UNITED STATES
SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event
reported): November
13, 2007
McCormick
& Company, Incorporated
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
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0-748
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52-0408290
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(State
or other jurisdiction
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(Commission
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(IRS
Employer
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of
incorporation)
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File
Number)
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Identification
No.)
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18 Loveton Circle
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Sparks, Maryland
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21152
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrants
telephone number, including area code: (410) 771-7301
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b).
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c).
ITEM 1.01 ENTRY
INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
On November 13, 2007,
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (the Company) and Conopco, Inc. (Conopco) entered into an Asset Purchase
Agreement (the Asset Purchase Agreement) under which the Company will
purchase from Conopco the assets of Conopco used exclusively in connection with
the manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling of food products under
the Lawrys® and Adolphs® brands, including the Lawrys® and Adolphs®
trade names, trademarks, and service marks, and all associated goodwill
(collectively, the Transferred Assets).
The purchase price for the
Transferred Assets, determined based upon arms-length negotiation between the
parties, is (i) $605 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments
related to inventory at the time the transaction is closed, and (ii) the
assumption of certain liabilities as specified in the Asset Purchase
Agreement. The closing of the
transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
waiting period and other customary closing conditions. The Company has agreed to pay Conopco a $30
million termination fee, subject to certain limited conditions, in the event
that HSR clearance is not obtained.
The foregoing summary of the
Asset Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the
full text of the Asset Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto
and incorporated herein by reference.
The Asset Purchase Agreement
has been filed to provide investors and security holders with information
regarding its terms. It is not intended
to provide any other factual information about the Company or Conopco. The Asset Purchase Agreement contains
representations and warranties the parties thereto made to and solely for the
benefit of each other, and such representations and warranties may be subject
to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ
from those applicable to investors. The
assertions embodied in those representations and warranties are qualified by
information in confidential disclosure schedules that the Company delivered in
connection with the execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement. Accordingly, investors and security holders
should not rely on the representations and warranties as characterizations of
the actual state of facts. Moreover,
information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties
may change after the date of the Asset Purchase Agreement, which subsequent
information may or may not be fully reflected in the Companys disclosures.
ITEM 7.01 REGULATION
FD DISCLOSURE.
The following information is
being furnished under Item 7.01 of Form 8-K: Press Release, dated November 14,
2007 announcing the execution of the Asset Purchase Agreement described
above. A copy of this press release is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information in this Item
7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is furnished pursuant to Item
7.01 and shall not be deemed filed for any purpose, including for the
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Item 7.01 of this
Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless
of any general incorporation language in such filing.
2
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits.
The
exhibits to this report are listed in Items 1.01 and 7.01 above and in the
Exhibit Index that follows the signature line.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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McCORMICK & COMPANY,
INCORPORATED
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Date: November 16, 2007
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By:
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/s/ Robert W. Skelton
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Robert W. Skelton
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Senior Vice President,
General Counsel & Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
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Exhibit Description
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2.1
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Asset Purchase Agreement.
In accordance with the instructions to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-B, the
schedules and exhibits to the Asset PurchaseAgreement are not filed herewith.
The Asset Purchase Agreement identifies such schedules and exhibits,
including the general nature of their content. The Company undertakes to
provide such schedules and exhibits to the Securities and Exchange Commission
upon request.
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99.1
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Copy of the press release
labeled McCormick To Acquire Lawrys® Brand.
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3
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION COPY
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
between
CONOPCO, INC.
and
McCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
Dated as of November 13, 2007
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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Purchase and Sale of Transferred Assets
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SECTION 1.01. Purchase and Sale
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1
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SECTION 1.02. Transferred Assets and
Excluded Assets
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1
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SECTION 1.03. Consents to Certain
Assignments
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5
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SECTION 1.04. Assumption of Liabilities
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6
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SECTION 1.05. License Agreement for
Retained Technology
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8
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ARTICLE II
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Closing and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustment
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SECTION 2.01. Closing
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9
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SECTION 2.02. Transactions To Be Effected
at the Closing
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9
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SECTION 2.03. Post-Closing Purchase Price
Adjustment
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10
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ARTICLE III
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Representations and Warranties of Seller
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SECTION 3.01. Organization and Standing
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12
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SECTION 3.02. Authority; Execution and
Delivery; Enforceability
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12
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SECTION 3.03. No Conflicts or Violations;
No Consents or Approvals Required
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13
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SECTION 3.04. Financial Information
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14
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SECTION 3.05. Good and Valid Title
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14
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SECTION 3.06. Intellectual Property
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15
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SECTION 3.07. Contracts
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16
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SECTION 3.08. Permits
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18
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SECTION 3.09. Taxes
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18
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SECTION 3.10. Proceedings
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19
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SECTION 3.11. Absence of Changes or Events
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19
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SECTION 3.12. Compliance with Applicable
Laws
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20
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SECTION 3.13. Relationships with Customers
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20
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SECTION 3.14. Trade Secrets
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20
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i
ARTICLE IV
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Representations and Warranties of Purchaser
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SECTION 4.01. Organization and Standing
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20
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SECTION 4.02. Authority; Execution and
Delivery; Enforceability
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20
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SECTION 4.03. No Conflicts or Violations;
No Consents or Approvals Required
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21
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SECTION 4.04. Proceedings
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21
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SECTION 4.05. Availability of Funds;
Solvency
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21
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ARTICLE V
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Covenants
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SECTION 5.01. Covenants Relating to Conduct
of the Business
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22
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SECTION 5.02. Access to Information
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23
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SECTION 5.03. Confidentiality
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23
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SECTION 5.04. Reasonable Best Efforts
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23
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SECTION 5.05. Brokers or Finders
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26
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SECTION 5.06. Non-Competition
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26
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SECTION 5.07. Exclusivity
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27
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SECTION 5.08. Financial Statement Delivery
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27
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SECTION 5.09. Further Assurances
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28
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ARTICLE VI
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Conditions to Closing
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SECTION 6.01. Conditions to Each Partys
Obligation
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28
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SECTION 6.02. Conditions to Obligation of Purchaser
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29
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SECTION 6.03. Conditions to Obligation of
Seller
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29
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SECTION 6.04. Frustration of Closing
Conditions
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29
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SECTION 6.05. Effect of Certain Waivers of
Closing Conditions
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29
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ARTICLE VII
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Termination; Effect of Termination
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SECTION 7.01. Termination
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30
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SECTION 7.02. Effect of Termination
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31
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ii
ARTICLE VIII
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Indemnification
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SECTION 8.01. Indemnification by Seller
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32
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SECTION 8.02. Indemnification by Purchaser
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32
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SECTION 8.03. Indemnification Procedures
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33
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SECTION 8.04. Limitations on
Indemnification
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34
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SECTION 8.05. Calculation of Indemnity
Payments
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36
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SECTION 8.06. Tax Treatment of
Indemnification
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37
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ARTICLE IX
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Tax Matters
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SECTION 9.01. Tax Matters
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37
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ARTICLE X
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Additional Agreements
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SECTION 10.01. Publicity
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38
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SECTION 10.02. No Use of Certain Names
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38
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SECTION 10.03. Support Services
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39
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SECTION 10.04. Post-Closing Information
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39
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SECTION 10.05. Books and Records
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39
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SECTION 10.06. Bulk Transfer Laws
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40
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SECTION 10.07. Refunds and Remittances
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40
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SECTION 10.08. Termination of Licenses and
Cancellation of Registrations
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40
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ARTICLE XI
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Miscellaneous
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SECTION 11.01. Assignment
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40
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SECTION 11.02. No Third-Party Beneficiaries
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41
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SECTION 11.03. Expenses
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41
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SECTION 11.04. Notices
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41
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SECTION 11.05. Headings; Certain
Definitions
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42
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SECTION 11.06. Counterparts
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44
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SECTION 11.07. Integrated Contract;
Exhibits and Schedules
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44
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SECTION 11.08. Severability; Enforcement
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45
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SECTION 11.09. Governing Law
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45
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SECTION 11.10. Jurisdiction
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45
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SECTION 11.11. Service of Process
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45
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iii
SECTION 11.12. Waiver of Jury Trial
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45
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SECTION 11.13. Amendments
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46
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SECTION 11.14. Specific Enforcement
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46
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iv
EXHIBITS
Form of Asia
License Agreement
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A
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Form of
License Agreement for Retained Technology
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B
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Form of
General Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement
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C
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Form of U.S.
Trademark Assignment
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D
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Form of
Non-U.S. Trademark Assignment
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E
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Form of
General Intellectual Property Assignment
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F
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Form of
Transitional Services Agreement
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G
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Form of
Manufacturing Agreement
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H
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SCHEDULES
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Seller
Affiliates
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A
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v
GLOSSARY
OF DEFINED TERMS
Definition
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Location
of
Defined Terms
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Acquisition
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Section 1.01
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Adjusted
Purchase Price
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Section 2.03(c)
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affiliate
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Section 11.05(b)
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Agreement
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Preamble
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Allocation
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Section 9.01(a)(ii)
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Ancillary
Agreements
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Section 3.02
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Applicable
Law
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Section 3.03
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Asia License
Agreement
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Section 1.02(b)
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Assumed
Liabilities
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Section 1.04(a)
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Assumed
Product Returns
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Section 1.04(a)(ii)
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Brands
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Recitals
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Business
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Section 11.05(b)
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Business
Contracts
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Section 3.07(b)
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business day
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Section 11.05(b)
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Business
Material Adverse Effect
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Section 11.05(b)
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Canadian
Marinades Business
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Section 11.05(b)
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Claims
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Section 1.02(a)(viii)
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Closing
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Section 2.01
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Closing Date
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Section 2.01
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Closing Date
Payment
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Section 2.02(b)
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Closing
Inventory
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Section 2.03(a)
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Code
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Section 3.09(a)
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Confidentiality
Agreement
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Section 5.03(a)
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Consent
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Section 3.03
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Contracts
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Section 1.02(a)(vii)
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DOJ
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Section 5.04(b)
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$
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Section 11.05(b)
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Equipment
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Section 1.02(a)(ii)
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Excluded
Assets
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Section 1.02(b)
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Excluded
Technology License
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Section 1.05
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Extended HSR
Clearance Date
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Section 5.04(c)
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Extension
Conditions
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Section 5.04(c)
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Final
Purchase Price
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Section 2.03(c)
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Financial
Statements
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Section 3.04(a)
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FTC
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Section 5.04(b)
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GAAP
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Section 2.03(a)
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General Bill
of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement
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Section 2.02(a)(iii)
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Governmental
Entity
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Section 3.03
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vi
Definition
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Location
of
Defined Terms
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HSR Act
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Section 3.03
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HSR Consent
Determination Notice
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Section 5.04(d)
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HSR
Extension Request
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Section 5.04(d)
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HSR Meeting
Request
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Section 5.04(d)
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including
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Section 11.05(b)
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Indemnified
Party
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Section 8.03(a)
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Indemnifying
Party
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Section 8.03(a)
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Independent
Expert
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Section 2.03(b)(ii)
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Initial HSR
Clearance Date
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Section 5.04(b)
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Inventory
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Section 3.07(a)(ii)
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Judgment
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Section 3.03
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knowledge of
Seller
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Section 11.05(b)
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Liens
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Section 3.05(a)
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Losses
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Section 8.01
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Names
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Section 10.02
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Non-Requesting
Party
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Section 5.04(d)
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Notice of
Objection
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Section 2.03(b)(i)
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Other Transferred Intellectual Property
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Section 1.02(a)(iv)
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Outside Date
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Section 7.01(a)(iv)
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Permits
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Section 1.02(a)(vi)
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Permitted
Liens
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Section 3.05(a)
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person
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Section 11.05(b)
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Power
Packaging Agreement
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Section 11.05(b)
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Pre-Closing
Tax Period
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Section 3.09(a)
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Proceeding
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Section 1.04(b)(v)
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Products
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Section 11.05(b)
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Purchase
Price
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Section 1.01
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Purchaser
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Preamble
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Purchaser
Indemnitees
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Section 8.01
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Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect
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Section 4.04
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Requesting
Party
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Section 5.04(d)
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Restricted
Period
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Section 1.02(b)
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Retained
Liabilities
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Section 1.04(b)
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Second
Request
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Section 5.04(c)
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Seller
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Preamble
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Seller
Affiliates
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Recitals
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Seller
Indemnitees
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Section 8.02
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Seller
Insurance Policies
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Section 5.01(b)
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Sellers
Promotional Liabilities
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Section 1.04(a)(v)
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Senior
Officer Meeting
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Section 5.04(c)
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vii
Definition
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Location
of
Defined Terms
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Statement
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Section 2.03(a)
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Statements
of Assets and Liabilities
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Section 3.04(a)
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Statement Inventory
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Section 2.03(a)
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subsidiary
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Section 11.05(b)
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Survival
Period
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Section 8.04(a)
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Target
Inventory
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Section 2.03(c)
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Tax
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Section 3.09(a)
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Taxes
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Section 3.09(a)
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Taxing
Authority
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Section 3.09(a)
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Tax Return
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Section 3.09(a)
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Technology
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Section 1.02(a)(v)
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Termination
Fee
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Section 5.04(d)
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Termination
Fee Payment Date
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Section 5.04(d)
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Territory
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Section 5.06(a)
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Third Party
Claim
|
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Section 8.03(a)
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Trademarks
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Section 1.02(a)(iii)
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Transfer
Taxes
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Section 3.09(a)
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Transferred
Assets
|
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Section 1.02(a)
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Transferred
Contracts
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Section 1.02(a)(vii)
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Transferred
Equipment
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Section 1.02(a)(ii)
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Transferred
Intellectual Property
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Section 1.02(a)(iv)
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Transferred
Inventory
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Section 1.02(a)(i)
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Transferred
Permits
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Section 1.02(a)(vi)
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Transferred
Technology
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Section 1.02(a)(v)
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Transferred
Trademarks
|
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Section 1.02(a)(iii)
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Transitional
Services Agreement
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Section 2.02(a)(vii)
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Unaudited
Management Account
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Section 3.04(b)
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viii
ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of November 13, 2007 (this Agreement),
between CONOPCO, INC., a New York corporation (Seller), and McCORMICK
& COMPANY, INCORPORATED, a Maryland corporation (Purchaser).
WHEREAS
Seller, directly or indirectly through the affiliates of Seller identified on
Schedule A (collectively, the Seller Affiliates), manufactures,
markets, distributes and sells the Lawrys®, Adolphs®
and Spatini® brands (the Brands) of marinades, spice and
seasonings products. Seller wishes to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser wishes
to purchase from Seller, the Transferred Assets, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement. In addition, Purchaser has agreed to assume
from Seller and the Seller Affiliates the Assumed Liabilities, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Purchase and Sale of Transferred Assets
SECTION 1.01. Purchase and Sale. Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing,
Seller agrees to, and agrees to cause the Seller Affiliates to, sell, transfer,
assign and deliver to Purchaser, and Purchaser agrees to purchase, acquire and
accept from Seller and the Seller Affiliates, all of Sellers and the Seller
Affiliates right, title and interest in, to and under the Transferred Assets
for (i) an aggregate purchase price of $605,000,000 (the Purchase
Price), payable as set forth in Section 2.02(b) and
subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 2.03, and (ii) the
assumption of the Assumed Liabilities. The purchase and sale of the Transferred
Assets and the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities are collectively referred
to in this Agreement as the Acquisition.
SECTION 1.02. Transferred Assets and Excluded Assets. (a) The
term Transferred Assets means all of Sellers and the
Seller Affiliates right, title and interest in, to and under the following
assets as they exist at the time of Closing:
(i) all finished goods owned by Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates
on the Closing Date (other than any finished goods bearing the Knorr name or
mark) that are used or held for use exclusively in the operation or conduct of
the Business (collectively, the Transferred Inventory);
(ii) all other tangible personal property and interests therein,
including all machinery, equipment and molds (Equipment), owned by
Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates and set forth in
Schedule 1.02(a)(ii) (the Transferred Equipment);
(iii) all trademarks, service marks, trademark registrations, service
mark registrations, trademark applications and service mark applications
(including, in each instance, moral rights and common law rights, if any) (Trademarks)
that are used or held for use exclusively in the operation or conduct of the
Business, including those set forth in Schedule 1.02(a)(iii)
(collectively, the Transferred Trademarks);
(iv) all trade names, trade dress and domain names, copyrights
(registered or unregistered), designs (registered or unregistered), and all
registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, in
each case that are used or held for use exclusively in the operation or conduct
of the Business, including those that are identified on Schedule 1.02(a)(iv)
(collectively, the Other Transferred Intellectual Property and,
together with the Transferred Trademarks, the Transferred Intellectual
Property);
(v) all trade secrets, proprietary inventions, know-how, formulae
(including recipes), processes, procedures, research records, records of
inventions, specifications, test and other information, new product concepts,
market surveys and marketing know-how (Technology) owned by Seller or
any of the Seller Affiliates that are used or held for use exclusively in, or
that arise exclusively out of, the operation or conduct of the Business (the Transferred
Technology);
(vi) all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals or authorizations
from any Governmental Entity (Permits) issued to Seller or any Seller
Affiliate that are used or held for use exclusively in the operation or conduct
of the Business to the extent such Permits are transferable (the Transferred
Permits);
(vii) all legally binding contracts, leases, subleases, licenses,
indentures, agreements, commitments and other legally binding instruments (Contracts)
set forth in Schedule 3.07 (other than the Power Packaging Agreement), and
all other Contracts to which Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates is a party
or by which Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates is bound that are used or
held for use exclusively in, or that arise exclusively out of, the operation or
conduct of the Business (the Transferred Contracts);
(viii) all rights to assert claims, demands, actions, suits and causes
of action, whether class, individual or otherwise in nature, in law or in
equity, including any claim, demand, action, suit or cause of action for
damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief or other relief under the laws
of any foreign country or the United States or any State thereof (collectively,
Claims) of Seller or any Seller Affiliate to the extent relating to
any Transferred Asset or any Assumed Liability, other than (A) any such
items arising under insurance policies and (B) all Sellers or any of the
Seller Affiliates Claims under the antitrust laws of any foreign country or
the United States or any State thereof, unfair competition, unfair practices,
price discrimination, unitary pricing,
2
consumer protection,
fraud prevention or trade practice laws (in any such case, domestic or
foreign), that Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates, in any capacity, ever
had, now has or may or shall have in the future, whether known or unknown,
relating in any way to (x) the Businesss purchase or procurement of any
good, service or product at any time up until the Closing or (y) Sellers
or any of the Seller Affiliates purchase or procurement of any good, service
or product for, or on behalf of, the Business at any time up until the Closing,
along with any and all recoveries by settlement, judgment or otherwise in
connection with any such Claims;
(ix) all books of account, general, financial and accounting records,
files, invoices, customers and suppliers lists, other distribution lists,
billing records, sales and promotional literature, manuals, customer and
supplier correspondence and files relating to the Transferred Trademarks, in
each case owned by Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates that are used or held
for use exclusively in, or that arise exclusively out of, the operation or
conduct of the Business, whether in possession of Seller or any Seller
Affiliate or any other person, except to the extent relating to the Excluded
Assets or the Retained Liabilities and except to the extent not reasonably
separable from documents or databases that do not relate exclusively to the
Business;
(x) all prepaid expenses that are used or held for use exclusively in,
or that arise exclusively out of, the operation or conduct of the Business;
(xi) all uniform product codes used exclusively for the Products; and
(xii) all goodwill of the Business.
(b) Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the
sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the Transferred Assets to Purchaser
is subject to the execution and delivery at the Closing by Purchaser of a
royalty-free license in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Asia
License Agreement) to Seller to manufacture, market, distribute or sell
any products under the Adolphs® brand in China, Hong Kong, Philippines and
Singapore during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the
date that is three years after the Closing Date (the Restricted Period).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the
Transferred Assets shall not include any assets or rights other than the assets
specifically listed or described in Section 1.02(a) and shall
expressly exclude the following assets (collectively, the Excluded Assets),
which shall not be sold, transferred, assigned or delivered to Purchaser:
(i) all cash, cash equivalents or securities of Seller or any of the
Seller Affiliates;
(ii) all accounts, notes receivable and similar rights to receive
payments of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates on the Closing Date arising
out of the operation or conduct of the Business on or prior to the Closing;
3
(iii) all Claims of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates relating to
any other Excluded Asset or any Retained Liability, including (A) any such
items arising under insurance policies, (B) all guarantees, warranties,
indemnities and similar rights in favor of Seller or any Seller Affiliate in
respect of any other Excluded Asset or any Retained Liability and (C) all
Claims under the antitrust laws of any foreign country or the United States or
any State thereof, unfair competition, unfair practices, price discrimination,
unitary pricing, consumer protection, fraud prevention or trade practice laws
(in any such case, domestic or foreign) that Seller or any of the Seller
Affiliates, in any capacity, ever had, now has or may or shall have in the
future, whether known or unknown, relating in any way to (x) the Businesss
purchase or procurement of any good, service or product at any time up until
the Closing or (y) Sellers or any of the Seller Affiliates purchase or
procurement of any good, service or product for, or on behalf of, the Business
at any time up until the Closing, along with any and all recoveries by
settlement, judgment or otherwise in connection with any such Claims;
(iv) any shares of capital stock of any affiliate of Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates;
(v) any assets relating to any employee benefit plan in which any
employees of Seller, any of the Seller Affiliates or any of their respective
affiliates participate;
(vi) any refunds or credits, claims for refunds or credits or rights to
receive refunds or credits from any Taxing Authority with respect to Taxes paid
or to be paid by Seller, any of the Seller Affiliates or any of their
respective affiliates relating to any Pre-Closing Tax Period;
(vii) any records (including accounting records) related to Taxes paid
or payable by Seller, any of the Seller Affiliates or any of their respective affiliates
and all financial and Tax records relating to the Business that form part of
Sellers, any of the Seller Affiliates or any of their respective affiliates
general ledger;
(viii) all records prepared in connection with the sale of the
Business, including bids received from third persons and analyses relating to
the Business;
(ix) all rights of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates under this
Agreement and any other agreements, certificates and instruments relating to
the sale of the Business (or any portion thereof) or otherwise delivered in
connection with this Agreement;
(x) the names and marks Unilever, Bestfoods, Unilever Bestfoods, Unilever
Foodsolutions, Knorr and Carb Options (in any
4
style or
design), and any name or mark derived from, similar to or including any of the
foregoing;
(xi) all real property, leaseholds and other interests in real property
of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates;
(xii) all division or corporate-level services of the type currently
provided to the Business by Seller, any of the Seller Affiliates or any of
their respective affiliates;
(xiii) all uniform product codes not used exclusively for the Products;
and
(xiv) all patents (including all reissues, divisions, continuations and
extensions thereof), patent applications and patent rights owned by Seller or
any Seller Affiliate.
(c) Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that
Seller, the Seller Affiliates and their respective affiliates may continue to
manufacture, market, distribute and sell, or have manufactured, marketed,
distributed or sold on their behalf, products under the Adolphs® brand in
China, Hong Kong, Philippines and Singapore in accordance with the Asia License
Agreement during the Restricted Period and that the Other Transferred
Intellectual Property and Transferred Technology may be used in connection with
such activities in accordance with the Asia License Agreement.
SECTION 1.03. Consents to Certain Assignments. (a) Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 1.03(b)), this
Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to transfer or assign, directly or
indirectly, any asset or any claim or right or any benefit arising under or
resulting from such asset if an attempted direct or indirect assignment
thereof, without the consent of a third party, would constitute a breach,
default, violation or other contravention of the rights of such third party,
would be ineffective with respect to any party to an agreement concerning such
asset, claim or right, or would in any way adversely affect the rights of
Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates or, upon transfer, Purchaser under such
asset, claim or right. If any direct or indirect transfer or assignment by Seller
or any of the Seller Affiliates to Purchaser, or any direct or indirect
acquisition or assumption by Purchaser of, any interest in, or liability,
obligation or commitment under, any asset, claim or right requires the consent
of a third party, then such transfer or assignment or assumption shall be made
subject to such consent being obtained.
(b) If any such consent is not obtained prior to
the Closing, the Closing shall nonetheless take place on the terms set forth
herein and, thereafter, Purchaser and Seller shall use their respective
reasonable best efforts to secure such consent as promptly as practicable after
the Closing and shall cooperate in any lawful and commercially reasonable
arrangement reasonably proposed by Purchaser under which (i) Purchaser
shall obtain (without infringing upon the legal rights of such third party or
violating any Applicable Law) the economic claims, rights and benefits (net of
the amount of any
5
related Tax costs imposed on Seller, any of
the Seller Affiliates or any of their respective affiliates imposed on
post-Closing income so transferable to Purchaser) under the Transferred Asset
with respect to which the consent has not been obtained in accordance with this
Agreement and (ii) Seller shall bear any incremental economic burden
resulting from implementation of any such alternative arrangement pursuant to
this Section 1.03 (other than the amount of any such related Tax costs
borne by Purchaser pursuant to clause (i) above) because a third party
consent has not been obtained in accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION 1.04. Assumption of Liabilities. (a) Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser shall assume, effective as of the
Closing, and shall pay, perform and discharge when due, and indemnify, defend
and hold harmless from and after the Closing Seller, each of the Seller
Affiliates and each of their respective affiliates and each of their respective
officers, directors, employees, stockholders, agents and representatives from
and against all of the following obligations, liabilities and commitments
whether express or implied, primary or secondary, direct or indirect,
liquidated, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to
become due, arising out of, relating to or otherwise in respect of the
Transferred Assets, the Business or the operation or conduct of the Business
(collectively, the Assumed Liabilities):
(i) all obligations, liabilities and commitments of Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates under the Transferred Contracts and the Transferred
Permits, arising, in each case, after the Closing Date, except for any
liabilities arising from a default by Seller or any Seller Affiliate occurring
on or prior to the Closing Date under any Transferred Contract or Transferred
Permit;
(ii) all obligations, liabilities and commitments for refunds,
adjustments, allowances, repairs, exchanges, returns and warranty or similar
Claims, in each case in respect of requests for returns in the ordinary course
of business with respect to Products sold by the Business prior to the Closing;
provided that the aggregate amount of such assumed obligations,
liabilities and commitments (other than in respect of returns caused by Purchaser
for reasons other than a product defect) shall not exceed $350,000 in any one
month (the Assumed Product Returns);
(iii) all Taxes (including one-half of the aggregate amount of any
Transfer Taxes) arising out of, relating to or in respect of the Business and
the Transferred Assets for all taxable periods other than the Pre-Closing Tax
Periods;
(iv) all obligations, liabilities and commitments accruing, arising out
of or relating to the operation or conduct of the Business or the use or
ownership of the Transferred Assets, in each case after the Closing Date,
including obligations, liabilities and commitments in respect of any and all
products sold by the Business after the Closing Date (including in respect of
product liability claims);
6
(v) all obligations, liabilities and commitments (A) arising under
or in respect of (x) the advertising commitments set forth in
Schedule 1.04(a)(v) or (y) any advertising commitments entered into
or assumed by Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates on or after the date of
this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (B) for
trade promotions and consumer promotions (x) as set forth in
Schedule 1.04(a)(v) or (y) planned or committed on or after the date
of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in each case
in respect of any and all Products of the Business (including the Transferred
Inventory) sold by Purchaser after the Closing Date; provided that the
obligations, liabilities and commitments assumed by Purchaser pursuant to this
clause (v) shall in no event exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate (any such
obligations, liabilities and commitments described in this clause (v) in
excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate, the Sellers Promotional
Liabilities) and
(vi) all liabilities arising from the termination or modification by
Purchaser or any of its affiliates after the Closing Date of any relationship
or agreement existing on the date hereof between Seller or any of its affiliates,
on the one hand, and any distributor, on the other hand, to the extent such
distributorship relationship or agreement relates to the Business.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, Purchaser shall not assume any Retained Liability, each of which
shall be retained and paid, performed and discharged when due by Seller and the
Seller Affiliates. The term Retained Liabilities means:
(i) all obligations, liabilities and commitments of Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates to the extent relating to or arising out of the Excluded
Assets;
(ii) all accounts payable and all accrued liabilities pertaining to
Product sales of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates existing on the Closing
Date and arising out of the operation or conduct of the Business on or before
the Closing Date;
(iii) all Taxes arising out of, relating to or in respect of the
Business and the Transferred Assets imposed upon Seller or any of the Seller
Affiliates or any present or former affiliate of Seller or any of the Seller
Affiliates for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods;
(iv) all obligations, liabilities and commitments of Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates to the extent arising from the employment of any employee
by the Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates;
(v) all obligations, liabilities and commitments of Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates to the extent relating to or arising out of any suit,
action or proceeding (a Proceeding) or Claim (other than any
Proceeding or Claim
7
relating to
Assumed Product Returns), in each case pending on or before the Closing Date;
(vi) all liabilities under the Power Packaging Agreement (it being
acknowledged that nothing in this Section 1.04(b)(vi) is intended to be
inconsistent with, nor to affect the parties respective obligations under,
Sections 4, 7, 8 or 9 of the Transitional Services Agreement;
(vii) all obligations, liabilities and commitments in respect of
Products sold by the Business on or prior to the Closing Date, including
obligations, liabilities and commitments for any personal injury claims or
product recalls arising out of or resulting from defective products sold by the
Business prior to the Closing, other than the Assumed Product Returns;
(viii) the Sellers Promotional Liabilities; and
(ix) all other liabilities, obligations and commitments of Seller or
any of the Seller Affiliates not listed in Section 1.04(a).
(c) Purchaser agrees to reimburse Seller, dollar
for dollar, in the event that any of Sellers or a Seller Affiliates customers
offset any Assumed Liability against accounts payable by such customer to
Seller or such Seller Affiliate. Seller agrees to, and to cause the Seller
Affiliates to, provide notice to Purchaser of any such offset for which Seller
or such Seller Affiliate is entitled to be reimbursed by Purchaser pursuant to
this Section 1.04(c). Purchaser shall pay Seller promptly following
receipt of notice of any such offset by a customer (together with supporting
documentation).
(d) Seller agrees to reimburse Purchaser, dollar
for dollar, in the event that any of Purchasers or its affiliates customers
offset any Retained Liability against accounts payable by such customer to
Purchaser or its affiliates. Purchaser agrees to provide notice to Seller of
any such offset for which Purchaser is entitled to be reimbursed by Seller
pursuant to this Section 1.04(d). Seller shall pay Purchaser promptly
following receipt of notice of any such offset by a customer (together with
supporting documentation).
SECTION 1.05. License Agreement for Retained Technology.
At the Closing, Seller will execute and deliver a paid-up license (in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B) to Purchaser of any right or asset owned or
controlled by Seller or any Seller Affiliate that (a) is used or held for
use in connection with the operation or conduct of the Business on the Closing
Date and (b) would constitute Other Transferred Intellectual Property or
Transferred Technology but for the fact that is it used, or held for use, by
Seller or a Seller Affiliate in the operation or conduct of the Business as
well as other operations or activities (the License Agreement for Retained
Technology).
8
ARTICLE II
Closing and Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustment
SECTION 2.01. Closing. The
closing of the Acquisition (the Closing) shall take place
at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue,
New York, New York 10019, at 10:00 a.m. on the second business
day following the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted, the waiver) of the
condition set forth in Section 6.01(a), or, if on such day any other
condition set forth in Article VI has not been satisfied (or, to the extent
permitted, waived by the party or parties entitled to the benefit thereof), as
soon as practicable after all the conditions set forth in Article VI have
been satisfied (or, to the extent permitted, waived by the party or parties
entitled to the benefit thereof), or at such other place, time and date as may
be agreed by Seller and Purchaser. The date on which the Closing occurs is
referred to in this Agreement as the Closing Date. The Closing
shall be deemed to be effective as of 11:59 p.m., on the Closing Date.
SECTION 2.02. Transactions To Be Effected at the Closing.
At the Closing:
(a) Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered
by the Seller Affiliates to Purchaser (i) a duly-executed counterpart of
the Asia License Agreement, (ii) a duly-executed counterpart of the
License Agreement for Retained Technology, (iii) duly-executed bills of
sale and general assignment and assumption agreements with respect to all
tangible Transferred Assets, all Transferred Contracts and all Assumed
Liabilities, in the form of Exhibit C (each, a General Bill of Sale,
Assignment and Assumption Agreement), (iv) duly-executed and
notarized assignments of all U.S. Transferred Trademarks and the goodwill
associated exclusively with the U.S. Transferred Trademarks suitable for recording
in the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit D,
(v) a duly-executed and notarized general assignment for all other
Transferred Trademarks and the goodwill associated exclusively with the other
Transferred Trademarks in the form of Exhibit E (it being understood that
(A) Seller shall also deliver or cause to be delivered by the Seller
Affiliates to Purchaser such duly-executed and notarized assignments for
recording outside of the United States in such forms substantially identical to
the form of Exhibit E as may be reasonably provided to Seller by Purchaser not
less than 30 days prior to the Closing Date and (B) any legalization
required for the recording of any such assignment outside of the United States
may be effectuated after the Closing and shall be at the sole cost and
responsibility of Purchaser), (vi) duly-executed and notarized general
assignments of all Other Transferred Intellectual Property and Transferred
Technology, in the form of Exhibit F, (vii) a duly-executed
counterpart of a transitional services agreement between Seller and Purchaser,
in the form of Exhibit G (the Transitional Services Agreement),
(viii) a duly-executed counterpart of a manufacturing agreement between an
affiliate of Seller and Purchaser, in the form of Exhibit H (the Manufacturing
Agreement) and (ix) the certificates required by
Sections 6.02(a) and 6.02(b) of this Agreement (it being understood that
such certificates, bills of sale, assignments, licenses and other instruments
9
of transfer shall not require Seller to make
any additional representations, warranties or covenants, expressed or implied,
not contained in this Agreement); and
(b) Purchaser shall deliver to Seller and the
Seller Affiliates (i) payment, by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to one or more accounts designated in writing by Seller (such designation
to be made at least one business day prior to the Closing Date), in an amount
equal to (A) the Purchase Price plus or minus (B) an estimate,
prepared by Seller and delivered to Purchaser at least one business day prior
to the Closing Date, of any adjustment to the Purchase Price under
Section 2.03 (the Purchase Price plus or minus such estimate of any adjustment
under Section 2.03 being hereinafter called the Closing Date Payment),
(ii) a duly-executed counterpart of the Asia License Agreement,
(iii) a duly-executed counterpart of the License Agreement for Retained
Technology, (iv) duly-executed counterparts of each General Bill of Sale,
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, (v) a duly-executed counterpart of
the Transitional Services Agreement, (vi) a duly-executed counterpart of
the Manufacturing Agreement and (vii) the certificates required by
Sections 6.03(a) and 6.03(b) of this Agreement (it being understood that
such certificates shall not require Purchaser to make any additional
representations, warranties or covenants, expressed or implied, not contained
in this Agreement).
SECTION 2.03. Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustment.
(a) The Statement. Within
60 days after the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare and deliver to
Purchaser a statement (the Statement), setting forth
the value of the Transferred Inventory (the Statement
Inventory) as of 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date (Closing
Inventory) calculated net of reserves in accordance with the
principles set forth on Schedule 2.03 and otherwise in accordance with
United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Purchaser
shall assist Seller and its independent auditors and other representatives in
the preparation of the Statement and shall provide Seller and its independent
auditors and other representatives any information reasonably requested and
shall provide them access at all reasonable times to the personnel, properties,
books and records of the Business for such purpose. Purchaser and its agents
shall be permitted to observe any physical inventory taken to determine the
Closing Inventory.
(b) Objections; Resolution of Disputes.
(i) Unless Purchaser notifies Seller in writing within 60 days
after Sellers delivery of the Statement of any objection to the computation of
Closing Inventory set forth therein (the Notice of Objection), the
Statement shall become final and binding. During such 60-day period Purchaser
and its representatives shall be permitted to review the working papers of
Seller relating to the Statement and shall be granted reasonable access to
appropriate personnel of Seller responsible for preparing such Statement. Any
Notice of Objection shall specify in reasonable detail the basis for the
objections set forth therein and shall include a certification by the Chief
Financial Officer of Purchaser that such Notice of Objection has been prepared
in accordance with this Section 2.03. Any Notice of Objection shall
include only objections
10
based on
(A) mathematical errors in the computation of Closing Inventory or
(B) Closing Inventory not having been calculated in accordance with the
principles set forth on Schedule 2.03. Seller and Purchaser acknowledge
that (x) the sole purpose of the determination of Closing Inventory is to
adjust the Closing Date Payment so as to reflect, based solely on the operation
of the Business, the amount, if any, by which the book value of the Statement
Inventory as of the close of business on the Closing Date deviates from the
Target Inventory and (y) such amount, if any, can be determined only if
the calculation is done using the same accounting principles, practices,
methodologies and policies used in the preparation of the Statements of Assets
and Liabilities.
(ii) If Purchaser provides the Notice of Objection to Seller within
such 60-day period, Purchaser and Seller shall, during the 60-day period
following Sellers receipt of the Notice of Objection, attempt in good faith to
resolve Purchasers objections. During such 60-day period, Seller and its
independent auditors and other representatives shall be permitted to review the
working papers of Purchaser relating to the Notice of Objection and the basis
therefor and shall be granted reasonable access to appropriate personnel of
Purchaser responsible for preparing such Notice of Objection. If Purchaser and
Seller are unable to resolve all such objections within such 60-day period, the
matters remaining in dispute that were properly included in the Notice of
Objection shall be submitted to KPMG LLP (or, if such firm declines to act, to
another nationally recognized public accounting firm mutually agreed upon by
Purchaser and Seller in writing and, if Purchaser and Seller are unable to so
agree within 10 days after the end of such 60-day period, then Purchaser
and Seller shall each select such a firm and such firms shall jointly select a third
nationally recognized firm to resolve the disputed matters (such selected firm
being the Independent Expert)). The parties shall instruct the
Independent Expert to render its reasoned written decision as promptly as
practicable but in no event later than 60 days after its selection. The
resolution of disputed items by the Independent Expert shall be final and
binding, and the determination of the Independent Expert shall constitute an
arbitral award that is final, binding and non-appealable and upon which a
judgment may be entered by a court having jurisdiction over the party against
which such determination is to be enforced. The fees and expenses of the
Independent Expert shall be borne equally by Purchaser and Seller. After the
Statement shall have become final and binding, Purchaser shall have no further
right to make any claims against Seller in respect of (i) any element of
Closing Inventory that Purchaser raised, or could have raised, in the Notice of
Objection or (ii) any payment made pursuant to Section 2.03(c).
(c) Adjustment Payment. The Purchase Price
shall be increased by the amount by which Closing Inventory exceeds $12,000,000
(the Target Inventory), and the Purchase Price shall be decreased by
the amount by which Closing Inventory is less than the Target Inventory (the
Purchase Price as so increased or decreased being hereinafter called the Adjusted
Purchase Price). Within 10 days after the Statement has
11
become final and binding in accordance with
Section 2.03(b), (i) if the Closing Date Payment is less than the Adjusted
Purchase Price, Purchaser shall pay to Seller an amount equal to such
difference, plus simple interest thereon at a rate of 5% per annum from the
Closing Date to the date payment is made in full, and (ii) if the Closing
Date Payment is greater than the Adjusted Purchase Price, Seller shall pay to
Purchaser an amount equal to such difference, plus simple interest thereon at a
rate of 5% per annum from the Closing Date to the date payment is made in full
(the Closing Date Payment as so increased or decreased being hereinafter called
the Final Purchase Price). Any such payment hereunder shall be made by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in
writing by Purchaser or Seller, as the case may be.
(d) Closing Books and Records. Except for
the consummation of the Closing, Purchaser and Seller agree that on the Closing
Date itself the Business shall be conducted in the ordinary course in a manner
substantially consistent with past practice.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties of Seller
Seller hereby
represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Standing. Seller
is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New
York. Each of the Seller Affiliates is validly existing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization as set forth opposite its name on Schedule A.
Each of Seller and each of the Seller Affiliates has full corporate power and
authority to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold the Transferred Assets
owned, leased or otherwise held by it and to conduct the Business as presently
conducted by it. Other than the Seller Affiliates, no affiliate of Seller
(a) manufactures, markets, distributes or sells food products under the
Brands (other than the Adolphs ® brand in China, Hong Kong, Philippines and
Singapore) or (b) owns, possesses or has any right to use any Transferred
Asset, other than rights to use a Transferred Asset that shall be terminated as
of the Closing.
SECTION 3.02. Authority; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. Seller has full corporate power and authority to execute
this Agreement and the other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered
in connection with this Agreement (the Ancillary Agreements) to which
it is, or is specified to be, a party and to consummate the transactions
contemplated to be consummated by it by this Agreement and such Ancillary
Agreements. Each of the Seller Affiliates has full corporate power and
authority to execute the Ancillary Agreements to which it is, or is specified
to be, a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated to be
consummated by it by such Ancillary Agreements. Seller has taken all corporate
action required by its Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws to authorize
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is, or is specified to be, a party and to authorize the consummation
of the transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by this Agreement and
such Ancillary Agreements. Each of the Seller Affiliates has taken all
corporate action required by its comparable organizational documents to
authorize the
12
execution and delivery of the Ancillary
Agreements to which it is, or is specified to be, a party and to authorize the
consummation of the transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by such
Ancillary Agreements. Seller has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and
at or prior to the Closing will have duly executed and delivered each Ancillary
Agreement to which it is, or is specified to be, a party, and this Agreement
constitutes, and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or is specified to
be, a party will upon the Closing constitute, its legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject, as to
enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization
or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and to general equitable
principles. Each of the Seller Affiliates at or prior to the Closing will have
duly executed and delivered each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or is
specified to be, a party, and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or is
specified to be, a party will upon the Closing constitute its legal, valid and
binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms
subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and to
general equitable principles.
SECTION 3.03. No Conflicts or Violations; No Consents or
Approvals Required. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03, the execution and
delivery by Seller of this Agreement do not, the execution and delivery by
Seller and each of the Seller Affiliates of each Ancillary Agreement to which
it is, or is specified to be, a party will not, and the consummation of, in the
case of Seller, the transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by this
Agreement and such Ancillary Agreements, or, in the case of each of the Seller
Affiliates, the transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by such
Ancillary Agreements, will not conflict with, or result in any breach of or
constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than
Permitted Liens or Liens caused by Purchaser) upon any of the Transferred
Assets under, any provision of (i) in the case of Seller, its Certificate
of Incorporation or By-laws and, in the case of each of the Seller Affiliates,
its comparable organizational documents, (ii) except as set forth in
Schedule 3.03, any material Business Contract (as defined in
Section 3.07(b)) or (iii) any material judgment, order or decree (Judgment)
or material statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation (Applicable Law)
applicable to Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates or any of the Transferred
Assets. No consent, approval or authorization (Consent) of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Federal, state, local or foreign court of
competent jurisdiction, governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or
regulatory body (a Governmental Entity), is required to be obtained or
made by or with respect to Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Acquisition, other than (A) compliance with and
filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the HSR Act), (B) compliance with and filings under
Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, (C) those that may be required
solely by reason of Purchasers (as opposed to any third partys) participation
in the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Ancillary Agreements, and (D) those the failure of which to obtain or make
would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Business.
13
SECTION 3.04. Financial Information. (a) Schedule 3.04(a) sets
forth (i) the audited Combined Statements of Assets and Liabilities at
December 31, 2006 and 2005 (the Statements of Assets and Liabilities)
and (ii) the audited Combined Statements of Revenues and Expenses for the
years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, in each case of the Business
(with the exception of the Canadian Marinades Business), together with the
notes to such financial statements (the Financial Statements). The
Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the assets and
liabilities of the Business (with the exception of the Canadian Marinades
Business) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the related revenues and
expenses of its operations for each of the three years ended December 31,
2006, 2005 and 2004, in conformity with GAAP.
(b) Schedule 3.04(b) sets forth an unaudited
Statement of Net Sales and Profit Before Indirects for the 9 months ended
September 30, 2007 of the Business (with the exception of the Canadian Marinades
Business) (the Unaudited Management Account). The Unaudited Management
Account was prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis
except with respect to the absence of footnotes required thereby. The Unaudited
Management Account presents fairly, in all material respects, in accordance
with Sellers historical accounting principles, practices, methodologies and
policies, the net proceeds of sales and profit before indirect expenses of the
Business (with the exception of the Canadian Marinades Business) for the
9 months ended September 30, 2007.
(c) Consistent with certain information furnished
to Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement, the net sales (turnover) of
the Canadian Marinades Business was not less than US$2.0 million for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006, and is not currently expected to be less than
US$2.0 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
SECTION 3.05. Good and Valid Title. (a) Seller or one of the Seller
Affiliates has, or as of the Closing Date will have, good and valid title to
all Transferred Assets (other than de minimis Transferred Assets), other than
those set forth in Schedule 3.05 or sold or otherwise disposed of since
the date of the most recent Statement of Assets and Liabilities not in
violation of this Agreement, in each case free and clear of all mortgages,
liens, charges, claims, pledges or other encumbrances of any kind
(collectively, Liens), except
(i) such Liens as are set forth in Schedule 3.05, (ii) mechanics,
carriers, workmens, repairmens or other like Liens arising or incurred in
the ordinary course of business, (iii) Liens arising under original
purchase price conditional sales Contracts, (iv) Liens for Taxes and other
governmental charges that are not yet due and payable and (v) other
imperfections of title, licenses or encumbrances, if any, which do not impair
the continued use and operation of the assets to which they relate in the
conduct of the Business as presently conducted (the Liens described in clauses (i)
through (v) above are referred to collectively as Permitted Liens).
(b) This Section 3.05 does not relate to
intellectual property, such items being the subject of Section 3.06.
14
SECTION 3.06. Intellectual Property. (a) With respect to the Transferred
Trademarks, Schedule 1.02(a)(iii) sets forth a complete and accurate list
of the trademarks, service marks and trademark and service mark registrations
and applications in each case used or held for use exclusively in the operation
or conduct of the Business anywhere in the world as of the date of this
Agreement, other than such trademark and service mark registrations and
applications that are immaterial to the operation and conduct of the Business
as conducted in jurisdictions outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico
as of the date of this Agreement, together with, as to each registration and
application, certain information to the extent readily available to Seller,
including registration number, application number, next renewal date, class or
classes, goods and/or services, registered proprietor and the jurisdictions
where such Transferred Trademarks are registered or where applications have
been filed. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06(a), (i) the
Transferred Intellectual Property and the Transferred Technology include all
intellectual property (including moral rights and common law rights, if any)
used or held for use exclusively in the operation or conduct of the Business;
and (ii) the Transferred Intellectual Property and the Transferred
Technology, together with the rights licensed under the License Agreement for
Retained Technology, comprise all intellectual property (including moral rights
and common law rights, if any) used or held for use in the operation or conduct
of the Business. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06(a), Seller or one of
the Seller Affiliates is the sole and exclusive owner of title to the
Transferred Intellectual Property and the Transferred Technology and no license
fees in respect of any Transferred Intellectual Property or Transferred
Technology are required for the use by Seller or the applicable Seller
Affiliate of the Transferred Intellectual Property or Transferred Technology.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06(b),
(i) within the last three years no Proceeding has been commenced and, to
the knowledge of Seller, no Claims have been asserted, in either case to
Seller, to any Seller Affiliate or to any other person by any person with respect
to, or challenging or questioning, the ownership, validity, enforceability or
use of any Transferred Intellectual Property or any Transferred Technology and
(ii) to the knowledge of Seller, there is no valid basis for any such
Claim.
(c) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06(c),
to the knowledge of Seller, (i) the use or other exploitation of the
Transferred Intellectual Property and the Transferred Technology in the
operation and conduct of the Business does not infringe the rights of any other
person, (ii) no person is infringing the rights of Seller or Seller
Affiliates with respect to the Transferred Intellectual Property or the
Transferred Technology and (iii) the use or other exploitation of the
Technology that is not Transferred Technology and that is used or held for use
in connection with the operation or conduct of the Business as of the date of
this Agreement does not infringe the rights of any other person.
(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06(d),
neither Seller nor any of the Seller Affiliates has granted any license, and no
licensee has granted any sublicense, in each case of any kind relating to any
Transferred Intellectual Property or Transferred Technology. Neither Seller nor
any of the Seller Affiliates is bound by or a party to any
15
option, license or similar Contract relating
to any intellectual property of any other person for the use of such
intellectual property in the conduct of the Business, except (i) as set
forth in Schedule 3.06, (ii) for non-exclusive licenses to end users
of machinery and equipment in the ordinary course of business and
(iii) for so-called shrink wrap and other non-customized license
agreements relating to computer software licensed to Seller or one of the
Seller Affiliates in the ordinary course of business. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.06, no material claims are pending or, to the knowledge of
Seller, threatened as of the date of this Agreement against Seller or any of
the Seller Affiliates by any person claiming that use of any of the Transferred
Intellectual Property in the operation or conduct of the Business as currently
conducted infringes the intellectual property rights of any such person.
(e) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.06(e)
and other than (i) rights in connection with co-packing arrangements and
(ii) cross-promotional rights entered into in the ordinary course of
business, neither Seller nor any of the Seller Affiliates is a party to or
bound by any license, sublicense, option or other agreement relating in whole
or in part to the Transferred Intellectual Property.
(f) None of Seller or Sellers Affiliates owns or
controls any patents, patent applications or patent rights that are used in the
conduct of the Business as of the date of this Agreement.
(g) To the extent necessary for Sellers and the
Seller Affiliates operation of the Business, Seller and the Seller Affiliates
have obtained assignments of copyright executed by each author of works subject
to any material copyright used in the conduct of the Business as of the date of
this Agreement, including photographers, web designers and advertising
agencies.
SECTION 3.07. Contracts. (a) Except
(x) as set forth in Schedule 3.07, (y) for Contracts relating to
Excluded Assets and (z) Contracts entered into after the date of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 5.01 of this Agreement, neither
Seller nor any of the Seller Affiliates is a party to or bound by any Contract
that is used or held for use exclusively in, or that arises exclusively out of,
the operation or conduct of the Business (other than this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements) and that is:
(i) a covenant not to compete;
(ii) (A) a Contract that will remain in effect after the Closing
Date for the future purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, raw materials,
packaging or commodities (other than (x) purchase Contracts and orders for
raw materials, work in process, finished goods, supplies, packaging materials
and other inventories (Inventory) in the ordinary course of business
and (y) purchase orders for the co-packing or manufacturing of Products of
the Business in the ordinary course of business), (B) a management,
service, consulting or other similar Contract or (C) an advertising
Contract, in each case, under which Seller and the Seller Affiliates have an
aggregate future liability to any person (other than Seller or one of the
Seller Affiliates) in
16
excess of
$75,000 and which is not terminable by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates
by notice of not more than 60 days for a cost of less than $50,000;
(iii) a lease or similar Contract with any person (other than Seller or
one of the Seller Affiliates) under which Seller or one of the Seller
Affiliates is lessee of, or holds or uses, any machinery, equipment, vehicle or
other tangible personal property owned by any person which lease or similar
Contract has an aggregate future liability in excess of $75,000 and which is
not terminable by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates by notice of not more
than 60 days for a cost of less than $50,000;
(iv) any other Contract that has an aggregate future liability to any
person (other than Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates) in excess of
$100,000 and which is not terminable by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates
by notice of not more than 60 days for a cost of less than $50,000 (other than
purchase orders, sales orders and Contracts with brokers);
(v) any Contract with any person (other than Seller or any Seller Affiliate)
providing for a joint venture or partnership;
(vi) any sales agency or distribution Contract with respect to Products
involving annual consideration in excess of $75,000 and which is not terminable
by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates by notice of not more than
60 days for a cost of less than $50,000;
(vii) any Contract existing between Seller or any Seller Affiliate and
any Governmental Entity the loss of which would materially adversely interfere
with the operation of the Business as presently conducted;
(viii) a Contract with Seller, any Seller Affiliate or any of their
respective affiliates (other than Contracts that shall be terminated as of the
Closing);
(ix) any contract with a term of more than one year or that may be
renewed at the option of any person other than Seller or a Seller Affiliate for
a term of more than one year;
(x) any Contracts (other than Contracts relating to obligations,
liabilities and commitments described in Section 1.04(a)(v)) providing for
rebates, discounts, bonuses or commissions in excess of $50,000 with respect to
the sale of any Product (or in excess of $200,000 for all such Contracts);
(xi) any Contract providing for production by Seller or any Seller
Affiliate of any Product on an exclusive or requirements basis; and
(xii) any co-packing agreements with third parties with respect to the
packaging of any Product with a term of more than one year.
17
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.07,
all Transferred Contracts required to be listed in Schedule 3.07 (such
Contracts, the Business Contracts) are in all material respects valid,
binding and in full force and effect and are enforceable by Seller or the
applicable Seller Affiliate in accordance with their terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization
or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and to general equitable
principles. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.07, Seller or the applicable
Seller Affiliate has performed all material obligations required to be
performed by it to date under the Business Contracts, and it is not in breach
or default thereunder and, to the knowledge of Seller, no other party to any
Business Contract, as of the date of this Agreement, is in breach or default of
any material obligation thereunder.
SECTION 3.08. Permits. Schedule 3.08
contains a complete and accurate list of the Transferred Permits. Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.08, (i) all Transferred Permits are validly held
by Seller or one of the Seller Affiliates, and Seller or the applicable Seller
Affiliate has complied in all material respects with the terms and conditions
thereof, (ii) during the twelve months immediately preceding the date of
this Agreement neither Seller nor any of the Seller Affiliates has received
written notice of any Proceeding relating to the revocation or modification of
any such Transferred Permits the loss of which would reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect the Business and (iii) none of such
Transferred Permits would reasonably be expected to be subject to suspension,
modification, revocation or non-renewal as a result of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Acquisition, except for
any immaterial suspensions, modifications, revocations or non-renewals.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. (a) For purposes of this Agreement:
Code
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Pre-Closing
Tax Period shall mean all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing
Date and the portion ending on the Closing Date of any taxable period that
includes but does not end on the Closing Date.
Tax
or Taxes shall mean all forms of taxation imposed by any Federal,
state, provincial, local, foreign or other Taxing Authority, including income,
franchise, property, sales, use, excise, employment, unemployment, payroll,
social security, estimated, value added, ad valorem, transfer, recapture,
withholding, health and other taxes of any kind, including any interest,
penalties and additions thereto.
Taxing
Authority shall mean any Federal, state, provincial, local or foreign
government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof or any
quasi-governmental body exercising tax regulatory authority.
Tax Return
shall mean any report, return, document, declaration or other information or
filing required to be supplied to any Taxing Authority with respect to Taxes,
including any amendment made with respect thereto.
18
Transfer
Taxes shall mean all sales (including bulk sales), use, transfer,
recording, ad valorem, privilege, documentary, gross receipts, registration,
conveyance, excise, license, stamp or similar Taxes and fees arising out of, in
connection with or attributable to the transactions effectuated pursuant to
this Agreement.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.09(b),
(i) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by the Code or by
applicable state, provincial, local or foreign Tax laws to the extent such Tax
Returns relate to the Transferred Assets or the Business for Pre-Closing Tax
Periods have been timely filed or will be timely filed by Seller or an
affiliate, (ii) all material Taxes due on such Tax Returns with respect to
the Transferred Assets and the Business have been paid in full or will be
timely paid in full by the due date thereof, (iii) no material Claims are
being asserted in writing with respect to any Taxes with respect to the
Transferred Assets or the Business and (iv) no material Tax liens with
respect to the Transferred Assets or the Business have been filed. For purposes
of this Section 3.09(b), any Tax Returns, Taxes, Claims, or Tax Liens
shall be considered material if the amount of Taxes shown thereon or the amount
of Taxes thereof exceeds, individually or in the aggregate, $100,000.
(c) Seller is not a foreign person within the
meaning of Section 1445 of the Code. Certain of the Seller Affiliates are
foreign persons within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code, but none
of the assets to be transferred by such Seller Affiliates pursuant to this
Agreement constitutes a United States real property interest within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(l) of the Code.
SECTION 3.10. Proceedings. Schedule 3.10(a)
sets forth a list as of the date of this Agreement of each pending Proceeding
(as to which a complaint has been served on Seller or any Seller Affiliate)
against Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates which relates to the Transferred
Assets or the Business and pursuant to which a party seeks (a) more than
$75,000 from Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates, or (b) injunctive
relief that would materially adversely affect the Business or prohibit the
consummation of the Acquisition. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10(b),
there are not any unsatisfied Judgments against Seller or any Seller Affiliate
with respect to the Transferred Assets or the Business, other than de minimis
Judgments. This Section 3.10 does not relate to intellectual property
matters, such items being the subject of Section 3.06.
SECTION 3.11. Absence of Changes or Events. Except
as set forth in Schedule 3.11 or Schedule 5.01, since the date of the
Unaudited Management Account (a) there has not been a Business Material
Adverse Effect and (b) neither Seller nor any Seller Affiliate has taken
or failed to take any action which action or failure to act would violate
Section 5.01 if such action or failure to act were to occur after the date
hereof. Purchaser acknowledges that there may be disruption to the operation of
the Business as a result of the execution of this Agreement and any
announcement thereof (including the identity of Purchaser) and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Purchaser agrees that any such
disruptions do not and shall not constitute a breach of this Section 3.11.
19
SECTION 3.12. Compliance with Applicable Laws. The
Business is in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws. This
Section 3.12 does not relate to matters with respect to Taxes, which are
the subject of Section 3.09.
SECTION 3.13. Relationships with Customers. Except as
set forth in Schedule 3.13, to the knowledge of Seller, none of the
10 largest customers of the Business based on dollar sales for the year
ended December 31, 2006, has, as of the date of this Agreement, canceled (or
threatened in writing a material discontinuance of) its relationship with the
Business.
SECTION 3.14. Trade Secrets. All trade secrets of
Seller and the Seller Affiliates that are included in the Transferred
Technology have been maintained by Seller and the Seller Affiliates subject to
secrecy safeguards in a manner substantially consistent with the manner in
which Seller maintains the confidentiality of its trade secrets generally. To
the knowledge of Seller, no third party that is not duly authorized by Seller
or a Seller Affiliate has misappropriated any trade secrets that are included
in the Transferred Technology.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties of Purchaser
Purchaser
hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:
SECTION 4.01. Organization and Standing. Purchaser
is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is organized and has full corporate power and authority to enable it
to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to carry on its
business as presently conducted by it.
SECTION 4.02. Authority; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. Purchaser has full corporate
power and authority to execute this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which it is, or is specified to be, a party and to consummate the Acquisition
and the other transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by this Agreement
and such Ancillary Agreements. Purchaser has taken all corporate action
required by its organizational documents to authorize the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is, or is
specified to be, a party and to authorize the consummation of the Acquisition
and the other transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by this
Agreement and such Ancillary Agreements. Purchaser has duly executed and
delivered this Agreement and at or prior to the Closing will have duly executed
and delivered each Ancillary Agreement to which it is, or is specified to be, a
party, and this Agreement constitutes, and each Ancillary Agreement to which it
is, or is specified to be, a party will upon the Closing constitute, its legal,
valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights
generally and to general equitable principles.
20
SECTION 4.03. No Conflicts or Violations; No Consents or
Approvals Required. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.03, the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement
do not, the execution and delivery by Purchaser of each Ancillary Agreement to
which it is, or is specified to be, a party will not, and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated to be consummated by it by this Agreement and
such Ancillary Agreements, will not, conflict with, or result in any breach of
or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other
than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of Purchaser, or any
of its subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the organizational
documents of Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Contract to
which Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its
properties or assets is bound or (iii) any Judgment or Applicable Law
applicable to Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries or its properties or assets.
No Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to Purchaser or
any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Acquisition other than
(A) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (B) compliance
with and filings under Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, (C) those
that may be required solely by reason of Sellers and the Seller Affiliates
(as opposed to any third partys) participation in the Acquisition and the
other transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Agreements, and
(D) those the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be
expected to be material to the Purchasers ability to consummate the
Acquisition.
SECTION 4.04. Proceedings. There
are not any (a) outstanding Judgments against Purchaser or any of its
subsidiaries, (b) Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser,
threatened against Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries or
(c) investigations by any Governmental Entity that are pending or, to the
knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries
that, in any such case, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the ability of Purchaser to consummate the Acquisition (a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect).
SECTION 4.05. Availability of Funds; Solvency. (a) Purchaser has cash available or
has borrowing capacity which together are sufficient to enable it to consummate
the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) As of the Closing and immediately after
consummating the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, Purchaser will not (i) be insolvent (either because its
financial condition is such that the sum of its debts is greater than the fair
value of its assets or because the present fair salable value of its assets will
be less than the amount required to pay its probable liability on its debts as
they become absolute and matured), (ii) have unreasonably small capital
with which to engage in its business, including the Business, or
(iii) have incurred or plan to incur debts beyond its ability to repay
such debts as they become absolute and matured.
21
ARTICLE V
Covenants
SECTION 5.01. Covenants Relating to Conduct of the Business. (a) Except
for matters (x) set forth in Schedule 5.01, (y) expressly agreed
to by Purchaser or (z) expressly contemplated by the terms of this
Agreement, from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, Seller shall,
and shall cause the Seller Affiliates to, conduct the Business in all material
respects in the ordinary course in a manner substantially consistent with past
practice and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable
efforts to preserve the material business relationships with customers,
suppliers, distributors and others with whom Seller and the Seller Affiliates
deal in connection with the conduct of the Business in the ordinary course of
business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that
relationships with Seller and certain of its affiliates providing services to
the Business will terminate as of the Closing as contemplated in
Section 10.03 and that such termination shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement. In addition, except as set forth in Schedule 5.01 or as
otherwise contemplated by the terms of this Agreement, Seller shall not, and
shall cause the Seller Affiliates not to, do any of the following in connection
with the Business without the prior written consent of Purchaser (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law:
(i) subject any of the Transferred Assets to any Lien of any nature
whatsoever that would have been required to be set forth in Schedule 3.05
if existing on the date of this Agreement;
(ii) waive any Claims or rights of material value that relate
exclusively to the Business;
(iii) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any Transferred
Asset that is material to the Business, except (A) Inventory and obsolete
or excess Equipment sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business,
(B) any Excluded Asset described in Section 1.02(b) and
(C) leases entered into in the ordinary course of business with aggregate
annual lease payments not in excess of $100,000;
(iv) fail to maintain any Transferred Trademarks or fail to maintain in
any material respect any Other Transferred Intellectual Property or any
Transferred Technology (in either case other than in the ordinary course of
business in a manner substantially consistent with past practice) or grant to
any person a license in respect of any Transferred Intellectual Property or
Transferred Technology;
(v) other than in the ordinary course of business in a manner
substantially consistent with past practice, fail to pay or otherwise satisfy
(except if being contested in good faith) any material accounts payable,
liabilities or obligations of the Business when due and payable;
22
(vi) enter into any new Contract that would be required to be listed on
Schedule 3.07(a) if it were in effect on the date of this Agreement; or
(vii) agree, whether in writing or otherwise, to do any of the
foregoing.
(b) Seller shall use its reasonable best efforts
to keep, or to cause to be kept, all insurance policies currently maintained
with respect to the Transferred Assets (the Seller Insurance Policies),
or suitable replacements therefor, in full force and effect through
11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date; it being understood that any and all
Seller Insurance Policies are owned and maintained by Seller and its affiliates
(and do not exclusively relate to the Business). Purchaser will not have any
rights under the Seller Insurance Policies from and after the Closing Date.
SECTION 5.02. Access to Information. Seller
shall, and shall cause the Seller Affiliates to, afford to Purchaser and its
accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access, upon
reasonable prior notice during normal business hours during the period prior to
the Closing, to (i) personnel engaged primarily in the conduct of the
Business and (ii) properties, books, Contracts, commitments and records
relating exclusively to the Business (other than the Excluded Assets),
including unaudited Statements of Net Sales and Profit Before Indirects; provided,
however,
that in each case such access does not unreasonably disrupt the normal
operations of Seller or any of the Seller Affiliates or the Business. Nothing
contained in this Section 5.02 shall obligate Seller or any of its
affiliates to breach any duty of confidentiality owed to any person whether
such duty arises contractually, statutorily or otherwise.
SECTION 5.03. Confidentiality. (a) Purchaser acknowledges that the
information being provided to it in connection with the Acquisition and the
consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the
terms of a confidentiality agreement between Purchaser and Seller (the Confidentiality
Agreement), the terms of which are incorporated herein by
reference. Effective upon, and only upon, the Closing, the Confidentiality
Agreement shall terminate with respect to information relating solely to the
Business (other than the Excluded Assets and the personnel engaged in the
conduct of the Business); provided, however,
that Purchaser acknowledges that any and all other information provided to it
by Seller or Sellers representatives concerning Seller and its affiliates
shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality
Agreement after the Closing Date.
(b) From and after the Closing Date, Seller
shall, and shall cause its affiliates to, treat as confidential any proprietary
or other confidential information that is a Transferred Asset in a manner
substantially consistent with the manner in which Seller maintains the
confidentiality of its own proprietary or other confidential information as of
the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 5.04. Reasonable
Best Efforts. (a) On
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement (including
Section 5.04(c) hereof), each of Seller and Purchaser shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, including taking all
actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements that may be
23
imposed on it or any of its affiliates with
respect to the Closing. Each of Seller and Purchaser shall not, and shall cause
their respective affiliates not to, take any actions that would, or that could
reasonably be expected to, result in any of the conditions set forth in
Article VI not being satisfied.
(b) Each of Seller and Purchaser shall as
promptly as practicable, and, in the case of their initial notification and
report form required pursuant to the HSR Act, in no event later than
30 calendar days following the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
(i) file or cause to be filed with the United States Federal Trade
Commission (the FTC) and the United States Department of Justice (the DOJ)
the notification and report form required for the transactions contemplated
hereby and any supplemental information requested in connection therewith
pursuant to the HSR Act and (ii) make such other filings as are necessary
in other jurisdictions in order to comply with all Applicable Laws relating to
competition and shall promptly provide any supplemental information requested
by applicable Governmental Entities relating thereto. Any such filing,
notification and report form and supplemental information shall be in
substantial compliance with the requirements of the HSR Act or such other
Applicable Law. Each of Seller and Purchaser shall furnish in confidence to the
other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may
request in connection with its preparation of any filing or submission that is
necessary under the HSR Act or such other Applicable Law. Each of Seller and
Purchaser shall keep each other apprised of the status of any communications
with, and any inquiries or requests for additional information from, the FTC,
the DOJ and any other applicable Governmental Entity and shall comply promptly
with any such inquiry or request and shall promptly provide any supplemental
information requested in connection with the filings made hereunder pursuant to
the HSR Act or such other Applicable Law. Any such supplemental information
shall be in substantial compliance with the requirements of the HSR Act or such
other Applicable Law.
(c) Without limitation of the covenants set forth
in Sections 5.04 (a) and 5.04(b), each party shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain any clearance required under the HSR Act (HSR Clearance)
or other Applicable Law for the consummation of the Acquisition. For purposes
of this Section 5.04(c), the obligation of the Purchaser to use reasonable
best efforts to obtain HSR Clearance or any clearance required under any other
Applicable Law for the consummation of the Acquisition shall include its
commitment to divest its Season-All® brand business (the Season-All® Business) on the
basis set forth in Schedule 5.04(c) if necessary to obtain HSR Clearance; provided,
however, the parties agree that (i) such commitment of Purchaser to
divest the Season-All® Business is contingent on obtaining HSR Clearance and
successfully Closing the Acquisition; and (ii) Purchaser shall not be required
to divest any assets other than its Season-All® Business in connection with
satisfying its obligation to use reasonable best efforts to obtain HSR
Clearance or clearance under any other Applicable Law for the consummation of
the Acquisition.
(d) In the event that the parties receive a second information request in response to the
HSR Act filing (the Second Request), the parties will use their
respective reasonable best efforts to respond to such Second Request as
promptly as
24
possible and counsel for both
parties will closely cooperate with each other during the entire Second Request
review process. If, notwithstanding the reasonable best efforts
of the parties to obtain HSR Clearance by July 31, 2008 (the Initial
HSR Clearance Date) (including the commitment by Purchaser to divest the
Season-All® Business on the terms set forth in
Section 5.04(c)), the parties have not obtained HSR Clearance by
July 11, 2008, then, provided that the Extension Conditions (as
hereinafter defined) are satisfied, either Purchaser or Seller (in such
capacity, the Requesting Party), may in good faith provide a written
notice (the HSR Extension Request) to the other party (such other
party, in such capacity, the Non-Requesting Party) requesting that
such Non-Requesting Party consent to an extension of the Initial HSR Clearance
Date until October 31, 2008 (the Extended HSR Clearance Date),
which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed by the Non-Requesting
Party. If the Non-Requesting Party has not provided the Requesting Party
written notice that it has consented to the HSR Extension Request within four
business days following its receipt of the HSR Extension Request, the
Requesting Party may provide written notice to the Non-Requesting Party no
later than July 18, 2008 (the HSR Meeting Request) requesting
that the Chairman and/or Chief Executive Officer of Purchaser and the President
of the Americas of Seller discuss the HSR Extension Request (a Senior
Officer Meeting). Such Senior Officer Meeting shall occur not more than
five business days following the date of the HSR Meeting Request. The
Non-Requesting Party shall notify the Requesting Party not more than three
business days following the Senior Officer Meeting whether it has consented to
the HSR Extension Request (the HSR Consent Determination Notice). As
used herein, the Extension Conditions are that all conditions to the
Requesting Partys obligation to close the Acquisition as set forth in
Section 6.01(a) (other than obtaining HSR Clearance) and (x) in the
event Seller is the Requesting Party, Section 6.02 of this Agreement
(other than with respect to representations, warranties and covenants that
would be materially true and correct upon HSR Clearance being obtained) and
(y) in the event Purchaser is the Requesting Party, Section 6.03 of
this Agreement (other than with respect to representations, warranties and
covenants that would be materially true and correct upon HSR Clearance being
obtained), respectively, have been satisfied.
(e) Until the later to occur of (x) the
Initial HSR Clearance Date and (y) if the Non-Requesting Party consents to
the HSR Extension Request, the close of business on the Extended HSR Clearance
Date, the parties will continue to use their respective reasonable best efforts
to obtain HSR Clearance. If (i) prior to obtaining the HSR Clearance, the
Non-Requesting Party notifies the Requesting Party in a HSR Consent
Determination Notice that it does not consent to the HSR Extension Request or
(ii) the Non-Requesting Party consents to a HSR Extension Request but HSR
Clearance is not obtained prior to the close of business on the Extended HSR
Clearance Date, then either party may, upon written notice to the other party,
terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(v) hereof. If
either party terminates this Agreement in accordance with
Section 7.01(a)(v) hereof, Purchaser shall, provided the Termination Fee
Conditions (as hereinafter defined) are satisfied, pay to Seller by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, within five business days following
the date of such termination (the Termination Fee Payment Date), a
termination fee in the amount of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) (the Termination
Fee); so long as the Extension Conditions
25
remain satisfied, such payment to be in full
and final settlement of any and all obligations that may be owed by Purchaser
to Seller arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
herein, including the termination thereof. As used herein, the Termination
Fee Conditions are that all conditions to Purchasers obligation to close
the Acquisition as set forth in Section 6.01(a) (other than obtaining HSR
Clearance) and Section 6.02 of this Agreement (other than with respect to
representations, warranties and covenants that would be materially true and
correct upon HSR Clearance being obtained) have been satisfied. No Termination
Fee shall be payable to Seller by Purchaser unless and until the termination of
this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(v) hereof and under no
other circumstances. Interest shall accrue on any portion of the Termination
Fee not paid on or prior to the Termination Fee Payment Date at an annual rate
of 12.0% from and after the day immediately following the Termination Fee
Payment Date to and including the date on which Seller shall have received full
payment of the Termination Fee.
SECTION 5.05. Brokers
or Finders. Each of Purchaser and Seller
represents, as to itself and its affiliates, that no agent, broker, investment
banker or other firm or person is or will be entitled to any brokers or finders
fee or any other commission or similar fee in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (a) as to Seller and
its affiliates, Lehman Brothers, whose fees and expenses will be paid by Seller
and (b) as to Purchaser and its affiliates, Goldman Sachs, whose fees and
expenses will be paid by Purchaser.
SECTION 5.06. Non-Competition.
(a) Except as provided in Section 5.06(b),
from the Closing Date until the third anniversary of the Closing Date, Seller
agrees, for itself and for its affiliates, not to, directly or indirectly manufacture,
market, distribute or sell (x) seasoned salt, dry spice blends, meat
tenderizers and marinades (other than any product labeled and marketed as a
salad dressing that may be used as a marinade) of the type that the Business
sells as of the Closing Date through retail channels (including club stores and
cash & carry stores) to end-users located in the Territory (as defined
below) or (y) branded seasoned salt, branded dry spice blends or meat
tenderizers of the type that the Business sells as of the Closing Date through
foodservice channels to customers located in the Territory (each of the
activities described in the foregoing clauses (x) and (y), a Competing
Activity); provided, that Seller and its affiliates may
collectively own or acquire, directly or indirectly, (i) securities of a
corporation or other entity which engages in any Competing Activity if they do
not, directly or indirectly, own more than 10% of the aggregate outstanding
equity securities of such corporation or entity, (ii) solely as a passive
investment without voting rights to elect directors of the issuer, any
instrument of indebtedness (that is not convertible or exchangeable for equity
securities, except as may be permitted by clause (i) above) of any entity
engaged in any Competing Activity and (iii) securities or other ownership
interests of any entity engaged in any Competing Activity within the Territory
if such Competing Activity within the Territory accounts for less than 10% of
such entitys consolidated annual revenues or assets. For purposes of this
section, Territory shall mean the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico. For the avoidance of doubt, any product of Seller or its affiliates
manufactured, marketed,
26
distributed or sold in the Territory
primarily as a product of the type described in clauses (x) or (y) of
Section 5.06(a) shall be subject to Section 5.06(a).
(b) Notwithstanding anything in
Section 5.06(a) to the contrary, Seller, the Seller Affiliates and their
respective subsidiaries shall not be prevented from (i) engaging in the
business of manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling seasoning
blends, gravies, gravy mixes and sauces, (ii) engaging in, conducting or
having an ownership interest in any business that supplies goods or services
primarily to Seller and its affiliates, so long as such businesss supply of
goods or services to entities other than Seller and its affiliates does not
violate the terms of Section 5.06(a), (iii) engaging in the business of
manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling any marinades packaged in
per-unit sizes of at least one-half gallon to club stores and cash & carry
stores, (iv) manufacturing any product within the Territory so long as
such product is ultimately sold in a manner that does not violate the
restrictions on sale contained in Section 5.06(a), (v) selling Products of the
Canadian Marinades Business on behalf of Purchaser as provided in Section
5.09(b), and (vi) treating the provisions of Section 5.06(a) as
having terminated at the time and to the extent none of Purchaser and its
subsidiaries continues to conduct in any material respect any aspect of the
Business.
SECTION 5.07. Exclusivity.
From the date hereof through the earlier of (x) the Closing Date and
(y) the termination of the Agreement in accordance with Section 7.01,
the Seller shall not, and shall cause its affiliates and agents not to,
directly or indirectly solicit or engage in any discussions with any person,
firm, entity or group concerning any sale, in whole or in part, of the Business
or the Transferred Assets or of any merger or other business combination
involving the Business or the Transferred Assets (other than (i) sales of
Inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) as otherwise
permitted by the terms of this Agreement).
SECTION 5.08. Financial
Statement Delivery. (a) If requested
by Purchaser, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing, Seller
shall prepare, and Seller shall request that Sellers accountants audit (such
audit to be at Purchasers sole cost and expense) financial statements of the
Business for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, in a form consistent
with the Financial Statements. Nothing contained in this Section 5.08
shall obligate Seller to breach any duty of confidentiality owed to any person
whether such duty arises contractually, statutorily or otherwise; provided,
however, that if reasonably requested in writing by Purchaser, Seller
shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain a waiver of such duty of
confidentiality (it being understood that Seller shall not be required to
expend money in connection therewith unless advanced by Purchaser).
(b) As soon as reasonably practicable following
the Closing, Seller shall prepare and shall deliver to Purchaser (i) unaudited
Statements of Net Sales and Profits Before Indirects of the Business for the
period beginning January 1, 2008 and ending on the last day of the last full
fiscal quarter ended prior to the Closing Date, which shall be in a form
consistent with the Unaudited Management Account, and (ii) unaudited Combined
Statements of Assets and Liabilities of the Business at the last day of the
last
27
full fiscal quarter ended prior
to the Closing Date, which shall be in a form consistent with the Statements of
Assets and Liabilities.
SECTION 5.09. Further
Assurances. (a) After the Closing,
each party shall take such further actions and execute such further documents
as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested by the other party
(including with respect to information held by Seller or the Seller Affiliates
and their agents in respect of regulatory filings for Transferred Trademarks)
in order to effectuate the intent of this Agreement and to provide such other
party in all material respects with the intended benefits of this Agreement.
Each party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with fulfilling
any obligations pursuant to this Section 5.09.
(b) For a period of 90 days after the Closing
(and, with Sellers written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), for up to three successive 30-day periods thereafter if requested by
Purchaser), Seller shall, or shall cause its affiliates to, at Purchasers sole
cost and expense, provide such assistance as Purchaser may reasonably request
in connection with the transition of Sellers Canadian marinades business to
Purchaser after the Closing Date, which assistance may include Seller or the
Seller Affiliates selling Products of the Canadian Marinades Business on behalf
of Purchaser (provided that such assistance does not unreasonably disrupt the
normal operations of Seller or its affiliates); it being understood and agreed
that nothing in this Section 5.09(b) shall convey to Purchaser in any manner
whatsoever any right to use the Knorr name or mark.
ARTICLE VI
Conditions to Closing
SECTION 6.01. Conditions
to Each Partys Obligation. The
obligation of Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Transferred Assets and the
obligation of Seller to, or to cause the Seller Affiliates to, sell, transfer,
assign and deliver the Transferred Assets to Purchaser is subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver by Purchaser and Seller) on or prior to the Closing
Date of the following conditions:
(a) Governmental Approvals. The waiting
period under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated or HSR Clearance
shall have been obtained. All other material Consents of, or registrations,
declarations or filings with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any
Governmental Entity legally required for the consummation of the Acquisition,
as set forth on Schedule 6.01(a), shall have been obtained or filed or
shall have occurred.
(b) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Applicable
Law or injunction enacted, entered, promulgated, enforced or issued by any
Governmental Entity or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Acquisition shall be in effect; provided, however,
that each of the parties shall have used its reasonable best efforts as
required by Section 5.04.
28
SECTION 6.02. Conditions to Obligation of Purchaser. The
obligation of Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Transferred Assets is
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Purchaser) on or prior to the Closing
Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Seller in this Agreement shall be true and
correct as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to
the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
correct on and as of such earlier date), in each case except for breaches as to
matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Business Material
Adverse Effect. Purchaser shall have received a certificate signed by an
authorized officer of Seller as to the satisfaction of the foregoing condition.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Seller. Seller
shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations
and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
Seller by the time of the Closing. Purchaser shall have received a certificate
signed by an authorized officer of Seller as to the satisfaction of the
foregoing condition.
SECTION 6.03. Conditions to Obligation of Seller. The
obligation of Seller to, or to cause the Seller Affiliates to, sell, transfer,
assign and deliver the Transferred Assets is subject to the satisfaction (or
waiver by Seller) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Purchaser in this Agreement shall be true and
correct as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date, except to
the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date (in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
correct on and as of such earlier date), in each case except for breaches as to
matters that would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material
Adverse Effect. Seller shall have received a certificate signed by an
authorized officer of Purchaser as to the satisfaction of the foregoing
condition.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Purchaser.
Purchaser shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all
obligations and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by Purchaser by the time of the Closing. Seller shall have
received a certificate signed by an authorized officer of Purchaser as to the
satisfaction of the foregoing condition.
SECTION 6.04. Frustration of Closing Conditions.
Neither Purchaser nor Seller may rely on the failure of any condition set forth
in this Article VI to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such
partys failure to act in good faith or to use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 5.04.
SECTION 6.05. Effect of Certain Waivers of Closing
Conditions. If prior to the Closing Purchaser has knowledge
of any breach by Seller of any representation, warranty or covenant contained
in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (including
29
by way of an update by Seller to the
Schedules hereto), the effect of such breach is a failure of any condition to
Purchasers obligations set forth in this Article VI and Purchaser proceeds
with the Closing, Purchaser shall be deemed to have waived such breach and
Purchaser and its successors, assigns and affiliates shall not be entitled to
be indemnified pursuant to Article VIII, to sue for damages or to assert
any other right or remedy for any losses arising from any matters relating to
such condition or breach, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein
or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto.
ARTICLE VII
Termination; Effect of Termination
SECTION 7.01. Termination. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated and the
Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement abandoned
at any time prior to the Closing:
(i) by mutual written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
(ii) by Seller, if (x) any of the conditions set forth in
Section 6.01 or 6.03 shall have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall
not have been waived by Seller, (y) 30 days have elapsed since the
receipt by Purchaser of a written notice by Seller of such incapability and
(z) Purchaser shall have failed to fulfill such condition within such 30-day
period, provided, however, that Sellers right to terminate this
Agreement for failure to receive HSR Clearance shall be governed by
clause (v) of this Section 7.01(a);
(iii) by Purchaser, if (x) any of the conditions set forth in
Section 6.01 or 6.02 shall have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall
not have been waived by Purchaser, (y) 30 days have elapsed since the
receipt by Seller of a written notice by Purchaser of such incapability and
(z) Seller shall have failed to fulfill such condition within such 30-day
period; provided, however, that Purchasers right to terminate
this Agreement for failure to receive HSR Clearance shall be governed by
clause (v) of this Section 7.01(a);
(iv) by Seller or Purchaser, on or after August 15, 2008 (the "Outside
Date"), if the Closing does not occur on or prior to the Initial HSR
Clearance Date; provided, that, in the event that the Non-Requesting
Party consents to an HSR Extension Request, the Outside Date shall be
automatically extended until November 15, 2008; provided, further,
however, that each of Seller's and Purchaser's right to terminate this
Agreement for failure to receive HSR Clearance shall be governed by clause (v)
of this Section 7.01(a); or
(v) by Seller or Purchaser in accordance with the terms of
Section 5.04(d) hereof (x) on the Initial HSR Clearance Date, if
prior to obtaining the HSR Clearance, the Non-Requesting Party notifies the
Requesting Party in a HSR Consent Determination Notice that it does not consent
to the HSR Extension Request and HSR Clearance is not obtained
30
prior to the
close of business on the Initial HSR Clearance Date or (y) on the Extended
HSR Clearance Date, if the Non-Requesting Party consents to an HSR Extension
Request but HSR Clearance is not obtained prior to the close of business on the
Extended HSR Clearance Date.
provided,
however, that the party seeking termination pursuant to
clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) is not then in breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this
Agreement.
(b) In the event of termination by Seller or
Purchaser pursuant to this Section 7.01, written notice thereof shall
forthwith be given to the other party and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be terminated, without further action by any party. If the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are terminated as provided herein:
(i) Each of Purchaser and Seller shall, and shall cause each of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and advisors
to, return to the other party all documents and other material received from
such other party or any of its affiliates relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby, whether so obtained before or after the execution hereof;
(ii) all confidential information received by Purchaser, its directors,
officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors with respect to the
businesses of Seller and its affiliates (including with respect to the
Business) shall be treated in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement,
which shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of
this Agreement; and
(iii) all confidential information received by Seller and the Seller
Affiliates, their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or
advisors with respect to the business of Purchaser shall be kept confidential
in the same manner as the Seller and its affiliates confidential information
is required to be treated under the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION 7.02. Effect of Termination. If
this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are
abandoned as described in Section 7.01, this Agreement shall become null
and void and of no further force and effect, except for the provisions of
(i) Section 5.03 relating to the obligation of Purchaser to keep
confidential certain information and data obtained by it from Seller or Sellers
representatives, (ii) Section 11.03 relating to certain expenses,
(iii) Section 5.05 relating to finders fees and brokers fees,
(iv) Section 7.01 and this Section 7.02 and
(v) Section 10.01 relating to publicity. Nothing in this
Section 7.02 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for
any breach by such party of the terms, conditions, covenants and other
provisions of this Agreement or to impair the right of any party to compel
specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this
Agreement; provided, however, in the event of a termination
pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(v), payment of the
31
Termination Fee shall be in full and final
settlement of any and all obligations that may be owed by Purchaser to Seller
arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein,
including the termination thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
SECTION 8.01. Indemnification by Seller. Subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 8.04, from and after the Closing,
Seller shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser and its affiliates
and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, stockholders,
agents and representatives (the Purchaser Indemnitees)
from and against any and all Claims, Proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities,
obligations or expenses, including reasonable third-party legal fees and
expenses (collectively, Losses), to the extent
arising or resulting from any of the following:
(i) any breach as of the Closing Date of any representation or warranty
of Seller contained in this Agreement;
(ii) any breach of any covenant of Seller contained in this Agreement;
(iii) any Retained Liability; and
(iv) any fees, expenses or other payments incurred or owed by Seller to
any agent, broker, investment banker or other firm or person retained or employed
by it in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. Indemnification by Purchaser.
Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.04, from and after the
Closing, Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller and each of
its affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, employees,
stockholders, agents and representatives (the Seller
Indemnitees) from and against any and all Losses, to the
extent arising or resulting from any of the following:
(i) any breach as of the Closing Date of any representation or warranty
of Purchaser contained in this Agreement;
(ii) any breach of any covenant of Purchaser contained in this
Agreement;
(iii) any Assumed Liability; and
(iv) any fees, expenses or other payments incurred or owed by Purchaser
or its affiliates to any agent, broker, investment banker or other firm or
person retained or employed by it in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
32
provided,
that Purchaser shall have no liability to indemnify, defend or hold harmless
any Seller Indemnitee from or against any Loss if Purchaser has paid the
Termination Fee as a result of the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 7.01(a)(v).
SECTION 8.03. Indemnification Procedures. (a) Procedures Relating to Indemnification of
Third Party Claims. If any party (the Indemnified
Party) receives written notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding or the assertion of any Claim by a third party or the
imposition of any penalty or assessment for which indemnity may be sought under
Section 8.01 or 8.02 (a Third Party Claim), and
such Indemnified Party intends to seek indemnity pursuant to this
Article VIII, the Indemnified Party shall promptly provide the other party
(the Indemnifying Party) with written notice of such
Third Party Claim, stating the nature, basis and the amount thereof, to the
extent known, along with copies of the relevant notices and documents
(including court papers) evidencing such Third Party Claim and the basis for
indemnification sought and otherwise in reasonable detail. The failure so to
notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from
liability on account of this indemnification, except to the extent that the
Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced thereby. The Indemnifying Party will
have the right to assume the defense of the Indemnified Party against the Third
Party Claim with counsel of its choice, which counsel must be reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party. So long as the Indemnifying Party has
assumed the defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance herewith,
(i) the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party
for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense thereof, (ii) the Indemnified Party may retain
separate co-counsel (not reasonably objected to by the Indemnifying Party) at
its sole cost and expense and participate in the defense of the Third Party
Claim, it being understood that the Indemnifying Party shall control such
defense, (iii) the Indemnifying Party will not (A) admit to any
wrongdoing or (B) consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim to the extent such judgment or
settlement provides for equitable (including injunctive) relief, in each case,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, (such written
consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed ) and (iv) all the
Indemnified Parties shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution thereof,
including the retention and (upon the Indemnifying Partys request) the
provision to the Indemnifying Party of records and information that are
reasonably relevant to such Third Party Claim, and making employees available
on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and
explanation of any material provided hereunder. If the Indemnifying Party
assumes the defense of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall be
deemed to have waived any right to indemnification hereunder if it admits any
liability with respect to, or consents to the entry of any judgment or enters
into any settlement with respect to or otherwise compromises or discharges the
Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party
(other than for Claims in respect of Taxes, such written consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed). If the Indemnifying Party has not assumed
the defense of a Third Party Claim, then the Indemnified Party may file any
papers, admit any liability with respect to, or consent to the entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to or otherwise compromise
or discharge any Third Party Claim upon not less than ten days prior written
notice to the Indemnifying Party. The parties will use commercially reasonable
efforts to
33
minimize Losses from Third Party Claims and
will act in good faith in responding to, defending against, settling or
otherwise dealing with such Claims. The parties will also cooperate in any such
defense and give each other reasonable access to all information relevant
thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Indemnifying Party has assumed the
defense, such Indemnifying Party will not be obligated to indemnify the
Indemnified Party hereunder for any settlement entered into or any judgment
that was consented to without the Indemnifying Partys prior written consent.
(b) Procedures for Non-Third Party Claims.
The Indemnified Party will notify the Indemnifying Party in writing promptly of
its discovery of any matter that does not involve a Third Party Claim and that
gives rise to a claim of indemnity pursuant hereto, with such written notice
stating the nature, basis and the amount thereof, to the extent known, along
with copies of the relevant notices and documents (including court papers)
evidencing such matter and the basis for indemnification sought and otherwise
in reasonable detail. The failure so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party from liability on account of this
indemnification, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is actually
prejudiced thereby. The Indemnifying Party will have 60 days from receipt of
any such notice to give notice of dispute of the claim to the Indemnified
Party, which notice shall state in reasonable detail the reason(s) for such
dispute. The Indemnified Party will reasonably cooperate and assist the
Indemnifying Party in determining the validity of any claim for indemnity by
the Indemnified Party and in otherwise resolving such matters. Such assistance
and cooperation will include providing reasonable access to and copies of
information, records and documents relating to such matters, furnishing
employees to assist in the investigation, defense and resolution of such
matters and providing legal and business assistance with respect to such
matters.
SECTION 8.04. Limitations on Indemnification. (a) Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Article VIII, (i) neither party shall be liable,
pursuant to Section 8.01 or Section 8.02, for any indemnifiable
Losses suffered by any Purchaser Indemnitee or any Seller Indemnitee, as
applicable, arising out of a breach of any representation, warranty or covenant
herein unless a claim therefor is asserted in writing within the applicable
Survival Period, failing which such claim shall be waived and extinguished,
(ii) Seller shall not be liable, pursuant to Section 8.01(i), for
(x) any Losses suffered by any Purchaser Indemnitee arising out of a
breach of any representation or warranty of Seller herein unless the aggregate
of all such Losses suffered by the Purchaser Indemnitees exceeds, on a cumulative
basis, $7,500,000, and then only to the extent of any such excess or
(y) the first fifteen individual items where the Loss relating thereto is
less than $50,000 and such fifteen items shall not be aggregated for purposes
of the immediately preceding clause (x), (iii) the aggregate
liability of Seller hereunder, pursuant to Section 8.01(i), for Losses
suffered by the Purchaser Indemnitees shall in no event exceed $120,000,000,
and (iv) neither party hereto shall be liable to the other for indirect,
special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages claimed by such other
party resulting from such first partys breach of its representations,
warranties or covenants hereunder. In no event shall Seller be obligated to
indemnify the Purchaser Indemnitees or any other person with respect to any
matter to the extent that such matter was taken into account in the calculation
of the adjustment to the Closing Date Payment,
34
if any, pursuant to Section 2.03(c). The
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement and in any document delivered in connection herewith shall survive
the Closing solely for purposes of this Article VIII as follows (each, a Survival
Period): (i) the
representations and warranties in Articles III and IV shall survive for
eighteen months following the Closing Date except that, the representations and
warranties contained in Sections 3.01 and 4.01 (Organization and
Standing), Sections 3.02 and 4.02 (Authority; Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability) and Section 3.05 (Good and Valid Title) shall survive
until the applicable statute of limitations expires and except that the
representations and warranties contained in Section 3.09 (Taxes) shall
survive until the statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes described
therein expires (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof)
and (ii) the covenant in Section 5.02 (Access to Information) shall
not survive the Closing and all other covenants herein shall survive in
accordance with their respective terms.
(b) Purchaser and Seller shall reasonably
cooperate with each other with respect to resolving any Claim or liability with
respect to which one party is obligated to indemnify the other party hereunder,
including by making reasonable best efforts to mitigate or resolve any such
Claim or liability.
(c) Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that,
(i) other than the representations and warranties of Seller specifically
contained in Article III of this Agreement and in the Ancillary
Agreements, none of Seller, any of its affiliates or any other person has made
any representation or warranty either expressed or implied (A) with
respect to the Business, the Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the
transactions contemplated hereby or by the Ancillary Agreements or (B) as
to the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding the Business, the
Transferred Assets, the Assumed Liabilities or the transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Ancillary Agreements furnished or made available to Purchaser
and its representatives, (ii) Purchaser has not relied on any
representation or warranty from Seller, any Seller Affiliate or any other
person in determining to enter into this Agreement, except as expressly set
forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and (iii) Purchaser
shall have no claim or right to indemnification pursuant to this
Article VIII, and none of Seller, any of its affiliates or any other
person shall have or be subject to any liability to Purchaser or any other
person with respect to, any information, documents or materials furnished by
Seller, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents or advisors to Purchaser, including the Confidential
Memorandum dated July 2007 prepared by Lehman Brothers and any information,
documents or material made available to Purchaser and its representatives in
certain data rooms, management presentations or any other form in expectation
of the transactions contemplated hereby (it being understood that this
clause (iii) does not supersede or otherwise affect the representations
and warranties of Seller specifically contained in Article III of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements). Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, except as expressly set
forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, neither Seller nor any of
the Seller Affiliates makes any representations or warranties relating to the
maintenance, repair, condition, design, performance or marketability of any
Transferred Asset,
35
including merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it shall obtain
rights in the Transferred Equipment and the Transferred Inventory in their
present condition and state of repair, as is and where is.
(d) Each of Purchaser and Seller further
acknowledges and agrees that, should the Closing occur, its sole and exclusive
remedy with respect to any and all Claims relating to this Agreement, the
Business, the Transferred Assets, the Excluded Assets, the Assumed Liabilities,
the Retained Liabilities or the transactions contemplated hereby (other than (i) a
Claim for payment due pursuant to Section 2.03(c), (ii) Claims of, or
causes of action arising from, fraud, (iii) claims arising solely under
any Ancillary Agreement and (iv) as provided in Section 11.14) shall
be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this
Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each of Seller and
Purchaser hereby waives, from and after the Closing, any and all rights, claims
and causes of action (other than (i) a claim for payment due pursuant to
Section 2.03(c), (ii) claims of, or causes of action arising from,
fraud, (iii) claims arising solely under any Ancillary Agreement and
(iv) as provided in Section 11.14) it may have against the other
party or any of such other partys affiliates or any of their respective
directors, officers and employees arising under or based upon this Agreement,
any Ancillary Agreement, any document or certificate delivered in connection
herewith, any Federal, state, provincial, local or foreign statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation, common law or otherwise (except pursuant to the
indemnification provisions set forth in this Article VIII).
SECTION 8.05. Calculation of Indemnity Payments.
(a) The amount of any Loss for which
indemnification is provided under this Article VIII shall be net of any
amounts recovered by the Indemnified Party under third party insurance policies
with respect to such Loss and shall be (a) increased to take account of
any net Tax cost actually incurred by the Indemnified Party arising from the receipt
of indemnity payments hereunder (grossed up for such increase) and
(b) reduced to take account of any net Tax benefit actually realized by
the Indemnified Party arising from the incurrence or payment of any such
indemnified amount. In computing the amount of any such Tax cost or Tax
benefit, the Indemnified Party shall be deemed to recognize all other items of
income, gain, loss, deduction or credit before recognizing any item arising
from the receipt of any indemnity payment hereunder or the incurrence or
payment of any indemnified amount. Following payment by the Indemnifying Party
of any Losses, if the Indemnified Party receives any third party insurance
recovery in respect of such Losses, the Indemnified Party shall promptly pay
over to the Indemnifying Party the amount of such insurance recovery (but not
more than the amount of such Losses). The Losses paid by the Indemnifying Party
in respect of which there has been a third party insurance recovery that the
Indemnified Party has paid over to the Indemnifying Party in accordance with
the preceding sentence shall not be counted toward the Indemnifying Partys
maximum aggregate liability under Section 8.04. The Indemnified Party
agrees to use reasonable best efforts to pursue and collect on any recovery available
from any insurance policy available to it and to net any such recovery against
any claim for indemnification hereunder or, if an indemnification claim has
already been resolved, against the amount paid pursuant to such resolution.
36
(b) For purposes of determining the amount of the
Loss in respect of any indemnity claim pursuant to Sections 8.01 and 8.02 (but
not for purposes of the initial determination as to whether an inaccuracy
exists or a breach has occurred giving rise to a right of indemnification), the
representations and warranties made by each of Seller and Purchaser in this
Agreement shall be read without regard to any Business Material Adverse Effect,
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifiers contained
therein.
SECTION 8.06. Tax Treatment of Indemnification. For
all Tax purposes, Purchaser and Seller agree to treat (and shall cause each of
their respective affiliates to treat) any indemnity payment under this
Agreement as an adjustment to the Final Purchase Price unless a final
determination by the relevant Taxing Authority (which shall include, in the
case of the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), the execution of an IRS
Form 870-AD or successor form) provides otherwise.
ARTICLE IX
Tax Matters
SECTION 9.01. Tax Matters. (a) (i) At least fourteen (14) calendar days
prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Purchaser with an estimate of
the allocation of the total consideration (including liabilities assumed) among
the Transferred Assets. This estimate will be used at the Closing. If Purchaser
does not agree with such estimate, Seller and Purchaser shall use good faith
efforts to agree on an estimate prior to the Closing Date. If the parties
cannot agree on such estimate prior to the Closing Date, Sellers estimate
shall be used for allocating the total consideration pursuant to this Agreement
at the Closing.
(ii) Without regard to the estimate determined
pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(i), within ninety (90) calendar days of the
determination of the Final Purchase Price, Seller shall provide Purchaser a
proposed allocation (the Allocation) prepared in accordance with
Section 1060 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder of the total consideration (including liabilities assumed) among the
Transferred Assets. The Allocation shall become final and binding twenty (20)
calendar days after Seller provides the Allocation to Purchaser, unless
Purchaser objects in good faith. In that case, the parties will attempt in good
faith to agree upon the Allocation. If the parties cannot agree on the
Allocation, each party hereto shall use its own allocation, as each such party
shall deem appropriate.
(iii) Any adjustments to the Final Purchase Price
shall be allocated in accordance with the agreement reached as set forth in
Section 9.01(a)(ii).
(iv) Seller (and its affiliates) and Purchaser
(and its affiliates) agree to file all Tax Returns consistent with the final
versions of the allocations and forms described in this Section 9.01.
37
(b) (i)
Seller and Purchaser shall cooperate in timely making all filings,
returns, reports and forms as may be required in connection with Purchasers
and Sellers payment of Transfer Taxes. Each party shall execute and deliver
all instruments and certificates reasonably necessary to enable the other to
comply with any filing requirements relating to any such Transfer Taxes.
(ii) Each of Purchaser and Seller shall pay
one-half of the aggregate amount of any Transfer Taxes; provided, however,
that each of Seller and each of the Seller Affiliates shall use reasonable
efforts to avail itself of any available exemptions from any such Transfer
Taxes, and to cooperate with the other parties in providing any information and
documentation that may be necessary to obtain such exemption.
(c) Purchaser, Seller and each of the Seller
Affiliates agree, until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations, to provide each other with such information and assistance as is
reasonably necessary, including access to records and personnel, for the
preparation of any Tax Returns or for the defense of any Tax claim or
assessment, whether in connection with an audit or otherwise.
(d) Seller shall furnish to Purchaser on or prior
to the Closing Date a certificate of its non-foreign status complying with the
provisions of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b).
ARTICLE X
Additional Agreements
SECTION 10.01.
Publicity. From the date of
this Agreement through the Closing Date, no public release or announcement
concerning the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Ancillary Agreement
shall be issued by any party without the prior consent of the other party
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as such
release or announcement may be required by law or the rules or regulations of
any United States or foreign securities exchange or as shall be provided in
investor relations calls with analysts, shareholders and other interested
parties, in which case the party required to make the release, announcement or
investor relations call shall allow the other party reasonable time to comment
on such release, announcement or investor relations call script in advance of
such issuance or call; provided, however,
that each of the parties may make internal announcements to their respective
affiliates and employees that are consistent with the parties prior public
disclosures regarding the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 10.02.
No Use of Certain Names. Purchaser
shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries and the Business, promptly, and in any
event (a) within 180 days after the Closing, to revise print advertising,
Product labeling and all other information or other materials, including any
Internet or other electronic communications vehicles, to delete all references
to the Names and (b) within 90 days after the Closing, to change signage
and stationery and otherwise discontinue use of the Names; provided,
however,
that for a period of 180 days after the Closing Date Purchaser may continue to
distribute
38
product literature relating to the Business
that uses any Names and distribute Products with labeling that uses any Names
to the extent that such product literature and labeling exists on the Closing
Date. In no event shall Purchaser, any of its subsidiaries or the Business use
any Names after the Closing in any manner or for any purpose different from the
use of such Names by Seller and the Seller Affiliates during the 90-day period
preceding the Closing. With respect to the Transferred Inventory, Purchaser may
continue to sell such Transferred Inventory, notwithstanding that it bears one
or more of the Names, for six months after the Closing. Names means Unilever,
Bestfoods, Unilever Bestfoods, Unilever Foodsolutions, Knorr and Carb
Options and any variants and derivatives thereof and any other logos or
trademarks of Seller or its affiliates not included in
Schedule 1.02(a)(iii) or (iv).
SECTION 10.03.
Support Services. Purchaser
acknowledges that, except as provided in the Transitional Services Agreement
and the Manufacturing Agreement, as of the Closing Date, neither Seller nor any
of its affiliates shall have any obligation to provide any support or other
services to Purchaser.
SECTION 10.04.
Post-Closing Information. (a) Following the Closing, upon reasonable
written notice to Purchaser, Purchaser shall afford or cause to be afforded to
Seller and its affiliates and their employees, counsel, auditors and
representatives reasonable access to the personnel, properties, books,
Contracts, commitments and records relating to the Business for any reasonable
business purpose, including in respect of litigation, insurance matters,
financial reporting and accounting of Seller and its affiliates; provided that
such access does not unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of Purchaser or
its affiliates.
(b) Following the Closing, upon reasonable
written notice to Seller, Seller shall, or shall cause the Seller Affiliates
to, afford to Purchaser and its affiliates reasonable access to Sellers or the
Seller Affiliates personnel, properties, books, Contracts, commitments and records
relating to the Business for any reasonable business purpose, including in
respect of litigation, insurance matters and financial reporting of Purchaser
and its affiliates; provided, however, that such access does not
unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of Seller or any of its affiliates.
(c) Nothing contained in this Section 10.04
shall oblige either party or any of their respective affiliates to breach any
duty of confidentiality owed to any person whether such duty arises
contractually, statutorily or otherwise.
SECTION 10.05.
Books and Records. (a) Purchaser shall retain the books and records
of the Business which constitute Transferred Assets for no less than six years
after the Closing Date. Seller shall, and shall cause the Seller Affiliates to,
retain all other books and records of the Business existing on the Closing Date
for no less than six years after the Closing Date and make such other books and
records available to Purchaser upon Purchasers reasonable request.
(b) Purchaser recognizes that certain books and
records may contain information relating to subsidiaries, divisions or
businesses of Seller and its affiliates
39
other than the Business and that Seller and
its affiliates may redact such information before making such books and records
available to Purchaser.
SECTION 10.06.
Bulk Transfer Laws. Purchaser
hereby waives compliance by Seller and the Seller Affiliates with the
provisions of any so-called bulk transfer laws of any jurisdiction in
connection with the Acquisition.
SECTION 10.07.
Refunds and Remittances. After
the Closing, if Seller or any of its affiliates receive any refund or other
amount which is a Transferred Asset or is otherwise properly due and owing to
Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Seller promptly shall
remit, or shall cause to be remitted, such amount to Purchaser at the address
set forth in Section 11.04. After the Closing, if Purchaser or any of its
affiliates receive any refund or other amount which is an Excluded Asset or is
otherwise properly due and owing to Seller or any of its affiliates in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Purchaser promptly shall remit, or
shall cause to be remitted, such amount to Seller at the address set forth in
Section 11.04. After the Closing, if Purchaser or any of its affiliates
receive any refund or other amount which is related to Claims (including
workers compensation), litigation, insurance or other matters for which Seller
is responsible hereunder, and which amount is not a Transferred Asset, or is
otherwise properly due and owing to Seller in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, Purchaser promptly shall remit, or cause to be remitted, such amount
to Seller at the address set forth in Section 11.04. After the Closing, if
Seller or any of its affiliates receive any refund or other amount which is
related to Claims, litigation, insurance or other matters for which Purchaser
is responsible hereunder, and which amount is not an Excluded Asset, or is
otherwise properly due and owing to Purchaser in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, Seller promptly shall remit, or cause to be remitted, such
amount to Purchaser at the address set forth in Section 11.04.
SECTION 10.08.
Termination of Licenses and
Cancellation of Registrations. As of the Closing, Seller shall terminate,
and shall cause Sellers Affiliates to terminate, all licenses and sublicenses
of the Transferred Intellectual Property (including those matters disclosed on
Schedule 3.06(a) and marked with an asterisk), and shall cancel or caused to
have cancelled each trademark registration that (a) includes any of the
Brands, in whole or in part, and (b) is not included in the Transferred
Assets.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
SECTION 11.01.
Assignment. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder may be
assigned or transferred by any of the parties hereto (including by operation of
law in connection with a merger or consolidation of Purchaser, Seller or any
Seller Affiliate) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto,
except that (a) Purchaser may assign any of its rights and obligations
hereunder to any of its direct or indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries, without
the prior written consent of Seller, and (b) Seller may assign any rights
and obligations hereunder to any of Seller, Unilever United States, Inc. and
their respective
40
affiliates, including Unilever N.V., Unilever
PLC and the direct and indirect subsidiaries of either or both of them without
the prior written consent of Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of
Seller and Purchaser shall remain liable for all of their respective obligations
under this Agreement. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 11.01,
this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns and no other person shall
have any right, obligation or benefit hereunder. Any attempted assignment or
transfer in violation of this Section 11.01 shall be void.
SECTION 11.02.
No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
Except as provided in Article VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit
of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns, and nothing herein expressed
or implied shall give or be construed to give to any person, other than the
parties hereto and such assigns, any legal or equitable rights, obligations or
benefits hereunder.
SECTION 11.03.
Expenses. Whether or not
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, except as
otherwise expressly provided herein each of the parties hereto shall be
responsible for the payment of its own respective costs and expenses incurred
in connection with the negotiations leading up to and the performance of its
respective obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements
including the fees of any attorneys, accountants, brokers or advisors employed
or retained by or on behalf of such party. Purchaser shall pay any filing fee
required under the HSR Act and all other Applicable Laws relating to
competition.
SECTION 11.04.
Notices. All notices, requests,
permissions, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) three business days following
sending by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (b) when sent,
if sent by facsimile; provided that the facsimile transmission is
promptly confirmed by telephone, (c) when delivered, if delivered
personally to the intended recipient, and (d) one business day following
sending by overnight delivery via a national courier service and, in each case,
addressed to a party at the following address for such party:
41
(i) if to
Seller,
Conopco, Inc.
c/o Unilever United States, Inc.
700 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (201) 894-2727
with a copy to:
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019-7475
Attention: Mark I. Greene, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 474-3700
(ii) if to
Purchaser,
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
18 Loveton Circle
P.O. Box 6000
Sparks, Maryland
21152-6000
Facsimile:
(410) 527-8228
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
Email:
bob_skelton@mccormick.com, and
geoff_carpenter@mccormick.com
with a copy to:
DLA Piper US LLP
500 Eighth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Facsimile:
(202) 799-5200
Attention:
Theodore D. Segal, Esq.
Email: Theodore.segal@dlapiper.com
or to such
other address(es) as shall be furnished in writing by any such party to the
other party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 11.04.
SECTION 11.05.
Headings; Certain Definitions.
(a) The descriptive headings of the
several Articles and Sections of this Agreement and the Exhibits, Schedules and
Table of Contents to this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto
or referred
42
to herein are hereby incorporated in and made
a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms
used in any Schedule or Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall have
the meaning as defined in this Agreement. All references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits or Schedules shall be deemed to
be references to Articles or Sections hereof or Exhibits or Schedules hereto
unless otherwise indicated.
(b) For all purposes hereof:
affiliate
of any party means any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under
common control with such party and, in the case of Seller, shall include
Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC and any entity a majority of the voting shares of
which is owned directly or indirectly by Unilever N.V. or Unilever PLC or both
of them together (including the Seller Affiliates).
business
day shall refer to a day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, on which
commercial banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City.
Business
means (i) the business of manufacturing, marketing, distributing and
selling food products under the Brands, including the manufacturing, marketing,
distributing and selling of the Products as such business is currently
conducted by Seller and the Seller Affiliates and (ii) the business of
manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling marinades through retail
channels to end-users located in Canada, as such business is currently
conducted by Seller and the Seller Affiliates under the brand Knorr; it being
understood and agreed that nothing in this clause (ii) or otherwise in this
Agreement shall convey to Purchaser in any manner whatsoever any right to use
the Knorr name or mark.
Business
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect (i) on the
financial condition or results of operations of the Business (including the
Transferred Assets and the Assumed Liabilities) or (ii) on the ability of
Seller to consummate the Acquisition. For purposes of this Agreement, Business
Material Adverse Effect shall exclude any effects to the extent resulting
from (A) changes in law or applicable accounting regulations or principles
or interpretations thereof, (B) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities
or war or any act of terrorism, (C) changes in the United States or
foreign economies in general, (D) changes in industries relating to the
Business in general and not specifically relating to the Business, (E) the
announcement by Seller of its intention to sell the Business or (F) the
execution of this Agreement (including the identity of Purchaser) or any of the
Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby.
Canadian
Marinades Business means the operations described in clause (ii) of
the definition of the term Business.
$
means United States dollars.
including
means including, without limitation.
43
knowledge
of Seller means the actual knowledge of Amanda Sourry, Christiane Paul,
Lonnie Robinson, Robert Matthews or Robert Talbot and, solely with respect to
Trademarks in the United States, Mitchell Frank, in each case after due
inquiry.
person
means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, Governmental Entity or other entity.
Power
Packaging Agreement means that certain Manufacturing Agreement dated as of
November 22, 2002 between Power Packaging, Inc. and Seller d/b/a a
Unilever Bestfoods North America, as supplemented by the Addendum to
Manufacturing Agreement dated as of such date.
Products
means (i) products of any Brand held for sale by Seller or a Seller
Affiliate and (ii) marinades held for sale by Seller or a Seller Affiliate
under the Knorr brand in Canada, in either case on the date of this Agreement
and on the Closing Date, and including those products represented by the SKUs
set forth in Schedule 11.05(b); it being understood and agreed that
nothing in clause (ii) above or otherwise in this Agreement shall convey to
Purchaser in any manner whatsoever any right to use the Knorr name or mark.
subsidiary
of any person means another person, an amount of the voting securities, other
voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to
elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or other governing body
(or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests
of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first person or by another
subsidiary of such first person.
SECTION 11.06.
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered,
in person or by facsimile, or by electronic image scan, receipt acknowledged,
to the other party hereto.
SECTION 11.07.
Integrated Contract; Exhibits and Schedules.
This Agreement, including the Schedules (and the Introduction thereto) and
Exhibits hereto, any written amendments to the foregoing satisfying the
requirements of Section 11.13 hereof, the Confidentiality Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements, including the schedules, exhibits and annexes
thereto, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede any previous agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such matters. All Exhibits
and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in
and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any
capitalized terms used in any Schedule or Exhibit but not otherwise defined
therein shall be defined as set forth in this Agreement. There are no
restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, agreements or undertakings
of any party hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
the Confidentiality Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements other than those set
forth herein or therein or in any other document required to be executed and
delivered hereunder or thereunder. In the event of any conflict
44
between the provisions of this Agreement
(including the Schedules (and the Introduction thereto) and Exhibits hereto),
on the one hand, and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement or the
Ancillary Agreements (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), on the
other hand, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
SECTION 11.08.
Severability; Enforcement. The
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any portion hereof shall not
affect the validity, force or effect of the remaining portions hereof. If it is
ever held that any restriction hereunder is too broad to permit enforcement of
such restriction to its fullest extent, each party agrees that a court of
competent jurisdiction may enforce such restriction to the maximum extent
permitted by law, and each party hereby consents and agrees that such scope may
be judicially modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such
restriction.
SECTION 11.09.
Governing Law. This
Agreement and any disputes arising under or related thereto (whether for breach
of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise) shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its
conflicts of law principles (other than Section 5-1401 of the General
Obligations Law of the State of New York).
SECTION 11.10.
Jurisdiction. Each party
irrevocably agrees that any legal action, suit or proceeding against them
arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby or disputes relating hereto (whether for breach of contract, tortious
conduct or otherwise) shall be brought exclusively in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York, or, if such court does
not have subject matter jurisdiction, the state courts of New York located in
New York County and hereby irrevocably accepts and submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of the aforesaid courts in
personam, with respect to any such action, suit or proceeding. Each
of Purchaser and Seller irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to
the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby in (i) the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York
County, or (ii) the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally
waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action,
suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. This Section 11.10 shall not apply to any dispute
under Section 2.03 that is required to be decided by the Independent
Expert.
SECTION 11.11.
Service of Process. Each party
agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S.
registered mail to such partys address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any action, suit or proceeding in New York with respect
to any matters for which it has submitted to jurisdiction pursuant to
Section 11.10.
SECTION 11.12.
Waiver of Jury Trial. Each
party hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any
right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or
indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or disputes relating hereto. Each
45
party (a) certifies that no
representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly
or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek
to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other
party hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other
things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 11.12.
SECTION 11.13.
Amendments. This
Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or canceled and any of the
terms, covenants, representations, warranties or conditions hereof may be
waived only by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto
or, in the case of a waiver, by or on behalf of the party waiving compliance.
SECTION 11.14.
Specific Enforcement. The parties
agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would not have
any adequate remedy at law (i) in the event that any of the provisions of
this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or
were otherwise breached prior to the Closing and (ii) in respect of a
matter that is the subject of Section 8.03(b) hereof. It is accordingly
agreed that, prior to the Closing (in the case of clause (i) in the preceding
sentence) and at any time (in the case of clause (ii) in the preceding sentence),
the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
of this Agreement in any court of the State of New York located in New York
County or any Federal court sitting in the State of New York located in New
York County, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are
entitled at law or in equity.
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appear on following page.]
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IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, Seller and Purchaser have duly executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
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CONOPCO, INC., as Seller,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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McCORMICK & COMPANY,
INCORPORATED, as Purchaser,
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by
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Name:
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Title:
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MCCORMICK
TO ACQUIRE LAWRYS® BRAND
SPARKS, MD., NOVEMBER 14 -
McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) today announced that it has
signed a definitive agreement with Unilever to purchase the assets of Lawrys
for $605 million in cash.
Lawrys
manufactures and sells a variety of marinades and seasoning blends under the
well-known Lawrys and Adolphs® brands.
Annual
sales of this business are approximately $150 million, primarily in the U.S.
and Canada.
The
acquisition supports the Companys long-term outlook to grow sales 4-6%.
The Lawrys business
includes a full line of seasoning blend products under the Lawrys and Adolphs
brands that are marketed in grocery stores and other consumer outlets, and account
for 65% of sales. Another 23% of sales
are Lawrys wet marinades which lead the category in the U.S. market. Sales to food service customers represent the
remaining 12%. The acquisition includes
the rights to the brands as well as related inventory and a small number of
dedicated production lines. It does not
include any manufacturing facilities or employees.
The acquisition is expected
to be immediately accretive to earnings.
The purchase price is approximately nine times EBITDA (earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation and amortization).
Upon closing, the Company will finance this purchase through cash from
operations, committed bank lines and commercial paper borrowings, after which
an appropriate longer-term capital structure will be put into place.
The closing of the
transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the
Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period and other customary closing conditions. The Company has agreed to pay Unilever a $30
million termination fee, subject to certain limited conditions, in the event
that HSR clearance is not obtained.
Robert J. Lawless, Chairman
and CEO of McCormick, stated, We are extremely pleased to have reached an
agreement for the purchase of Lawrys.
The acquisition of attractive consumer brands to complement our existing
portfolio of flavors for food is one of our key objectives. Lawrys is a well-known brand that has
achieved a high level of consumer acceptance over the years.
We are excited about the
opportunity to enter the growing marinades category and to achieve synergies
through the utilization of our manufacturing assets to produce the seasoning
blends. We intend to invest a portion of
the synergies we achieve to reinvigorate sales growth through innovation and
focused marketing.
With its strong heritage in
delivering distinctive full flavors to main meals, Lawrys will be an excellent
addition to our portfolio of products.
Forward-looking Information
Certain information contained in this release,
including expected trends in net sales and earnings performance, are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Forward-looking statements are
based on managements current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties
that could be materially affected by external factors such as: actions of competitors, customer
relationships, ability to realize expected cost savings and margin
improvements, market acceptance of new products, actual amount and timing of special
charge items, removal and disposal costs, final negotiations of third-party
contracts, the impact of the stock market conditions on its share repurchase
program, fluctuations in the cost and availability of supply chain resources
and global economic conditions, including interest and currency rate
fluctuations, and inflation rates.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly, any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About McCormick & Company, Incorporated
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is the global
leader in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of spices, seasonings and
flavors to the entire food industry to foodservice and food processing
businesses as well as to retail outlets.
#
# #
For information contact:
Corporate Communications:
John McCormick (410-771-7110
or john_mccormick@mccormick.com)
Investor Relations: Joyce Brooks (410-771-7244 or
joyce_brooks@mccormick.com)
11/2007