Exhibit 2.1
ACQUISITION
AGREEMENT
This ACQUISITION AGREEMENT,
effective as of October 9, 2006 (together with the Schedules
and Exhibits hereto, this “ Agreement ”),
is entered into by and between WESTLAKE NG II CORPORATION
(the “ Purchaser ”), a corporation
incorporated under the laws of Delaware, and EASTMAN CHEMICAL
COMPANY (the “ Seller ”), a
corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
Purchaser and Seller are sometimes
referred to herein individually as a “party” and
together as the “parties.” Unless otherwise indicated,
capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings set
forth in Section 1.1.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Seller, through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Eastman Ethylene Polymers Company, a
Delaware corporation (“ Eastman EPC ”),
is engaged in the businesses described on Exhibit A
attached hereto (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the
“ Business ”); and
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties desire that
Seller sell, assign and transfer to Purchaser, and that Purchaser
purchase and acquire from Seller all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of Eastman EPC (the “ Purchased
Shares ”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and the mutual warranties, covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration,
being hereinafter referred to, acknowledged, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND USE OF
TERMS
Section 1.1. Definitions
. The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have
the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1:
“ Affiliate
” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition,
“control” means the possession of the power to direct
or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ Business
” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Business
Contracts ” means all Contracts (i) to which
Eastman EPC is a party or (ii) to which Seller is a party and
exclusively relating to the Business, including the Material
Business Contracts.
“ Business Day
” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on
which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by
Law to close.
“ Business
Employees ” means all individuals designated by the
Seller prior to the date hereof who are primarily supportive of the
Business.
“ CERCLA ”
means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended.
“ Closing
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“ Closing Date
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“ Closing Date Inventory
Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3.
“ Closing Date Working
Capital Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3.
“ Closing
Inventory ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3.
“ Closing Working
Capital ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3.
“ COBRA ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(j).
“ Code ”
means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
“ Competitive
Business ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 13.1(a).
“ Confidentiality
Agreement ” means that certain confidentiality
agreement executed by and between Seller and Westlake Chemical
Corporation dated November 30, 2005.
“ Contract
” means any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan,
instrument, lease, conditional sale contract, purchase or sales
orders, mortgage, license, franchise, insurance policy,
undertaking, commitment or other enforceable arrangement or
agreement.
“ Covenant Term
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 13.1(a).
“ Current Assets
” means, as of any date, the total of trade accounts
receivables net of any securitized ones, prepaids, miscellaneous
receivables and other current assets normally considered part of
the Business. For purposes of this Agreement, Inventory shall not
be included in Current Assets.
“ Current
Liabilities ” means, as of any date, the total of
trade payables, miscellaneous payables and accrued liabilities
normally considered part of the Business.
“ Eastman EPC Leased
Real Property ” means the real properties indicated
in Schedule 5.9(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules
currently used by Eastman EPC in the operation of the
Business.
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“ Eastman EPC Real
Property Lease ” means the Ground Lease granting a
leasehold and related rights to Eastman EPC in and to the Eastman
EPC Leased Real Property.
“ Eastman EPC
” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Effective Time
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
“ Employee Benefit
Plans ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.13(c).
“ Employment
Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.13(b).
“ Employee Policies and
Procedures ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.13(e).
“ Environment
” means soil, soil vapor, surface water, groundwater, land,
sediment, surface or subsurface strata or ambient air.
“ Environmental
Authority ” means any department, agency, or other
body or component of any Governmental Body with jurisdiction under
any Environmental Law.
“ Environmental
Authorization ” means any license, permit, order,
approval, consent, notice, registration, filing or other form of
permission or action required under any Environmental
Law.
“ Environmental
Law ” means any Law relating to the protection of
human health or the Environment or occupational and worker health
and safety.
“ERISA
” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ Ethylene Supply
Agreement ” means the agreement substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit H hereto.
“ Final Closing
Inventory ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(d).
“ Final Closing Working
Capital ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(d).
“ Full Year Financial
Statements ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5.
“ GAAP ”
means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
of America as implemented by Seller, which are in practice as of
the date of the relevant financial statements, consistently
applied.
“ Governmental
Body ” means any government or governmental or
regulatory body thereof, or political subdivision thereof, of any
country or subdivision thereof, whether national, federal, state or
local, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any court or
arbitrator (public or private) that, in each case, has asserted
jurisdiction over the matter in question.
“ Ground Lease
” means the Agreement substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit D attached hereto.
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“ Hazardous
Substance ” means any pollutant, contaminant, or
hazardous or toxic material that in each case is defined, regulated
or controlled under any Environmental Law. The term includes, but
is not limited to, all materials defined as “hazardous
substances” in CERCLA, “hazardous waste” in the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and “hazardous
materials” regulated by the Department of Transportation. The
term also includes petroleum (crude oil or any fraction thereof)
and natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or
synthetic gas usable for fuel.
“ HSR Act
” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3.
“ Indemnified
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.4.
“ Indemnifying
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.4.
“ Intellectual
Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in the
Technology Transfer Agreement.
“ Interim Financial
Statements ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5.
“ Inventory
” means all finished goods (including in transit), raw
materials, packing materials, work in process and maintenance spare
parts of the Business and owned by Seller.
“ Inventory Adjustment
Amount ” means the difference (positive or negative)
between the Inventory Purchase Price and the Inventory Target
Amount.
“ Inventory
Difference ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(e).
“ Inventory Target
Amount ” means $100,164,000.
“ Inventory Bill of
Sale ” means the Bill of Sale from Seller to
Purchaser substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit I attached hereto.
“ Inventory Purchase
Price ” means the consideration to be paid for the
Inventory under the Inventory Bill of Sale as determined in
accordance with Section 3.2.
“ Inventory
Review ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2.
“ IP Consents
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.11(b).
“ IP License(s)
” means a Contract or Contracts under which Intellectual
Property is licensed to an unaffiliated Person(s), or from
unaffiliated Person(s) by (i) Seller exclusively for use in
the Business or (ii) Eastman EPC.
“ Knowledge
” means with respect to Seller or Purchaser, as the case may
be, (i) the actual knowledge, as of the date hereof, of the
individuals set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) and identified
as Seller employees or Purchaser employees,
respectively.
“ Law ”
means any national, federal, state, municipal or local law,
statute, code, ordinance, rule or regulation existing at the date
hereof.
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“ LDPE ”
means low density polyethylene.
“ Leased
Employees ” means all Business Employees who shall be
leased to Purchaser under the terms of the Operating
Agreement.
“ Licensed Intellectual
Property ” means Intellectual Property that is
licensed to Purchaser and/or Eastman EPC pursuant to the Technology
Transfer Agreement.
“ LLDPE ”
means linear low density polyethylene.
“ Lien ”
means any lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, mortgage, deed of
trust, security interest, charge, option, right of first refusal,
transfer restriction or encumbrance.
“ Losses ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2(a).
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means (i) when used with respect to the
Business, any material adverse change in, or effect on, the
business, properties, assets, results of operations or financial
condition of the Business, taken as a whole, but excluding any
change to the extent relating to or arising from any
(A) changes in Laws or changes in the enforcement thereof,
(B) changes resulting from the announcement of the execution
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
(C) changes resulting from any action taken by Purchaser or
Seller or any of their respective representatives or Affiliates or
in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,
(D) changes in general economic conditions (so long as Eastman
EPC is not disproportionately affected as compared to other
companies in the industry in which the Business competes) other
than as a result of a declaration of war by the Congress of the
United States in respect of an armed conflict occurring within the
48 contiguous states of the United States, or (E) changes
generally affecting the industry in which the Business competes (so
long as Eastman EPC is not disproportionately affected as compared
to other companies in the industry in which the Business competes),
including changes in the price of energy, supplies and raw
materials, and (ii) when used with respect to Seller or
Purchaser, any effect that materially impairs the ability of Seller
or Purchaser, respectively, to complete the transactions
contemplated hereby or to fulfill its respective obligations
hereunder.
“ Material Business
Contracts ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.12.
“ Neutral
Auditors ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(d).
“ Operating
Agreement ” means that certain Operating Agreement by
and among the parties hereto and substantially in the form set
forth as Exhibit F hereto.
“ Order ”
means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ,
assessment or arbitration award of any Governmental
Body.
“ Organizational
Documents ” means as to any Person, the Articles of
incorporation, certificate of incorporation or Articles of
association, and bylaws, or other applicable organizational
documents, of such Person.
“ Patents
” shall have meaning set forth in the Technology Transfer
Agreement.
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“ Penalty
” means a monetary assessment by a Governmental Body pursuant
to a final, non-appealable Order.
“ Permit ”
means any authorization, franchise, license, permit or certificate
issued by any Governmental Body.
“ Permitted
Exceptions ” means (i) liens for current Taxes,
assessments or other claims by a Governmental Body not yet
delinquent or the amount or validity of which is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings or for which an appropriate
reserve or security deposit is established by Eastman EPC therefor;
(ii) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’,
repairers’, warehousemans’, landlords’ and
similar Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of
business for amounts not yet due or payable or for which reserves
adequate for payment of the debt secured thereby have been
established; (iii) zoning, entitlement and other land use and
environmental regulations and restrictions by Governmental Bodies;
(iv) easements, restrictions and other encumbrances (other
than liens for the payment of debt) that do not materially detract
from or materially diminish the value of or materially interfere
with the present use of such property (real or personal) or asset
in the Business; (v) express conditions, restrictions or
limitations set forth in Permits, Business Contracts or
conveyancing instruments provided to Purchaser; and (iv) such
other matters as are disclosed on Schedule 1.1(b)
attached hereto.
“ Person ”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, Governmental Body or other similar entity.
“ Personal Property
Leases ” means those Contracts providing for the
lease of personal property by Eastman in respect of the Business or
by Eastman EPC that are not terminable without penalty within a
period of sixty (60) calendar days and involving annual
payments in excess of $500,000.
“ Pipeline Purchase
Agreement ” means the agreement substantially in the
form set forth as Exhibit E hereto.
“ Pipeline Purchase
Price ” means the amount of $18 million to be paid by
Purchaser to Mustang Pipeline Company, a Texas corporation,
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Pipeline Purchase
Agreement.
“ Pre-Closing
Litigation ” means the pending litigation identified
on Schedule 5.15 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedules.
“ Pre-Closing
Taxes ” means (i) all Taxes of Eastman EPC for
periods that end on or before the Closing Date (including Taxes in
respect of transactions that occur on or before the Closing Date
but which are included under applicable Law (such as the
regulations for the filing of consolidated returns of United States
federal income tax) in a period that begins after the Closing
Date); (ii) any Tax of Eastman EPC that is payable by reason
of an adjustment under Section 481 of the Code in respect of a
change in accounting method prior to the Closing Date or a
comparable provision of another Tax Law; and (iii) the
Pre-Closing portion of Taxes of Eastman EPC with respect to a
Straddle Period (A) in the case of any Tax based upon or
related to income or receipts, the pre-Closing portion of such Tax
shall be deemed equal to the amount
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that would be payable if the relevant period
ended at the end of the Closing Date, and (B) in the case of
any real or personal property Tax or any other Tax not described in
the next sentence or in clause (iv)(A), the pre-Closing
portion of such Tax shall be deemed equal to the amount of such Tax
for the entire taxable period multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days in the taxable period
ending on and including the Closing Date, and the denominator of
which is the number of days in the entire taxable period. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, Taxes incurred as a result of a
transaction or event occurring after the Closing but on the Closing
Date that was not in the ordinary course of business and was
directed by Purchaser shall be treated as being incurred on the
date after the Closing Date. Sales and use Taxes shall be deemed to
accrue in the period in which the property is purchased, sold, used
or transferred, as reflected in the books and records of the
Business.
“ Proceeding
” means any judicial or arbitral action, suit, or
proceeding.
“ Purchased Intellectual
Property ” means the Intellectual Property that is
either (i) owned by Seller for use in the Business and
conveyed to Purchaser by the Technology Transfer Agreement or
(ii) owned by Eastman EPC.
“ Purchased
Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
“ Purchase Price
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“ Purchaser
” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ Purchaser Disclosure
Schedules ” has the meaning set forth in the
introduction to ARTICLE VI.
“ Purchaser
Documents ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.2.
“ Purchaser Indemnified
Group ” means Purchaser and its Affiliates, together
with their successors and assigns, and their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents.
“ Purchaser’s
401(k) Plan ” means any qualified cash or deferred
arrangement (within the meaning of Section 401(k) of the Code)
maintained by Purchaser.
“ Purchaser’s
Pipeline Indemnities ” means all indemnification
obligations of Purchaser and its Affiliates under Article X of the
Pipeline Purchase Agreement.
“ Purchaser’s
Release ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.3(b).
“ Reference Balance
Sheet ” means the December 31, 2005 Year End
Balance Sheet attached hereto as part of Schedule 5.5
.
“ Reference Date
” means December 31, 2005, the date of the Reference
Balance Sheet.
“ Reference Working
Capital ” means ($164,000), the Working Capital of
the Business, as calculated from the Reference Balance Sheet in
accordance with Schedule 3.3(a) .
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“ Release
” has the meaning set forth in CERCLA.
“ Resolution
Period ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(c).
“ Response
” has the meaning set forth in CERCLA.
“ Responsible
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.3(e).
“ Restrictions
” means any restriction of any rights related to the
Purchased Shares, including without limitation, proxies, voting
agreements, transfer restrictions, agreements to sell or purchase
and similar terms.
“ SEC ”
shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
“ Seller ”
has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“ Seller Disclosure
Schedules ” has the meaning set forth in the
introduction to ARTICLE V.
“ Seller
Documents ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.2.
“ Seller FSA
Plans ” means the medical and dependent care expense
reimbursement programs identified as such in
Schedule 5.13(c) of the Seller Disclosure
Schedules.
“ Seller Indemnified
Group ” means Seller and its Affiliates, together
with their successors and assigns, and their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents.
“ Seller Proprietary
Information ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.1.
“ Seller’s 401(k)
Plan ” means any qualified cash or deferred
arrangement (within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code)
maintained by Seller.
“ Seller’s
Pipeline Indemnities ” means all indemnification
obligations of Seller and its Affiliates under Article X of the
Pipeline Purchase Agreement.
“ Seller’s
Release ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.3(a).
“ Services
Agreement ” means the agreement substantially in the
form set forth as Exhibit G hereto.
“ Share Purchase
Price ” means the sum of $255,000,000, minus
the Inventory Purchase Price, minus the Pipeline Purchase
Price, plus or minus the Inventory Adjustment
Amount.
“ Straddle
Period ” means taxable periods which begin before the
Closing Date and end after the Closing Date.
“ Straddle Period
Returns ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.2(b).
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“ Subsidiary
” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of
which such Person (either alone or through or together with any
other Subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the
outstanding equity securities or securities carrying a majority of
the voting power in the election of the board of directors or other
governing body of such Person.
“ Tax ” or
“ Taxes ” shall mean all taxes, however
denominated, including any interest or penalties that may become
payable in respect thereof, imposed by any federal, state, local or
non-United States government or any agency or political subdivision
of any such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, all income, excise, franchise,
gains, capital, real property, goods and services, transfer, value
added, gross receipts, personal property, sales, use, license,
stamp, documentary stamp, mortgage recording, employment, payroll,
unemployment, social security, environmental, estimated or
withholding taxes, and all customs and import duties.
“ Tax Return
” means a report, return or other information (including any
amendments) required to be supplied to a Governmental Body with
respect to Taxes including, where permitted or required, combined
or consolidated returns for any group of entities that includes
Seller or any Subsidiary of Seller.
“ TCEQ ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 10.7.
“ Technology Transfer
Agreement ” means the agreement substantially in the
form set forth as Exhibit B hereto.
“ Termination
Date ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.3(c).
“ Trademark Assignment
Agreement ” means the agreement substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit J hereto.
“ Trademarks
” shall have the meaning set forth in the Technology Transfer
Agreement.
“ Trade Secrets
” shall have the meaning set forth in the Technology Transfer
Agreement.
“ Transferred Business
Employee ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 11.1(c).
“ Transition Services
Agreement ” means the agreement to be entered into by
the parties at or immediately prior to the Closing substantially in
the form set forth as Exhibit K hereto.
“ VLDPE ”
means very low density polyethylene.
“ Voluntary or
Discretionary Assessment ” means a voluntary or
discretionary investigation or assessment of any kind whatsoever of
the Environment (including but not limited to sampling of soil,
soil vapor, groundwater, surface water or sediment) other than any
investigation or assessment that is required to be performed by an
Order from an Environmental Authority or that is required to be
performed by the Purchaser under any Environmental Law. Without in
any way limiting the generality of the preceding exception, the
term does not include (1) any sampling or monitoring required
to be conducted to obtain or to comply with Environmental
Authorizations, (2) any assessment or test of equipment, such
as a sewer or
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junction box, to determine the equipment’s
integrity, (3) any reasonable and necessary engineering
investigation or assessment related to a Purchaser construction
project approved by Seller in accordance with the terms of the
Ground Lease so long as any investigation or assessment of the
Environment conducted as part of the construction project is
performed in accordance with a work plan that has been approved by
Seller in accordance with the Ground Lease, and (4) any
investigation or assessment conducted by Purchaser designed
strictly to rebut allegations or claims by Seller against Purchaser
that are based on investigations or assessments conducted by Seller
so long as the nature, scope or extent of Purchaser’s
investigation or assessment substantially corresponds to the
nature, scope or extent of any investigation or assessment
performed by Seller.
“ Work-around
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“ Working
Capital ” means, as of any date, total Current Assets
minus total Current Liabilities of the Business, as of such date in
each case as prepared in accordance with the same accounting
principles, procedures, policies and methods that were employed in
preparing the Reference Balance Sheet and calculating the Reference
Working Capital.
“ Working Capital
Difference ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.3(e).
“ Year End Balance
Sheets ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.5.
Section 1.2. Rules of
Construction . Whenever used in this Agreement, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires, (a) any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include
the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders, and
(b) the terms “include” and
“including” shall be inclusive and not exclusive and
shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without
limitation.” Unless otherwise specified, the terms
“hereof,” “herein,”
“hereunder,” “herewith” and similar terms
refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the schedules,
exhibits and disclosure letters to this Agreement), and references
in this Agreement to Sections and Articles refer to sections and
articles of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE PURCHASE AND
SALE
Section 2.1. Purchase and
Sale of Purchased Shares and Inventory . On the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, Seller
shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Purchaser, and
Purchaser shall purchase, acquire and accept from Seller, the
Purchased Shares and the Inventory, free and clear of all Liens and
Restrictions.
Section 2.2. Nonassignable
Business Contracts . In the case of any Business Contracts that
require approval or consent in respect of the transactions
contemplated hereby, Seller shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, on or prior to the
Closing, any approvals or consents necessary to convey to Purchaser
the benefit thereof. Purchaser shall cooperate with Seller in such
manner as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith. In
the event any consent or approval to an assignment contemplated
hereby is not obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, Seller
shall continue to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any
such approval or consent after the Closing Date, (a) with
respect to Material Business
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Contracts, until the earlier of (i) nine
(9) months after the Closing Date, (ii) until such time
as such consent or approval has been obtained or (iii) until
it shall become reasonably apparent that such consent or approval
is not forthcoming, whichever is shorter, and (b) with respect
to all other Business Contracts, until the earlier of
(i) three (3) months after the Closing Date,
(ii) until such time as such consent or approval has been
obtained or (iii) until it shall become reasonably apparent
that such consent or approval is not forthcoming, whichever is
shorter, and Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser in any
appropriate and economically feasible arrangement (a “
Work-around ”) to provide that Purchaser shall
receive Seller’s interest in the benefits under any such
Business Contract, provided that Purchaser shall undertake to pay
or satisfy the corresponding liabilities for the enjoyment of such
benefit to the extent Purchaser would have been responsible
therefor if such consent or approval had been obtained.
ARTICLE III
CONSIDERATION
Section 3.1. Amount and Form
of Consideration . The consideration to be paid by Purchaser to
Seller in consideration of the Purchased Shares shall consist of
the Share Purchase Price, subject to adjustment as set forth in
Section 3.3, to be paid to Seller by Purchaser by wire
transfer of same day funds in accordance with written wire
instructions delivered to Purchaser by Seller at least two
(2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date (the Share
Purchase Price and Inventory Purchase Price, shall be referred to
collectively herein as, the “ Purchase Price
”).
Section 3.2. Inventory
Purchase Price Calculation . Seller shall give Purchaser prior
notice of the time and place of its annual physical inventory of
the Inventory (the “ Inventory Review ”)
and Purchaser shall have the right to have its auditors (and, after
the signing of this Agreement, Purchaser’s personnel) present
at all times during the Inventory Review. Upon completion of the
Inventory Review, Seller shall reconcile the results of the
Inventory Review with the records of the Inventory kept in
Seller’s SAP financial system, in accordance with
Seller’s accounting policies as set forth on Schedule
3.2 , consistently applied. At Closing, Inventory shall be
valued as of the last day of the month immediately preceding the
month in which Closing occurs, in accordance with Seller’s
accounting policies as set forth on Schedule 3.2 ,
consistently applied (such valuation, subject to adjustment as set
forth in Section 3.3 , the “ Inventory
Purchase Price ”).
Section 3.3. Purchase Price
Adjustment .
(a) Within ninety (90) calendar
days following the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare, or cause to
be prepared, and deliver to Purchaser an unaudited schedule of
Working Capital and an unaudited Schedule of Inventory of the
Business as of the close of business on the Closing Date
(respectively, the “ Closing Date Working Capital
Schedule ” and the “ Closing Date
Inventory Schedule ”). Seller will certify to
Purchaser that (i) the calculation of the Working Capital of
the Business as of the Closing Date has been prepared in accordance
with the same accounting principles, procedures, policies and
methods that were employed in preparing the Reference Working
Capital as set forth on Schedule 3.3(a) (the “
Closing Working Capital ”), and (ii) the
calculation of the Inventory of the Business as of the Closing Date
has been prepared in accordance with Seller’s accounting
policies as set forth on Schedule 3.2 , consistently applied
(the “ Closing Inventory ”),
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(b) During the preparation of the
Closing Date Working Capital Schedule and Closing Date Inventory
Schedule and the calculation of Closing Working Capital and Closing
Inventory, and the period of any dispute within the contemplation
of this Section 3.3, Purchaser shall: (i) provide Seller
and Seller’s representatives with full access to the books,
records, facilities and employees of the Business; and
(ii) cooperate fully with Seller and Seller’s
representatives, including by providing on a timely basis all
information necessary or useful in the preparation of the Closing
Date Working Capital Schedule and Closing Date Inventory Schedule
and the calculation of Closing Working Capital and Closing
Inventory.
(c) After receipt of the Closing
Date Working Capital Schedule and Closing Date Inventory Schedule
and the calculation of Closing Working Capital and Closing
Inventory, Purchaser shall have sixty (60) calendar days to
review the calculation of Closing Working Capital and Closing
Inventory. Purchaser and its representatives shall have reasonable
access to all relevant books, records and employees of Seller and
Seller’s Affiliates to the extent reasonably required to
complete their review of the Closing Date Working Capital Schedule
and Closing Date Inventory Schedule and the calculation of Closing
Working Capital and Closing Inventory. Purchaser may dispute those
individual items which are a part of an aggregate line item in the
Closing Date Working Capital Schedule or Closing Date Inventory
Schedule and the calculation of Closing Working Capital or Closing
Inventory (i) for which the disputed amount is at least
$2,500; and (ii) which are disputed on the basis that such
amounts were not determined in conformity with the same accounting
principles, procedures, policies and methods that were employed in
preparing the Reference Working Capital as set forth on Schedule
3.3(a) or Seller’s inventory policies as set forth on
Schedule 3. 2, as applicable, or contain arithmetic error.
Any offsetting errors in the Closing Date Working Capital Schedule
and Closing Date Inventory Schedule shall be deducted from the
amounts disputed by Purchaser. Except to the extent Purchaser
delivers written notice to Seller on or prior to the 60
th
calendar day after
Purchaser’s receipt of the Closing Date Working Capital
Schedule and Closing Date Inventory Schedule and the calculation of
Closing Working Capital and Closing Inventory, which notice
specifies in reasonable detail the amount, nature and basis of all
disputed items, Purchaser shall be deemed to have accepted and
agreed to the calculation of Closing Working Capital and/or Closing
Inventory. If Purchaser so notifies Seller of its objection to the
calculation of Closing Working Capital and/or Closing Inventory,
Seller and Purchaser shall, within sixty (60) calendar days
following such notice (the “ Resolution Period
”), attempt to resolve their differences and any resolution
by them as to any disputed amounts shall be set forth in writing
and shall be final, binding and conclusive. If, at the conclusion
of the Resolution Period, the aggregate net effect of all amounts
remaining in dispute would result in an aggregate adjustment to
Closing Working Capital and Closing Inventory under
Section 3.3 of less than $250,000, then no adjustment shall be
made to the calculation of Closing Working Capital or Closing
Inventory delivered by Seller to Purchaser.
(d) If, at the conclusion of the
Resolution Period, the aggregate net effect of all amounts
remaining in dispute would result in an aggregate adjustment to
Closing Working Capital and Closing Inventory in excess of
$250,000, then all amounts remaining in dispute shall be submitted
to Ernst & Young LLP, or such other nationally recognized
accounting firm that is
12
not then the independent auditor for either
party and is selected by mutual agreement of Seller and Purchaser
(the ” Neutral Auditors ”), within
ten (10) calendar days after the expiration of the Resolution
Period. Each party agrees to execute, if requested by the Neutral
Auditors, a reasonable engagement letter, including customary
indemnities. All fees and expenses relating to the work, if any, to
be performed by the Neutral Auditors shall be shared equally
between Seller and Purchaser. The Neutral Auditors shall act as an
arbitrator to determine, based solely on the provisions of this
Section 3.3 and the presentations by Seller and Purchaser
(such presentations to contain the information deemed relevant by
Seller or Purchaser, each in their sole discretion), and not by
independent review, only those issues still in dispute and only as
to whether such amounts were arrived at in conformity with the same
accounting principles, procedures, policies and methods that were
employed in preparing the Reference Working Capital as set forth on
Schedule 3.3(a) or Seller’s inventory policies as set
forth on Schedule 3.2 , as applicable, and this
Section 3.3. The Neutral Auditors’ determination shall
be made within thirty (30) calendar days of their selection,
shall be set forth in a written statement delivered to Seller and
Purchaser and shall be final, binding and conclusive. The term
“ Final Closing Working Capital ” and
“ Final Closing Inventory ” shall mean
the definitive Closing Working Capital and Closing Inventory, in
each case, as agreed to (or deemed to be agreed to) by Purchaser
and Seller in accordance with the terms of Section 3.3(c) or
resulting from the determinations made by the Neutral Auditors in
accordance with this Section 3.3(d) (in addition to those
items theretofore agreed to by Seller and Purchaser).
(e) Provided that the sum of
(i) the difference between (W) Final Closing Working
Capital and (X) Reference Working Capital (the “
Working Capital Difference ”), plus
(ii) the difference between (Y) Final Closing Inventory
and (Z) the Inventory Purchase Price (the “
Inventory Difference ”), is $250,000 or more,
then the Share Purchase Price shall be (iii) increased dollar
for dollar to the extent that the Working Capital Difference is a
positive number and (iv) decreased dollar for dollar to the
extent that the Working Capital Difference is a negative number,
and the Inventory Purchase Price shall be (v) increased dollar
for dollar to the extent that the Inventory Difference is a
positive number, and (vi) decreased dollar for dollar to the
extent the Inventory Difference is a negative number. Any
adjustments to the Share Purchase Price or Inventory Purchase Price
made pursuant to this Section 3.3(e) shall be paid by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by
Purchaser or Seller, as applicable, within five Business Days after
the Final Closing Working Capital and Final Closing Inventory is
agreed to by Purchaser and Seller or any remaining disputed items
are ultimately determined by the Neutral Auditors.
ARTICLE IV
THE CLOSING
Section 4.1. Closing
Date . Except as hereinafter provided, the closing of the
transactions contemplated hereunder (the ”
Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of
Jones Day in Atlanta, Georgia, on the last calendar day of the
month in which the last of the conditions set forth in
ARTICLE IX and ARTICLE X have been satisfied (other than
those conditions that by their terms cannot be satisfied until the
Closing Date, but subject to satisfaction or waiver of such
conditions) or, in the case of ARTICLE IX, waived by
Purchaser, or, in the case of ARTICLE X, waived by Seller, or
at such other place and at such other time and date as may be
mutually
13
agreed upon by Purchaser and Seller. The date of
the Closing is referred to herein as the “ Closing
Date ” and the Closing shall be effective as of
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last calendar day of the month
in which Closing occurs (the “ Effective Time
”).
Section 4.2. Deliveries by
Seller to Purchaser . At the Closing, Seller shall deliver, or
shall cause to be delivered, to Purchaser the following:
(a) stock certificates representing
the Purchased Shares free and clear of all Liens and Restrictions,
together with stock powers duly endorsed in blank;
(b) the certificate referred to in
Section 9.6 signed on behalf of Seller by an officer of
Seller;
(c) the Technology Transfer
Agreement, duly executed by Seller;
(d) the Ground Lease, duly executed
by Seller;
(e) the Operating Agreement, duly
executed by Seller;
(f) the Pipeline Purchase Agreement,
duly executed by Mustang Pipeline Company, a Subsidiary of
Seller;
(g) the Services Agreement, duly
executed by Seller;
(h) the Ethylene Supply Agreement,
duly executed by Seller;
(i) the Trademark Assignment
Agreement, duly executed by Seller;
(j) the Transition Services
Agreement, duly executed by Seller;
(k) the Inventory Bill of Sale, duly
executed by Seller;
(l) the resignations of the
then-current officers and directors of Eastman EPC as required by
Section 9.8; and
(m) such other documents and
instruments as Purchaser may reasonably request that do not alter
the parties’ respective obligations hereunder.
Section 4.3. Deliveries by
Purchaser to Seller . At the Closing, Purchaser shall deliver
to Seller the following:
(a) the Share Purchase Price in the
amount and manner provided in Section 3.1;
(b) the Inventory Purchase Price as
provided in the Inventory Bill of Sale;
(c) the certificate referred to in
Section 10.5 signed on behalf of Purchaser by the Chief
Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice
President of Purchaser;
(d) the Technology Transfer
Agreement, duly executed by Eastman EPC;
14
(e) the Ground Lease, duly executed
by Eastman EPC;
(f) the Operating Agreement, duly
executed by Eastman EPC
(g) the Pipeline Purchase Agreement,
duly executed by Eastman EPC;
(h) the Services Agreement, duly
executed by Eastman EPC;
(i) the Ethylene Supply Agreement,
duly executed by Eastman EPC;
(j) the Trademark Assignment
Agreement, duly executed by Eastman EPC;
(k) the Transition Services
Agreement, duly executed by Eastman EPC; and
(l) such other documents and
instruments as Seller may reasonably request that do not alter the
parties’ respective obligations hereunder.
Section 4.4. Proceedings at
Closing . All proceedings to be taken and all documents to be
executed and delivered by the parties at the Closing shall be
deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously as of the
Effective Time, and, except as permitted hereunder, no proceedings
shall be deemed taken nor any documents executed or delivered until
all have been taken, executed and delivered.
ARTICLE V
WARRANTIES OF
SELLER
Seller hereby represents and
warrants to Purchaser that, except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedules dated as of the date hereof and delivered by Seller to
Purchaser (the “ Seller Disclosure Schedules
”):
Section 5.1. Organization
and Good Standing . Each of Seller and Eastman EPC are duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction in which it was incorporated and has all requisite
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
assets and to carry on, in all material respects, the Business.
Seller and Eastman EPC are each duly qualified, authorized or
licensed to conduct business under the laws of each jurisdiction in
which the conduct of the Business or the ownership or lease of the
assets owned or leased by it in respect of the Business requires
such qualification, authorization or license, except where the
failure to be so qualified, authorized or licensed would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Business.
Section 5.2. Authorization
of Agreement . Each of Seller and Eastman EPC has all requisite
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each
other agreement, document, instrument or certificate contemplated
hereby to be executed and delivered by it in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (all such
other agreements, documents, instruments and certificates required
to be executed by Seller or Eastman EPC being hereinafter referred
to, collectively, as the “ Seller Documents
”) and to perform its obligations contemplated hereby and
thereby. The execution, delivery and
15
performance by Seller of this Agreement and each
Seller Document to which it is a party, and the execution, delivery
and performance by Eastman EPC of each of the Seller Documents to
which it is a party, have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Seller and Eastman EPC. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller and
(assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by
Purchaser) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms,
except that (i) the enforceability hereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and
(ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
equitable principles of general applicability. Each of the Seller
Documents will be, on or prior to the Closing Date, duly executed
and delivered by, as applicable, Seller and/or Eastman EPC and
(assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by
Purchaser) each of the Seller Documents when so executed and
delivered will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of,
as applicable, Seller and/or Eastman EPC, enforceable against them
in accordance with their respective terms, except that (A) the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, and (B) the availability of
equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of
general applicability.
Section 5.3. Conflicts;
Consents of Third Parties . None of the execution and delivery
by Seller of this Agreement or the Seller Documents to which it is
a party, the execution and delivery by Eastman EPC of the Seller
Documents to which it is a party, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, compliance by Seller
with any of the provisions hereof, or by Seller or Eastman EPC with
any of the provisions of any of the Seller Documents, will
(a) result in the breach of any provision of Seller’s
Organizational Documents or the Organizational Documents of Eastman
EPC; (b) violate, result in the breach or termination of, or
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
default or give rise to any right of consent, cancellation,
termination or acceleration or right to increase the obligations or
otherwise modify the terms under any Material Business Contract,
other than those Material Business Contracts identified on
Schedule 5.3 hereto; (c) to the Knowledge of
Seller, constitute a violation of any Law or Order applicable to
Seller or Eastman EPC; or (d) result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien (other than any Lien in favor of Purchaser
and Permitted Exceptions) upon any of the assets of Eastman EPC,
except in the case of subsections (c) and (d) as is not
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business
or Seller. No consent, waiver, approval, Permit or authorization
of, or declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Person
or Governmental Body is required on the part of Seller or Eastman
EPC in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or the Seller Documents, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby or the compliance by Seller and
Eastman EPC with any of the provisions hereof or thereof, except
(y) for such consents, waivers, approvals, Permits or
authorizations of, or declarations or filings with, or
notifications to, any Person or Governmental Body, the failure to
receive or make is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Business, and (z) for compliance with the
applicable requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (the “ HSR Act ”).
Section 5.4. Capitalization;
Equity Interests . Schedule 5.4 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedules sets forth the authorized and outstanding
capital stock of Eastman EPC. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of the capital stock of Eastman EPC have been duly
authorized
16
and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned of record by Seller. Seller is the sole
record and beneficial holder of the Purchased Shares. Seller owns
the Purchased Shares free and clear of all Liens and Restrictions
and such shares represent all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Eastman EPC. There are no outstanding (a) securities
of Eastman EPC convertible into or exchangeable for shares of
capital stock or voting securities of Eastman EPC, or
(b) options or other rights in favor of third parties to
acquire from Eastman EPC, and no obligation of Eastman EPC to
issue, any capital stock, voting securities, or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting
securities. No preemptive rights or rights of first refusal exist
with respect to shares of capital stock of Eastman EPC and, no such
rights will arise by virtue of or in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Eastman EPC does not
have any Subsidiaries or hold, directly or indirectly, an equity
interest in any other Person.
Section 5.5. Financial
Statements; Books and Records . Seller has made available to
Purchaser true and correct copies of (a) the unaudited balance
sheets of the Business as of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
(the “ Year End Balance Sheets ”) and the
related unaudited statement of income for the fiscal years ended as
of December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 (collectively with the
Year End Balance Sheets, the “ Full Year Financial
Statements ”) and (b) the unaudited balance
sheet of the Business as of June 30, 2006 and the related
unaudited statements of income for the quarter ended as of
June 30, 2006 (collectively, the “ Interim
Financial Statements ”). The Full Year Financial
Statements were derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements of Seller which were prepared in accordance with GAAP
and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition
of Eastman EPC at each of the dates of the Full Year Financial
Statements and the results of operations for each of the periods
covered thereby. The Interim Financial Statements were derived from
the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Seller
which were prepared in accordance with GAAP (except insofar as they
do not reflect normal, recurring year-end adjustments and do not
contain footnote disclosures) and fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition of Eastman EPC at the date of the
Interim Financial Statements and the results of operations for the
period covered thereby. The Full Year Financial Statements and the
Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in a manner
customary for divisions reporting into a consolidated group within
Seller and compiled in accordance with the accounting principles,
adjustments and exceptions described in Schedules 3.2
and 5.5 of the Seller Disclosure Schedules. The Full Year
Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements have not
been prepared in accordance with GAAP standards for presentation on
a standalone basis, and both include certain items that are
eliminated in consolidation as described therein and exclude
certain items that may customarily be included in consolidations as
described therein. The Full Year Financial Statements and the
Interim Financial Statements have been derived from, and prepared
in accordance with, the books and records of Seller and its
Affiliates.
Section 5.6. No Undisclosed
Liabilities . Neither Seller, with respect to the Business, nor
Eastman EPC, have, as of the Reference Date, any indebtedness,
obligations or liabilities aggregating to exceed $100,000 that were
required in accordance with the accounting principles described in
Section 5.5 used to prepare the Year End Balance Sheet as of
such dates, to be reflected, reserved against or otherwise
disclosed on the Year End Balance Sheet that were not so reflected,
reserved against or otherwise disclosed. Since the Reference Date,
neither Seller with respect to the Business, nor Eastman EPC, have
incurred any liabilities that would have been
17
required to be reflected, reserved against or
otherwise disclosed on the Year End Balance Sheet as of such dates
had such liabilities existed as of the Reference Date other than
(a) those incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent in all material respects with past practice,
(b) those otherwise disclosed herein or in the Interim
Financial Statements, or (c) those that will be paid or
extinguished prior to the Effective Time or reflected in the
calculation of Closing Working Capital.
Section 5.7. Absence of
Certain Developments . Since the Reference Date, except in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby:
(a) The Business has been conducted
in all material respects in the ordinary course consistent with
past practice;
(b) There has not occurred any
Material Adverse Effect on the Business; and
(c) Seller has not made any change
in the accounting practices or policies applied in the preparation
of financial statements of the Business, except to incorporate
portions of the Business as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seller and
as required by GAAP.
Section 5.8. Taxes
.
(a) All material Tax Returns
required to be filed on or before the Closing Date (taking into
account any extensions validly obtained) by Seller with respect to
the Business or by Eastman EPC in either case for any period ending
on or before the Closing Date have been, or will be, timely filed
on or before the Closing Date and all such Tax Returns are complete
and accurate in all respects. All Tax liabilities that are shown to
be due on any such Tax Return or are related to any such Tax Return
have been properly accrued on a basis consistent with such Tax
Returns.
(b) All Taxes shown to be due on
such Tax Returns (or payable pursuant to any assessments with
respect to such Tax or Tax Returns) have been, or will be, timely
paid. There is no Lien for Taxes upon any property or asset of
Eastman EPC, except for Liens for Taxes not yet due.
(c) To the Knowledge of Seller,
there is no material action, suit, claim, or assessment, or any
investigation or audit pending (i) against Eastman EPC with
respect to Taxes or (ii) against Seller or any Affiliate of
Seller with respect to Taxes for which Eastman EPC may be liable
whether by agreement or by reason of applicable law or regulation
(including Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6).
(d) All Taxes due and payable by
Eastman EPC or for which Eastman EPC is or may be liable in respect
of periods prior to the Closing Date, other than Taxes for current
periods not yet due and payable prior to the Closing Date, have
been (or will be, prior to the Closing Date) paid in full, all Tax
returns required to be filed in connection therewith have been
accurately prepared and filed, and all deposits required by Law to
be made by Eastman EPC with respect to employees’ withholding
Taxes and other withholding Taxes have been duly made, and any such
amount that is required to be withheld but not yet deposited has so
been withheld. No deficiency for any Tax or claim for additional
Taxes has been asserted, assessed or, to the Knowledge of
the
18
Seller, proposed against Eastman EPC, and
Eastman EPC has not granted any waiver of any statute of
limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time
with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency. Eastman EPC is not
a party to any tax allocation or sharing agreement.
(e) Eastman EPC has not engaged in
any “reportable transaction”, within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(f) Eastman EPC has not agreed to
make any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code (or
any predecessor provision or comparable provision of other law) by
reason of any change in accounting method. Eastman EPC has no
application pending as to any such change in accounting method and
no such change in accounting method has been proposed by any Tax
authority.
(g) Eastman EPC is not a
distributing corporation or a controlled corporation, in either
case within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code,
as to a distribution that constitutes part of the plan (or a series
of related transactions) of the transaction for which provision is
made in this Agreement. No payment that is made pursuant to this
Agreement will be an “excess parachute payment” within
the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(h) No asset of Eastman EPC is
“tax exempt use property”, within the meaning of
Section 168(h) of the Code, or “tax exempt bond financed
property”, within the meaning of Section 168(g)(5) of
the Code, or is otherwise subject to a provision of applicable law
which extends the period over which the cost thereof may be
recovered for purposes of any Tax.
Section 5.9. Real
Property .
(a) As of the Closing, Eastman EPC
will own (i) a valid leasehold interest in all Eastman EPC
Leased Real Property indicated in Schedule 5.9(a) of the
Seller Disclosure Schedules as being leased by it and
(ii) good and marketable title to the improvements and
fixtures on the Eastman EPC Leased Real Property, in each case free
and clear of all Liens except Permitted Exceptions.
(b) As of the Closing, the Eastman
EPC Real Property Lease will be in full force and effect, and a
valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, and there will be no material default
under the Eastman EPC Real Property Lease by Seller, and no event
will have occurred as of the Closing Date that, with the lapse of
time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute a material
default by Eastman EPC.
(c) Seller is the holder of good and
marketable fee simple title to the Eastman EPC Leased Real
Property, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted
Exceptions.
Section 5.10. Tangible
Personal Property . Eastman EPC has valid title to all material
items of tangible personal property owned by it, free and clear of
all Liens except for Permitted Exceptions, other than personal
property subject to a Personal Property Lease.
19
Section 5.11. Intellectual
Property .
(a) The Technology Transfer
Agreement contains a true and correct list of the following
categories of Purchased Intellectual Property: (i) Patents;
(ii) Trademark and service mark registrations and
applications; and (iii) registered internet domain
names.
(b) (i) Other than the Patents
listed on Schedule 5.11(b)(i) of the Seller Disclosure
Schedules, Seller is the owner of all Purchased Intellectual
Property material to the Business, and has all right, title and
interest in and to such Purchased Intellectual Property free and
clear of any Liens other than Permitted Exceptions;
(ii) Seller and its Affiliates have full right, power and
authority to grant the licenses granted pursuant to the Technology
Transfer Agreement; and (iii) the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Seller Documents will
not, to the Knowledge of Seller, result in the loss or impairment
of any of the rights of the Business or Eastman EPC in any
Purchased Intellectual Property, assuming the receipt of the
consents under certain contracts required in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby all as identified on Schedule
5.11(e) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules (the “
IP Consents ”).
(c) To the Knowledge of Seller,
(i) other than as provided in Schedule 5.11(c) of the
Seller Disclosure Schedules, neither the Purchased Intellectual
Property nor the Licensed Intellectual Property is the subject of
any pending or threatened, opposition, interference or cancellation
proceeding before any registration authority in any jurisdiction in
which the operations of the Business or Eastman EPC are conducted
and (ii) all registrations and applications for all such
Purchased Intellectual Property and Licensed Intellectual Property
as provided in the Technology Transfer Agreement are in full force
and effect and have not been abandoned or withdrawn.
(d) (i) Neither Seller nor
Eastman EPC has given any notice of infringement or
misappropriation to any Person with respect to any Purchased
Intellectual Property or Licensed Intellectual Property within the
past two years, and no claim or controversy with respect to any
such alleged infringement or misappropriation currently exists or
to the Knowledge of Seller, is threatened and (ii) to the
Knowledge of Seller, use of Purchased Intellectual Property or
Licensed Intellectual Property, and the manufacture, use or sale of
Seller’s products by each of Seller or Eastman EPC do not
infringe or misappropriate any valid intellectual property rights
of any Person and no claims of infringement or misappropriation of
intellectual property rights of any Person have been asserted
within the past two years by any Person against Seller or Eastman
EPC with respect to their use of the Purchased Intellectual
Property or Licensed Intellectual Property, and no such claims are,
to the Knowledge of Seller, presently pending or
threatened.
(e) Schedule 5.11(e) of the
Seller Disclosure Schedules identifies each IP License material to
the Business currently in effect.
(f) Seller has taken commercially
reasonable steps to ensure the protection and maintenance of Trade
Secrets that are part of the Purchased Intellectual Property and
Licensed Intellectual Property. To Seller’s Knowledge, no
past or present employee or contractor of Seller or Eastman EPC has
asserted or has any claims in or to any Purchased Intellectual
Property or Licensed Intellectual Property material to the
Business.
20
Section 5.12. Contracts
. Schedule 5.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedules sets
forth a true and correct list, as of the date hereof, of each of
the following Contracts to which Eastman EPC is a party, or to
which Seller is a party and that primarily relate to the Business,
and are “ Material Business Contracts .”
“ Material Business Contracts ,” as such
term is used in this Agreement means: (i) Contracts relating
to the acquisition or disposition of any material assets not made
in the ordinary course of business, and any Contracts providing for
any merger, acquisition or other business combination, to the
extent that such Contract provides for continuing obligations by
the parties thereto; (ii) Contracts providing for the purchase
of electricity, raw materials, supplies, services, merchandise or
equipment that are not terminable without penalty within a period
of ninety (90) calendar days and involving annual payments in
excess of $5,000,000; (iii) Contracts providing for the sale
of products and involving annual payments in excess of $5,000,000;
(iv) Personal Property Leases; (v) Contracts for research
and development collaboration involving annual payments in excess
of $2,000,000; (vi) non-competition or exclusive dealing
agreements, or any other agreement or obligation which purports to
limit or restrict in any respect (A) the ability of Eastman
EPC to solicit customers for the Business or (B) the
localities in which, all or any portion of the Business is
conducted; (vii) joint venture or partnership agreements;
(viii) Contracts providing for the disposal of Hazardous
Substances; and (ix) Contracts providing for the
transportation of products of the Business that are not terminable
without penalty within a period of ninety (90) calendar days
and involving annual payments in excess of $5,000,000. Each of
Seller and Eastman EPC has performed in all material respects all
of the obligations required to be performed by it to date, and is
not in default under, any of the Material Business Contracts, and,
to the Knowledge of Seller, no other party to any of the Material
Business Contracts is in default thereunder, in each case except as
is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Business or Seller. Each Material Business Contract is in full
force and effect. Seller has made available to Purchaser accurate,
correct and complete copies of each Material Business Contract (as
amended to the date hereof).
Section 5.13. Employee
Matters .
(a) Schedule 5.13(a) of
the Seller Disclosure Schedules sets forth a complete list of the
Business Employees.
(b) Section 5.13(b) of
the Seller Disclosure Schedules lists all employment agreements to
which Seller or a Subsidiary of Seller is a party with a Business
Employee (“ Employment Agreements ”) and
that do not terminate as of the Closing Date, and Seller has made
available to Purchaser true, complete, and correct copies of all
such Employment Agreements.
(c) Schedule 5.13(c) of
the Seller Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and correct list,
as of the date hereof, of all material deferred compensation,
pension, profit-sharing and retirement plans, all bonus, retention
bonus, and severance plans, and all other material employee
benefit, welfare or fringe benefit plans, including, without
limitation, all “employee benefit plans” as defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained, sponsored or with respect
to which contributions are made by Seller or its Subsidiaries for
the benefit of the Business Employees, or in which any Business
Employee participates (collectively, the “ Employee
Benefit Plans ”). True and correct copies of the most
recent plan summaries distributed to the Business Employees, if
any, with respect to each of the Employee Benefit Plans (as
applicable) have been made available to Purchaser.
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(d) Eastman EPC does not employ any
individuals as of the date of this Agreement, nor has it ever
employed any individuals.
(e) Seller has made available to
Purchaser copies of all employee manuals and all material policies,
procedures, and work-related rules that apply to the Business
Employees (“ Employee Policies and Procedures
”).
(f) None of the Business Employees
participates in any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA). No withdrawal liability has been
incurred by or asserted by Seller, its Subsidiaries or Eastman EPC
with respect to any multiemployer plan. No Employee Benefit Plan is
subject to Title IV of ERISA or a multiple employer plan under
Section 413(c) of the Code.
(g) The single Employee Benefit Plan
that is intended to qualify under the provisions of
Section 401(a) of the Code that the Business Employees
participate in is the Seller’s 401(k) Plan. The Internal
Revenue Service has issued a favorable determination or opinion
letter for Seller’s 401(k) Plan and, to the Knowledge of
Seller, nothing has occurred that would adversely affect the
qualified status of such plan.
Section 5.14. Labor
.
(a) There are no collective
bargaining agreements that pertain to any of the Business
Employees.
(b) Within the past five
(5) years, no labor organization representing any Business
Employees or group of Business Employees has made a pending demand
against Seller or any of its Subsidiaries for recognition; and
there are no representation proceedings or petitions seeking a
representation proceeding presently pending involving any Business
Employees or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened to be brought
or filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board or with any
non-U.S. Governmental Body having jurisdiction over such
matters.
(c) As of the date hereof, there are
no strikes, work stoppages or lockouts pending, or to the Knowledge
of Seller, threatened, involving Business Employees, and within the
past five (5) years, no strikes, work stoppages or lockouts
have occurred involving Business Employees.
(d) Within the past five
(5) years, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has
engaged in a “plant closing” or “mass
layoff” as such terms are defined in the United States
Federal Worker Adjustment, Retraining and Notification Act of 1988,
as amended, at Seller’s Longview, Texas facility.
Section 5.15. Litigation
. As of the date hereof, and with the exception of environmental
matters, which are addressed in Section 5.17, there is no
material Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller,
threatened against Seller or Eastman EPC or any other Affiliate of
Seller that challenges, or questions the validity of, this
Agreement, any Seller Document or any action taken or to be taken
by Seller or Eastman EPC in connection with, or that seeks to
enjoin or
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obtain monetary damages in respect of, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
Schedule 5.15 of the Seller Di