EX-10.1 5 dex101.htm FORM OF TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT FORM OF TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF
This Transition Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) is made as of this day of , 2007 by and between American Standard Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ASD”), and WABCO Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (“WABCO”). ASD and WABCO have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement dated as of , 2007 (as amended from time to time, the “Separation Agreement”), which sets forth, among other things, the terms of the separation of the VCS Business from ASD, which shall occur in a series of transactions. Prior to the Effective Time, the VCS Business received certain services from and provided certain services to ASD and certain of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. Each of the ASD and WABCO desires that these services continue to be provided after the Effective Time upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Services Agreement.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
(a) “ASD” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Services Agreement.
(b) “ASD Entities” means, collectively, ASD and its Affiliates that are listed as Providers on Schedule A or Recipients on Schedule B (and which shall not include any WABCO Entities).
(c) “ASD Provided Services” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Services Agreement.
(d) “Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 of this Services Agreement.
(e) “Force Majeure” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.
(f) “Initial Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
(g) “Losses” shall mean any and all damages, losses, deficiencies, liabilities, obligations, penalties, judgments, settlements, claims, payments, fines, interest, costs and expenses (including internal costs and the costs and expenses of any and all actions and demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and the reasonable costs and expenses of attorneys’, accountants’, consultants’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses incurred in the investigation or defense thereof or the enforcement of rights hereunder).
(h) “Party” means each of the entities set forth on the signature pages to this Services Agreement.
(i) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated association, or other entity or association.
(j) “Provider” shall mean the person identified on Schedule A or B to this Services Agreement providing the services set forth therein.
(k) “Recipient” shall mean the person identified on Schedule A or B to this Services Agreement receiving the services set forth therein.
(l) “Renewal Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.
(m) “Sales and Service Tax” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
(n) “Term” shall mean the Initial Term and the Renewal Term, if any, or, with respect to a particular service provided for hereunder, such shorter period as may be applicable pursuant to the terms of this Services Agreement or the exercise of a Party’s right of early termination as provided for herein.
(o) “WABCO” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Services Agreement.
(p) “WABCO Entities” means, collectively, WABCO and its Affiliates that are listed as Recipients on Schedule A or as Providers on Schedule B (and which shall not include any ASD Entities).
(q) “WABCO Provided Services” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Services Agreement.
Other terms are used as defined elsewhere herein.
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ARTICLE 2
ARTICLE 3
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3.3 Allocation of Certain Expenses.
(a) Each Provider shall bear the costs and expenses of obtaining any and all consents from third parties which may be necessary in connection with such Provider’s performance of its obligations hereunder, including, with respect to the obligations of the WABCO Entities acting in their capacity as Providers, the costs of obtaining the consent to the assignment of all leases of equipment and licenses of software which may be necessary to provide the services contemplated hereby.
(b) In addition to the payment of all compensation provided under Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, as applicable, Recipient shall reimburse Provider for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Provider or its Affiliates in connection with providing the applicable services hereunder (including all travel-related expenses) to the extent that such costs and expenses are not reflected in the compensation for such services on Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable; provided, however, any such expenses exceeding $ per month (other than routine business travel and related expenses) shall require advance approval of Recipient. Any travel-related expenses incurred by Provider in performing the applicable services hereunder shall be incurred and charged to Recipient in accordance with Provider’s then applicable business travel policies.
(c) In the event that Recipient terminates any individual service as contemplated by Section 4.2 earlier than the expiration of the Initial Term or the Renewal Term, if applicable, Recipient shall reimburse Provider for any and all costs and expenses incurred by Provider or any of its subsidiaries as a result of such early termination by Recipient, including incremental early termination fees and other costs incurred in order to terminate or reduce the level of services provided by third parties under Contracts with Recipient or any of its subsidiaries, which services are affected by such early termination, such reimbursement to be due and payable within five business days following Recipient’s receipt of any invoice from Provider with respect to such costs and expenses.
(a) In addition to the compensation payable to Provider determined exclusive of the taxes payable by Recipient under this Section 3.4, Recipient will pay and be liable for all sales, service, value added, lease, use, transfer, consumption or similar taxes levied and measured by: (i) the cost of services provided to Recipient under this Agreement or (ii) Provider’s cost in acquiring property or services used or consumed by Provider in providing Services under this Agreement (the “Sales and Service Taxes”). Such taxes will be payable by Recipient to Provider in accordance with Section 3 or as otherwise mutually agreed in writing by the parties and under the terms of the applicable law which govern the relevant Sales and Service Tax. Recipient’s obligation to pay Sales and Service Taxes under this Section 3.4 shall be subject to the receipt of (i) a computation of the Sales and Service Taxes payable under this Section 3.4 identifying the nature and amount of the goods or services on which the Sales and Service Tax is assessed and the applicable rate and (ii) a valid and customary invoice (or other document) under the terms of applicable law for each Sales and Service Tax. If Recipient complies with the terms of this Section 3.4 regarding the payment of Sales and Service Taxes, it shall not be liable for any interest, penalties or other charges attributable to Provider’s improper filing relating to Sales and Service Taxes or late payment or failure to remit Sales and Service Taxes to the relevant taxing authority.
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(b) Each of Provider and Recipient shall pay and be responsible for their own personal property taxes and taxes based on their own income or profits or assets.
(c) Payments for services or other amounts under this Agreement shall be made net of withholding taxes, provided however, that if Provider reasonably believes that a reduced rate of withholding applies or Provider is exempt from withholding, Recipient shall only be required to apply such reduced rate of withholding or not withhold if Provider provides Recipient with evidence reasonably satisfactory to Recipient that a reduced rate of or no withholding is required, including rulings or certificates from, or other correspondence with taxing authorities and tax opinions rendered by qualified persons, to the extent reasonably requested by Recipient. Recipient shall promptly remit any amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing authority and in the event that Recipient receives a refund of any amounts previously withheld from payments to Provider and remitted, Recipient shall surrender such refund to Provider.
(d) Each of Provider and Recipient shall promptly notify the other party of any deficiency claim or similar notice by a taxing authority with respect to Sales and Service Taxes payable under this Service Agreement, and of any pending tax audit or other proceeding relating to Sales and Service Taxes or withholding with respect to this Service Agreement, and shall afford such party all reasonable opportunity to participate in any such audit or proceeding affecting its interests.
(a) The Parties shall review the Providers’ respective costs of providing services hereunder as of , and each two-month anniversary thereafter. If it is determined in connection with any such review that a Provider’s cost of providing services hereunder (taken individually) exceeds by at least percent ( %) the charge for such service(s) because of a significant increase in usage by the Recipient or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Provider (including, without limitation, events of Force Majeure), then, upon request of such Provider, such Provider and its Recipient shall negotiate in good faith to determine an appropriate adjustment to the then-current prices for such services on a basis consistent with the methodology for determining the initial prices provided for herein (as described in Section 2.3).
(b) If the Parties determine (which determination shall be made in good faith) that the initial prices set forth on the Schedules hereto are not consistent with the methodology for determining the initial prices as described in Section 3.5(a), then the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to adjust such charges in a manner that is consistent with such methodology.
3.6 Terms of Payment; Dispute Resolution; Audits.
(a) Provider shall invoice the Recipient for the Services provided by Section 3.1 or Section 3.2, as applicable, monthly in advance on the first calendar day of each month of the term following the date hereof (or the first business day following each such date). Provider
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shall also provide invoices to Recipient monthly in arrears for amounts, such as Sales and Service Taxes and out-of-pocket or other expenses, that are payable in addition to the flat fee for service that was paid in advance pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 3.6. Payment shall be made by Recipients within 30 days after receipt of an invoice and other required documentation. No Recipient shall withhold any payments to its Provider under this Services Agreement (other than any required withholding for taxes) and such payments shall be made without any other set-off or deduction, notwithstanding any dispute that may be pending between them, whether under this Services Agreement or otherwise (any required adjustment being made on subsequent invoices). Subject to the provisions of Section 3.6(c), amounts not paid on or before the date required to be paid hereunder shall accrue interest at percent (the “Default Interest Rate”) (or the maximum legal rate whichever is lower), calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date such payment was due hereunder until the date of the actual receipt of payment.
(b) All amounts due for services rendered pursuant to this Services Agreement shall be billed and paid in the currency in which the rate for such service is quoted, as stated herein or as shown on the Schedules hereto.
(c) If there is a dispute between any Recipient and any Provider regarding the amounts shown as billed to such Recipient on any invoice, such Provider shall furnish to such Recipient reasonable documentation to substantiate the amounts billed including, but not limited to, listings of the dates, times and amounts of the services in question where applicable and practicable. Upon delivery of such documentation, such Recipient and such Provider shall cooperate and use their best efforts to resolve such dispute among themselves. If such disputing parties are unable to resolve their dispute within thirty (30) calendar days of the initiation of such procedure, and such Recipient believes in good faith and with a reasonable basis that the amounts shown as billed to such Recipient are inaccurate or are otherwise not in accordance with the terms of this Services Agreement, then such Recipient shall have the right, at its own expense, to have any disputed invoice(s) audited as provided in Section 3.6(d).
(d) Any audit pursuant to Section 3.6(c) shall be limited solely to the purpose of verifying the amounts in dispute and shall be made by an independent certified public accounting firm selected and paid for by the Recipient initiating such audit and reasonably satisfactory to the Provider being audited (such accounting firm, the “Independent Accountants”). Any such audit shall be reasonably conducted by the Independent Accountants during the normal business hours of the Provider being audited. Such Provider shall reasonably cooperate with the Independent Accountants and shall make available to the Independent Accountants all applicable cost and other data may be reasonably necessary for the sole purpose of verifying the amounts in dispute. The Independent Accountants shall not disclose any of the underlying data and information to said Recipient or to any other Person (except may be required by law) and, prior to any such audit the Independent Accountants shall, if requested by the Provider being audited, enter into a confidentiality agreement reasonably acceptable to such Provider.
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ARTICLE 4
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be entitled to all outstanding amounts due from Recipient for the provision of Services rendered prior to the date of termination. This Section 4.4, Article VII, Article VIII and Article IX shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
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In addition, Provider shall not be required to provide any service to the extent the provision of such service requires Provider to hire any additional employees or maintain the employment of any specific employee.
(i) A Paying Party may request reimbursement for Disbursements made by check within seven (7) business days after notice of such Disbursement has been given to the Responsible Party in writing and with mutually acceptable supporting documentation.
(ii) In case of a Disbursement by wire, if notice in writing and with mutually acceptable supporting documentation has been given by 2 p.m. of the Responsible Party’s local time at least one business day prior to the payment of such Disbursement, the Responsible Party shall reimburse the Paying Party for the amount of such payment (in the local currency equivalent paid by the Paying Party) on the date the Disbursement is made by the Paying Party. If notice as provided above has not been given prior to the payment of such Disbursement, the Responsible Party shall reimburse the Paying Party for the amount of such payment (in the local currency equivalent paid by the Paying Party) within three (3) business day after receipt by the Responsible Party of such notice from the Paying Party.
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ARTICLE 6
ARTICLE 7
(a) The liability of Provider with respect to this Services Agreement or in connection with the performance, delivery or provision of any Service provided under this Services Agreement shall be limited to the Losses of Recipient arising from Provider’s willful misconduct or gross negligence; provided that in no event shall the liability exceed the fees previously paid to Provider by Recipient in respect of the Service from which such liability flows.
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(b) Recipient hereby agrees to indemnify Provider and its Affiliates from any and all Losses resulting from a demand, claim, lawsuit, action or proceeding relating to Provider’s conduct in connection with the provision of Services to Recipient under this Services Agreement, except to the extent such Losses arise out of the willful misconduct or gross negligence of Provider or any of its employees, agents, officers and directors. Provider hereby agrees to indemnify Recipient and its Affiliates from any and all Losses resulting from a demand, claim, lawsuit, action or proceeding relating to Provider’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the provision of Services to Recipient under this Services Agreement. The Persons entitled to indemnification pursuant to the foregoing shall be third party beneficiaries of the rights to indemnification described in this Section 7.1(b).
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Party shall be liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages (other than special, consequential, indirect and/or punitive damages awarded to any third party against an indemnified party) with respect to its performance or nonperformance hereunder, or the provision of or failure to provide any Service hereunder, whether such damages or other relief are sought based on breach of contract, negligence, strict liability or any other legal or equitable relief.
ARTICLE 8
8.1 With respect to any information disclosed by one Party to another Party for the purpose of this Services Agreement or otherwise accessible to such other Party during the performance hereunder (“Confidential Information”), the receiving Party agrees that it will use the same skill and care as set forth in Section 5.1 to prevent the disclosure or accessibility to others of the disclosing Party’s Confidential Information and will use such Confidential Information only for the purpose of this Services Agreement. The receiving Party shall limit dissemination of and access to the other’s Confidential Information to only such of its employees or agents (including, in the case of the Provider, any third party engaged to provide the services hereunder) or consultants who have a need to know for the purpose of this Services Agreement.
8.2 Specifically excluded from the foregoing obligation is any and all information that:
(a) is already known to the receiving Party at the time of disclosure or thereafter is independently developed by the receiving Party without breach of this Services Agreement;
(b) is already in the public domain at the time of disclosure, or thereafter becomes publicly known other than as the result of a breach by the receiving Party of its obligations under this Services Agreement;
(c) is rightfully received from a third party without breach of this Agreement;
(d) is furnished by the disclosing Party to a third party without a similar restriction on its rights; or
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(e) upon advice of counsel, must be produced by the receiving Party as a matter of law; provided, however, that in such case the receiving Party shall promptly notify the disclosing Party and, insofar as is permissible and reasonably practicable without placing the disclosing Party under penalty of law gave it an opportunity to appear and to object to such production before producing the requested information.
ARTICLE 9
If to ASD:
Fax:
Attention:
If to WABCO:
Fax:
Attention:
Any Party may change its respective address for notice by the giving of notice of such change in the manner provided above.
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however, that a modification or amendment affecting only the relationship between a certain Provider and its Recipient does not require signature by the other Parties. The Schedules to this Services Agreement shall be deemed incorporated in this Services Agreement and shall form a part of it.
9.6 Construction. This Services Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflicts of law rules or principles. The headings in this Services Agreement are not to be considered part of this Services Agreement and are inserted for convenience, identification and reference only and are not intended to interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Services Agreement or any provision of this Services Agreement. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Services Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and the plural.
(a) This Services Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Parties, their respective legal representatives, successors, and permitted assignees, and all Persons claiming by, through, or under right of any of the aforesaid Persons. This Services Agreement may not be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties; provided, however, that no consent shall be required in the case of assignment by a ASD Entity to a direct or indirect Subsidiary of ASD or by a WABCO Entity to a direct or indirect Subsidiary of WABCO, and provided further that no such assignment shall relieve any Party of any of its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party may assign this
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Services Agreement in connection with a merger transaction in which such Party is not the surviving entity or the sale by such Party of all or substantially all of its Assets, and upon the effectiveness of such assignment the assigning Party shall be released from all of its obligations under this Agreement if the surviving entity of such merger or the transferee of such Assets shall agree in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if named as a “Party” hereto.
(b) At the request of any Provider or Recipient that is a Party hereto, any other Provider or Recipient that is receiving benefits or has obligations hereunder and is not a signatory hereto shall execute and deliver to the other Parties a counterpart hereof. The failure of any Person that is receiving benefits or has obligations hereunder to execute a counterpart hereof shall not affect the enforceability of this Services Agreement against such Person or against any other Party hereto.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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