SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Execution
Version
SHARE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated 28 December 2007, is entered
into
BY
AND
BETWEEN
Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxx Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Bevaix, and Xx.
Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Schlossallee 9 ; XX 0000 Xxxxx, (Xxxxxxxxxxx)
(the
“Sellers”)
AND
MEAS
Europe, a corporation existing under the laws of France, with its corporate
seat
at 000, Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 1036, 31023 Tolouse Cedex (the “Buyer”)
and Measurement Specialties, Inc., a New Jersey (USA) corporation
(“Guarantor”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS,
the Sellers own 100% of the capital stock of Intersema Microsystems S.A., a
corporation (société
anonyme)
established under the laws of Switzerland, with its corporate seat at 00, xxxxxx
xxx Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxx, 0000 Xxxxxx (Xxxxxxxxxxx) (“IMSA”);
WHEREAS,
IMSA owns 100% of the capital stock of Intersema Sensoric SA, a corporation
(société
anonyme)
established under the laws of Switzerland, with its corporate seat at 00, xxxxxx
xxx Xxxxxxx xxx Xxxx, 0000 Xxxxxx (Xxxxxxxxxxx) (“ISSA”);
WHEREAS,
the Sellers are willing to sell, and the Buyer is willing to purchase all of
the
capital stock of IMSA on the terms and conditions contained herein;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements contained
herein, the parties agree as follows:
Article
1: DEFINITIONS
Terms
expressed in capital letters in this Agreement are used as defined in this
Article or elsewhere in the Agreement.
“Acknowledgements
of Debt”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 3.2 of this Agreement.
“Buyer”
shall
have the meaning specified at the beginning of this Agreement.
59250.000016
XXXXXXX 000000x00
“Cash”
shall
have the meaning specified in Article 3, ingress, of this
Agreement.“Closing”
shall
mean the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
“Closing
Date”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.
“Deemed
Dividend Distribution”
shall
mean benefits (i) granted to a shareholder or a related party for which neither
IMSA nor ISSA receives adequate compensation and (ii) which would not be granted
to an independent third party on such terms and conditions.
“EBITDA”
shall
mean earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, determined
in accordance with GAAP and ISSA’s historical practices.
“Earn-Out”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 3.3 of this Agreement.
“Excess
Net Cash”
shall
mean eighty percent (80%) of the Net Cash of IMSA and ISSA, in excess of 1
(one)
million CHF, as estimated in good faith by the parties no later than 3 (three)
working days prior to the Closing Date. For the avoidance of doubt, if the
Net
Cash of IMSA and ISSA is eleven (11) million CHF, the Excess Net Cash shall
equal eight (8) million CHF (80% of (11 million CHF-1 million CHF).
“Financial
Statements”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 5.6 of this Agreement.
“Fundamental
Representations”
shall
mean any of the Sellers’ representations and warranties set forth in any of
Sections 5.1 (Organization and Standing), 5.2 (Authority and Enforceability),
5.3 (No Conflict), 5.4 (Ownership of the Shares), and 5.5 (Ownership of the
shares of ISSA) of this Agreement.
“GAAP”
shall
mean the accounting rules as per the Swiss Code of Obligations applied on a
consistent basis.
“IMSA”
shall
have the meaning specified in the preamble.
“ISSA”
shall
have the meaning specified in the preamble.
“Net
Cash”
shall
mean the sum of the cash of IMSA according to balance sheet line item no. 1020
and of ISSA according to balance sheet line items no. 1000, 1010, 1020, 1021,
1022, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1050, 1051 and 1052, plus the sum of the claims of
ISSA
according to balance sheet line items no. 14601 and 14602, all as per the
Closing Date as estimated by the parties in good faith no later than 3 (three)
working days prior to the Closing Date and all in CHF, converted, if need be,
into CHF at the exchange rates as per the Closing Date as estimated by the
parties in good faith no later than 3 (three) working days prior to the Closing
Date.
“Ordinary
Future Profits”
shall
mean profits derived from the current ordinary business activity of IMSA and
ISSA after Closing, excluding extraordinary profits derived from (i) dissolution
of hidden reserves and provisions existing as per December 31, 2006 due to
conversion of Swiss GAAP to United States GAAP and (ii) dissolution of any
other
hidden reserves and provisions existing as per December 31, 2006.
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“Purchase
Price”
shall
mean all the purchase price elements specified in Article 3 of this Agreement.
“Sellers”
shall
have the meaning specified at the beginning of this Agreement.
“Shares”
means
100% (one hundred percent) of the capital stock of IMSA.
“Signing
Date”
shall
mean the date of the signing of this Agreement which is the date first above
mentioned.
“Third
Party Claims”
shall
have the meaning specified in Section 8.3 of this Agreement.
Article
2: SALE
OF
SHARES - TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
2.1 Sale
of Shares.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Sellers
irrevocably undertake to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer agrees to irrevocably
buy from the Sellers upon the same terms and subject to the same conditions,
the
Shares.
2.2 Transfer
of Ownership.
Transfer of ownership in the Shares shall take place on the Closing Date. The
Buyer shall have full ownership and enjoyment of the Shares as from the Closing
Date with all rights associated thereto, including all dividend rights which
shall be voted subsequently to the Closing Date.
Article
3: PURCHASE
PRICE
The
sale
of the Shares is hereby agreed and accepted for a purchase price of 27
(twenty-seven) million CHF, plus Excess Net Cash (together the “Cash”), plus the
Acknowledgements of Debt and, provided certain conditions are met, the Earn-Out.
The Purchase Price shall be paid as follows:
3.1 Cash.
The
Buyer shall pay the Cash at Closing as specifically set forth in Exhibit
N.
3.2 Acknowledgements
of Debt.
Each of
the Sellers shall receive at Closing a 5 (five) million CHF acknowledgement
of
debt from the Buyer, payable, subject to Section 8.4 of this Agreement, in
4
(four) annual installments of 1.25 (one point twenty-five) million CHF to each
of the Sellers, to the accounts designated by each of the Sellers) (the
“Acknowledgements of Debt”). The Acknowledgements of Debt shall be substantially
in the form attached hereto as Annex
1.
The
Acknowledgements of Debt shall bear interest on the outstanding principal at
the
rate of 4.5% (four point five percent) per annum, resulting in the payment
to
each of the Sellers of a 0.55 (zero point fifty-five) million CHF in interest
over the duration of the Acknowledgement of Debt to each of the Sellers, to
the
accounts designated by each of the Sellers.
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3.3 Earn-Out.
Provided certain EBITDA thresholds as specified hereafter are achieved during
the calendar year 2009, and subject to Section 8.4 of this Agreement, the
Sellers shall receive up to an additional 20 (twenty) million CHF (the
“Earn-Out”) according to the following terms.
(i)
|
The
Sellers shall receive from the Buyer 100% (one hundred percent) of
the
Earn-Out (+i.e. 50% of the Earn-Out to each of the Sellers, to the
accounts designated by each of the Sellers) if ISSA’s EBITDA for calendar
year 2009 is greater than 7.5 (seven point five) million
CHF.
|
(ii) |
The
Sellers shall not receive any of the Earn-Out from the Buyer if ISSA’s
EBITDA for calendar year 2009 is less than 5.3 (five point three)
million
CHF.
|
(iii) |
If
ISSA generates EBITDA between 5.3 (five point three) and 7.5 (seven
point
five) million CHF, the Earn-Out shall be paid pro-rata (i.e. 50%
of the
pro-rated Earn-Out to each of the Sellers, to the accounts designated
by
each of the Sellers) (for example, if 2009 EBITDA is 6.4 (six point
four)
million CHF, Sellers shall receive from the Buyer 10 million CHF
under the
earn-out ((6.4-5.3)/(7.5-5.3) *
20).
|
Subject
to Section 8.4 of this Agreement, the Earn-Out shall be paid within 15 (fifteen)
days following the date of approval of the unaudited 2009 financial statements
by the shareholders of ISSA which shall occur at the latest on March 31,
2010.
The
Buyer
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to maximize ISSA’s EBITDA during
the calendar year 2009. The Buyer shall in particular abstain from having
charged to ISSA any management fees and, except as required by applicable law
or
tax rules or regulation, royalty payments, by related companies and any costs
in
excess of an amount that would be at arm’s length.
Article
4: CLOSING;
TRANSACTIONS
4.1 Closing.
The
Closing shall be held on the date hereof (the “Closing
Date”)
at the
offices of Xxxxxx Xxxx & Partners, Zurich (Switzerland), or such other place
and time as the parties hereto shall designate.
4.2 Closing
Transactions and Deliveries.
The
Sellers and the Buyer hereby agree that, at the Closing, the following actions
shall occur simultaneously:
(a) Purchase
and Sale of the Shares.
Upon
the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and in consideration of
the
Purchase Price, (i) the Sellers shall sell and transfer the Shares of IMSA
to
the Buyer and the Buyer shall purchase and accept the transfer of the Shares
of
IMSA.
(b) Delivery
of the Shares.
The
Sellers shall (i) deliver the share certificates of IMSA representing all of
the
Shares duly endorsed in a manner legally sufficient, under applicable laws,
to
transfer to the Buyer the full ownership of, and good and valid title to, the
Shares (ii) deliver IMSA's board resolution approving the transfer of all of
the
Shares to the Buyer in accordance with IMSA's articles of association, (iii)
remit the shareholders’ registry of IMSA to the Buyer, (iv) execute the transfer
of the Shares in the shareholders’ registry of IMSA, and (v) provide all
documents and take all actions which are necessary to transfer good and valid
title to the Shares to the Buyer and to accurately reflect ownership of the
Shares in the shareholders’ registry of IMSA.
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(c) Resignation
of the Members of the Board of Directors of IMSA and ISSA.
The
Sellers shall deliver to the Buyer documents evidencing the resignation,
effective as of the Closing Date, of the members of the board of directors
of
IMSA and of ISSA.
(d) Delivery
of Release Certificate or Bank Cashier’s Check.
The
Buyer shall deliver to the Sellers the evidence of irrevocable wire transfers
to
the bank accounts designated by the Sellers no later than 3 (three) working
days
before the Closing Date representing the Buyer’s payment of the Cash in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
(e) Execution
of the Acknowledgements of Debt.
The
Sellers and the Buyer shall execute the Acknowledgements of Debt.
(f) Employment
Agreements.
ISSA
and the Sellers shall enter into the employment agreements substantially in
the
form attached hereto as Annex
2.
Article
5: REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
The
Sellers hereby represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows:
5.1 Organization
and Standing of IMSA and ISSA.
Each of
IMSA and ISSA (i) are corporations duly incorporated, validly existing and
in
good standing under the Laws of Switzerland, (ii) have the requisite corporate
power to carry on its business as now being conducted and to own or lease the
properties it now owns or leases, and (iii) is duly qualified in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.
5.2 Authority
and Enforceability.
The
Sellers have full power, right and authority to execute this Agreement and
to
complete the transactions contemplated hereby. The Agreement has been duly
executed by the Sellers and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Sellers, enforceable against the Sellers in accordance with its terms.
Each decision taken by IMSA and ISSA since September 30, 2004 has been taken
in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the corporate charter of such
companies. True and complete copies of the corporate charter and other
constituent documents of IMSA and ISSA, of the amendments thereto and of all
minutes of meetings of the shareholders or directors of IMSA and ISSA held
since
September 30, 2004 have been delivered to the Buyer. Neither IMSA nor ISSA
has
ever become insolvent or has been the subject of any bankruptcy, liquidation,
or
other procedure applicable to companies in difficulties such as detection and
administration orders by a Commercial Court.
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5.3 No
Conflict.
Neither
the execution of this Agreement nor the execution of the transactions
contemplated hereby will conflict with, result in any violation of, or
constitute an infringement under (i) any provisions of the corporate charter
of
IMSA, (ii) any judgment or injunction of any court or administrative authority
that is binding upon the Sellers, (iii) any law or regulation of Switzerland,
its cantonal or administrative authorities, or any jurisdiction in which the
Sellers are doing business, or (iv) any contract to which the Sellers, IMSA
or
ISSA are a party.
5.4 Ownership
of the Shares.
The
Sellers are the owner of the records of the Shares and have good and marketable
title to the Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, preemptive
rights or claims of any kind of any third party. The Shares constitute 100%
(one
hundred percent) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of IMSA. To the
best
of the Sellers’ knowledge full title to the Shares will pass to the Buyer on the
Closing Date, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, preemptive rights
or
claims of any kind of any third party.
5.5 Ownership
of the shares of ISSA.
IMSA is
the owner of the records of 100% (one hundred percent) of the shares of ISSA
and
has good and marketable title to the shares of ISSA, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, preemptive rights or claims of any kind of any third party.
The shares of ISSA held by IMSA constitute 100% (one hundred percent) of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of ISSA.
5.6 Financial
Statements.
Exhibit
A
contains
copies of (i) the audited balance sheet of IMSA and ISSA as of December 31,
2006, as of December 31, 2005, and as of December 31, 2004 together with the
related profit and loss statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal years
ending on such dates as specified, in each case audited by PWC
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Neuchatel; and (ii) the unaudited balance sheet
of
IMSA and ISSA as at October 31, 2007 together with the related profit and loss
statements and the notes thereto for the period starting on January 1, 2007
and
ending on October 31, 2007 (collectively (i) and (ii), the “Financial
Statements”).
The
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared from, and are consistent with,
the
books and records of IMSA and of ISSA respectively, especially with regard
to
the provisions and reserves, and (ii) fairly represent, in accordance with
Swiss
GAAP, the financial position of IMSA and of ISSA as of their respective dates,
and the related results of their operations for the financial periods ending
on
such dates.
5.7 Properties.
(a) Real
Property.
Exhibit
B
contains
a true and complete list of all items of real property that IMSA and ISSA own
and of all leases pursuant to which they occupy real property as tenants. Except
as specifically set forth in Exhibit
B,
to the
best of Sellers’ knowledge these properties have been constructed and operated
in accordance with all applicable building codes and planning permissions,
pollution control, safety and other laws and regulations of local governments
and administrative authorities.
6
(b) Machinery
and Equipment.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
C
all
items of machinery and equipment actually used in the production are used by
IMSA and ISSA for their intended purposes and are in good operating conditions
and state of repair. They have been operated and are currently operated in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
(c) Intellectual
Property Rights.
Exhibit
D
contains
a true and complete list of all registered patents, internet domain names and
trademarks of IMSA and ISSA, all of which are valid and subsisting. Neither
IMSA
nor ISSA, has infringed or is currently infringing any intellectual property
right of any third party.
(d) Stock
and Inventories.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
E
all
stock and inventories of products and work in process as reflected in the
Financial Statements physically existed at the date of this Agreement and were
properly valued in accordance with Swiss GAAP.
(e) Receivables.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
F
each
account receivable contained in the Financial Statements or outstanding at
the
Closing Date is valid and existing, and arose or will have arisen in the
ordinary course of IMSA’s or ISSA’s business. Except with respect to bad debt
reserves as contained in the Financial Statements and except as disclosed in
Exhibit
F,
each
such account receivable is recoverable at its nominal value within customary
deadlines, without requiring that any suit or administrative or judicial debt
collection proceeding be launched against, any debtor.
5.8 Insurance.
Exhibit
G
contains
a true and complete list of all insurance policies presently providing coverage
of the assets or operations of IMSA and ISSA. Each of these policies is in
full
force and effect. They have been adequate in scope and amount to cover all
prudent and reasonably foreseeable risks which have arisen in the conduct of
IMSA’s and ISSA’s business prior to the date of this Agreement. IMSA and ISSA
are not in breach of their obligations with respect to the payment of any
premium or to the execution of their other duties with respect to these policies
and, to the best of the Sellers’ knowledge, no fact exists which would afford
the basis for any such policy to be voided on account of any act, omission
or
non-disclosure on the part of IMSA and ISSA.
5.9 Authorizations.
All
material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required
for the operation of the business of IMSA and ISSA have been obtained and are
in
full force and effect. The business of IMSA and ISSA are and have been conducted
in material compliance with the terms and conditions of all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required for the operation
of
the business of IMSA and ISSA and in accordance with all applicable laws or
regulations of any local government or administrative authority.
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5.10 Taxes
- Social Security.
IMSA
and ISSA have filed in due time all returns required by law in respect of all
contributions or taxes, whether corporate income tax, customs, VAT, social
security taxes, or any other tax, and each such return correctly reflects all
information required to be reported thereon. All information provided in such
returns, forms and declarations is true, complete and accurate in all material
respects. Taxes attributable to IMSA and ISSA that were due and payable have
been paid in due time. As of the date of this Agreement, IMSA and ISSA shall
not
have incurred any liability based on failure to pay taxes. There is no claim
pending alleging that IMSA or ISSA has failed to pay any tax in due time and,
to
the best of the Sellers’ knowledge, no such claim is threatened. The Sellers do
not know of any audit or investigation pending with respect to any liability
of
any of IMSA and ISSA for any tax.
5.11 Employees.
IMSA’s
and ISSA’s employment contracts conform to the applicable laws and collective
bargaining agreements. IMSA and ISSA have fulfilled their funding obligations
under all pension and benefit plans to which they have been required to
contribute with respect to their employees.
5.12 Dispute.
Except
as listed in Exhibit
H,
there
is no claim, legal action or arbitration by any party, including, but not
limited to employees of IMSA and ISSA, pending or, to the best of the Sellers’
knowledge, threatened against IMSA and ISSA.
5.13 Contracts
or other commitments.
Except
for the contracts listed in Exhibit
I,
IMSA
and ISSA are not parties to any oral or written contract (i) that will continue
for a period of more than 12 (twelve) months from the Closing Date without
any
possibility to give notice of termination without any adverse consequences
as a
result of such termination, or (ii) under which payments will be due by IMSA
and
ISSA in excess of CHF 50,000 (or the equivalent of this Agreement in any other
currency), in aggregate, or (iii) that is not cancelable by IMSA and ISSA on
notice of not longer than 90 (ninety) days and without liability, penalty or
premium of any kind, or (iv) that is a loan or other financing agreement as
borrower, lender, guarantor, grantor of security interest.
The
contracts listed in Exhibit
I,
are
valid, binding and in full force and effect, enforceable in accordance with
their respective terms, and, to the best of the Sellers’ knowledge, all their
provisions materially conform with any national or regional law, regulation
or
authorization. To the best of the Sellers’s knowledge, IMSA and ISSA are not in
default under any contract to which they are parties nor does exist any event
which, with the passage of time or giving of notice, would constitute any such
default. The Sellers have no knowledge of any cancellation of, or threat to
cancel, any contract to which IMSA and ISSA are parties or of any pending
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to any party to any
such contract.
Except
as
listed in Exhibit
J,
IMSA
and ISSA have not made any commitment whatsoever to public, national or the
cantonal authorities or agencies, labor organizations or any other party,
relating to the amount of its investments or the number of its
employees.
8
5.14 Environmental
matters.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
K,
to the
best of the Sellers’ knowledge, (i) IMSA and ISSA are conducting and have been
conducting their business in material compliance with all applicable national
or
cantonal environmental laws and regulations, including but not limited to,
laws
and regulations relating to air and water pollution control and environmental
waste, (ii) IMSA and ISSA have been issued with and operate in material
compliance with all permits, certificates, licenses, approvals and other
authorizations and registrations, if any, and have filed all notifications
and
reports relating to any chemical substance used in its business, air emissions,
effluent discharges and any waste storage, treatment and disposal required
in
connection with the operation of its business, if any. There is no outstanding
notice or violation, injunction, claim, suit or other proceeding,
administrative, civil or criminal, pending or, to the best of Seller’s
knowledge, threatened against IMSA and ISSA by any public regulatory or control
entity, with respect to any alleged violation of any material environmental
law
or regulation, or with respect to any clean-up material, in connection with
the
conduct of its business. To the best of the Sellers’ knowledge all substances or
wastes generated by IMSA and ISSA in the conduct of its business, which are
subject to laws and regulations regarding their storage, treatment and disposal,
if any, have been transported and stored in material compliance with such laws
and regulations.
5.15 Conduct
of Business.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
L
since
December 31, 0000, XXXX and ISSA have not:
(a) incurred
any liability or obligation, other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(b) failed
to
pay or discharge any material liability or obligation when it became due and
payable;
(c) sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of, mortgaged, pledged or subjected to lien
or
any other encumbrance any of their assets, whether tangible or intangible,
or
agreed to take any such action, except inventory items and other similar items
in the ordinary course of business;
(d) incurred
any additional commercial bank or similar loans or amended the terms of, or
extended the time for payment of, any such existing loan, or made any loans,
advances or guarantees to any person or equity, including without limitation
salary advances to any director, employee or officer, or agreed to take any
such
action;
(e) suffered
(i) any damage to or loss of assets used in their business, this damage or
loss
not being fully covered by insurance, which, individually, or on aggregate,
have
materially affected or are likely in the future to materially affect the
financial condition, net worth or profitability of IMSA or ISSA, or (ii) any
change in their business or financial condition, including, but not limited
to,
sales, costs or liabilities;
9
(f) increased
the annual compensation, commissions or other benefits of any director, officer
or employee other than in the ordinary course of business in line with past
practices; or
(g) declared
or made any dividend payment or any other payment or distribution to any
shareholder, or redeemed or purchased or otherwise acquired any of their capital
stock, or agreed to take any such action.
5.16 Customers.
Exhibit
O
contains
a forecast of future sales by ISSA and IMSA to its twenty (20) largest
customers. This forecast was prepared by the Sellers to their best knowledge,
it
being understood that such forecasts are always forward-looking statements
and
thus always somewhat speculative.
5.17 Suppliers.
Exhibit
P
contains
a list of the ten (10) largest suppliers of raw materials for products of IMSA
and ISSA for the twelve month period ending October 31, 2007. Except as
disclosed in Exhibit
P,
in the
last twelve (12) months, the Sellers have not received any written notice or
have any actual knowledge that any such supplier intends to materially adversely
modify its relationship with IMSA and ISSA (including, without limitation,
material price increases or any material adverse modification to the
availability of parts or materials).
No
statement made or given by the Sellers in this Agreement and no statement
contained in any Exhibit to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of
a
material fact or omits to state any fact necessary, in light of the
circumstances, in order to make such statement not misleading.
Article
6: GUARANTIES
OF THE BUYER
The
Buyer
guarantees to the Sellers as follows:
6.1 Organization
and Standing.
The
Buyer is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of France.
6.2 Authority
and Enforceability.
The
Buyer has full power, right and authority to execute this Agreement and to
complete the transactions contemplated hereby. The Agreement has been duly
executed by the Buyer and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation
of
the Buyer, enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its
terms.
6.3 No
Conflict.
Neither
the execution of this Agreement nor the execution of the transactions
contemplated hereby will conflict with, result in any violation of, or
constitute an infringement under (i) any provisions of the corporate charter
of
Buyer; (ii) any judgment or injunction of any court or administrative authority
that is binding upon the Buyer, (iii) any law or regulation of Switzerland,
its
cantonal or administrative authorities, or any jurisdiction in which the Buyer
is doing business, or (iv) any contract to which the Buyer is a
party.
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6.4 Consents.
No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration
or
filing with any governmental, judicial or regulatory agency or authority is
required with respect to the Buyer in connection with the execution, delivery
or
enforceability of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
Article
7: COVENANTS
OF THE PARTIES RE: TAX MATTERS AND RELATED INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 Post-Closing
Covenant of the Buyer.
During
a five-year period starting on the Closing Date, the Buyer covenants and agrees
that:
(a) the
Buyer
shall not cause IMSA and ISSA to make any dividend payment or Deemed Dividend
Distribution that would reduce distributable reserves/retained earnings existing
according to those certain audited financial statements of IMSA and ISSA dated
as of December 31, 2006;
(b) the
Buyer
shall not merge IMSA and ISSA or either IMSA and ISSA with the Buyer or a
company related to the Buyer;
(c) the
Buyer
shall not create any security interest into the assets of IMSA and/or ISSA
to
secure loans to be used to finance the Purchase Price, provided, however, that
Buyer shall be allowed to pledge the shares of IMSA or ISSA for such purpose
or
otherwise;
(d) the
Buyer
shall not grant any loan from IMSA or ISSA or any of their subsidiaries to
the
Buyer or any affiliate of the Buyer to be used to finance the Purchase
Price;
(e) the
Sellers acknowledge that there will be no other limitation on the distribution
of Ordinary Future Profits than those listed in this Section 7.1.
7.2 Indemnification
by Buyer.
In the
event of breach of Section 7.1 by Buyer, the Buyer shall indemnify Sellers
as
the case may be for any damage suffered by the Sellers as a result of Buyer
breach of Section 7.1 of this Agreement.
Article
8: INDEMNIFICATION
BY THE SELLERS
8.1 Indemnification
Obligations.
The
Sellers shall be liable for, and shall indemnify the Buyer and hold them
harmless for any and all damage suffered by the Buyer resulting from (i) any
material breach, untruth or inaccuracy contained within and of the
representations or warranties of the Sellers contained in this Agreement, (ii)
the failure of the Sellers to comply with any of their obligations in this
Agreement, and (iii) the failure of ISSA to transition to the new IS1030
integrated circuit in a manner necessary to avoid any interruption of ordinary
course sales by ISSA of finished product (notwithstanding any disclosures in
Exhibit
M
related
to such transition), it being understood that there is no damage if and to
the
extent (A) the matter giving raise to the respective claim of the Buyer has
been
fully provided for in the Financial Statements, (B) IMSA, ISSA or the Buyer
is
entitled to and receives an insurance payment which fully covers such damage,
or
(C) to the extent such damage was increased by the Buyer’s failure to mitigate
the damages.
11
8.2 Limitation
of Indemnification Obligations.
The
Sellers shall have no obligation to indemnify the Buyer pursuant to Section
8.1
until the total damage exceeds 300,000 CHF. The obligations of the Sellers
to
indemnify the Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1, except with respect to Fundamental
Representations, shall be limited to the lesser of (i) 15 (fifteen) million
CHF
or (ii) the sum of the Acknowledgements of Debt and Earn-Out, less the amount
of
the Acknowledgements of Debt and Earn-Out previously paid to the Sellers. The
duration of the indemnification obligation of the Sellers shall be 2 (two)
years
from the Closing Date, with the exception of warranties and representations
set
forth in Sections 5.10 (Taxes-Social Security) and 5.14 (Environmental) of
this
Agreement in which case the duration of such obligation shall be 4 (four) years
from the Closing Date. The Sellers shall not be released from their obligations
under this Section 8 as a result of any knowledge that the Buyer has or may
have
of the situation, as a result, in particular, of any investigations made by
the
Buyer, its representatives and counsel except that the Sellers shall have no
obligation to indemnify the Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1 if the matter giving
raise to the respective claim of the Buyer has been fairly disclosed in
Exhibit
M,
which
exhibit shall include only specific detailed disclosures. The approval of the
financial statements for the fiscal year 2007 by the shareholders meeting of
IMSA and/or ISSA shall not constitute, and shall not be regarded as
constituting, a limitation in any way or waiver of the Buyer's right under
this
Section 8.
8.3 Indemnification
Procedure.
The
Buyer shall, at the latest after 30 business day after have learned of the
relevant facts, provide the Sellers with notice of all third party actions,
suits, proceedings, claims, demands or assessments subject to the
indemnification provisions of this Article 8 (collectively “Third Party
Claims”), brought at any time following the Closing Date of this Agreement, and
shall otherwise make available all relevant information material to the defense
of any Third Party Claims. The Sellers shall have the right to elect to
participate in the defence of any such Third Party Claim at their sole expense,
and no claim shall be settled or compromised without the consent of the Sellers
unless the Sellers shall have failed, after the lapse of a reasonable time,
but
in no event more than 30 (thirty) days, after receiving notice of such a Third
Party Claim, to participate in the defence of the same. If the Sellers wishes,
it may control the defence of such litigation, at its own expense, insofar
as
such a claim relates to the liability of the Sellers. The Buyer’s failure to
give notice in time or to provide copies of documents or to furnish relevant
data in connection with any Third Party Claim shall constitute a defense (in
part or in whole) to any claim for indemnification for the Sellers, even if
such
failure shall not result in any prejudice to the Sellers.
Any
indemnifiable claim that is not a Third Party Claim shall be asserted by written
notice from the Buyer to the Sellers; any
failure
to give such notice will waive the rights of the Buyer even if the rights of
the
Sellers are not actually prejudiced.
12
8.4 Set-off.
The
Buyer shall have the right to set off against the amounts due under the
Acknowledgements of Debt and the Earn-Out, any claim which the Buyer might
have
against the Sellers, including, but not limited to claims for breaches of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.
Article
9: MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Amendment/Waivers.
This
Agreement may be amended only by the written agreement of the parties; any
such
written agreement shall specifically refer to this provision and the provision
to be amended. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party or parties against whom or for which
the enforcement of such waiver is sought, and such instrument shall specifically
refer to this provision and the provision to be waived.
9.2 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the Exhibits and Annexes hereto constitute the entire Agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and
supersede any other agreement between any of the parties with respect to such
subject matter.
9.3 Binding
Effect/Assignment/Third Parties.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any assignment of this
Agreement or the rights hereunder by any of the parties without the prior
written consent of the other parties shall be void. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties
any rights or remedies by virtue of this Agreement.
9.4 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive
laws of Switzerland without regard to its conflict of laws
principles.
9.5 Disputes.
Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this
Agreement shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the
International Chamber of Commerce in force on the date when the Notice of
Arbitration is submitted in accordance with these Rules. The number of
arbitrators shall be three. The seat of arbitration shall be in Geneva
(Switzerland). The Arbitration shall be conducted in English.
13
9.6 Notices.
Any
notice or other communication under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall
be delivered by hand, telecopied or sent by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If
to the
Sellers:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xx.
Xxx
Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx 00
XX-0000
Xxxxxx
Telecopier:
x00 00 000 0000
Xxxx-Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
0
XX
0000
Xxxxx
Telecopier:
x00 00 000 0000
With
a
copy to:X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxx & Partners
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
000
X.X.
Xxx
0000
XX-0000
Xxxxxx
Telecopier:
xx00 00 000 00 00
If to
the
Buyer or the Guarantor:
c/o
Measurement Specialties, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, CEO
Telecopier:
x0 000-000-0000
With
a
copy to: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx., Esq.
Hunton
& Xxxxxxxx LLP
Xxxx
xx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telecopier:
x0 000-000-0000
Any
such
notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given when delivered (in
the case of hand delivery), sent (in the case of telecopy) or received (in
the
case of registered mail).
9.7 Severability.
If any
provision in this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or incapable of
being
enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other provisions of this
Agreement will nevertheless remain in full effect so long as the economic or
legal substance of the transactions contemplated by it is not affected in any
material manner adverse to any of the parties. The parties shall nevertheless
negotiate in good faith to replace any such invalid or unenforceable provision
with a provision which so far as is reasonably possible leads to the same
result.
14
9.8 Liability.
The
liability of the Sellers under this Agreement shall be several and not joint
and
several, in proportion to their shareholdings in IMSA.
9.9 Guarantee.
In
consideration of the Sellers entering into this Agreement, the Guarantor
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Sellers pursuant to article
111 of the Swiss Code of Obligations the due and punctual performance and
observance by the Buyer of all the Buyer’s obligations, and the punctual
discharge by the Buyer of all the Buyer’s liabilities to the Sellers, arising
under this Agreement.
Payments
by the Guarantor to the Sellers pursuant to this Section 9.9 solely with respect
to the obligations of the Buyer under the Acknowledgements of Debt shall be
suspended so long as a Default or Event of Default (as each such term is defined
in the Credit Agreement referred to below) exists and is continuing under that
certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2006, among
General Electric Capital Corporation for itself, as a lender, and as agent
for
the lenders party thereto from time to time, Guarantor, as borrower, and certain
of Guarantor’s affiliates and subsidiaries (as the same now exists and may
hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to
time, the “Credit Agreement”).
15
Execution
Version
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties have caused this Agreement to be executed, where applicable, by their
duly authorized respective representatives each as at the date first above
written.
The
Sellers:
|
|||
Name:
Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
Name:
Xx. Xxxx-Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
The
Buyer:
|
|||
MEAS
Europe
|
By: | |||
|
|||
Name: | |||
|
|||
Title: | |||
|
The
Guarantor:
|
|||
Measurement
Specialties, Inc.
|
By: | |||
|
|||
Name: | |||
|
|||
Title: | |||
|
16
ANNEXES
Annex 1 |
Acknowledgements
of Debt
|
|
Annex 2 | Employment Agreement |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Financial Statements | |
Exhibit B | Real Property | |
Exhibit C | Machinery and Equipment | |
Exhibit D | Intellectual Property | |
Exhibit E | Stock and Inventories | |
Exhibit F | Receivables | |
Exhibit G | Insurance | |
Exhibit H | Disputes | |
Exhibit I | Contracts | |
Exhibit J | IMSA’s Commitments | |
Exhibit K | Environmental Matters | |
Exhibit L | Conduct of Business | |
Exhibit M | Disclosures | |
Exhibit N | Payment of Cash | |
Exhibit O | Customers | |
Exhibit P | Suppliers |
17
Acknowledgement
of Debt
Dated
as
of December 28, 2007
The
undersigned, MEAS Europe, a corporation existing under the laws of France,
with
its corporate seat at 000, xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, BP 1036, 31023
Toulouse, Cédex (hereinafter referred to as “Debtor”, acknowledges that it shall
pay to Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Ch. Des Vignes-Perdues 15, CH-2022 Bevaix
(Switzerland) (hereinafter referred to as “Payee”), or order, at the address set
forth below for notices to Payee or at such other place as payee may from time
to time designate, the principal sum of five million (5,000,000) CHF, together
with accrued interest thereon.
The
entire principal balance of this Acknowledgement of Debt, together with all
unpaid accrued interest thereon, shall be paid in 4 (four) annual installments
of 1.25 (one point two five) million CHF on December 28, 2008, December 28,
2009, December 28, 2010 and December 28, 2011, respectively. The unpaid
principal balance of this Acknowledgement of Debt shall bear interest from
the
date hereof at a rate of interest equal to four point five percent (4.5%) per
annum. Interest chargeable hereunder shall be calculated on the basis of a
three
hundred sixty-five (365) day year for actual days elapsed.
Debtor
may prepay all or part of the principal balance under this Acknowledgement
of
Debt, without premium or penalty provided, however, with each prepayment Debtor
shall also pay the interest, if any, accrued on the principal amount being
prepaid to the date of such prepayment.
All
payments hereunder are to be applied first to the payment of accrued interest,
if any, and the balance remaining applied to the payment of principal. All
principal and interest, if any, due hereunder is payable in lawful money of
Switzerland.
All
amounts payable under this Acknowledgement of Debt may be made with set-off,
deduction or counterclaim, as provided in Article 8.4 of the share purchase
agreement dated as of the date of this Acknowledgement of Debt and entered
into
between and among the Debtor, the Payee and the other signatories thereto
(hereinafter referred to as the “Share
Purchase Agreement”).
Payments
under this Acknowledgement of Debt shall be made on account opened in the name
of the Payee as follows:
Beneficiary:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Bevaix
IBAN:
CH3900290290404464.40R
Swift:
XXXXXXXX00X
Bank
name: UBS SA, Place Xxxx 0, XX-0000 Xxxxxxxxx
18
The
Debtor agrees not to assign this Acknowledgement of Debt or any of our
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Payee. The Payee
may at any time assign its rights and transfer its obligations under this
Acknowledgement of Debt to any person, provided and to the extent that such
person (the assign) acknowledges and agrees, and cause its possible assigns
to
acknowledge and agree, that the Debtor shall have the right to make any payment
due hereunder with set-off, deduction or counterclaim of any claim that the
Debtor might have against the Payee or its assigns including, but not limited
to
claims for breaches of the representations and warranties contained in the
Share
Purchase Agreement. Any assignment which would not comply this clause, is null
and void.
Payments
by Debtor to Payee hereunder shall be suspended so long as a Default or Event
of
Default (as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below)
exists and is continuing under that certain Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2006, among General Electric Capital Corporation
for itself, as a lender, and as agent for the lenders party thereto from time
to
time, Measurement Specialties, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, as borrower
(“MSI”),
and
certain of MSI’s affiliates and subsidiaries (as the same now exists and may
hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”).
IF,
FIVE
(5) DAYS AFTER WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE SAME, MAKER SHALL CONTINUE IN ITS FAILURE
TO PAY INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL AS PROVIDED HEREUNDER, THEN THE UNPAID PRINCIPAL
BALANCE OF THIS NOTE, TOGETHER WITH INTEREST ACCRUED THEREON, SHALL THEREUPON
BE
IMMEDIATELY DUE AND PAYABLE AT THE OPTION OF THE PAYEE OR ITS PERMITTED ASSIGNS
HEREOF..
All
notices or demands required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and
shall
be deemed given when actually delivered or on the third business day following
the day on which the same shall have been mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If
to
Debtor:
c/o
Measurement Specialties, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, CEO
Telecopier:
x0 000-000-0000
If
to
Payee:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xx.
Xxx
Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx 00
XX-0000
Xxxxxx
Telecopier:
x00 00 000 0000
19
Either
Debtor or Payee may change its respective address or addressee by giving notice
of such change to the other party in the manner provided herein. For this
purpose only, unless and until such written notice is actually received, the
address and addressee specified for each party shall be deemed to continue
in
effect for all purposes.
This
Acknowledgement of Debt and all transactions hereunder and/or evidenced hereby
shall be governed by, construed under and enforced in accordance with the
substantive laws of Switzerland. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out
of, or in connection with, this note shall be finally settled under the Rules
of
Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in force on the date when
the Notice of Arbitration is submitted in accordance with these Rules. The
number of arbitrators shall be three. The seat of arbitration shall be in Geneva
(Switzerland). The Arbitration shall be conducted in English.
No
amendment, modification or supplement of any provision of this Acknowledgement
of Debt shall be valid or effective unless made in writing and signed by a
duly
authorized officer of each Party or its permitted assigns.
If
any
provision of this Acknowledgement of Debt, or the application thereof, shall,
for any reason and to any extent, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
the
remainder of this Acknowledgement of Debt shall be applied and interpreted
so as
to reasonably effect the intent of the Parties hereto. The Parties further
agree
to replace such void or unenforceable provision by provision which will achieve,
to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of the void
and unenforceable provision. In any case the remainder of this Agreement shall
remain in full
force and effect and shall not be affected thereby.
In
witness whereof the undersigned has executed this Acknowledgement of Debt to
be
effective as of the date written above.
Debtor:
|
|||
MEAS
Europe
|
By: | |||
|
|||
Name: | |||
|
|||
Title: | |||
|
Payee:
|
|||
Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|||
|
20
Acknowledgement
of Debt
Dated
as
of December 28, 2007
The
undersigned, MEAS Europe, a corporation existing under the laws of France,
with
its corporate seat at 000, xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, BP 1036, 31023
Toulouse, Cédex (hereinafter referred to as “Debtor”, acknowledges that it shall
pay to Xx. Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Schlossallee 9 ; XX 0000 Xxxxx,
(Xxxxxxxxxxx) (hereinafter referred to as “Payee”), at the address set forth
below for notices to Payee or at such other place as payee may from time to
time
designate, the principal sum of five million (5,000,000) CHF, together with
accrued interest thereon.
The
entire principal balance of this Acknowledgement of Debt, together with all
unpaid accrued interest thereon, shall be paid in 4 (four) annual installments
of 1.25 (one point two five) million CHF on December 28, 2008, December 28,
2009, December 28, 2010 and December 28, 2011, respectively. The unpaid
principal balance of this Acknowledgement of Debt shall bear interest from
the
date hereof at a rate of interest equal to four point five percent (4.5%) per
annum. Interest chargeable hereunder shall be calculated on the basis of a
three
hundred sixty-five (365) day year for actual days elapsed.
Debtor
may prepay all or part of the principal balance under this Acknowledgement
of
Debt, without premium or penalty provided, however, with each prepayment Debtor
shall also pay the interest, if any, accrued on the principal amount being
prepaid to the date of such prepayment.
All
payments hereunder are to be applied first to the payment of accrued interest,
if any, and the balance remaining applied to the payment of principal. All
principal and interest, if any, due hereunder is payable in lawful money of
Switzerland.
All
amounts payable under this Acknowledgement of Debt may be made with set-off,
deduction or counterclaim, as provided in Article 8.4 of the share purchase
agreement dated as of the date of this Acknowledgement of Debt and entered
into
between and among the Debtor, the Payee and the other signatories thereto
(hereinafter referred to as the “Share
Purchase Agreement”).
Payments
under this Acknowledgement of Debt shall be made on account opened in the name
of the Payee as follows:
Beneficiary:
Hans Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Greng
IBAN:
XX00 0000 0000 0000 0000 0
Swift:
COOPCHBB
Bank
name: Bank Coop, 00, Xxx xx Xxxxxx, 0000 Xxxxxxxx (Xxxxxxxxxxx)
21
The
Debtor agrees not to assign this Acknowledgement of Debt or any of our
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Payee. The Payee
may at any time assign its rights and transfer its obligations under this
Acknowledgement of Debt to any person, provided and to the extent that such
person (the assign) acknowledges and agrees, and cause its possible assigns
to
acknowledge and agree, that the Debtor shall have the right to make any payment
due hereunder with set-off, deduction or counterclaim of any claim that the
Debtor might have against the Payee or its assigns including, but not limited
to
claims for breaches of the representations and warranties contained in the
Share
Purchase Agreement. Any assignment which would not comply this clause, is null
and void.
Payments
by Debtor to Payee hereunder shall be suspended so long as a Default or Event
of
Default (as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below)
exists and is continuing under that certain Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2006, among General Electric Capital Corporation
for itself, as a lender, and as agent for the lenders party thereto from time
to
time, Measurement Specialties, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, as borrower
(“MSI”),
and
certain of MSI’s affiliates and subsidiaries (as the same now exists and may
hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to
time, the “Credit
Agreement”).
IF,
FIVE
(5) DAYS AFTER WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE SAME, MAKER SHALL CONTINUE IN ITS FAILURE
TO PAY INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL AS PROVIDED HEREUNDER, THEN THE UNPAID PRINCIPAL
BALANCE OF THIS NOTE, TOGETHER WITH INTEREST ACCRUED THEREON, SHALL THEREUPON
BE
IMMEDIATELY DUE AND PAYABLE AT THE OPTION OF THE PAYEE OR ITS PERMITTED ASSIGNS
HEREOF..
All
notices or demands required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and
shall
be deemed given when actually delivered or on the third business day following
the day on which the same shall have been mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If
to
Debtor:
c/o
Measurement Specialties, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, CEO
Telecopier:
x0 000-000-0000
If
to
Payee:
Xxxx-Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
0
XX
0000
Xxxxx
Telecopier:
x00 00 000 0000
22
Either
Debtor or Payee may change its respective address or addressee by giving notice
of such change to the other party in the manner provided herein. For this
purpose only, unless and until such written notice is actually received, the
address and addressee specified for each party shall be deemed to continue
in
effect for all purposes.
This
Acknowledgement of Debt and all transactions hereunder and/or evidenced hereby
shall be governed by, construed under and enforced in accordance with the
substantive laws of Switzerland. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising
out
of, or in connection with, this note shall be finally settled under the Rules
of
Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in force on the date when
the Notice of Arbitration is submitted in accordance with these Rules. The
number of arbitrators shall be three. The seat of arbitration shall be in Geneva
(Switzerland). The Arbitration shall be conducted in English.
No
amendment, modification or supplement of any provision of this Acknowledgement
of Debt shall be valid or effective unless made in writing and signed by a
duly
authorized officer of each Party or its permitted assigns.
If
any
provision of this Acknowledgement of Debt, or the application thereof, shall,
for any reason and to any extent, be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
the
remainder of this Acknowledgement of Debt shall be applied and interpreted
so as
to reasonably effect the intent of the Parties hereto. The Parties further
agree
to replace such void or unenforceable provision by provision which will achieve,
to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of the void
and unenforceable provision. In any case the remainder of this Agreement shall
remain in full
force and effect and shall not be affected thereby.
In
witness whereof the undersigned has executed this Acknowledgement of Debt to
be
effective as of the date written above.
Debtor:
|
|||
MEAS
Europe
|
By: | |||
|
|||
Name: | |||
|
|||
Title: | |||
|
Payee:
|
|||
Xx.
Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
|
|||
|
23
Execution
Version
INTERSEMA
SENSORIC SA
24
between
INTERSEMA SENSORIC SA | Employer |
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx-xxx-Xxxx 00
|
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
and
Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | Employee |
Xx.
Xxx Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxx 00, XX-0000 Xxxxxx (Xxxxxxxxxxx)
|
The
Employer and the Employee are also referred to as “Party”
or
“Parties”.
25
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
I.
|
Beginning
of Employment
|
25
|
II.
|
Position
|
25
|
A.
|
Function
|
25
|
B.
|
Duties
and Responsibilities
|
25
|
III.
|
Place
of Work
|
25
|
IV.
|
Compensation
|
25
|
A.
|
Base
Salary
|
25
|
B.
|
Bonus
|
25
|
C.
|
Acknowledgements
of the Employee
|
25
|
a)
|
Nature
of Additional Payments
|
25
|
b)
|
Conditionality
|
25
|
D.
|
No
other Compensation
|
25
|
E.
|
Deductions
|
25
|
V.
|
Expenses
|
25
|
VI.
|
Company
Car
|
25
|
VII.
|
TERM
and Termination
|
25
|
A.
|
Term
|
25
|
B.
|
Termination
for Valid Reasons
|
25
|
VIII.
|
Working
Time
|
25
|
IX.
|
Vacation
|
25
|
X.
|
Holidays
and Compelling Absence
|
25
|
A.
|
Holidays
|
25
|
B.
|
Compelling
Absences
|
25
|
XI.
|
Illness,
Accident and Death
|
25
|
A.
|
Medical
Certificate
|
25
|
B.
|
Daily
Allowance Insurance
|
25
|
C.
|
Occupational
and Non-occupational Accidents
|
25
|
XII.
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
25
|
XIII.
|
Data
Protection and Privacy
|
25
|
XIV.
|
Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation
|
25
|
XV.
|
Confidentiality
|
25
|
XVI.
|
Miscelleanous
|
25
|
A.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
25
|
B.
|
Severability
|
25
|
C.
|
Amendments
|
25
|
D.
|
Governing
Law and Jurisdiction
|
25
|
E.
|
Execution
|
25
|
F.
|
Waiver
|
25
|
G.
|
Survival
|
25
|
26
Article
10: BEGINNING
OF EMPLOYMENT
The
employment of the Employee (the “Employment”)
starts
on 28
December 2007
(the
“Commencement
Date”).
Article
11: POSITION
11.1
|
Function
|
The
Employee shall assume the function as General
Manager of Operations and Research and Development.
11.2
|
Duties
and Responsibilities
|
It
is
understood that the duties and responsibilities arising out of the above
function includes all tasks customarily or reasonably incidental to such
function and those expressly mentioned in this Employment
Agreement.
Upon
consultation with the Employee, the Employer may assign to the Employee any
additional or new duties or responsibilities as deemed reasonable or appropriate
by the Employer in the course and fulfilment of its business.
The
Employee shall carefully perform all work assigned to the Employee, and loyally
safeguard the Employer’s legitimate interests.
The
Employee is not entitled to work for any third party or to engage in any gainful
employment without the written approval of the Employer.
Article
12: PLACE
OF
WORK
The
Employee’s principal place of work shall presently be in Bevaix, Neuchâtel
(Switzerland) at the main office of the Employer. The Employer may request
the
Employee to travel in the course of the Employment in order to perform his
obligations and duties under the Employment Agreement, but such travel shall
be
limited and reasonably agreed among the Employer and the Employee in
advance.
Article
13: COMPENSATION
13.1
|
Base
Salary
|
The
Employee shall receive an annual base salary of CHF 185,000 gross (the
“Base
Salary”),
payable in twelve monthly instalments at the end of the month, plus any
mandatory contributions for family and children allowances.
27
13.2
|
Bonus
|
The
Employee shall be entitled to a discretionary bonus payment of up to twenty
percent (20%) of the Base Salary (the “Bonus”)
in
accordance with the Employer’s bonus plan (the “Bonus
Plan”)
as
amended from time to time by the Employer. The goals for the Bonus shall be
established and mutually agreed to by the Employer and the Employee at the
beginning of each fiscal year.
13.3
|
Acknowledgements
of the Employee
|
(a)
|
Nature
of Additional
Payments
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that any entitlements granted and payments
made
in addition to the Base Salary, including, but not limited to any bonuses,
participations, or gratuities of the Employer or another group company (the
“Additional
Payments”)
are
not part of the salary legally or contractually owed by the Employer and are
made at full discretion of the Employer or the company granting such bonus,
participation or gratuity, respectively. Any Additional Payments shall not
create any obligation of the Employer or other group company to make such
Additional Payments in future and shall not create any right or entitlement
of
the Employee to such Additional Payments in future even if paid over consecutive
years and without express reservation.
(b)
|
Conditionality
|
Any
Additional Payments, if any, are subject to the condition that no notice of
termination has been given under this Employment Agreement by the later of
the
end of the respective calendar year. In case of a termination of the Employment
Agreement by the Employer, this condition is deemed to be fulfilled except
where
the termination was made by the Employer for
cause
(not limited to valid reasons entitling the Employer to a termination without
notice pursuant to article 337 Swiss Code of Obligations). Further conditions
may be defined in the respective documents governing such Additional
Payments.
13.4
|
No
other Compensation
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that he shall not be entitled to receive any
other compensation or benefit of any nature from the Employer except as
expressly provided for in this Employment Agreement.
28
13.5
|
Deductions
|
From
the
salary (as defined by the applicable laws and regulations, which may include
bonuses, allowances, participations and other benefits in addition to the Base
Salary) any portions of Employee’s social security contributions (AHV (Old-age
and surviving dependents insurance)/IV (Disability insurance)/EO (Wage
compensation), ALV (Unemployment insurance), UV (Accidence insurance), premiums
to pension schemes (cp. Regulations of the pension fund) and withholding taxes,
if any, will be deducted and withheld by the Employer from the payments made
to
the Employee.
Article
14: EXPENSES
The
Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Employer of out-of-pocket
business expenses (including mobile phone expenses) reasonably incurred by
the
Employee during the Employment in the performance of the Employee’s duties under
this Employment Agreement, including expenses which may be charged to a company
credit card, subject to (i) the submission of relevant vouchers and receipts
and
(ii) the compliance with the reimbursement policies of the Employer possibly
established and amended from time to time. The Employee shall further be
entitled to reimbursement by the Employer of out-of-pocket business expenses
by
the Employee during the Employment in the performance of the Employee’s duties
under this Employment Agreement, absent submission of relevant vouchers and
receipts, at a fixed rate of CHF 15,000 per year.
Article
15: COMPANY
CAR
Throughout
the course of this Employment the Employee shall be entitled to use the existing
company car (BMW X5) free of charge. The Employee is entitled to use the car
for
private or business purposes. The Employee shall be reimbursed for petrol
expenses for business as well as for private journeys. However, the
reimbursement is subject to the submission of relevant vouchers and receipts.
The conclusion and the expenses for the comprehensive cover insurance, the
motor
vehicle tax, maintenance, tires, vignette will be paid by the
Employer.
29
Article
16: TERM
AND
TERMINATION
16.1
|
Term
|
The
Employment shall be of a definite time (the “Employment
Period”)
commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the date that is two (2)
years
after the Commencement Date.
16.2
|
Termination
for Valid Reasons
|
The
Employment Agreement may be terminated by either Party for valid reasons
pursuant to Article 337 of the Swiss Code of Obligations at any time.
Article
17: WORKING
TIME
The
weekly working hours for the Employee are at least 40 hours per week.
The
Employee shall work extra hours and overtime, if required and to the extent
such
work can reasonably be expected in good faith.
The
Base
Salary as defined in Section 13.1
hereunder includes any and all remuneration for such overtime, and the Employee
shall have no entitlement to additional compensation for such overtime, whether
in cash nor in kind.
Article
18: VACATION
The
Employee is entitled to twenty-five (25) business days of vacation per calendar
year.
The
Employer has the right to determine when the Employee shall take vacation.
However, the Employer shall take the Employees requests in due consideration.
If
the Employee requests to take vacation he shall reasonably prior to the intended
vacation inform the responsible executive. In any event the Employee shall
provide for suitable internal representation and he shall care for the ongoing
service of important affairs during his vacation.
The
vacation entitlement is based on one complete calendar year. For the year in
which the Employment relationship begins or ends, the vacation entitlement
is
calculated pro
rata temporis.
The
Employee shall not be entitled to retain unused vacation days in excess of
an
aggregate of (25) business days of vacation.
30
Article
19: HOLIDAYS
AND COMPELLING ABSENCE
19.1
|
Holidays
|
On
federal and cantonal Holidays the Employee is not obliged to work.
19.2
|
Compelling
Absences
|
To
the
extent necessary or required, Employees are eligible to take time off for
compelling reasons (as specified below).
Compelling
Absences include, but are not limited to, the following events for which the
time off as set forth below apply (stated in business days):
·
|
Marriage
of Employee:
|
2
days
|
|
·
|
Attendance
of wedding of a family member
or close relative:
|
1
day
|
|
·
|
Birth
of Employee’s child:
|
2
days
|
|
·
|
Death
or illness of:
|
·
|
close family member or person living in the same household: | 3 days | |
·
|
other family member: | 2 day | |
·
|
close relative or friend: | 1 day |
·
|
Moving:
|
1
day
|
|
·
|
Medical
or dental care:
|
as
required
|
|
·
|
Public
duties:
|
as
required
|
Compelling
Absences do not constitute a ground for a deduction of the Employees’
entitlements to the Base Salary or vacation, unless the absence exceeds the
time
period as set forth above.
Article
20: ILLNESS,
ACCIDENT AND DEATH
20.1
|
Medical
Certificate
|
If
the
Employee’s absence exceeds five business days, the Employee shall, as soon as
practicable furnish a medical certificate. However, the Employer reserves the
right to demand for a medical certificate in case of any absence, irrespective
of the length of the absence. The Employer is entitled to ask the Employee
to
consult a medical examiner at the Employer’s expense.
31
20.2
|
Daily
Allowance Insurance
|
If
an
Employee is prevented from performing the Employee’s duties arising out of or
relating to the Employment due to illness (not deliberately self-inflicted
by
the Employee) or due to an accident (not deliberately self-inflicted by the
Employee), then the Employer will continue to pay the base salary pursuant
to
the collective daily allowance insurance (Taggeldversicherung) of the Employer,
provided that the conditions of the collective daily allowance insurance are
being met and that the Employee complies with the conditions of the collective
daily allowance insurance and with the directives of the Employer. In principle,
the daily allowance insurance provides for the following coverage:
90%
of
the Base Salary during up to 730 days after a waiting period of 30
days.
During
the waiting period of 30 days 100% of the Base Salary according to Section
13.1
is paid
to the Employee.
The
insurance premium for the daily allowance insurance is paid one half each by
the
Employer and the Employee.
20.3
|
Occupational
and Non-occupational Accidents
|
During
the Employment the Employee is insured for occupational and non-occupational
accidents. Premiums for occupational accident insurance and occupational
sickness insurance are paid by the Employer. Premiums for non-occupational
accident insurance are paid by the Employee.
90%
of
the Base Salary is paid after a waiting period of 30 days.
During
the waiting period of 30 days 100% of the Base Salary according to Section
13.1
is paid
to the Employee.
Article
21: INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS
The
Employer is entitled to all work results and all intellectual property created
by the Employee in the course of or in connection with the employment
(notwithstanding whether in pursuance or fulfilment of a contractual duty or
not, whether individually or with the assistance of any other individual or
entity), and all such work results, intellectual property and related rights
vest irrevocably in the Employer. This transfer and assignment of work results,
intellectual property and related rights is worldwide, unlimited in time,
unrestricted in scope and encompasses all rights and exploitations, whether
currently known or arising in the future. To the extent certain jurisdictions
do
not provide for the assignability of work results or intellectual property
and
related rights, the Employee grants to the Employer a worldwide, irrevocable,
exclusive, transferable and sublicensable, royalty-free, unlimited and
unrestricted license to use, modify, develop and exploit such work results,
intellectual property and related rights, including the right to sub-license,
is
hereby granted by the Employee to the Employer. Compensation for the transfer
of
these Intellectual Property Rights or their licensing, respectively, is included
in the Base Salary according to Section 13.1.
32
To
the
extent permitted by law, the Employee agrees no to put forward any claim
regarding possible moral rights in connection with any work under this section.
The Employee acknowledges that the Base Salary includes reasonable compensation
for the fact that the inventions and intellectual property rights referred
to
above will vest in the Employer by operation of law or transfer by the Employee
of such rights.
The
Employee will, upon first demand of the Employer, execute any documents,
declarations, deeds of assignment or similar as may be requested by the Employer
for evidence or perfection of the above transfer and assignment.
Article
22: DATA
PROTECTION AND PRIVACY
The
Employer will comply with the Swiss Data Protection Act. The Employer will
only
collect personal data of the Employee insofar as necessary for the execution
and
performance of the Employment and the obligations resulting therefrom or if
required to do so by law.
The
Employee herewith agrees that personal data may be transferred to affiliated
companies of the Employer and further third parties within and outside of
Switzerland if such transfer is required in connection with the Employment,
the
execution of the Employment Agreement, the performance of any obligations
resulting from the Employment, the work organization of the Employer or
otherwise required by Swiss law or the laws of any other relevant jurisdiction.
The Employer shall ensure that personal data will be secured against
unauthorized access if a transfer is contemplated. The Employee has the right
to
withdraw his consent at any time.
Article
23: NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION
The
Employee agrees that during the Employment Period and for a period of two years
after termination of the Employment Period (the “Restricted
Period”)
he
will not directly, indirectly, once, occasionally or professionally, under
his
name or under a third party name, on behalf of his own or on behalf of third
parties compete with the Employer within the scope of its business. The Employee
furthermore agrees that he will not participate in any way in any enterprise
competing with the Employer, and he also agrees not to found or assist any
business being active in the same line of business as the Employer. This
non-compete undertaking shall be effective for the whole territory of the
business activities of the Employer and each of its group companies during
the
Employment and at the moment of termination of the Employment.
33
During
Restricted Period the Employee shall abstain from, directly or indirectly via
any company owned or controlled by the Employee, enticing away, soliciting
or
interfering with (i) any personnel from the Employer or (ii) any person who
is
or was a client of the Employer.
In
the
event the Employee breaches any of the obligations pursuant to this Section
Article 23:
a
penalty of CHF 30,000 shall be owed by the Employee to the Employer for any
such
breach. However, the payment of the penalty does not release the Employee from
further complying with the respective obligation. In addition, the Employer
reserves the right to claim compensation for damages as well as the right to
the
remedy of specific performance.
Article
24: CONFIDENTIALITY
The
Employee will have access to confidential and proprietary information relating
to the business and operations of the Employer and their clients. Such
confidential and proprietary information constitutes a unique and valuable
asset
of the Employer and their acquisition required great time and expense. The
disclosure or any other use of such confidential or proprietary information,
other than for the sole benefit of the Employer, would be wrongful and would
cause irreparable harm to the Employer or other group companies.
The
Employee is under a strict duty to keep all confidential and proprietary
information strictly and permanently confidential and, accordingly, shall not
during the Employment or after termination of the Employment directly or
indirectly use for any purpose other than for the sole benefit of the Employer,
or disclose or permit to be disclosed to any third person or entity, any
confidential or proprietary information without first obtaining the written
consent of the responsible executive and the party concerned, if applicable,
except if required to do so by law.
34
The
Employee may not make any statement to the media related to confidential
information, as far as he is not authorized to do so by the responsible
executive.
Upon
termination of this Employment Agreement for any reason, the Employee shall
return to the Employer all files and any company documents concerning the
business of the Employer in his possession or open to his access, including
all
designs, customer and price lists, printed material, documents, sketches, notes,
drafts as well as copies thereof, regardless whether or not the same are
originally furnished by the Employer.
The
Employer reserves the right to the remedy of specific performance of the
Employee’s obligations in addition to any damages.
Article
25: MISCELLEANOUS
25.1
|
Entire
Agreement
|
This
Employment Agreement constitutes the complete Employment Agreement between
the
Parties regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior oral and/or
written agreements, representations and/or communications, concerning the
subject matter hereof.
25.2
|
Severability
|
If
any
provision of this Employment Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any
reason, it shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to
achieve the intent of the Parties to this Employment Agreement to the fullest
extent possible. In any event, all other provisions of this Employment Agreement
shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent possible.
25.3
|
Amendments
|
Any
amendments or supplementation of this Employment Agreement shall require written
form. The written form may be dispensed only in writing.
25.4
|
Governing
Law
and Jurisdiction
|
This
Employment Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
Swiss
law (without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law).
Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this
Employment Agreement, including the validity, invalidity, breach or termination
thereof, and including tort claims, shall be exclusively submitted to and
determined by the courts of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, without prejudice to a
possible appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
35
25.5
|
Execution
|
The
Parties have duly executed this Agreement in two originals.
25.6
|
Waiver
|
The
waiver by either Party of any breach of this Agreement by the other Party shall
not be effective unless in writing, and no such waiver shall operate or be
construed as the waiver of the same or another breach on a subsequent
occasion.
25.7
|
Survival
|
Sections
XII through XV, inclusive, shall survive and continue in full force in
accordance with their terms notwithstanding the expiration or termination of
this Agreement or the Employment Period.
[Signature
Page Follows]
36
Signatures
Intersema
Sensoric SA (Employer)
Place, date |
[name] |
||
[title] |
Place, date |
[name] |
||
[title] |
Xx.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Employee)
Place, date |
Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
37
Execution
Version
INTERSEMA
SENSORIC SA
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
38
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
between
INTERSEMA SENSORIC SA | Employer |
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx-xxx-Xxxx 00
|
|
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
and
Xx. Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | Employee |
Schlossallee
9 ; XX 0000 Xxxxx (Xxxxxxxxxxx)
|
The
Employer and the Employee are also referred to as “Party”
or
“Parties”.
39
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
I.
|
Beginning
of Employment
|
27
|
II.
|
Position
|
27
|
A.
|
Function
|
27
|
B.
|
Duties
and Responsibilities
|
27
|
III.
|
Place
of Work
|
27
|
IV.
|
Compensation
|
27
|
A.
|
Base
Salary
|
27
|
B.
|
Bonus
|
28
|
C.
|
Acknowledgements
of the Employee
|
28
|
a)
|
Nature
of Additional Payments
|
28
|
b)
|
Conditionality
|
28
|
D.
|
No
other Compensation
|
28
|
E.
|
Deductions
|
29
|
V.
|
Expenses
|
29
|
VI.
|
Company
Car
|
29
|
VII.
|
TERM
and Termination
|
30
|
A.
|
Term
|
30
|
B.
|
Termination
for Valid Reasons
|
30
|
VIII.
|
Working
Time
|
30
|
IX.
|
Vacation
|
30
|
X.
|
Holidays
and Compelling Absence
|
31
|
A.
|
Holidays
|
31
|
B.
|
Compelling
Absences
|
31
|
XI.
|
Illness,
Accident and Death
|
31
|
A.
|
Medical
Certificate
|
31
|
B.
|
Daily
Allowance Insurance
|
32
|
C.
|
Occupational
and Non-occupational Accidents
|
32
|
XII.
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
32
|
XIII.
|
Data
Protection and Privacy
|
33
|
XIV.
|
Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation
|
33
|
XV.
|
Confidentiality
|
34
|
XVI.
|
Miscelleanous
|
35
|
A.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
35
|
B.
|
Severability
|
35
|
C.
|
Amendments
|
35
|
D.
|
Governing
Law and Jurisdiction
|
35
|
E.
|
Execution
|
36
|
F.
|
Waiver
|
36
|
G.
|
Survival
|
36
|
40
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
Article
26: BEGINNING
OF EMPLOYMENT
The
employment of the Employee (the “Employment”)
starts
on 28
December 2007
(the
“Commencement
Date”).
Article
27: POSITION
27.1
|
Function
|
The
Employee shall assume the function as General
Manager Administration.
27.2
|
Duties
and Responsibilities
|
It
is
understood that the duties and responsibilities arising out of the above
function includes all tasks customarily or reasonably incidental to such
function and those expressly mentioned in this Employment
Agreement.
Upon
consultation with the Employee, the Employer may assign to the Employee any
additional or new duties or responsibilities as deemed reasonable or appropriate
by the Employer in the course and fulfilment of its business.
The
Employee shall carefully perform all work assigned to the Employee, and loyally
safeguard the Employer’s legitimate interests.
The
Employee is not entitled to work for any third party or to engage in any gainful
employment without the written approval of the Employer.
Article
28: PLACE
OF
WORK
The
Employee’s principal place of work shall presently be in Bevaix, Neuchâtel
(Switzerland) at the main office of the Employer. The Employer may request
the
Employee to travel in the course of the Employment in order to perform his
obligations and duties under the Employment Agreement, but such travel shall
be
limited and reasonably agreed among the Employer and the Employee in
advance.
Article
29: COMPENSATION
29.1
|
Base
Salary
|
The
Employee shall receive an annual base salary of CHF 185,000 gross (the
“Base
Salary”),
payable in twelve monthly instalments at the end of the month, plus any
mandatory contributions for family and children allowances.
41
29.2
|
Bonus
|
The
Employee shall be entitled to a discretionary bonus payment of up to twenty
percent (20%) of the Base Salary (the “Bonus”)
in
accordance with the Employer’s bonus plan (the “Bonus
Plan”)
as
amended from time to time by the Employer. The goals for the Bonus shall be
established and mutually agreed to by the Employer and the Employee at the
beginning of each fiscal year.
29.3
|
Acknowledgements
of the Employee
|
(a)
|
Nature
of Additional Payments
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that any entitlements granted and payments
made
in addition to the Base Salary, including, but not limited to any bonuses,
participations, or gratuities of the Employer or another group company (the
“Additional
Payments”)
are
not part of the salary legally or contractually owed by the Employer and are
made at full discretion of the Employer or the company granting such bonus,
participation or gratuity, respectively. Any Additional Payments shall not
create any obligation of the Employer or other group company to make such
Additional Payments in future and shall not create any right or entitlement
of
the Employee to such Additional Payments in future even if paid over consecutive
years and without express reservation.
(b)
|
Conditionality
|
Any
Additional Payments, if any, are subject to the condition that no notice of
termination has been given under this Employment Agreement by the later of
the
end of the respective calendar year. In case of a termination of the Employment
Agreement by the Employer, this condition is deemed to be fulfilled except
where
the termination was made by the Employer for
cause
(not limited to valid reasons entitling the Employer to a termination without
notice pursuant to article 337 Swiss Code of Obligations). Further conditions
may be defined in the respective documents governing such Additional
Payments.
29.4
|
No
other Compensation
|
The
Employee acknowledges and agrees that he shall not be entitled to receive any
other compensation or benefit of any nature from the Employer except as
expressly provided for in this Employment Agreement.
42
29.5
|
Deductions
|
From
the
salary (as defined by the applicable laws and regulations, which may include
bonuses, allowances, participations and other benefits in addition to the Base
Salary) any portions of Employee’s social security contributions (AHV (Old-age
and surviving dependents insurance)/IV (Disability insurance)/EO (Wage
compensation), ALV (Unemployment insurance), UV (Accidence insurance), premiums
to pension schemes (cp. Regulations of the pension fund) and withholding taxes,
if any, will be deducted and withheld by the Employer from the payments made
to
the Employee.
Article
30: EXPENSES
The
Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Employer of out-of-pocket
business expenses (including mobile phone expenses) reasonably incurred by
the
Employee during the Employment in the performance of the Employee’s duties under
this Employment Agreement, including expenses which may be charged to a company
credit card, subject to (i) the submission of relevant vouchers and receipts
and
(ii) the compliance with the reimbursement policies of the Employer possibly
established and amended from time to time. The Employee shall further be
entitled to reimbursement by the Employer of out-of-pocket business expenses
by
the Employee during the Employment in the performance of the Employee’s duties
under this Employment Agreement, absent submission of relevant vouchers and
receipts, at a fixed rate of CHF 15,000 per year.
Article
31: COMPANY
CAR
Throughout
the course of this Employment the Employee shall be entitled to use the existing
company car (Jaguar XJ8) free of charge. The Employee is entitled to use the
car
for private or business purposes. The Employee shall be reimbursed for petrol
expenses for business as well as for private journeys. However, the
reimbursement is subject to the submission of relevant vouchers and receipts.
The conclusion and the expenses for the comprehensive cover insurance, the
motor
vehicle tax, maintenance, tires, vignette will be paid by the
Employer.
43
Article
32: TERM
AND
TERMINATION
32.1
|
Term
|
The
Employment shall be of a definite time (the “Employment
Period”)
commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the date that is two (2)
years
after the Commencement Date.
32.2
|
Termination
for Valid Reasons
|
The
Employment Agreement may be terminated by either Party for valid reasons
pursuant to Article 337 of the Swiss Code of Obligations at any time.
Article
33: WORKING
TIME
The
weekly working hours for the Employee are at least 40 hours per week.
The
Employee shall work extra hours and overtime, if required and to the extent
such
work can reasonably be expected in good faith.
The
Base
Salary as defined in Section 13.1
hereunder includes any and all remuneration for such overtime, and the Employee
shall have no entitlement to additional compensation for such overtime, whether
in cash nor in kind.
Article
34: VACATION
The
Employee is entitled to twenty-five (25) business days of vacation per calendar
year.
The
Employer has the right to determine when the Employee shall take vacation.
However, the Employer shall take the Employees requests in due consideration.
If
the Employee requests to take vacation he shall reasonably prior to the intended
vacation inform the responsible executive. In any event the Employee shall
provide for suitable internal representation and he shall care for the ongoing
service of important affairs during his vacation.
The
vacation entitlement is based on one complete calendar year. For the year in
which the Employment relationship begins or ends, the vacation entitlement
is
calculated pro
rata temporis.
The
Employee shall not be entitled to retain unused vacation days in excess of
an
aggregate of (25) business days of vacation.
44
Article
35: HOLIDAYS
AND COMPELLING ABSENCE
35.1
|
Holidays
|
On
federal and cantonal Holidays the Employee is not obliged to work.
35.2
|
Compelling
Absences
|
To
the
extent necessary or required, Employees are eligible to take time off for
compelling reasons (as specified below).
Compelling
Absences include, but are not limited to, the following events for which the
time off as set forth below apply (stated in business days):
·
|
Marriage
of Employee:
|
2
days
|
|
·
|
Attendance
of wedding of a family member
or close relative:
|
1
day
|
|
·
|
Birth
of Employee’s child:
|
2
days
|
|
·
|
Death
or illness of:
|
·
|
close family member or person living in the same household: | 3 days | |
·
|
other family member: | 2 day | |
·
|
close relative or friend: | 1 day |
·
|
Moving:
|
1
day
|
|
·
|
Medical
or dental care:
|
as
required
|
|
·
|
Public
duties:
|
as
required
|
Compelling
Absences do not constitute a ground for a deduction of the Employees’
entitlements to the Base Salary or vacation, unless the absence exceeds the
time
period as set forth above.
Article
36: ILLNESS,
ACCIDENT AND DEATH
36.1
|
Medical
Certificate
|
If
the
Employee’s absence exceeds five business days, the Employee shall, as soon as
practicable furnish a medical certificate. However, the Employer reserves the
right to demand for a medical certificate in case of any absence, irrespective
of the length of the absence. The Employer is entitled to ask the Employee
to
consult a medical examiner at the Employer’s expense.
45
36.2
|
Daily
Allowance Insurance
|
If
an
Employee is prevented from performing the Employee’s duties arising out of or
relating to the Employment due to illness (not deliberately self-inflicted
by
the Employee) or due to an accident (not deliberately self-inflicted by the
Employee), then the Employer will continue to pay the base salary pursuant
to
the collective daily allowance insurance (Taggeldversicherung) of the Employer,
provided that the conditions of the collective daily allowance insurance are
being met and that the Employee complies with the conditions of the collective
daily allowance insurance and with the directives of the Employer. In principle,
the daily allowance insurance provides for the following coverage:
90%
of
the Base Salary during up to 730 days after a waiting period of 30
days.
During
the waiting period of 30 days 100% of the Base Salary according to Section
13.1
is paid
to the Employee.
The
insurance premium for the daily allowance insurance is paid one half each by
the
Employer and the Employee.
36.3
|
Occupational
and Non-occupational Accidents
|
During
the Employment the Employee is insured for occupational and non-occupational
accidents. Premiums for occupational accident insurance and occupational
sickness insurance are paid by the Employer. Premiums for non-occupational
accident insurance are paid by the Employee.
90%
of
the Base Salary is paid after a waiting period of 30 days.
During
the waiting period of 30 days 100% of the Base Salary according to Section
13.1
is paid
to the Employee.
Article
37: INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS
The
Employer is entitled to all work results and all intellectual property created
by the Employee in the course of or in connection with the employment
(notwithstanding whether in pursuance or fulfilment of a contractual duty or
not, whether individually or with the assistance of any other individual or
entity), and all such work results, intellectual property and related rights
vest irrevocably in the Employer. This transfer and assignment of work results,
intellectual property and related rights is worldwide, unlimited in time,
unrestricted in scope and encompasses all rights and exploitations, whether
currently known or arising in the future. To the extent certain jurisdictions
do
not provide for the assignability of work results or intellectual property
and
related rights, the Employee grants to the Employer a worldwide, irrevocable,
exclusive, transferable and sublicensable, royalty-free, unlimited and
unrestricted license to use, modify, develop and exploit such work results,
intellectual property and related rights, including the right to sub-license,
is
hereby granted by the Employee to the Employer. Compensation for the transfer
of
these Intellectual Property Rights or their licensing, respectively, is included
in the Base Salary according to Section 13.1.
46
To
the
extent permitted by law, the Employee agrees no to put forward any claim
regarding possible moral rights in connection with any work under this section.
The Employee acknowledges that the Base Salary includes reasonable compensation
for the fact that the inventions and intellectual property rights referred
to
above will vest in the Employer by operation of law or transfer by the Employee
of such rights.
The
Employee will, upon first demand of the Employer, execute any documents,
declarations, deeds of assignment or similar as may be requested by the Employer
for evidence or perfection of the above transfer and assignment.
Article
38: DATA
PROTECTION AND PRIVACY
The
Employer will comply with the Swiss Data Protection Act. The Employer will
only
collect personal data of the Employee insofar as necessary for the execution
and
performance of the Employment and the obligations resulting therefrom or if
required to do so by law.
The
Employee herewith agrees that personal data may be transferred to affiliated
companies of the Employer and further third parties within and outside of
Switzerland if such transfer is required in connection with the Employment,
the
execution of the Employment Agreement, the performance of any obligations
resulting from the Employment, the work organization of the Employer or
otherwise required by Swiss law or the laws of any other relevant jurisdiction.
The Employer shall ensure that personal data will be secured against
unauthorized access if a transfer is contemplated. The Employee has the right
to
withdraw his consent at any time.
Article
39: NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION
The
Employee agrees that during the Employment Period and for a period of two years
after termination of the Employment Period (the “Restricted
Period”)
he
will not directly, indirectly, once, occasionally or professionally, under
his
name or under a third party name, on behalf of his own or on behalf of third
parties compete with the Employer within the scope of its business. The Employee
furthermore agrees that he will not participate in any way in any enterprise
competing with the Employer, and he also agrees not to found or assist any
business being active in the same line of business as the Employer. This
non-compete undertaking shall be effective for the whole territory of the
business activities of the Employer and each of its group companies during
the
Employment and at the moment of termination of the Employment.
47
During
Restricted Period the Employee shall abstain from, directly or indirectly via
any company owned or controlled by the Employee, enticing away, soliciting
or
interfering with (i) any personnel from the Employer or (ii) any person who
is
or was a client of the Employer.
In
the
event the Employee breaches any of the obligations pursuant to this
Section Article 23:
a
penalty of CHF 30,000 shall be owed by the Employee to the Employer for any
such
breach. However, the payment of the penalty does not release the Employee from
further complying with the respective obligation. In addition, the Employer
reserves the right to claim compensation for damages as well as the right to
the
remedy of specific performance.
Article
40: CONFIDENTIALITY
The
Employee will have access to confidential and proprietary information relating
to the business and operations of the Employer and their clients. Such
confidential and proprietary information constitutes a unique and valuable
asset
of the Employer and their acquisition required great time and expense. The
disclosure or any other use of such confidential or proprietary information,
other than for the sole benefit of the Employer, would be wrongful and would
cause irreparable harm to the Employer or other group companies.
The
Employee is under a strict duty to keep all confidential and proprietary
information strictly and permanently confidential and, accordingly, shall not
during the Employment or after termination of the Employment directly or
indirectly use for any purpose other than for the sole benefit of the Employer,
or disclose or permit to be disclosed to any third person or entity, any
confidential or proprietary information without first obtaining the written
consent of the responsible executive and the party concerned, if applicable,
except if required to do so by law.
48
The
Employee may not make any statement to the media related to confidential
information, as far as he is not authorized to do so by the responsible
executive.
Upon
termination of this Employment Agreement for any reason, the Employee shall
return to the Employer all files and any company documents concerning the
business of the Employer in his possession or open to his access, including
all
designs, customer and price lists, printed material, documents, sketches, notes,
drafts as well as copies thereof, regardless whether or not the same are
originally furnished by the Employer.
The
Employer reserves the right to the remedy of specific performance of the
Employee’s obligations in addition to any damages.
Article
41: MISCELLEANOUS
41.1
|
Entire
Agreement
|
This
Employment Agreement constitutes the complete Employment Agreement between
the
Parties regarding its subject matter and supersedes all prior oral and/or
written agreements, representations and/or communications, concerning the
subject matter hereof.
41.2
|
Severability
|
If
any
provision of this Employment Agreement is held to be unenforceable for any
reason, it shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, in order to
achieve the intent of the Parties to this Employment Agreement to the fullest
extent possible. In any event, all other provisions of this Employment Agreement
shall remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent possible.
41.3
|
Amendments
|
Any
amendments or supplementation of this Employment Agreement shall require written
form. The written form may be dispensed only in writing.
41.4
|
Governing
Law and Jurisdiction
|
This
Employment Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
Swiss
law (without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law).
Any
dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this
Employment Agreement, including the validity, invalidity, breach or termination
thereof, and including tort claims, shall be exclusively submitted to and
determined by the courts of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, without prejudice to a
possible appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
49
41.5
|
Execution
|
The
Parties have duly executed this Agreement in two originals.
41.6
|
Waiver
|
The
waiver by either Party of any breach of this Agreement by the other Party shall
not be effective unless in writing, and no such waiver shall operate or be
construed as the waiver of the same or another breach on a subsequent
occasion.
41.7
|
Survival
|
Sections
XII through XV, inclusive, shall survive and continue in full force in
accordance with their terms notwithstanding the expiration or termination of
this Agreement or the Employment Period.
[Signature
Page Follows]
50
Signatures
Intersema
Sensoric SA (Employer)
Place, date |
[name] |
||
[title] |
Place, date |
[name] |
||
[title] |
Xx.
Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx (Employee)
Place, date |
Xx. Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
51