Exhibit 2.1
DATED
8 May 2008
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ENODIS
PLC
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(1 |
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and
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ILLINOIS TOOL
WORKS INC.
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(2 |
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IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT
CONTENTS
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1
DEFINITIONS
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2
INTERPRETATION
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3 PRESS
ANNOUNCEMENT
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4 IMPLEMENTATION
AND DOCUMENTATION
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5 ANTITRUST
CLEARANCES AND TERMINATION FEE
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6 CONDUCT OF
BUSINESS
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7 REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
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8
NON-SOLICITATION
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9 INDUCEMENT
FEE
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10
TERMINATION
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11 NOTICES
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12 REMEDIES AND
WAIVERS
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13
INVALIDITY
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14 FIDUCIARY
DUTIES
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15 WITHHOLDING, NO
SET-OFF
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16 NO
PARTNERSHIP
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17 TIME OF
ESSENCE
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18 CONTRACTS
(RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) ACT 1999
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19 ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
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20
ASSIGNMENT
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21
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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22 COSTS AND
EXPENSES
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23
COUNTERPARTS
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24 GOVERNING LAW
AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION
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SCHEDULE 1 AGREED
FORM PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT
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SCHEDULE 2 COURT
TIMETABLE (ALL CALENDAR DAYS)
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SCHEDULE 3 SHARE
SCHEMES
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1
INTRODUCTION
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2 APPROPRIATE
PROPOSALS
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3 DOCUMENTATION
AND COMMUNICATIONS
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4 PROPOSALS TO
OPTION HOLDERS
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5 PERFORMANCE
SHARE PLAN (“PSP”)
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6 PERFORMANCE
CONDITIONS
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7 LAPSE OF
OPTIONS
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8 ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION OF FIRE & ICE
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9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
TRUST
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10 RETENTION FOR
NON-DIRECTORS
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ii
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DATE OF
AGREEMENT
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8 May 2008 |
PARTIES
| (1) |
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ENODIS PLC whose registered office is at The Place, 175
High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA (the “Company”);
and |
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| (2) |
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ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. a company incorporated and
organised under the laws of Delaware whose principal office is at
3600 W Lake Avenue Glenview, Illinois 60026-1215, United States of
America (“ ITW ”). |
INTRODUCTION
| A |
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ITW intends to announce a takeover offer for the Company to be
implemented by way of, and the Company has agreed to implement, a
Scheme on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the
Press Announcement. |
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| B |
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The parties are entering into this agreement to set out certain
mutual commitments to implement the Scheme and certain matters
relating to the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Group. |
IT
IS AGREED THAT:
| 1 |
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DEFINITIONS |
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In this agreement (but not in Schedule 1), unless the
context otherwise requires: |
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“1985 Act” means the UK Companies Act 1985
(as amended); |
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“2006 Act” means the UK Companies Act
2006; |
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“Acquisition” means the proposed recommended
acquisition by Bidco of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary
share capital of the Company which is to be effected by means of a
scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the 2006 Act (involving
the Reduction) or, if ITW so elects in accordance with clause 4.9
and the Panel consents, by means of an Offer, as described in the
Press Announcement; |
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“Acts” means together the 1985 Act and the
2006 Act; |
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“Antitrust Laws” means any applicable
antitrust, competition, pre-merger notification or trade regulation
law, regulation or order; |
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“Bidco” means FNI Limited, an indirectly
wholly owned subsidiary of ITW; |
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“Business Day” means a day on which banks
generally are open for the transaction of normal banking business
in the City of London and New York (other than Saturdays and
Sundays); |
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“Clearance Date” means 4
November 2008; |
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“Code” means the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers; |
1
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“Company Representative Member” means the
representative member of any group for VAT purposes of which the
Company is a member; |
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“Conditions” means the conditions set out in
Appendix 1 to the Press Announcement; |
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“Consolidated Litigation” means the
litigation currently pending before the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit styled In re: Consolidated
Industries and Welbilt Holding Company et al ., Case Nos.
06-4178, 06-4179, 06-4180 and 06-4181; |
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“Court” means the High Court of Justice in
England and Wales; |
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“Court Hearing(s)” means the hearing(s) by
the Court to sanction the Scheme under Section 899 of the 2006
Act and confirm the associated Reduction; |
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“Court Hearing Date” means the date upon
which the Court Hearing is held or upon which the first Court
hearing is held if there is more than one; |
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“Court Meeting” means the meeting or
meetings (including any adjournment thereof) of the Company’s
shareholders (or the relevant class or classes thereof) convened
pursuant to an order of the Court under Section 896 of the
2006 Act for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit,
approving the Scheme (with or without amendment); |
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“Court Order(s)” means the order(s) of the
Court sanctioning the Scheme under Section 899 of the 2006 Act
and confirming the associated Reduction; |
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“ITW Representative Member” means the
representative member of any group for VAT purposes of which ITW is
a member; |
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“Directors” means the board of directors of
the Company from time to time; |
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“EC Merger Regulation” means Council
Regulation (EC) 139/2004 (as amended); |
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“Effective Date” means the date upon
which: |
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(i) |
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the Scheme becomes effective in accordance with its terms;
or |
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(ii) |
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if ITW elects to implement the Acquisition by way of the Offer
in accordance with clause 4.9, the Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional in all respects; |
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“shares” when used in relation to the
Company, means the ordinary shares of 10p each in the capital of
the Company; |
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“European Merger Clearance” means
(i) the European Commission taking a decision (or being deemed
to have taken a decision) that it will not initiate proceedings
under Article 6(1)(c) of the EC Merger Regulation in relation
to the Acquisition; or (ii) the European Commission taking a
decision (or being deemed to have taken a decision) to refer the
whole or part of the Acquisition to the competent authorities of
one or more EU member states under Article 9(3) of the EC
Merger Regulation; and (a) each such authority taking a
decision with equivalent effect to Art 6(1)(c) of the EC Merger
Regulation with respect to those parts of the Acquisition referred
to it; and (b) the European Commission taking a decision that
it will not initiate proceedings under Article 6(1)(c) of the
EC Merger Regulation with respect to any part of the Acquisition
retained by it; |
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“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended; |
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“Final Implementation Date” means the last
date on which the Scheme is required, in accordance with the terms
of this agreement, to become effective being on or before 10
December 2008 or if ITW so elects (and the Panel has consented
to the extension of the timetable under the Acquisition) 28
February 2009 or such later date (if any) as ITW and the
Company may, with the consent of the Panel, agree ( and if
required) the Court may allow; |
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“General Meeting” means the general meeting
of the Company’s shareholders to be convened in connection
with the Scheme; |
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“General Meeting Resolutions” means the
resolution(s) to be proposed at the General Meeting for the
purposes of approving the Reduction and certain amendments to the
Articles of Association of the Company and such other matters as
may be agreed between the Company and ITW as necessary or desirable
for the purposes of implementing the Scheme; |
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“Governmental Antitrust Authority” means any
governmental authority with regulatory jurisdiction over
enforcement of Antitrust Laws; |
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“Governmental Antitrust Authority Merger
Clearances” means all consents, approvals, clearances,
permissions and waivers as may be necessary under the Antitrust
Laws in connection with the implementation of the Acquisition
(whether by Scheme or Offer) or the expiration of all waiting
periods as may be required under the Antitrust Laws; |
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“Group” means, in relation to any person,
its subsidiaries, subsidiary undertakings and holding companies and
the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of any such holding
company; |
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“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended) and the regulations
made thereunder; |
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“Inducement Fee” means an amount equal to
one per cent, of the proposed fully diluted value of the Company by
reference to the Acquisition, potentially payable under clause 9 of
this agreement being a maximum sum of £10.79 million,
subject to the limitations in clause 9; |
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“Interim Dividend” has the meaning given to
it in the Press Announcement; |
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“Listing Rules” means the Listing Rules made
by the Financial Services Authority under Part VI of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; |
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“Manitowoc” means The Manitowoc Company,
Inc; |
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“Manitowoc Offer” means the offer by
Manitowoc, which was announced by Manitowoc and the Company under
Rule 2.5 of the City Code on 14 April 2008 and any
revision, variation or increase of such offer; |
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“Meetings” means the Court Meeting(s) and
General Meeting; |
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“Non-Antitrust Clearances” means all
consents, clearances, permissions and waivers as may be necessary
and all filings and expiration of all waiting periods as may
be |
3
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necessary, from or under the laws, regulations or practices
applied by any relevant Non-Antitrust Regulatory Authority in
connection with the implementation of the Acquisition, (whether by
Scheme or Offer) and references to Non-Antitrust Clearances having
been satisfied shall be construed as meaning that the foregoing
have been obtained or, where appropriate, made or expired; |
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“Non-Antitrust Regulatory Authority” means
any governmental, national, supranational, regulatory, competition
or Antitrust body or other authority, in any jurisdiction, other
than a Governmental Antitrust Authority which is responsible for
applying foreign investment, exchange control, environmental,
health, safety or industry legislation or regulation in such
jurisdictions; |
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“Notes” means the senior notes issued by the
Company under the Note Purchase and Guaranty Agreement dated 6
September 2007; |
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“Offer” means a takeover offer governed by
the Code to implement the Acquisition on the terms set out in the
Press Announcement; |
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“Offer Document” means the document to be
despatched to (amongst others) the Company’s shareholders
pursuant to which the Offer would be made; |
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“Panel” means the Panel on Takeovers and
Mergers; |
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“Personnel” means, in relation to any
person, its board of directors, members of their immediate
families, related trusts and persons connected with them, as such
expressions are construed in accordance with the Code; |
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“Press Announcement” means the draft Press
Announcement in the agreed form set out in Schedule 1, but
subject to any changes to be made to such announcement as are
agreed between the parties or as are required by the Code or the
Panel; |
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“Reduction” means the proposed reduction of
capital of the Company under section 135 of the Companies Act 1985
provided for by the Scheme; |
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“Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies
for England and Wales; |
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“Regulatory Conditions” means the conditions
which are set out in paragraphs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 of Appendix 1
to the Press Announcement; |
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“Resolutions” means the General Meeting
Resolutions and resolution of the Company’s shareholders to
be voted upon at the Court Meeting, in order to approve the Scheme
and to approve other matters in relation to assisting the Scheme to
become effective; |
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“Scheme” means the scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the 2006 Act to be proposed by the Company to
its shareholders, with or subject to any modification, addition or
condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed by the
Company and ITW pursuant to which the Acquisition is proposed to be
implemented; |
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“Scheme Document” means the document to be
despatched to the Company’s shareholders setting out the full
terms of the Scheme and, where the context so admits, includes any
form of proxy, election, notice or other document required to be
despatched to Shareholders in connection with the Scheme; |
4
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“Share Schemes” means the Company’s
employee share schemes consisting of the Berisford International
1993 Executive Share Option Scheme, the Berisford 1995 Executive
Share Scheme), the Enodis 2001 Executive Share Scheme and the
Enodis plc Performance Share Plan; |
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“Share Scheme Proposals” means the proposals
relating to the Share Schemes, referred to in clause 4.27 of and
Schedule 3 to this agreement; |
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“TCGA 1992” means the Taxation of Chargeable
Gains Act 1992; |
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“Termination Fee” means US$50,000,000; |
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“Third Party Transaction” means an offer or
proposal (as amended or revised from time to time and whether or
not subject to any pre-conditions and howsoever implemented)
made: |
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(a) |
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by a third party not acting in concert with ITW, for 50% or
more of the issued share capital of the Company or any class
thereof (other than those shares owned or contracted to be acquired
by the person making such offer and its associates) or whereby such
third party (together with its concert parties) will as a direct
result become interested in 50% or more of the issued share capital
of the Company or any class thereof; |
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(b) |
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which involves, in any such case, a change of control of the
Company (other than the acquisition of control by ITW and/or a
person acting in concert with ITW) or which involves the disposal
of any interest in a material part (being not less than 50%) of the
business of the Company or its Group (other than to ITW and/or a
person acting in concert with ITW), |
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provided that for the purposes of clause 8 of this agreement
only, the references to “50%” in (b) above shall
be read as references to “10%”; |
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“Timetable” means the indicative timetable
in the agreed form for implementation of the Scheme and despatch of
the Scheme Document set out in Schedule 2; |
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“VAT” means value added tax as provided for
in the Sixth Directive of the European Community, as charged by the
provisions of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 or any regulation
promulgated thereunder or any tax of a similar nature; |
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“Voting Record Time” means a time and date
to be specified as such in the Scheme Document; and |
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“Working Hours” means 9.30 am to 6.30 pm on
a Business Day. |
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| 2 |
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INTERPRETATION |
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| 2.1 |
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Terms used but not defined expressly herein shall, unless the
context otherwise requires, have the meaning given to them in the
Press Announcement. In case of inconsistency, the definitions set
out in this agreement shall take precedence. |
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| 2.2 |
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References to clauses and schedules are to clauses of, and
schedules to, this agreement. |
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| 2.3 |
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References to one gender include all genders and references to
the singular include the plural and vice versa. |
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| 2.4 |
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Any word or expression defined in the 1985 Act and not
expressly defined in this agreement or in the Press Announcement
shall have the meaning given in the 1985 Act. |
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| 2.5 |
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When used in this agreement, the expressions “acting
in concert”, “concert parties”,
“control” and “offer” shall be
construed in accordance with the Code. |
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| 2.6 |
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References to a “company” shall be construed
so as to include any company, corporation or other body corporate,
wherever and however incorporated or established. |
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| 2.7 |
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A reference to any statute or statutory provision shall be
construed as a reference to the same as it may have been, or may
from time to time be, amended, modified or re- enacted. |
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| 2.8 |
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Any reference to a time of day is a reference to the time in
London, unless a contrary indication appears. Any reference to a
“day” (including within the phrase “Business
Day”) shall mean a period of 24 hours running from
midnight to midnight. |
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| 2.9 |
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A document “in the agreed form” means a
document, the terms of which have been approved by the parties and
a copy of which has been identified as such and initialled by or on
behalf of each of the Company and ITW. |
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| 2.10 |
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A reference to any other document referred to in this agreement
is a reference to that other document as amended, revised, varied,
novated or supplemented at any time. |
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| 2.11 |
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Headings are to be ignored in construing this agreement. |
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| 2.12 |
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References to ITW shall include Bidco where the context so
requires. |
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| 3 |
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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT |
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| 3.1 |
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The parties shall procure the release of the Press Announcement
at or before 7.00 am on 8 May 2008 or such other time and date as
may be agreed in writing by the parties. |
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| 3.2 |
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The parties acknowledge that, at the same time, ITW will be
required to release an announcement in the agreed form giving
details of the Acquisition in the US. |
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| 4 |
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IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION |
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Implementation of the Scheme |
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| 4.1 |
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The parties undertake to implement the Scheme in accordance
with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Press
Announcement and, so far as reasonably practicable, the Timetable
with the overall intention that all Governmental Antitrust
Authority Merger Clearances and all Non-Antitrust Clearances are
obtained prior to the Court Hearing Date and that the Scheme
becomes effective on or before the Final Implementation Date but in
any event, in as timely manner as reasonably practicable. |
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| 4.2 |
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The Company will, save as otherwise agreed in writing with ITW,
take or cause to be taken all such steps as are necessary to
implement the Scheme in accordance with the Timetable. In
particular, but without limitation: |
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(a) |
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the Company shall make all necessary applications to the Court
in connection with the implementation of the Scheme promptly and in
particular, will, no later than 19 May 2008, issue a
Part 8 claim form in order to seek the Court’s
permission to convene the Court Meeting and file such documents as
may be necessary in connection therewith; |
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(b) |
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upon: |
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(i) |
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the necessary documents being settled with the Court and, where
required, approved by ITW (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed); and |
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(ii) |
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the Court making the order necessary for the purpose of
convening the Court Meeting, |
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the Company shall, within 5 days of the order being made
(or such later date as ITW shall agree in writing, such agreement
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), publish the requisite
documents, including the Scheme Document, and thereafter in a
timely manner, publish and/or post such other documents and
information as the Court or the Panel may approve or require from
time to time in connection with the proper implementation of the
Scheme according to the Timetable; |
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(c) |
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the Company will convene the Court Meeting and General Meeting
to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Scheme and General
Meeting Resolutions and hold such meeting at the times and dates on
which they are convened; |
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(d) |
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following the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, and
assuming the resolutions to be proposed at such meeting(s) have
been passed by the requisite majorities, ITW shall provide written
confirmation to the Company forthwith upon the Regulatory
Conditions being waived or satisfied and upon receipt of such
written confirmation the Company shall forthwith seek the sanction
of the Court to the Scheme and confirmation of the Reduction by the
Court at the Court Hearing(s) and take all other action necessary
to make the Scheme effective; |
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(e) |
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if the Court so requires or indicates, or if the Company is
advised by its legal and/or financial advisers that it is advisable
in order to implement the Scheme and that not to do so would
jeopardise the likelihood of the Scheme being sanctioned at the
Court Hearing(s), the Company shall reconvene the Court Meeting and
any other necessary shareholder meeting; and |
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(f) |
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subject to clause 4.5 below, as soon as practicable after the
sanction by the Court of the Scheme and the confirmation of the
Reduction at the Court Hearing(s), and in any event within two
Business Days following the Court’s confirmation of the
Reduction, the Company shall cause an office copy of the Court
Order(s) to be filed with the Registrar. |
| 4.3 |
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The Company undertakes: |
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(a) |
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to procure the publication of the advertisements required by
the Court; |
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(b) |
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prior to the Court Meeting and the General Meeting to keep ITW
informed in writing, on a weekly basis and daily on each of the
five Business Days preceding |
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each of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (or
adjournment of either of these Meetings), of the number of proxy
votes received in respect of the resolutions to be passed at the
Court Meeting or the General Meeting as applicable; and |
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(c) |
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promptly to provide ITW with a copy of the Court Order(s) once
obtained. |
| 4.4 |
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ITW agrees that it will only seek to invoke any unsatisfied
Condition (other than Conditions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) if the Panel
would permit ITW to invoke that Condition with the effect that ITW
would not be required to proceed with the Acquisition. |
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| 4.5 |
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The Company agrees that it shall only (i) seek the
sanction of the Court to the Scheme at the Court Hearing and/or
(ii) file the Court Order(s) with the Registrar if ITW
provides written confirmation that all of the Conditions, where
capable of satisfaction, have been satisfied or, where permissible,
waived by ITW. |
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| 4.6 |
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The Company shall not seek to amend the Scheme or the General
Meeting Resolutions after despatch of the Scheme Document or to
adjourn the Court Meeting or the General Meeting without the prior
written consent of ITW (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed). |
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| 4.7 |
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ITW will undertake or procure that Bidco undertakes to the
Court to be bound by the terms of the Scheme, including as to
discharge of the consideration for the Acquisition. |
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| 4.8 |
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Save as may otherwise be agreed between them, the parties shall
use all reasonable endeavours to ensure the time period between the
posting of the Scheme Document and the Effective Date is as short
as reasonably possible and notwithstanding any of the above or the
Timetable at Schedule 2 but, subject to any obligations or
restrictions under the Code, to, where reasonably practicable and
at the request of ITW, expedite the Timetable in order to assist
ITW in ensuring that the Acquisition becomes effective in as timely
a manner as reasonably practicable. |
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Implementation of Acquisition by way of Offer |
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| 4.9 |
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ITW may elect at any time to implement the Acquisition by way
of an Offer, (whether or not the Scheme Document has been
despatched) provided that the Offer is made in accordance with the
terms and conditions set out in the Press Announcement (save, if
the Panel consents, in respect of an acceptance condition relating
to the Offer which in no event shall exceed 75 per cent, of the
shares in the Company to which the Offer relates and such other
amendments to the terms and Conditions of the Acquisition as are
reasonably necessary to effect the Acquisition by way of Offer) and
with the consideration being equal to or greater than that
specified in the Press Announcement and further provided that
either: |
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(a) |
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the Offer is made with the prior written consent of the Company
(such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); or |
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(b) |
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the Offer is announced following the Directors having withdrawn
or adversely modified or qualified their recommendation to
shareholders in the Company to vote in favour of the Scheme and the
General Meeting Resolutions; or |
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(c) |
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a Third Party Transaction is announced pursuant to
Rule 2.5 of the Code or where a Third Party Transaction, which
is subject to the Code (including, but not |
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limited to the Manitowoc Offer) is switched to be made by way
of contractual takeover offer. |
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If ITW elects to implement the Acquisition by way of an Offer,
clauses 4.1 to 4.7 (inclusive) shall cease to have any
effect. |
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| 4.10 |
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If ITW elects to implement the Acquisition by way of an Offer,
ITW agrees to co-ordinate the preparation and despatch of the Offer
Document with the Company and the parties will exchange drafts of
the Offer Document and shall discuss their respective
comments. |
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Recommendation and responsibility |
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| 4.11 |
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The Company agrees that (i) the Scheme Document shall
incorporate a unanimous and unqualified recommendation of the
Directors to shareholders in the Company to vote in favour of the
Scheme and the General Meeting Resolutions and (ii) such
recommendation shall not be withdrawn or qualified. If, in
accordance with clause 4.9(a), ITW elects to implement the
Acquisition by way of the Offer, the Company agrees that
(i) the Offer Document shall incorporate a unanimous and
unqualified recommendation of the Directors to the shareholders in
the Company to accept the Offer and (ii) such recommendation
shall not be withdrawn or qualified. |
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| 4.12 |
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If the Acquisition is implemented by way of Scheme: |
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(a) |
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ITW shall procure that the members of the board of directors of
ITW and Bidco accept responsibility for all of the information in
the Scheme Document relating to ITW, its Group and its Personnel;
and |
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(b) |
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the Company shall procure that the Directors accept
responsibility for all of the information in the Scheme Document
other than that relating to ITW, its Group and their respective
Personnel. |
| 4.13 |
|
If, in accordance with clause 4.9(a), ITW elects to implement
the Acquisition by way of an Offer: |
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(a) |
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ITW shall procure that the members of the board of directors of
ITW and Bidco (and any other person whom the Panel may require)
accept responsibility for all of the information in the Offer
Document other than that relating to the Company, its Group and
their respective Personnel; |
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(b) |
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the Company shall procure that the Directors accept
responsibility for all of the information in the Offer Document
relating to the Company, its Group and their respective Personnel;
and |
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(c) |
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the Company undertakes to provide ITW with all such information
about the Company, its Group and its Personnel as may reasonably be
required for inclusion in the Offer Document and to provide all
such other assistance as ITW may reasonably require in connection
with the preparation of the Offer Document (in each case having
regard to the requirements of the Code, the Acts and applicable
regulations), including reasonable access to, and ensuring the
provision of reasonable assistance by, its senior management and
professional advisers. |
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Co-operation and documentation |
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| 4.14 |
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Without prejudice to clause 5 but subject to clauses 4.4 and
4.5, each party agrees to use all reasonable endeavours to, and to
procure that its Group, its directors and its relevant professional
advisers assist it to, prepare all such documents and take all such
steps as are reasonably necessary or desirable: |
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(a) |
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in connection with the Acquisition; and |
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(b) |
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for the purposes of obtaining all Non-Antitrust
Clearances. |
| 4.15 |
|
Each party undertakes to co-operate with and assist the other
by providing each other and any relevant Non-Antitrust Regulatory
Authority as promptly as is reasonably practicable upon request and
in good faith any necessary or reasonably desirable information and
documents for the purpose of preparing and making any submissions,
filings and notifications to such Non-Antitrust Regulatory
Authority in relation to the Acquisition, including making any
joint filings with ITW where required by any such Non- Antitrust
Regulatory Authority, and generally to facilitate the satisfaction
of the Conditions. |
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| 4.16 |
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Each party undertakes to keep the other informed reasonably
promptly of developments which are material or potentially material
to the obtaining of the Non-Antitrust Clearances. |
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| 4.17 |
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The parties agree to co-ordinate their input for the purpose of
preparing the Scheme Document and the Company will only despatch
the Scheme Document with the written consent of ITW (such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Accordingly the
parties will as appropriate exchange drafts of the Scheme Document
and shall discuss their respective comments. ITW undertakes to
provide as soon as reasonably practicable to the Company for the
purposes of inclusion in the Scheme Document all such information
about ITW, its Group and their respective Personnel as may
reasonably be required by the Company (having regard to the Code,
the Acts, and applicable regulations) for inclusion in the Scheme
Document (including all information that would be required under
the Code, the Acts or applicable regulations) and to provide all
such other assistance as the Company may reasonably require in
connection with the preparation of the Scheme Document including
access to and ensuring the assistance of its management and
relevant professional advisers. |
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| 4.18 |
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The Company confirms to ITW that the Scheme Document will
contain provisions in accordance with the terms and Conditions set
out in the Press Announcement and/or as otherwise further agreed
between the parties or as otherwise required by the Panel or the
Code. |
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| 4.19 |
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The parties will consult with the Panel from time to time as
necessary in order to keep the Panel informed, and where
appropriate seek the consent of the Panel, in relation to the
implementation of the Acquisition including as to the Scheme
Document, Timetable and the process to obtaining the Governmental
Antitrust Authority Merger Clearances and all Non-Antitrust
Clearances. |
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| 4.20 |
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Each party confirms to the other that, except as fairly
disclosed to the other party or in any public announcement made by
either party prior to the date of this agreement, it is not aware
of any material matter or circumstance which would or could
reasonably be expected to result in the Panel permitting ITW to
invoke a Condition (other than any Condition relating to
Governmental Antitrust Authority Merger Clearances) as a term
of |
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the Acquisition with the effect that ITW would not be required
to proceed with the Acquisition. |
| 4.21 |
|
Subject to applicable law or the requirements of any
Governmental Antitrust Authority, and subject to the proviso below,
the Company will co-operate with and provide ITW with such
information relating to the Group and such access to the executive
directors and senior management of the Company as ITW reasonably
requires during normal business hours in order to facilitate and
assist with: |
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(a) |
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planning for the integration of the Company and ITW in
accordance with an integration plan and process that the parties
will in good faith seek to agree; |
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(b) |
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any syndication of the debt financing that ITW has put in place
in order to fund the Acquisition; and |
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(c) |
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any fundraising by ITW through the offering by ITW of equity or
debt securities (including, without limitation, through the
delivery of any financial information that is required to launch
any such offering and co-operation with ITW’s advisers in the
preparation for the offering); |
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provided always that nothing in this clause 4.21 shall
(i) require the Company and/or any member of its Group and/or
any of their respective directors or employees to incur any
liability to any person, (ii) require the Company’s
executive directors and/or senior management to attend third party
presentations or roadshows, or (iii) impose any restriction or
fetter on the ability of the directors, senior management or
employees of any member of the Company’s Group to devote
their time and attention to their duties to the Group in the
ordinary course, and provided additionally that the Company’s
obligations under this clause 4.21 shall at all times be subject to
applicable confidentiality, legal or regulatory requirements. |
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| 4.22 |
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The Company shall propose such changes as ITW may reasonably
require to the Company’s articles of association at the
General Meeting in order to implement any proposals in relation to
holders of options under the Share Schemes as set out in
Schedule 3 |
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| 4.23 |
|
The Company will co-operate with and provide ITW with such
information and assistance as it reasonably requires in order to
identify any provisions of any licences, authorisations,
concessions, agreements, understandings, obligations and other
arrangements by which it or any other member of its Group is bound
or to which it or such other member of its Group is otherwise a
party or subject and which are material in the context of the
Company and its Group (taken as a whole), in each case that require
any action to be taken by the Company and/or the relevant member of
its Group and/or ITW and/or any members of its Group as a result of
the implementation of the Acquisition (including, for example, the
giving of a notification or seeking waiver of any rights arising on
a change of control), prior to the Court Hearing Date (or, if the
Acquisition is effected by way of a takeover offer governed by the
Code, prior to the Offer becoming or being declared wholly
unconditional). The Company’s obligations under this clause
4.23 shall at all times be subject to applicable confidentiality,
legal or regulatory requirements. |
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| 4.24 |
|
The parties agree to co-ordinate their input for the purpose of
obtaining any such tax clearances as either party may reasonably
require be obtained in connection with the Scheme or, as the case
may be, the Offer including, without limitation, clearance under
Section 138 of TCGA 1992 and, in the case of the Scheme,
confirmation from the Stamp |
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Office that the Court Order will be treated as duly stamped.
Neither party will despatch any application for such clearance
without the written consent of the other party (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed). Accordingly the parties will as
appropriate exchange drafts of any such application for clearance
and shall discuss their respective comments. Each party undertakes
to the other party to provide such assistance as that other party
may reasonably require (including, without limitation, the
provision of information) in connection with the obtaining of such
tax clearances. |
| 4.25 |
|
Should any supplemental circular or announcement be required to
be published or submitted to the Court in connection with the
Acquisition (a “Supplemental Document”) each
party shall provide such co-operation and information (including
such information as is necessary for the Supplemental Document to
comply with all applicable legal and regulatory provisions) as the
other may reasonably request and is reasonably necessary |
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