SALES
AGREEMENT
This SALES AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement ”) is made as of 31 October, 2008, by and
among Rogers Induflex NV (which will be renamed “Induflex
NV” shortly after the acquisition of its shares as of the
date hereof, as described below), a Belgian company registered with
the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises under enterprise number
0427693784 (" Induflex "), Rogers BVBA, a Belgian company
having its registered office at Afrikalaan 188, 9000 Ghent and
registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises under enterprise
number 0406.657.553, and formerly known as Rogers NV (“
Rogers BVBA ”), and Rogers Corporation, a
Massachusetts corporation (“ Rogers
”). Each of Induflex, Rogers BVBA and Rogers may
be referred to herein, individually, as a “ Party
” and, collectively, as the “ Parties
”.
WHEREAS , Induflex Holding NV, a Belgian company
registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises under enterprise
number 0807.149.569 and Rogers are parties to that certain
Stock Purchase Agreement, of even date herewith (the “
Stock Purchase Agreement ”), pursuant to which
Induflex Holding NV is purchasing all of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of Induflex held by Rogers; and
WHEREAS , the parties desire to set forth in this
Agreement the terms and conditions upon which Induflex will agree
to continue to sell busbar insulation products (the “
Products ”) to Rogers BVBA and Rogers after the
Closing Date.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the foregoing
premises, the mutual promises and agreements hereinafter set forth,
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy
of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows
The following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below (such meanings to be equally applicable to
the singular as well as the plural forms of the terms
defined):
“Affiliate” means (a) an entity which is controlled by,
controls, or is under common control with another entity, (b) an
entity owning a majority of the voting securities of another
entity, and (c) an entity a majority of whose voting securities is
owned by the other entity.
“ Disclosing Party ” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.1.
“
Ordering Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2.
“
Receiving Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 6.1.
“
Specifications ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3.
“
Term ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.1.
All other capitalized terms used but
not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Stock Purchase Agreement.
Section 2. Products
Sales; Ordering; Delivery.
2.1 Sales
Of Products . Induflex agrees that, subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, from and after the Closing
Date, Rogers BVBA and Rogers, and any Affiliate of either of them,
shall be permitted to purchase the Products on a non-exclusive
basis from Induflex in the manner set forth herein; provided, that
nothing set forth herein shall result in a commitment by Roger
BVBA, Rogers or any such Affiliate to purchase the Products
hereunder or to establish any minimum purchase
requirements. Induflex shall use its best efforts
to assure the availability of the Products for the Term, at supply
levels consistent with those as of the Closing Date.
2.2
Purchase Orders . For each specified quantity of
the Products, Rogers BVBA and Rogers, as applicable (each, an
“ Ordering Party ”) shall deliver to Induflex a
purchase order. Whether or not expressly referenced in
such purchase order, all sales of Product from Induflex hereunder
shall be subject to Rogers’ Belgian Terms and Conditions of
Purchase, set forth as Exhibit A and/or Exhibit B hereto, unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, or unless otherwise
expressly set forth in this Agreement. The provisions of
said Exhibit A and/or Exhibit B shall be incorporated into this
Agreement as though expressly set forth herein.
The Ordering Party shall reference
this Agreement on each purchase order, and shall specify the
following information: (a) the purchase order number, (b) quantity
of Products desired, (c) the locations to which the Products are to
be delivered, (e) whether delivery of the Products will be made in
one shipment or in installments, and (d) the dates for delivery for
the one shipment or each installment. No terms or
conditions included in any purchase order, acknowledgement or other
transmittal, whether on a standard business form or otherwise
utilized by an Ordering Party or Induflex in connection with the
sale of the Products, which are in conflict with any provision of
this Agreement, Exhibit A or Exhibit B hereto shall be valid; nor
shall any such terms or conditions shall be construed or deemed to
be an amendment of or supplement to this Agreement or otherwise
binding on such Ordering Party or Induflex. Within ten
(10) business days of receipt of any purchase order, Induflex shall
confirm acceptance of the purchase order, unless either (a) a term
of the purchase order, not provided in this Agreement or in Exhibit
A hereto, is not reasonably acceptable to Induflex, in which case,
within such time period, Induflex shall notify the Ordering Party
of the reason therefor, and, if possible, shall offer to accept the
purchase order without that term; or (b) Induflex has insufficient
quantities of the Products available, in which case Induflex shall
provide a notice to the Ordering Party within such time period
stating same and modifying the purchase order to reflect the
quantity which Induflex can provide. In the event that Induflex
fails to either accept or reject (to the extent permitted herein)
any purchase order within said ten (10) days, the purchase order
shall be deemed accepted.
2.3
Consignment Stock . Induflex shall provide
Products to Rogers BVBA on a consignment basis, when and as ordered
by Rogers BVBA on such basis in accordance with the provisions
hereof. Rogers BVBA shall submit reports to Induflex, at least
twice each month, indicating in reasonable detail the Products
consumed or sold during the most recently concluded semi-monthly
period, along with a purchase order for such Products. Induflex
shall issue an invoice to Rogers BVBA for the Products described in
such purchase order, with payment therefor due net thirty (30) days
from the date of such invoice; provided, that Induflex may, at its
option, deliver an invoice to Rogers BVBA for any Products
consigned pursuant to this Section 2.3 that remain unused or unsold
for more than three (3) months from the date of
delivery. Rogers BVBA shall keep such books and records
as it deems reasonably necessary to record the consumption and sale
of any consigned Products, which books and records shall be made
available to Induflex for inspection in the premises of Rogers BVBA
upon reasonable request.
2.4
Specifications . All Products supplied hereunder
shall be manufactured by Induflex in conformance with applicable
specifications currently utilized by the Company, or as otherwise
agreed to by the Parties and annexed as a schedule hereto, such
specifications to set forth, at a minimum, the manufacturing and
testing procedures and acceptance criteria for the Products (the
“ Specifications ”). The
Specifications shall not thereafter be modified without the mutual
agreement of the parties to such order.
Section
3. Price and Payment.
3.1 Payment Terms
. Payment for the Products shall be made in Euros or
dollars, as specified in the applicable purchase order, net
seventy-five (75) days from receipt of an invoice for the Products
described therein (other than consignment sales described in
Section 2.3 hereof, which shall be paid net thirty (30) days
therefrom), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a
bank account designated in writing by Induflex, unless otherwise
agreed.
3.2 Competitive Pricing
.
The selling price for all Products
sold by Induflex to Rogers hereunder shall be no higher than any
sale made by Induflex within the three (3) months immediately
preceding such sale, to any other customer of the Products in
similar or lesser quantities. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, however, Induflex shall not be required to make available
to Rogers special prices occasionally granted to customer under
extenuating circumstances, such as, for example, commercial
gestures to attract a new customer or to remedy a dispute or
problem (such as late delivery or broken promises) with existing
customers.
Induflex acknowledges that the prices
currently paid by Rogers and Rogers BVBA for Products are as set
forth on Exhibit B hereto. Induflex agrees not to increase, and
shall not be required to decrease, the price for any of the
Products during the term hereof unless the average price for all
raw materials used in that Product during a fiscal quarter (the
“Price Change Quarter”), expressed as a percentage of
the average purchase price then in effect for that Product during
the Price Change Quarter, has increased or decreased from its level
immediately prior to the commencement of the Price Change Quarter
by seven percent (7%) or more. If it has so increased or decreased,
then Induflex shall notify Rogers and Rogers BVBA of that fact
within ten (10) days after the end of the Price Change Quarter. The
new Product price shall be the price which is sufficient to
bring the raw materials percentage described above fully back
up, or back down, to its level prior to the Price Change Quarter
began. The price change for such Product shall commence at the
beginning of the second fiscal quarter after the end of the Price
Change Quarter (so, for example, if the Price Change Quarter ends
on March 31 of a year, the price increase or decrease shall be
effective beginning July 1 st of
that year). During the three months preceding the last
quarter of the fifth year of the term of this agreement, both
parties will convene and assess whether general economic or other
changes in circumstances justify continuation of this arrangement.
Unless the parties otherwise agree at that meeting, this Section
3.2 shall be of no further force and effect after the expiration of
five (5) years from the commencement of this agreement.
Section
4. Term and
Termination.
4.1 Term . The
term of this Agreement (the “ Term ”) shall
commence on the date hereof and shall continue for fifteen (15)
years thereafter, unless and until terminated in accordance with
Section 4.2. The Parties, by mutual agreement, may
extend the Term. As used herein, “Term”
shall refer both to the initial Term and any extension
thereof.
4.2 Termination
.
4.2.1 Material Breach
. If any Party materially breaches any of the terms of
this Agreement and such material breach remains uncured for a
period of sixty (60) days after having received written
notification of such violation, then either of the non-breaching
Parties may thereafter immediately terminate this Agreement by so
notifying all of the Parties in writing. Such
termination shall not prejudice the damage rights of the
non-breaching Parties as against the breaching Party, which shall
have all of the rights and remedies available to them under this
Agreement, at law, in equity, or otherwise.
4.2.2 Insolvency
. If any Party makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or has a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or similar
officer appointed to take charge of all or part of its property,
then either of the other Parties may terminate this Agreement with
immediate effect by delivering written notice thereof.
4.2.3 Force
Majeure . If any Party is unable to fully perform
its obligations hereunder for a period of sixty (60) days following
an event described in Section 8.6, and such inability remains
uncured for a period of sixty (60) days following written notice by
the Party unable to perform, either of the remaining Parties may
thereafter terminate upon thirty (30) days’ written
notice.
4.2.4 Termination for
Dormancy . If no purchase orders are submitted by
Rogers or any of its Affiliates for twelve (12) consecutive months
hereunder, either Rogers or Rogers BVBA, on the one hand, or
Induflex, on the other, thereafter may terminate this agreement
upon ten (10) days’ notice to the other parties
hereto.
4.3 Survival .
Expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason shall
not relieve any Party for a breach of this Agreement occurring
prior to such expiration or termination. Any
warranties, indemnities and other provisions in this
Agreement or in Exhibit A hereto shall survive the termination or
expiration of this Agreement with respect to Products delivered or
ordered prior to such termination.
Section
5. Representations.
5.1
Representations and Warranties of each Party
. Each Party hereby represents and warrants that (a) it
has the corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to perform its obligations hereunder, (b) this Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered and represents a legal and valid
obligation, binding upon and enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i)
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar law affecting creditor’s rights generally, or (ii)
general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law, (c) the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by it does not conflict with any agreement,
instrument or understanding, oral or written, to which it is a
party or by which it is bound, (d) the execution of this Agreement
by each Party, and its performance by such Party in accordance with
its terms, does not and would not violate any law or regulation of
any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency
within the jurisdiction to which such Party is currently subject as
of the date hereof, and (e) all necessary consent, approvals and
authorizations of any governmental authorities and third parties
required to be obtained by it in connection with this Agreement
have been obtained. These are in addition to the various warranties
set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
Section
6. Confidentiality and Nonuse
6.1 Confidentiality . A
Party that receives (the " Receiving Party ") confidential
information disclosed to it by another Party (the " Disclosing
Party ") shall keep confidential and not disclose to any third
party any confidential information disclosed to it
hereunder. (For purposes hereof, “confidential
information” shall mean only that information which is
clearly labeled as such.) The Receiving Party shall use the same
care and security measures that each uses to protect its own
confidential information, but in any event the Receiving Party
shall use no less than reasonable care in protecting the Disclosing
Party's confidential information. The obligation to keep
the confidential information disclosed by the Disclosing Party
strictly confidential shall survive the expiration or termination
of this Agreement and shall continue in force until the
confidential information has been generally disclosed to the public
other than by a breach of this Agreement.
6.2 Permitted Disclosure
. To the extent that the Disclosing Party discloses any
confidential information to the Receiving Party, the Receiving
Party may disclose the confidential information only to those of
its respective employees, agents and contractors who need to know
such confidential information for purposes of this Agreement and
who have executed a confidentiality agreement with the Receiving
Party with obligations of confidentiality and nonuse that are no
less stringent that those in this Agreement.
6.3 Limitation on Use
. The Receiving Party shall not use any of the
Disclosing Party's confidential information and shall ensure that
its respective employees and contractors will not use any of the
Disclosing Party's confidential information disclosed to it
hereunder for any purpose other than in accordance with this
Agreement and will not reverse engineer any such confidential
information. All rights, title and ownership in and to
all confidential information disclosed by any Disclosing Party
hereunder, including discoveries or inventions based upon or
derived from such confidential information, shall remain
in the Disclosing Party.
Each Party agrees to promptly
disclose to a Disclosing Party any discoveries or inventions
principally based upon or principally derived from such Disclosing
Party’s confidential information and further agrees to assign
(and does hereby assign) to such Disclosing Party, the sole and
exclusive ownership in all such discoveries and inventions and to
sign all documents and do all things reasonably necessary to give
effect thereto. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence:
(a) if such discoveries or inventions relate primarily to
“Laminates” (as that term is defined in the
Non-Competition Agreement between Induflex Holding NV and Rogers of
even date herewith), then such discoveries or inventions shall
remain the sole and exclusive property of Induflex, even if based
upon confidential information from Rogers; and (b) if such
discoveries or inventions relate primarily to busbars, then such
discoveries or inventions shall remain the sole and exclusive
property of Rogers, even if based upon confidential information
from Induflex.
6.4 Exclusions
. Confidential information shall not include
information that: (a) at the time of its disclosure is available to
the public; (b) after disclosure becomes available to the public
through no fault of the Receiving Party; (c) the Receiving Party
can show, through adequate written documentation, was received by
it from a third party without breach of an obligation of
confidentiality; or (d) the Receiving Party can show, through
adequate written documentation, was independently developed without
use or reference to any of the Disclosing Party’s
confidential information.
6.5 Duties Upon Expiration
or Termination . Upon the written request by the Disclosing
Party and/or after expiration or termination of this Agreement, the
Receiving Party shall either return all of the Disclosing Party's
confidential information received by the Receiving Party or destroy
the same, but in any event the Receiving Party shall make no
further use of the Disclosing Party's confidential
information.
6.6 Unauthorized Use
. In case any Receiving Party becomes aware or has
knowledge of any unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential
information, it shall promptly notify the Disclosing Party of such
unauthorized use or disclosure and take any and all steps
reasonably necessary to assist the Disclosing Party in attempting
to minimize any potential or actual damages or losses resulting
from such unauthorized use or disclosure.
6.7 Compelled Disclosure
. The Receiving Party may disclose the Disclosing
Party's confidential information to the extent required to comply
with, a court or administrative subpoena or order which appears to
be lawful on its face, provided that the Receiving Party first uses
its best efforts to obtain an order preserving the confidentiality
of the information of the Disclosing Party and provided the
Receiving Party gives the Disclosing Party timely notice of the
contemplated disclosure to give the Disclosing Party an opportunity
to intervene to preserve the confidentiality of the
information.
Each Party acknowledges that it was
represented by counsel in connection with the negotiation,
preparation and execution of this Agreement, is fully competent to
execute this Agreement, understands its terms and provisions, and
is