a
“Dispute”),
such
Dispute shall be the subject of an attempt at an amicable solution, for which
purpose a Party shall give notice to the other Party, giving a concise
description of the matter in question and the position of such Party in respect
thereof and proposing a meeting among the chief executive officers or their
designees (the “Senior
Officers”)
of the
Parties in Santiago, Chile (or such other place as they may agree) with the
purpose of resolving the Dispute. In the event such a meeting is called, the
meeting shall take place within 10 days of its being requested. Unless the
Parties otherwise agree, if such meeting does not take place within such 10
days
or if within 10 days after such meeting the Senior Officers have not resolved
such matter, then the Dispute shall be resolved by arbitration as provided
in
Section 11.5(b).
(b) If
a
Dispute arises and is not settled by amicable negotiations within the prescribed
time period by the representatives of the Parties and the Senior Officers of
the
Parties in accordance with Section 11.5(a), such Dispute shall be settled by
arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association in effect on the date hereof. Judgment thereon
may be entered by any court having jurisdiction. If a Party wishes to initiate
an arbitration with respect to a Dispute, it shall first provide 10 days advance
notice to the other Party, setting forth that it intends to initiate
arbitration, the issues in dispute and a summary in reasonable detail of its
position with respect thereto. Other than the procedure described in Section
11.5(a), arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolution of
any
Dispute, and the award thereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding on
those participating in the arbitration.
(c) The
number of arbitrators shall be three, each of whom shall be a lawyer, shall
be
disinterested in the dispute, controversy or claim and shall have no connection
with any Party. One arbitrator will be selected by each Party and one by mutual
agreement of the first two arbitrators or, if they cannot agree, by the
appointing authority which shall be designated in accordance with the
International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the
“Appointing
Authority”).
The
Parties shall have 30 days to each appoint an arbitrator. If a Party fails
to
appoint an arbitrator within such 30 day period, the Appointing Authority shall
appoint an arbitrator for that Party. The Parties and the Appointing Authority
may appoint from among the nationals of any country, whether or not a Party
is a
national of that country. The place of arbitration shall be Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
xx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America. The arbitration shall be conducted in the
English language and any foreign-language documents presented at such
arbitration hearing shall be accompanied by an English translation thereof.
Each
Party hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of
Santiago, Chile in any action, suit or proceeding with respect to the
enforcement of the arbitration provisions of this Agreement and with respect
to
the enforcement of any award thereunder.
(d) Process
in any action or proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence may be served
on any Party anywhere in the world by notice given to the Party in accordance
with the International
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
11.6 Expenses
and Taxes.
Except
as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each Party to this Agreement
will bear its respective expenses (including, any taxes imposed on such Party)
incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, and performance of
this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees and
expenses of agents, Representatives, counsel, and accountants. Sellers will
cause Newco not to incur any out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this
Agreement. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the obligation of
each
Party to pay its own expenses will be subject to any rights of such Party
arising from a breach of this Agreement by another Party.
41
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
11.7 Severability.
If
at any
time subsequent to the date hereof, any provisions of this Agreement shall
be
held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or
unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect, but the
illegality or unenforceability of such provision shall have no effect upon
and
shall not impair the enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
11.8 Waiver.
The
rights and remedies of the Parties are cumulative and not alternative. Neither
the failure nor any delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or
privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power
or
privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power or
privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power
or
privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. To the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this
Agreement can be discharged by one Party, in whole or in part, by a waiver
or
renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other Party;
(b) no waiver that may be given by a Party will be applicable except in the
specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on
one
Party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such Party or of the
right of the Party giving such notice or demand to take further action without
notice or demand as provided in this Agreement.
11.9 Assignment.
The
respective rights and obliga-tions of the Parties under this Agreement may
not
be assigned by Buyer or the Sellers without the prior written consent of the
other.
11.10 Governing
Language.
This
Agreement is executed in the English language, and all of its terms and
provisions shall be construed in accordance with the English language, which
shall prevail, notwithstanding any translation thereof, whether agreed by the
Parties or not.
42
Execution
Version - December 28, 2005
11.11 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two (2) counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have duly executed this Purchase Agreement, as of the day and
year first above written.
GSE LINING TECHNOLOGY CHILE S.A. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx |
||
Title: General Manager |
INVERSIONES BELLAVISTA UNO S.A. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Adres Rifo A. | |
Name: Xxxxxx Rifo A. |
||
Title: Legal Representative |
INVERSIONES BELLAVISTA TRES S.A. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Adres Rifo A. | |
Name: Xxxxxx Rifo A. |
||
Title: Legal Representative |
TECNOLOGÍA HIDRÁULICA EN MINERÍA Y CONSTRUCCIÓN S.A. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Adres Rifo A. | |
Name: Xxxxxx Rifo A. |
||
Title: Legal Representative |
43