UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 18, 2017
Post Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Missouri | 1-35305 | 45-3355106 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
2503 S. Hanley Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63144
(Address, including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (314) 644-7600
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. | Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement . |
On April 18, 2017, Post Holdings, Inc. (the Company or Post), together with its newly organized subsidiary, Westminster Acquisition Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (the Buyer), entered into an Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of the Entire Issued Share Capital of Latimer Newco 2 Limited (the Purchase Agreement) with the shareholders (the Sellers) of Latimer Newco 2 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Latimer). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer will acquire all of the issued share capital of Latimer and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively the Group). Post has guaranteed the obligations of the Buyer under the Purchase Agreement.
The Group is a United Kingdom (UK) based packaged food company that primarily produces ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal products spanning branded and private label.
The aggregate purchase price payable by the Buyer pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is approximately £1.4 billion on a cash free, debt free basis, subject to certain adjustments as described in the Purchase Agreement.
The closing of the acquisition is subject only to the expiration of applicable waiting periods under U.S. antitrust laws, the receipt of applicable approvals from the Competition Authority of Kenya (and in the event that Kenyan approval is delayed under the circumstances set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the Kenyan antitrust condition shall be deemed satisfied provided that the shares in the Kenyan entity of the Group remain with the Sellers until such time as the Kenyan approval is received), and the receipt by Post of certain audited financial statements for the Group as described in the Purchase Agreement.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the closing of the acquisition will occur on July 3, 2017 or, if later, on the first day of Latimers fiscal month immediately following the satisfaction or waiver of the last of the applicable closing conditions (with either party having the right under certain circumstances to delay the closing up to 3 business days). Under certain circumstances described in the Purchase Agreement following satisfaction of the closing conditions and prior to the closing, the Buyer will deposit into escrow a portion of the purchase price equal to £150 million, which amount will be applied towards the purchase price in the event the acquisition is completed. In the event that the Sellers validly terminate the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms or if the closing of the acquisition does not occur as a result of the Buyer otherwise being in material breach of the Purchase Agreement, the deposit will be paid to the Sellers; in all other circumstances the deposit will be returned to the Buyer.
The Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically if the closing conditions are not satisfied or waived on or prior to December 27, 2017. If as of December 27, 2017, Post has received the audited financial statements referred to above but one or more of the U.S. or Kenyan antitrust conditions referred to above has not been satisfied (other than as a result of the Sellers not complying with their obligations in relation to such antitrust conditions), then Post must pay the Sellers a termination fee of £30 million.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Sellers have generally agreed to cause the Group to carry on its business in the ordinary and usual course in all material respects, and to not take certain specified actions, in each case during the period between the execution of the Purchase Agreement and the completion of the acquisition.
The Purchase Agreement contains limited warranties by the Sellers. In addition, in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer entered into a Management Warranty Deed relating to the sale and purchase of Latimer Newco 2 Limited (the Management Warranty Deed) with certain of the Sellers who are members of the Groups management (the Warrantors). The Management Warranty Deed contains warranties made by the Warrantors with respect to the Group, including as to the business, operations and accounts of the Group. The Buyers recourse against the Warrantors for any breaches of the warranties under the Management Warranty Deed is subject to deductibles and other limitations as described in the Management Warranty Deed, including an aggregate cap on the liability of the Warrantors of £2.2 million.
The foregoing summary of the Purchase Agreement, the Management Warranty Deed and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference, and the full text of the Management Warranty Deed, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 2.2 and incorporated herein by
reference. The Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed have been included to provide investors with information regarding their respective terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about the parties to the Purchase Agreement or the Management Warranty Deed or the businesses of such parties.
Each of the Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed contains warranties that the parties to the Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed, respectively, made solely for the benefit of each other. The assertions embodied in such warranties are qualified by information contained in a confidential disclosure letter that the parties exchanged in connection with signing the Management Warranty Deed as well as information otherwise disclosed to the Buyer as contemplated by the Management Warranty Deed. In addition, such warranties (i) may be intended not as statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate, (ii) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors and securityholders, and (iii) were made only as of the date of the Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed, or as of such other date or dates as may be specified in the Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed, as applicable. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of such warranties may change after the date of the Purchase Agreement and the Management Warranty Deed, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in Posts public disclosures. Investors and securityholders are urged not to rely on such warranties as characterizations of the actual state of facts or circumstances at this time or any other time.
Item 2.02. | Results of Operations and Financial Condition. |
In a press release dated April 18, 2017, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and the text of which is incorporated by reference herein, the Company announced certain preliminary results for its second quarter ended March 31, 2017 and commented on financial guidance for fiscal 2017.
Additionally, on April 18, 2017, the Company will hold a conference call and simultaneous presentation to investors at 8 a.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. BST) to discuss the acquisition of the Group. The investor presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.
The information contained in Item 2.02 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 attached hereto shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
In the Companys press release and investor presentation, the Company makes reference to certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. Management uses certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, as key metrics in the evaluation of underlying Company and segment performance, in making financial, operating and planning decisions, and, in part, in the determination of cash bonuses for its executive officers and employees. Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, provides increased transparency and assists investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of the Company and its segments and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends.
The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA as an important supplemental measure of performance and ability to service debt. Adjusted EBITDA is often used to assess performance because it allows comparison of operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the effects of various items.
In the Companys press release and investor presentation, the Company provides Adjusted EBITDA guidance and discloses its expectations as to the effect of the transaction described in Item 1.01 above on Posts Adjusted EBITDA, including the expected annual contribution of the Group, and free cash flow only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking non-GAAP guidance measures to the mostly directly comparable GAAP measures due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps, provision for legal settlement, transaction and integration costs, restructuring and plant closure costs, losses on assets held for sale, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges, and other charges reflected in the Companys reconciliation of historic numbers, the amounts of which, based on historical experience, could be significant.
Because the Company discusses free cash flow in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 only in relation to managements expectations of the future effect of the transaction discussed in Item 1.01 above on this non-GAAP measure, the Company has not, for the reasons discussed above, provided a reconciliation of its forward-looking free cash flow expectations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Companys operating performance and liquidity because (i) the Company believes it is widely used to measure a companys operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets, (ii) it presents a measure of corporate performance exclusive of the Companys capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired, and (iii) it is a financial indicator of a companys ability to service its debt, as the Company is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in the Companys financing documents.
The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is not specified by GAAP, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for, and should only be read in conjunction with, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. For additional information, see the non-GAAP reconciliation table furnished with this Form 8-K in each of Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.
Preliminary Adjusted EBITDA for the Company for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 reflects adjustments for net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as the following adjustments:
a. | Loss on extinguishment of debt : The Company has excluded losses recorded on extinguishment of debt as such losses are inconsistent in amount and frequency. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
b. | Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps : The Company has excluded the impact of non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to estimates of fair value and economic conditions and the amount and frequency of such adjustments and settlements are not consistent. |
c. | Provision for legal settlement : The Company has excluded gains and losses recorded to recognize a receivable or liability associated with an anticipated resolution of certain ongoing litigation as the Company believes such gains and losses do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
d. | Non-cash stock-based compensation : The Companys compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain executives and employees by aligning their long-term compensation interests with shareholders investment interests. The Company has excluded non-cash stock-based compensation as non-cash stock-based compensation can vary significantly based on reasons such as the timing, size and nature of the awards granted and subjective assumptions which are unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period and do not contribute to meaningful comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
e. |
Transaction costs and integration costs : The Company has excluded transaction costs related to professional service fees and other related costs associated with signed and closed business combinations and divestitures and integration costs incurred to integrate acquired or to-be-acquired businesses as the Company believes that these exclusions allow for more meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance and comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. The Company believes such costs are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of acquired assets as part of the Company or the performance of the divested assets, and are |
not factored into managements evaluation of potential acquisitions or its performance after completion of an acquisition or the evaluation to divest an asset. In addition, the frequency and amount of such charges varies significantly based on the size and timing of the acquisitions and divestitures and the maturities of the businesses being acquired or divested. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions and divestitures, which often drive the magnitude of such expenses, may not be indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of future acquisitions or divestitures. By excluding these expenses, management is better able to evaluate the Companys ability to utilize its existing assets and estimate the long-term value that acquired assets will generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of the Companys operating performance. |
f. | Restructuring and plant closure costs, including accelerated depreciation : The Company has excluded certain costs associated with facility closures as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
g. | Assets held for sale : The Company has excluded adjustments recorded to adjust the carrying value of facilities and other assets classified as held for sale as such adjustments represent non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these adjustments do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
h. | Inventory valuation adjustments on acquired businesses : The Company has excluded the impact of fair value step-up adjustments to inventory in connection with business combinations as such adjustments represent non-cash items, are not consistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Companys acquisitions. |
i. | Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges : The Company has excluded the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates. Additionally, these adjustments are primarily non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. |
j. | Gain on sale of business and/or plant : The Company has excluded gains recorded on divestitures as such adjustments represent non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
k. | Foreign currency gains and losses on intercompany loans : The Company has excluded the impact of foreign currency fluctuations related to intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective legal entity in evaluating Company performance to allow for more meaningful comparisons of performance to other periods. |
Item 7.01. | Regulation FD Disclosure |
In its press release dated April 18, 2017 referenced in Item 2.02 above, Post also announced that it had entered into the Purchase Agreement to acquire Latimer. In addition, Post will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. BST) to discuss the acquisition and to respond to questions.
The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1, and the investor presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2, and each are incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Form 8-K under Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 attached hereto shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific referencing in such filing.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 18, 2017 | Post Holdings, Inc. | |||||
(Registrant) | ||||||
By: |
/s/ Jeff A. Zadoks |
|||||
Name: | Jeff A. Zadoks | |||||
Title: | SVP & Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit No. |
Description |
|
2.1* |
Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of the Entire Issued Share Capital of Latimer Newco 2 Limited between the Investor Sellers and Management Sellers named therein, Westminster Acquisition Limited, and Post Holdings, Inc., dated April 18, 2017* | |
2.2* |
Management Warranty Deed between the Warrantors named therein and Westminster Acquisition Limited, dated April 18, 2017* | |
99.1 |
Press Release dated April 18, 2017 | |
99.2 |
Investor Presentation dated April 18, 2017 |
* | Certain schedules and/or exhibits to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request; provided, however, that the Registrant may request confidential treatment of omitted items. |
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION VERSION
Dated
18 April 2017
between
THE INVESTOR SELLERS
and
THE MANAGEMENT SELLERS
and
THE BUYER
and
THE GUARANTOR
AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE AND
PURCHASE OF THE ENTIRE ISSUED
SHARE CAPITAL OF
LATIMER NEWCO 2 LIMITED
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
1. |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
2 | ||||
2. |
SALE AND PURCHASE |
17 | ||||
3. |
CONSIDERATION |
18 | ||||
4. |
LEAKAGE AND OTHER PAYMENTS |
18 | ||||
5. |
CONDITIONS |
24 | ||||
6. |
PRE-COMPLETION UNDERTAKINGS |
30 | ||||
7. |
INDEBTEDNESS SCHEDULES |
32 | ||||
8. |
COMPLETION |
33 | ||||
9. |
WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS |
34 | ||||
10. |
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY |
39 | ||||
11. |
POST-COMPLETION ARRANGEMENTS |
43 | ||||
12. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
45 | ||||
13. |
CONFIDENTIALITY |
46 | ||||
14. |
MANAGEMENT SELLERS REPRESENTATIVE |
47 | ||||
15. |
FURTHER ASSURANCE |
49 | ||||
16. |
EFFECT OF COMPLETION |
49 | ||||
17. |
ASSIGNMENT |
49 | ||||
18. |
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
50 | ||||
19. |
NOTICES |
50 | ||||
20. |
PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
53 | ||||
21. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
53 | ||||
22. |
VARIATION AND INCONSISTENCY |
54 | ||||
23. |
WAIVER |
54 | ||||
24. |
REMEDIES |
54 | ||||
25. |
THIRD PARTIES |
55 | ||||
26. |
COUNTERPARTS |
55 | ||||
27. |
NO SET-OFF |
55 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page | ||||||
28. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
55 | |||||
SCHEDULE 1 |
57 | |||||
Part A: Investor Sellers | 57 | |||||
Part B: Management Sellers | 57 | |||||
SCHEDULE 2 THE COMPANY |
58 | |||||
SCHEDULE 3 COMPLETION ARRANGEMENTS |
59 | |||||
Part A: Sellers Obligations | 59 | |||||
Part B: Buyers Obligations | 61 | |||||
SCHEDULE 4 PRE-COMPLETION UNDERTAKINGS |
62 |
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AGREED FORMS
Agreed Form A | Locked Box Accounts | |
Agreed Form B | Management Accounts | |
Agreed Form C | Indemnity in respect of Lost Share Certificate | |
Agreed Form D | Letters of Resignation | |
Agreed Form E | Sellers Voting Power of Attorney | |
Agreed Form F | Board Minutes of the Company | |
Agreed Form G | Payments Schedule | |
Agreed Form H | Tax Deed | |
Agreed Form I | Management Services Agreement Termination Deeds | |
Agreed Form J | Related Party Termination Deed | |
Agreed Form K |
Kenya Reorganisation |
i
THIS AGREEMENT (the Agreement ) is made on 18 April 2017 between the following parties:
(1) | The persons whose names and addresses are set out in column 1 of Part A of Schedule 1 (each an Investor Seller and together the Investor Sellers ); |
(2) | The persons whose names and addresses are set out in column 1 of Part B of Schedule 1 (each a Management Seller and together the Management Sellers ); |
(3) | WESTMINSTER ACQUISITION LIMITED , a company registered in England and Wales under number 10694659 which has its registered office at 100 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JA (the Buyer ); and |
(4) | POST HOLDINGS, INC. , a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Missouri, United States of America, with charter number 01171958, which has its principal executive office at 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, MO 63144 (the Guarantor ). |
BACKGROUND
(A) | Latimer Newco 2 Limited is a private company limited by shares, incorporated in England and Wales under number 06120878 (the Company ). Further information relating to the Company is set out in Schedule 2. |
(B) | The Investor Sellers and the Management Sellers are together the legal and beneficial owners of the entire issued share capital of the Company. |
(C) | The Investor Sellers and the Management Sellers wish to sell and the Buyer wishes to buy the entire issued share capital of the Company on the terms set out in this Agreement (the Transaction ). |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1. | DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | In this Agreement, the following words and expressions have the following meanings: |
A Ordinary Shares means the A1 Ordinary Shares and the A2 Ordinary Shares;
A1 Ordinary Shares means the 10,834,831 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the capital of the Company;
A2 Ordinary Shares means the 6,746,544 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the capital of the Company;
Act means the Companies Acts 2006;
Additional Consideration means an amount of: (i) £21,000 per day in the period from (and excluding) the Locked Box Date up to (and including) the later of 31 July 2017 and the date on which the Buyer Accounts Conditions are satisfied; and (ii) £68,000 per day thereafter up to (and excluding) the Completion Date;
2
Agreed Disputed Amount has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.22.1;
Agreed Form means a form agreed between the parties on or prior to the date of this Agreement, and for the purposes of identification initialled (or signed) by or on behalf of the parties;
Announcement means the announcement of the Transaction substantially in the form agreed by, or behalf of, the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer;
Antitrust Conditions means the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition;
Antitrust Termination Fee has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.8;
Articles means the articles of association of the Company;
B2 Ordinary Shares means the 388,571 ordinary shares of £1.00 each in the capital of the Company;
Bank Repayment Amount means the amount that is required to repay all principal amounts owed by the Company and any other Group Company under the Existing Facility Agreements on the Completion Date and any accrued interest up to Completion;
Books and Records means all notices, correspondence, books of account and other documents and records, whether in paper or electronic form, in relation to any member of the Group;
Bright HSR Filing means the HSR filing to be made by Bright Food (Group) Co., Ltd. ( ) in relation to the Transaction;
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day which is a public holiday in England, the United States of America (New York) or the Peoples Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and excluding, for the purposes of this Agreement, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan) on which banks are open for the transaction of general commercial business;
Buyer Accounts Conditions has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.2;
Buyer IFRS Condition has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.1;
Buyer SEC Condition has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.2;
Buyers Group means the Buyer, each of its parent undertakings and each of its and their respective subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time (which following Completion shall include the Company and each member of the Group) and Buyers Group Company shall be construed accordingly;
Buyers Guaranteed Obligations has the meaning given to it in Clause 9.5.1;
Buyers Solicitors means Baker & McKenzie LLP, 100 New Bridge Street, EC4V 6JA, London;
3
C Ordinary Shares means the 1,201,254 ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;
CAK means the Competition Authority of Kenya;
CAK Condition has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.4;
Company has the meaning given to it in recital (A);
Competition Authorities means the United States Federal Trade Commission or US Department of Justice (as applicable) and the CAK and Competition Authority shall be construed accordingly;
Completion means the completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;
Completion Date means the date on which Completion occurs, determined in accordance with Clause 8.1;
Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.1.4;
Conditions has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.4;
Conditions Longstop Date has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.7;
Confidential Management Presentations means the confidential management presentations dated 19 December 2016 and 13 February 2017 and issued by the Group to the Buyer in connection with the sale of the Company;
Confidentiality Agreement means the confidentiality agreement dated 13 September 2016 and made between Bright Food International Limited and the Guarantor, together with the clean team addendum dated 29 March 2017;
Connected Person means:
(a) | in the case of a person, which is a body corporate, any subsidiary or parent company of that person and any subsidiary of any such parent company, in each case from time to time; |
(b) | in the case of a person, who is an individual, any spouse, co-habitee and/or lineal descendants by blood or adoption or any person or persons acting in its or their capacity as trustee or trustees of a trust of which such individual is a settler; and |
(c) | in the case of a person which is a limited partnership, the partners of the person or their nominees or a nominee or trustee for the person, or any investors in a fund which holds interests, directly or indirectly, in the limited partnership, |
excluding any entity that is a Connected Person solely due to the fact that they are controlled by the same governmental body;
4
Consideration has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.1;
D Ordinary Shares means the 175,794 ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;
Data Room means the electronic data room operated by Merrill in respect of the Group made available to the Buyer and its advisers, the contents of which are listed in the index annexed to the Disclosure Letter and a copy of which, as at 12 April 2017, has been delivered to the Buyer on a USB stick;
Deeds of Release means each of the deeds, in a form satisfactory to the Buyer (acting reasonably), between the relevant Security Agent, Facility Agents and the relevant members of the Group pursuant to which the relevant Security Agent and Facility Agents confirm that all amounts due under the Existing Facility Agreements have been paid and all Encumbrances held by or on behalf of the relevant Security Agent and/or Facility Agents over any assets of the Group are released;
Default Interest has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.9.1;
Defaulting Party has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3;
Deposit has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.9.1;
Deposit Escrow Account means the escrow account opened pursuant to the Deposit Escrow Agreement;
Deposit Escrow Agreement means the escrow agreement in respect of the Deposit Escrow Account to be entered into on or about the date hereof;
Disagreement Notice has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.11;
Disclosed has the meaning given to it in the Management Deed;
Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs means the Exchange Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs and the Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs;
Disclosure Letter means the letter dated with the date of this Agreement from certain of the Management Sellers to the Buyer;
Disputed Amount has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.10.2(a);
Disputed Amount Escrow Account means the escrow account opened pursuant to the Disputed Amount Escrow Agreement;
Disputed Amount Escrow Agreement means the escrow agreement in respect of the Disputed Amount Escrow Account to be entered into on or about the date hereof;
Disputed Amount Interest has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.23;
Disputed Deduction has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.10.2;
Due Diligence Investigation has the meaning given to it in Clause 9.4.1;
5
Due Diligence Reports means the vendor due diligence reports addressed to the Buyer and dated on or around the date of this Agreement in relation to the Group being:
(a) | the Phase 2 Financial Vendor Due Diligence Report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and dated 17 April 2017; and |
(b) | the Taxation Vendor Due Diligence Report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and dated 17 April 2017; |
Encumbrance means any mortgage, charge, assignment, lien, option, restriction on equity, right of first refusal or pre-emption, claim or other third party right or interest or assignation, or any other type of preferential arrangement (including, without limitation, a title transfer or retention arrangement) having similar effect;
Escrow Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., acting through its London branch;
Escrow Agreements means the Deposit Escrow Agreement and the Disputed Amount Escrow Agreement;
Estimated Kenya Costs has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.1.12;
Exchange Consideration means £609,000,000;
Exchange Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs means the Seller Transaction Costs included in the Payments Schedule;
Existing Facility Agreements means:
(a) | the second lien facilities agreement (the Second Lien Facilities Agreement ) dated 19 October 2015 between, among others, Latimer Group Limited as parent, Bright Food Europe Limited as mandated lead arranger and underwriter, Barclays Bank PLC as agent and ING Bank N.V., London Branch as security agent; and |
(b) | the senior facilities agreement (the Senior Facilities Agreement ) dated 19 October 2015 between, among others, Latimer Group Limited as parent, Bank of China Limited, Shanghai Branch as global mandated lead arranger and ING Bank N.V., London Branch as agent and security agent; |
Facility Agents means each of ING Bank N.V., London Branch as agent under the Senior Facilities Agreement and Barclays Bank PLC as agent under the Second Lien Facilities Agreement;
Group means the Company and each of its subsidiaries (with the exception of Weetabix East Africa Limited with effect from the date of the completion of step 2 of the Kenya Reorganisation), and Group Company or member of the Group shall mean any one of them;
HSR has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.3;
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HSR Condition has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.1.3;
IASB means the International Accounting Standards Board;
IFRS means International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by IASB;
IFRS Audited Financials means consolidated financial statements of the Group prepared in accordance with IFRS (EU), audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, comprised of:
(a) | statements of financial position (balance sheets) as at 31 December 2016; |
(b) | statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (presented as a single statement, or by presenting the profit or loss section in a separate statement of profit or loss, immediately followed by a statement presenting comprehensive income beginning with profit or loss) for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; |
(c) | statements of changes in equity for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; |
(d) | statements of cash flows for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; and |
(e) | related notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes, including comparative information for all statements presented; |
Incentive Payment Excess Amount means the amount by which the items in paragraph 1 of the Payments Schedule (having converted any amounts payable in USD into GBP at the relevant closing mid-point spot rate at close of business in London as quoted by Bloomberg L.P. Generic London pricing source (the Spot Rate ) on the Business Day immediately preceding the Completion Date) in aggregate exceed £1,600,000, provided always that the Spot Rate in the Initial Indebtedness Schedule shall be the Spot Rate specified on a date within 3 Business Days prior to the date of the Initial Indebtedness Schedule;
Indebtedness Schedules means the Initial Indebtedness Schedule and the Updated Indebtedness Schedule;
Independent Accountant means either:
(a) | an independent firm of chartered accountants of international repute agreed between the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives; or |
(b) | in the absence of agreement as to the identity of such independent firm within 5 Business Days of either party notifying the other of its wish to appoint an independent firm, a specific member of an independent firm of chartered accountants to be nominated on the application of either party by the President for the time being of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales; |
Initial Indebtedness Schedule has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.1;
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Intellectual Property has the meaning given to it in the Management Deed;
Joint Venture Companies means Alpen Food Company South Africa Pty Ltd and, until the date of completion of step 2 of the Kenya Reorganisation (if applicable), Weetabix East Africa Limited;
Kenya Reorganisation means the Agreed Form steps for the transfer of the shares held by Weetabix Limited in Weetabix East Africa Limited out of the Group to the Investor Sellers or their Connected Persons and, subject to obtaining the necessary clearances, the subsequent steps for the transfer of the shares of Weetabix East Africa Limited to a member of the Group or the Buyers Group;
Kenya Reorganisation Costs has the meaning given to it in Clause 11.6;
Leakage means:
(a) | any dividend, bonus or other distribution of capital, income or profit (whether in cash or in kind) declared, paid or made or any agreement to do the foregoing by any Group Company to any Seller or any Connected Person of a Seller (other than a Group Company); |
(b) | any other payments (whether in cash or in kind) made by any Group Company to any Seller or any Connected Person of a Seller (other than a Group Company) or any agreement to do the foregoing in respect of any loan or share capital or other securities of any Group Company being issued, redeemed, purchased or repaid, or any other return of capital; |
(c) | any payments made (including any monitoring, management and director fees and charges or similar) or any agreement to do the foregoing by any Group Company to any of the Sellers or any Connected Person of a Seller (other than a Group Company); |
(d) | the creation of, or any agreement to create, any Encumbrance over any asset, right or other interest of or in any Group Company, except to the extent released prior to Completion without any additional cost to any Group Company, in favour of, or to secure an obligation of, the Sellers (or any of them or any of their respective Connected Persons (other than a Group Company)); |
(e) | the waiver, or agreement to waive, by any Group Company of any amount owed to the relevant Group Company by the Sellers or any of their Connected Persons (other than a Group Company); |
(f) | the payment by a Group Company of, or incurring of any obligation by a Group Company to pay, any bonus in connection with the Transaction to any employee, consultant or officer of a Group Company; |
(g) | any amount due by any Group Company to any employee, consultant or officer of a Group Company under any pre-existing employee incentive arrangement which is triggered by the Transaction whether payable before or after Completion; |
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(h) | any payment by a Group Company of any Seller Transaction Costs; and |
(i) | any Tax payable by any Group Company as a result of any of the matters set out in paragraphs (a) to (h) (inclusive) above, |
other than any Permitted Leakage and in each case less (i) any amount in respect of VAT which is recoverable as input tax by a Group Company; and (ii) any Relief that arises in connection with paragraphs (a) to (h) above;
Leakage Certificate means a certificate confirming either (a) that no Leakage has occurred between the Locked Box Date and the date of the certificate; or (b) setting out details of any such Leakage (including the amount and the recipient);
Linklaters means Linklaters LLP of 29th Floor, Mirae Asset Tower, 166 Lu Jia Zui Ring Road, Shanghai 200120;
Locked Box Accounts means the unaudited accounts of the Group, consisting of a balance sheet as at the Locked Box Date in the Agreed Form;
Locked Box Claim has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.3;
Locked Box Date means 31 December 2016;
Locked Box Period means the period from and including the Locked Box Date up to immediately prior to Completion;
Long Stop Date means 19 January 2018 or such later date as the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer may agree in writing;
Losses means all losses, liabilities, costs (including legal costs and experts and consultants fees), charges, expenses, actions, proceedings, claims and demands;
Management Accounts has the meaning given to it in the Management Deed;
Management Deed means the management warranty deed entered into by certain of the Management Sellers and the Buyer on the date of this Agreement;
Management Deed Claim means any claim under or in respect of the Management Deed;
Management Sellers Representative means Giles Michael Turrell and/or any other representative of the Management Sellers appointed from time to time pursuant to Clause 14;
Management Services Agreement Termination Deeds means the deeds of termination in the Agreed Form amending and, with effect from Completion, terminating the Management Services Agreements;
Management Services Agreements means the management services agreement dated 27 August 2015 between Baring Private Equity Asia Pte Limited and Weetabix Limited and the management services agreement dated 27 August 2015 between Bright Food Hong Kong Limited and Weetabix Limited;
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Material Group Company means each of the Group Companies except Firestar Limited, B.L. Agriculture Limited, Weetabix Trustee Limited, Weetabix Foods Limited and Globe Export Services Limited;
Material Obligations has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.4;
Net Amounts means the Net Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs, the Net Repurchase Amount, the Net Employee Payment Amount, the Net Prepayment Amount and the Net Service Fee Amount;
Net Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs means the Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs reduced to take account of recoverable VAT thereon and by any Relief available to any Group Company in respect of such Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs;
Net Employee Payment Amount means the amount specified in paragraph 4 of the Payments Schedule reduced to take account of any Relief available to any Group Company in respect of such amount;
Net Prepayment Amount means the Prepayment Amount reduced to take account of recoverable VAT thereon and by any Relief available to any Group Company in respect of such Prepayment Amount;
Net Repurchase Amount means the amount specified in paragraph 6 of the Payments Schedule reduced to take account of any Relief available to any Group Company in respect of such amount;
Net Service Fee Amount means the Service Fee Amount reduced to take account of recoverable VAT thereon and by any Relief available to any Group Company in respect of such Service Fee Amount;
Nominated Account has the meaning given to it in Clause 11.10;
Non-Defaulting Party has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.3;
Non-Payment Amount has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.22.2;
Notice has the meaning given to it in Clause 19.1;
Ordinary Course Trading means any trading or other contractual relationship between a member of the Group (on the one hand) and an Investor Seller and/or its Connected Persons (on the other) which:
(a) | is Disclosed; |
(b) | is a non-exclusive distribution, non-exclusive sales and/or non-exclusive agency agreement; and/or |
(c) | involves revenue of less than £1,000,000 per annum; |
Payments Schedule means the fee and other payments schedule in the Agreed Form;
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Permitted Leakage means:
(a) | any payment specifically provided for under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise incurred at the request of, or with the prior written consent of, the Buyer after the date of this Agreement; |
(b) | payment of any amount specifically accrued or provided for in the Locked Box Accounts; |
(c) | any payment made in accordance with past practice in the ordinary course and without (save in respect of bonuses) the exercise of discretion in respect of the salary, bonus, pensions contributions, life assurance payments, medical insurance, car allowances, expenses and holiday pay accrued and due to any Seller who is an officer or employee of a Group Company under and in accordance with such persons contract of employment, service agreement, engagement letter or other terms of employment, but excluding any payment or entitlement arising from any employee incentive arrangement which is triggered by the Transaction; |
(d) | monies paid to any Seller under any pre-existing employee incentive arrangement in accordance with the terms of such arrangement and/or any other bonuses to be paid to employees, directors or consultants in connection with the Transaction, in each case as, and up to the amount, set out in the Payments Schedule; |
(e) | those amounts in respect of management, monitoring or service fees and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses paid to the Investor Sellers or their Connected Persons (including any payments pursuant to the Management Services Agreement Termination Deeds) in respect of the period from (and excluding) the Locked Box Date to (and including) Completion (including VAT) which are to be set out in the Updated Indebtedness Schedule (the Service Fee Amount ); |
(f) | payments in the ordinary course to directors appointed by the Investor Sellers (including VAT) as, and up to the amount, set out in the Payments Schedule; |
(g) | any trading, and any retention of title claims connected therewith, in the ordinary course and on arms length terms between, on the one hand, any Group Company and, on the other hand, any Investor Seller, any Connected Person of any Investor Seller and/or any investments from time to time of any Connected Person of any Investor Seller or of funds managed by any Investor Seller or any Connected Person of any Investor Seller, to the extent it constitutes Ordinary Course Trading; |
(h) | premiums payable in relation to directors and officers insurance (including in respect of run-off liability insurance); |
(i) | the taking of any steps in accordance with the Kenya Reorganisation; |
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(j) | any payments in accordance with the terms of the Existing Facility Agreements, including the Bank Repayment Amount and the Prepayment Amount; |
(k) | any Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs; |
(l) | the matters set out in the Payments Schedule; and |
(m) | any Taxation (including any VAT) which arises or is incurred in respect of any of the payments or matters envisaged in paragraphs (a) to (l) above; |
Potential Completion Date means each of 3 July 2017, 7 August 2017, 4 September 2017, 2 October 2017, 6 November 2017, 4 December 2017 and 2 January 2018;
Pre-Contractual Statement means any statement, representation, warranty, assurance, covenant, agreement, undertaking, indemnity, guarantee or commitment of any nature whatsoever (in any case whether oral, written, express or implied, and whether negligent or innocent) made, given or agreed to by any person (whether a party to this Agreement or not) at any time before the execution of this Agreement;
Preference Shares means the 100 preference shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company;
Prepayment Amount means the amount that is required to:
(a) | pay any redemption premium or penalty arising as a result of terminating the Existing Facility Agreements; and |
(b) | release all guarantees and security in relation to the facilities provided under the Existing Facility Agreements (or any replacement, variation or addition to them), |
together with any other fees, costs and expenses in connection therewith including break costs and unwind costs in respect of any related hedging agreements and any fees payable by the Company and any other Group Company to any advisors to the Facility Agents and/or the Security Agent;
Properties has the meaning given to it in the Management Deed;
Regulatory Authority means any supra national, national, state, municipal, federal, regional, public or local government (including any subdivision, court, administrative agency, department, instrumentality or commission or other authority of the same) or any quasi governmental, statutory or private body exercising any regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi governmental authority, including the European Union;
Related Party Termination Deed means a deed of termination in the Agreed Form between the Sellers and the Company terminating with effect from Completion the Shareholders Agreement and certain other arrangements;
Relevant Circumstances has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.8;
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Relevant Proportion means, in respect of a Seller, the proportion of the Consideration to which each Seller is entitled pursuant to article 10.1 of the Articles (where the Exit Consideration (as defined in the Articles) shall be treated as the Consideration);
Relevant Seller has the meaning given in Clause 4.9.2;
Relief means any relief, exemption, allowance, set-off, deduction or credit relevant to the computation of any liability to make a payment of or relating to Taxation;
Remedies has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.2.7;
Response Date has the meaning given to it in Clause 4.11;
Ropes & Gray means Ropes & Gray International LLP of 60 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7AW, United Kingdom;
Satisfaction Date has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.9.1;
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission;
SEC Audited Financials means consolidated financial statements of the Group prepared in accordance with IFRS (and in compliance with Section II.A of the SECs Final Rule Release No. 33-8567 and paragraphs 6340.1-2 of the SEC Financial Reporting Manual), audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and accompanied by an audit report that includes a statement that the audit was conducted in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Auditing Standards or in accordance with the standards of the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, comprised of:
(a) | statements of financial position (balance sheets) as at 2 January 2016 and 31 December 2016; |
(b) | statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (presented as a single statement, or by presenting the profit or loss section in a separate statement of profit or loss, immediately followed by a statement presenting comprehensive income beginning with profit or loss) for the fiscal year ended 27 December 2014, for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2016 and for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; |
(c) | statements of changes in equity for the fiscal year ended 27 December 2014, for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2016 and for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; |
(d) | statements of cash flows for the fiscal year ended 27 December 2014, for the fiscal year ended 2 January 2016 and for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2016; and |
(e) | related notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes, including comparative information for all statements presented; |
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SEC Unaudited Financials means unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Group prepared in accordance with IFRS, comprised of:
(a) | balance sheets (statements of financial position) as at 1 April 2017; and |
(b) | statements of income (statements of profit or loss) for the 26 week period ended 1 April 2017 (which can be prepared by adding together the 13 week period ended 31 December 2016 and the 13 week period ended 1 April 2017); and |
further, if the Completion Date is after 31 July 2017, then also including:
(c) | balance sheets (statements of financial position) as at 1 July 2017; and |
(d) | statements of income (statements of profit or loss) for the 39 week period ended 1 July 2017 (which can be prepared by adding together the 13 week period ended 31 December 2016 and the 26 week period ended 1 July 2017); and |
further, if the Completion Date is after 30 September 2017, then also including:
(e) | balance sheets (statements of financial position) as at 1 July 2017 and as at either 2 July 2016 or 31 December 2016; and |
(f) | statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income (presented as a single statement, or by presenting the profit or loss section in a separate statement of profit or loss, immediately followed by a statement presenting comprehensive income beginning with profit or loss) statements of income (statements of profit or loss) for the 26 week periods ended 1 July 2017 and 2 July 2016; |
(g) | statements of changes in equity for the 26 week periods ended 1 July 2017 and ended 2 July 2016; |
(h) | statements of cash flows for the 26 week periods ended 1 July 2017 and ended 2 July 2016; and |
(i) | related notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes, including (i) disclosures that will provide an explanation of events and changes that are significant to an understanding of the changes in financial position and performance of the enterprise since the last annual reporting date and (ii) if not included in the primary financial statements, a note analyzing the changes in each caption of shareholders equity presented in the balance sheet; and |
further, if the Completion Date is after 31 October 2017:
(j) | balance sheets (statements of financial position) as at 30 September 2017; and |
(k) | statements of income (statements of profit or loss) for the 52 week period ended 30 September 2017 (which can be prepared by adding together the 13 week period ended 31 December 2016 and the 39 week period ended 30 September 2017); |
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Second Lien Facilities Agreement has the meaning given to it in paragraph (a) of the definition of Existing Facility Agreements;
Security Agent means ING Bank N.V., London Branch as agent under the Senior Facilities Agreement and the Second Lien Facilities Agreement;
Seller Claim means any claim, proceeding, suit or action in respect of any breach, indemnity, covenant, agreement, undertaking or other matter whatsoever under or pursuant to this Agreement (other than Clause 4 ( Leakage and other payments )) and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement against any (a) Investor Seller; or (b) Management Seller and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Tax Deed Claim or any Management Deed Claim;
Seller Connected Person means a person who is a Connected Person of any Seller, excluding any Group Companies;
Seller Transaction Costs means any professional fees, expenses or other costs paid, incurred or owing in connection with the Transaction by any Group Company;
Sellers means the Investor Sellers and the Management Sellers;
Sellers Representatives means the Management Sellers Representative, Barnes (BVI) Limited and Bright Food Europe Limited;
Senior Facilities Agreement has the meaning given to it in paragraph (b) of the definition of Existing Facility Agreements;
Senior Manager Sellers means Giles Michael Turrell, Richard William Thomas Martin, Gareth David Martin, Sally Abbott, Stuart Branch and Kevin Fawell;
Service Fee Amount has the meaning given to it in paragraph (e) of the definition of Permitted Leakage;
Shareholders Agreement means the amended and restated shareholders agreement relating to the Company dated 22 April 2015;
Shares means all of the allotted and issued shares in the Company, as set out in Schedule 2;
SIAC has the meaning given to it in Clause 28.2;
SIAC Rules has the meaning given to it in Clause 28.2;
Tax or Taxation have the meaning given to them in the Tax Deed;
Tax Deed means the tax deed in the Agreed Form;
Tax Deed Claim means any claim under or in respect of the Tax Deed;
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Tax Liability has the meaning given to it in the Tax Deed;
Transaction has the meaning given to it in recital (C);
Transaction Documents means this Agreement, the Management Deed, the Tax Deed, the Disclosure Letter, each of the documents in the Agreed Form and any other document entered into or to be entered into pursuant to this Agreement;
Updated Indebtedness Schedule has the meaning given to it in Clause 7.2; and
VAT means, within the European Union, value added tax levied in accordance with (but subject to derogations from) European Council Directive 2006/112/EC and any supplementary or national implementing legislation thereto and, outside the European Union, any value added, goods or services, sales or use tax of a similar fiscal nature.
1.2 | In this Agreement (unless the context otherwise requires): |
1.2.1 | words and expressions which are defined in the Act shall have the same meanings as are given to them in the Act; |
1.2.2 | a reference to a document is a reference to that document as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time (other than in breach of the provisions of this Agreement); |
1.2.3 | a reference to this Agreement shall include any recitals and schedules to it and any reference to a recital, paragraph, Clause or Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, is a reference to a recital, paragraph or Clause of, or Schedule to, this Agreement; |
1.2.4 | references to a statute or statutory instrument shall include references to such statute or statutory instrument as amended, extended, modified, consolidated or re-enacted and to any subordinate legislation made under such statute before the date of this Agreement save where such amendment, extension, modification, consolidation or re-enactment would extend or increase the liability of the Sellers under this Agreement; |
1.2.5 | references to a person includes any individual, company, body corporate, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, organisation, institution, trust or agency, whether or not having a separate legal personality; |
1.2.6 | references to one gender includes all genders, and references to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; |
1.2.7 | headings are inserted for convenience only and shall be ignored in construing this Agreement; |
1.2.8 | the words company , subsidiary , subsidiary undertaking , parent undertaking and holding company have the meanings given to them by the Act except that where a holding company creates security over the shares of a subsidiary (including, without limitation, each of the Companys subsidiaries) that subsidiary shall not cease to be such solely as a result of the creation of the security; |
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1.2.9 | references to a company shall also be construed to include any other company, corporation or body corporate wherever and however incorporated or established; |
1.2.10 | words immediately following the words including , includes or in particular shall be construed as being by way of illustration and shall not be construed as limiting the generality of any foregoing words; |
1.2.11 | a reference to writing or written includes any method of representing or reproducing words in a legible form; |
1.2.12 | any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than that of England, be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term; and |
1.2.13 | references to time of the day are to London time. |
1.3 | The obligations of each Seller under this Agreement (whether as an Investor Seller or a Management Seller) are entered into individually by that Seller on his own behalf and are made severally and separate from any obligation entered into by any other Seller. No claim can be made against any Seller in respect of any breach of this Agreement by any other Seller. |
2. | SALE AND PURCHASE |
2.1 | Each Seller covenants with the Buyer that at Completion it shall have full power and the right to sell and shall sell those of the Shares that are set out opposite its name in column 2 of the relevant part of Schedule 1, with full title guarantee and free from Encumbrances, and the Buyer shall purchase the Shares, on and subject to the terms of this Agreement. |
2.2 | The Buyer shall buy the Shares with effect from Completion to the intent that as from the Completion Date all rights and advantages accruing to the Shares, including any dividends or distributions declared, made or paid in respect of the Shares on or after that date shall belong to the Buyer. |
2.3 | Neither the Buyer nor the Sellers shall be obliged to complete the sale and purchase of any of the Shares, unless the sale and purchase of all of the Shares is completed simultaneously. |
2.4 | Each Seller waives (in respect of itself only) any rights of pre-emption or first refusal or similar rights conferred on it which may exist in relation to the Shares under the Articles or otherwise. |
2.5 | Any payment due in respect of any Seller Claim shall for all purposes be deemed to be and shall take effect as a reduction in Consideration paid to the person making such payment. |
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3. | CONSIDERATION |
3.1 | The total consideration payable by the Buyer for the purchase of Shares under this Agreement (the Consideration ) shall be an amount equal to the sum of: |
3.1.1 | the Exchange Consideration; PLUS |
3.1.2 | the Additional Consideration; LESS |
3.1.3 | the Net Prepayment Amount; LESS |
3.1.4 | the Net Service Fee Amount; LESS |
3.1.5 | the Net Repurchase Amount; LESS |
3.1.6 | the Net Employee Payment Amount; LESS |
3.1.7 | the Incentive Payment Excess Amount (if any); LESS |
3.1.8 | the Estimated Kenya Costs (if any); LESS |
3.1.9 | the Net Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs. |
3.2 | The Consideration shall be allocated in the Relevant Proportions and the Buyer shall not be concerned with such allocation. The Consideration shall be satisfied upon Completion by way of payment of the Consideration in cash in accordance with Clause 8.2. |
4. | LEAKAGE AND OTHER PAYMENTS |
4.1 | Each Seller severally undertakes to the Buyer, subject to Clause 4.4, that: |
4.1.1 | since the Locked Box Date there has been no Leakage to it or its Connected Persons, or any Leakage as defined in paragraphs (f), (g), (h) or (i) of the definition of Leakage; and |
4.1.2 | no Leakage to it or its Connected Persons, or any Leakage as defined in paragraphs (f), (g), (h) or (i) of the definition of Leakage, will occur from the date of this Agreement to the Completion Date. |
4.2 | Subject always to Clause 4.4, in the event of any Leakage during the Locked Box Period, each Seller severally undertakes to pay to the Buyer (or, if so directed by the Buyer, to any Group Company) on demand: |
4.2.1 | an amount in cash equal to any such Leakage that that Seller and/or its Connected Persons have received; and |
4.2.2 |
in the event of a breach of Clause 4.1 in respect of paragraphs (f), (g), (h) or (i) of the definition of Leakage, but only to the extent that such Leakage is not actually received by a particular Seller or its Connected Persons (in which case solely such Seller shall be responsible in respect of such Leakage), an amount equal to his or its Relevant Proportion of such |
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Leakage, provided that no amount payable by a Management Seller under this Clause 4.2.2 shall, when added to all other amounts paid by such Management Seller in respect of Seller Claims or pursuant to the Management Deed or the Tax Deed, exceed the Consideration received by such Management Seller, and the remaining Sellers undertake (pro rata to their liability under this Clause 4.2.2) to pay to the Buyer any amounts which would have been payable by any Management Seller but for this proviso, |
and, if applicable to such Leakage, shall terminate, cancel and rescind any further liability for any Group Company beyond that for which the Buyer or the Group Company is compensated under Clauses 4.2.1 or 4.2.2 above pursuant to any and all agreements or commitments that constitute Leakage (other than where expressly permitted under this Agreement). For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 4.2 shall entitle the Buyer (or any Group Company) to recover to the extent it has already been compensated.
4.3 | A claim under Clause 4.2 (a Locked Box Claim ) shall be the sole remedy available to the Buyer and the Group Companies arising from a breach of Clause 4.1 and the Buyer shall not be entitled under this Agreement or under the Management Deed to recover damages or otherwise obtain reimbursement or restitution or be indemnified to the extent it has already been compensated for any Leakage. |
4.4 | The maximum aggregate liability of each Seller under Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 shall not exceed the amount payable by that Seller pursuant to Clauses 4.2.1 and/or 4.2.2 (as applicable) and no Seller shall be liable pursuant to Clause 4.1 and/or Clause 4.2 to the extent that any liability in respect of the same facts, matters or circumstances owed to the Seller or any of its Connected Persons is released and/or waived in accordance with the Related Party Termination Deed. |
4.5 | No Seller shall be liable for any Locked Box Claim unless written notice of the Locked Box Claim has been given by the Buyer to the relevant Seller stating in reasonable detail the nature of the breach and, if practicable, the amount claimed on or before six months after the Completion Date. For three months after such notice is served on the relevant Seller, the relevant Seller and the Buyer shall endeavour in good faith to agree the amount of the Leakage. If the relevant Seller and the Buyer are unable to reach agreement in accordance with this Clause 4.5, the provisions of Clauses 4.11 to 4.21 shall apply to determine the amount of the relevant Leakage. |
4.6 | Any payment made by any of the Sellers in respect of any Locked Box Claim will take effect as a reduction in the amount of the Consideration received by such Seller(s). |
4.7 | The Sellers Representatives shall deliver a Leakage Certificate (signed by each Sellers Representative) to the Buyer on 15 June 2017 and on the 15th day of each calendar month thereafter (or, if that is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day thereafter) until the Completion Date or such other date as may be agreed by the parties. |
4.8 | Following receipt by the Buyer of the Leakage Certificate, the Sellers shall (so far as permitted by law) provide the Buyer with: |
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4.8.1 | reasonable access to the Group bank account statements and accounts payable and accounts receivable ledgers and VAT and Tax records; |
4.8.2 | reasonable access to the Senior Manager Sellers; and |
4.8.3 | any other information reasonably requested by the Buyer, |
so as to facilitate verification of the information contained therein (and for no other purpose). The Buyer and the Sellers shall discuss any concerns in relation to the verification exercise in good faith.
4.9 | If: |
4.9.1 | any Leakage is notified in the Leakage Certificate or the Indebtedness Schedules, or a breach of Clause 4.1 otherwise comes to the attention of the Buyer at or prior to Completion; and |
4.9.2 | a Seller alleged to be in breach of Clause 4.1 agrees that such Leakage has occurred and the amount of such Leakage (the relevant Seller under Clause 4.1 being a Relevant Seller ), |
the Consideration shall be reduced by an amount equal to such Leakage, which shall discharge the Relevant Sellers obligation to make payment in respect of such Leakage under Clause 4.2. The Sellers agree that any Leakage shall be deducted from the Consideration that would otherwise be allocated to the Relevant Seller under Clause 3.2.
4.10 | If: |
4.10.1 | (i) any Leakage is notified in the Leakage Certificate or the Indebtedness Schedules, or a breach of Clause 4.1 otherwise comes to the attention of the Buyer at or prior to Completion; (ii) the Relevant Seller alleged to be in breach of Clause 4.1 does not agree that such Leakage has occurred or does not agree the amount of such Leakage (save that a Seller shall not be permitted to dispute the Leakage or the amount of such Leakage if and to the extent it is notified in the Leakage Certificate or the Indebtedness Schedules); and (iii) the Buyer notifies the Sellers of a Locked Box Claim in respect thereof prior to or on Completion in accordance with Clause 4.5; and/or |
4.10.2 | (i) the Buyer disagrees with the amount of the recoverable VAT and/or the Relief in respect of any of the Net Amounts set out in the Indebtedness Schedules; and (ii) notifies the Sellers in writing accordingly prior to or on Completion (any such notification constituting a Disputed Deduction ), |
the following provisions shall apply:
(a) | on Completion, the Buyer shall pay an amount (the Disputed Amount ) equal to the lesser of: (i) the aggregate amount of the Locked Box Claims and the Disputed Deductions; and (ii) the aggregate of £50,000,000 and the Disputed Deductions into the Disputed Amount Escrow Account, to be held by the Escrow Agent on the terms of the Disputed Amount Escrow Agreement; and |
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(b) | the Disputed Amount shall remain in the Disputed Amount Escrow Account until such time as the relevant Locked Box Claim or the Disputed Deductions (as applicable) is ultimately resolved in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
4.11 | Within 15 Business Days starting on: |
4.11.1 | in respect of a Locked Box Claim, the later of the day immediately after the end of the three month-period set out in Clause 4.5 and Completion; and |
4.11.2 | in respect of a Disputed Deduction, the day immediately after the date of the notification under Clause 4.10.2, |
(the expiry of this 15 Business Day period being the Response Date ), the Sellers Representatives shall serve a notice on the Buyer stating in reasonable detail the specific disagreement(s) and the reasons for such disagreement(s) and the proposed calculation of the Leakage or the Disputed Deductions (as applicable) (the Disagreement Notice ).
4.12 | If the Sellers Representatives do not serve a Disagreement Notice on or before the Response Date, the Sellers Representatives (on behalf of the Sellers) shall be deemed to accept that the entire Disputed Amount constitutes Leakage and / or has been improperly deducted by the Sellers in calculating the Net Amount (as applicable), or (in respect of a Locked Box Claim notified after the Completion Date) the amount of Leakage specified in the Locked Box Claim constitutes Leakage. |
4.13 | If the Sellers Representatives serve a Disagreement Notice, the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer shall negotiate in good faith and use reasonable endeavours to resolve the disputed items and agree upon the amount of Leakage or the Disputed Deduction (as applicable) within 10 Business Days starting on the day immediately after the notification of the Disagreement Notice to the other party, and the agreed Leakage (if agreed) or the agreed Net Amount (if agreed) (as applicable) will constitute the final Leakage amount or the final Net Amount (as applicable). |
4.14 | If any disputed items set out in the Disagreement Notice are not resolved in full in the period referred to in Clause 4.13, either the Sellers Representatives or the Buyer may by notice to the other refer the matters remaining in dispute to the Independent Accountant for determination. |
4.15 | The Independent Accountant shall be engaged jointly by the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer on the terms set out in this Clause 4.15 and otherwise on such terms as shall be agreed; provided that neither the Sellers Representatives nor the Buyer shall unreasonably (having regard, inter alia, to the provisions of this Clause 4) refuse its agreement to terms proposed by the Independent Accountant or by the other party. If the terms of engagement of the Independent Accountant have not been settled within 10 Business Days of their identity having been determined (or such longer period as the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer may agree) then, unless a party is unreasonably refusing its agreement to those terms, those accountants shall be deemed never to have become the Independent Accountant and a new Independent Accountant shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. |
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4.16 | Except to the extent that the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives agree otherwise, the Independent Accountant shall determine their own procedure but apart from procedural matters and as otherwise set out in this Agreement shall determine only whether any of the arguments set out in the Disagreement Notice for an alteration to the Leakage amount or the Net Amount (as applicable) specified in the relevant notice and remaining in dispute are correct in whole or in part and if so, what alterations should be made to the same. |
4.17 | The Independent Accountant shall be mandated to make their determination within 20 Business Days or as soon as reasonably practicable: |
4.17.1 | in writing and made available to the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer at such time as they shall determine; and |
4.17.2 | unless otherwise agreed by the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer, include reasons for each relevant determination. |
4.18 | The Independent Accountant shall act as experts and not as arbitrators and their determination of any matter falling within their jurisdiction shall be final and binding on the parties except in the case of manifest error, in which case the relevant part of the determination shall be void and the matter shall be remitted to the Independent Accountant for correction. |
4.19 | The expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally between the Sellers, on the one hand, and the Buyer on the other, unless otherwise determined by the Independent Accountant. As between the Sellers: |
4.19.1 | in respect of any part of the Disputed Amount which is an Agreed Disputed Amount under Clause 4.22.1, the expenses of the Independent Accountant to be borne by the Sellers shall be borne in proportion to the liability of each Seller for such Agreed Disputed Amount; and |
4.19.2 | in respect of any part of the Disputed Amount which is a Non-Payment Amount under Clause 4.22.2, each Seller shall bear its Relevant Proportion of the expenses of the Independent Accountant to be borne by the Sellers. |
4.20 | The parties shall co-operate with each other and the Independent Accountant and shall comply with each other partys or the Independent Accountants reasonable requests made in connection with the carrying out of their duties and/or exercising their obligations under this Agreement. In particular, without limitation, each party shall keep up-to-date and, subject to reasonable notice, provide unfettered access to the other party, its accountants and the Independent Accountant of: |
4.20.1 | the books and records, working papers and other information within the possession or under control of the Group Companies as may be required for the purposes of settling any disputed items set out in the Disagreement Notice other than any books or records subject to legal professional privilege or a confidentiality obligation entered into with a third party; and |
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4.20.2 | the persons responsible for preparing the Updated Indebtedness Schedule (including, upon request of the other party, question and answer sessions with such persons), |
in each case during normal office hours during the period after Completion up until the making of the relevant determination by the Independent Accountant. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 4, the Buyer shall not be obligated to provide to the Sellers, the Sellers Representatives or the Independent Accountant access to the books and records, working papers or other information within the possession or under control of any member of the Buyers Group which is not a member of the Group.
4.21 | Each party and the Independent Accountant shall, and shall procure that its respective accountants and other advisers shall: |
4.21.1 | keep all information and documents provided to them pursuant to this Clause 4 confidential; and |
4.21.2 | shall not use such information and documents for any purpose, except for disclosure or use in connection with the calculation of Leakage or the Net Amount (as applicable), the proceedings of the Independent Accountant or another matter arising out of this Agreement or in defending any claim or argument or alleged claim or argument relating to this Agreement or its subject matter. |
4.22 | Within five Business Days after the final amount of the Leakage and/or the Disputed Deduction (as applicable) is deemed accepted by the Sellers Representatives (on behalf of the Sellers), finally agreed by the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives or determined by the Independent Accountant, the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives shall instruct the Escrow Agent to pay: |
4.22.1 | to the Buyer such portion of the Disputed Amount as is deemed accepted, agreed or determined to: (i) constitute Leakage, or (ii) have been improperly deducted by the Sellers in calculating the Net Amount (as applicable), plus (in each case) any interest accrued on such amount in the Disputed Amount Escrow Account (the Agreed Disputed Amount ); and |
4.22.2 | to the Sellers any part of the Disputed Amount as is agreed or determined that does not: (i) constitute Leakage, or (ii) to have been properly deducted by the Sellers in calculating the Net Amount (as applicable) (the Non-Payment Amount ), plus (in each case) any interest accrued on such amount in the Disputed Amount Escrow Account. |
4.23 | If any portion of the Disputed Amount is paid to the Sellers pursuant to Clause 4.22.2 above, the Buyer shall (subject to the set-off described below and without double-counting), at the same time, pay to the Ropes & Gray client account (or such other account as the Sellers Representatives may nominate in writing) an amount equal to: |
4.23.1 | interest at a rate of 10% per annum accruing from day to day and compounding monthly on the Non-Payment Amount for the period from the Completion Date to the date of payment; less |
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4.23.2 | any interest paid or payable pursuant to Clause 4.22.2, |
(the Disputed Amount Interest ). The Buyer agrees that any Disputed Amount Interest payable by it shall be (so far as possible) set-off against the Agreed Disputed Amount and, in the event of any such set-off, the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives shall instruct the Escrow Agent accordingly in order to give effect to the above.
5. | CONDITIONS |
5.1 | The Completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares is conditional upon each of the following: |
5.1.1 | the delivery by the Sellers to the Buyer of the IFRS Audited Financials (the Buyer IFRS Condition ); |
5.1.2 | the delivery by the Sellers to the Buyer of the SEC Audited Financials (the Buyer SEC Condition and, together with the Buyer IFRS Condition, the Buyer Accounts Conditions ); |
5.1.3 | all applicable filings having been made and all or any applicable waiting periods (including any extensions thereof) under the United States Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the HSR ) having expired, lapsed or been terminated as appropriate in each case in respect of the purchase of Shares under this Agreement and none of the parties being subject to any order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States that prohibits consummation of the Transaction as a result of action brought by the US Federal Trade Commission or US Department of Justice (the HSR Condition ); and |
5.1.4 | subject to Clause 5.2.9, the CAK having issued a conditional or unconditional approval that the Transaction is compatible with the Competition Act No. 12 of 2010 (the CAK Condition and together with the Buyer Accounts Conditions and the HSR Condition, the Conditions ). |
5.2 | Each of the Sellers and the Buyer shall use reasonable commercial efforts to ensure that the Conditions are fulfilled promptly after the date of this Agreement. The Buyer and the Investor Sellers shall each use its best efforts to ensure that the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition are fulfilled promptly after the date of this Agreement and in any event prior to the Conditions Longstop Date including taking all steps (including making notifications and filings) necessary to satisfy the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition, provided always that: |
5.2.1 | Bright Food Europe Limited shall be responsible for procuring the making of the Bright HSR Filing (including the making of appropriate submissions, notifications and filings, in consultation with the Buyer, within 10 Business Days after the date of this Agreement); |
5.2.2 | the Investor Sellers shall not be required to incur expenditure in complying with their obligations under this Clause 5.2 (except for their advisors costs and expenses) or to propose, offer, negotiate, agree or give effect to any Remedies; |
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5.2.3 | the Investor Sellers obligations in this Clause 5.2 shall be subject to compliance by the Buyer with its obligations under Clause 5.2.7; and |
5.2.4 | the Buyer shall in any event: |
(a) | have primary responsibility for obtaining all consents, approvals or actions of any Competition Authority which are required to satisfy the HSR Condition and/or the CAK Condition and shall take all steps necessary for that purpose (including making appropriate submissions, notifications and filings, in consultation with the Sellers Representatives, within 10 Business Days after the date of this Agreement); |
(b) | make and progress all such notifications and filings with the relevant Competition Authorities with all due diligence and in accordance with any and all applicable time limits; |
(c) | provide promptly all information which is requested or required by a Competition Authority and in any event in accordance with any applicable time limits; |
(d) | promptly notify the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and Linklaters (and, subject to any necessary confidentiality safeguards provide copies or, in the case of non-written communications, details) of any communications with or from any Competition Authority; |
(e) | where reasonably practicable, initiate substantively material communications, whether in writing or verbally, with any Competition Authority in respect of the Transaction only after prior consultation with the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and Linklaters (and where reasonably practicable take into account any comments and requests of the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray, Linklaters and the Sellers other advisers); |
(f) | provide the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and Linklaters with a draft of all submissions, notifications, filings and other substantive material written communications to be submitted to any Competition Authority including any supporting documentation or information requested by the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and/or Linklaters, provided that the Buyer shall not be required to provide any business secrets, at least one day prior to submission or longer if reasonably necessary for the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and/or Linklaters to provide comments and, where reasonably practicable, take account of any comments of the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray, Linklaters and other advisers of the Sellers on such drafts prior to their submission; |
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(g) | to the extent appropriate to the nature of the meeting or communication, allow persons nominated by the Sellers Representatives (which may include Ropes & Gray and/or Linklaters) to attend all meetings (and telephone calls with a material bearing on the substance of the case) with the Competition Authorities and to make oral submissions at such meetings (or telephone or other conversations); and |
(h) | regularly review with the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and Linklaters the progress of any notifications or filings to any Competition Authority and discuss with the Sellers Representatives, Ropes & Gray and Linklaters the scope, timing and tactics with a view to obtaining the clearances or approvals necessary for the satisfaction of the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition at the earliest opportunity. |
5.2.5 | The Buyer shall not make any filing with any competition authority in relation to the Transaction or any business which competes with, supplies or is a customer of the Company which is not required solely in order to fulfil the HSR Condition or the CAK Condition unless it will not prejudice, including by delaying, conditioning or otherwise impacting, timely satisfaction of the HSR Condition or the CAK Condition or the Buyer has obtained the prior written consent of the Sellers Representatives to the making of it and its form and content. |
5.2.6 | The Investor Sellers and the Senior Manager Sellers shall, where reasonably practicable and to the extent appropriate to the nature of the request, promptly provide and shall procure that each Group Company shall promptly provide the Buyer and any Competition Authority with any information and documents reasonably required by the Buyer to assist the Buyer in fulfilling the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition and responding to any competition authority in relation to the Transaction, whether or not required for satisfaction of the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition. The Sellers and each Group Company (a) other than in respect of the Bright HSR Filing, will not communicate (including with regard to (i) filings of any kind, (ii) replies to information requests, and (iii) any other kind of informal or formal communication) with any Competition Authority in relation to the Transaction without the prior written approval of the Buyer (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); and (b) will promptly inform the Buyer of any communication from a competition authority relating to the Transaction. Should any such communication with a competition authority be required in order to comply with any applicable laws and/or regulations which require confidentiality of the communication and/or leave insufficient time to obtain the Buyers approval, then the Buyers prior approval shall not be needed. |
5.2.7 |
The Buyer shall take any and all necessary steps and measures in order to satisfy the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition including to propose, offer, negotiate, agree, and give effect to any conditions, commitments, remedies and/or obligations and commit to take any action in order to satisfy the HSR Condition and the CAK Condition (the Remedies ), |
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provided that the Buyer shall not be required to offer Remedies if the concerns expressed by the Competition Authority for which Remedies are required result from a material misstatement made to such Competition Authority or the Buyer by the Sellers or a material breach of their obligations under this Clause 5.2. |
5.2.8 | The Sellers and the Buyer shall each notify the other promptly upon, and in any event within two Business Days of, becoming aware that each Condition has been fulfilled, at which time the Buyer or its representatives shall deliver or make available to the Sellers Representatives evidence that the relevant Condition has been fulfilled. |
5.2.9 | In the event that Completion could occur within three Business Days in accordance with the date set for Completion pursuant to Clause 8, save for the fact that the CAK Condition has not been satisfied, the parties agree that: |
(a) | PROVIDED THAT the Sellers procure the entry into, and the implementation of, the transactions contemplated by steps 1 and 2 of the Kenya Reorganisation and the entry by Weetabix Limited into the transactions contemplated thereby (in accordance with their terms and do not make any changes or waive any rights arising under any of the agreed form documents in respect of such steps of the Kenya Reorganisation) as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, by the date that is one Business Day prior to Completion; |
(b) | THEN: |
(i) | for the purposes of this Agreement, the CAK Condition shall be deemed to be satisfied and from such date the term Conditions shall mean the Buyer Accounts Conditions and the HSR Condition; and |
(ii) | those parties who are party to the transactions contemplated by step 3 of the Kenya Reorganisation shall enter into such transactions (and the Sellers shall procure entry by Weetabix Limited into such transactions) prior to Completion. |
5.3 | The: |
5.3.1 | Antitrust Conditions may only be waived by the written agreement of the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer; and |
5.3.2 | Buyer Accounts Conditions may only be waived by written notice by the Buyer. |
5.4 | In the event that the Buyer waives either or both of the Buyer Accounts Conditions, it shall have no remedy in respect of failure to deliver the IFRS Audited Financials or the SEC Audited Financials pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to Schedule 4) save in respect of any breach of the first sentence of Clause 5.2. |
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5.5 | The Buyer agrees to bear all the filing fees associated with compliance with the terms of this Clause 5. |
5.6 | The Buyer warrants to the Sellers that it is not currently involved in any process to, and shall not, at any time prior to Completion, either alone or acting in concert with others, acquire or offer to acquire, or cause another person to acquire or to offer to acquire, or progress or contemplate (or cause another person to progress, or contemplate) arrangements which, if carried into effect, would result in the acquisition of a competing business to the Group or any other business the acquisition of which might reasonably be expected to prejudice or delay the fulfilment of the HSR Condition or the CAK Condition. |
5.7 | If the Conditions are not fulfilled or waived by 5.00pm on 27 December 2017 (the Conditions Longstop Date ) this Agreement shall terminate automatically. |
5.8 | If: |
(a) | the Conditions are not fulfilled because any or all of the Antitrust Conditions have not been fulfilled by the Conditions Longstop Date, other than as a result of the Sellers not complying with their obligations in relation to such Conditions; and |
(b) | the Buyer Accounts Conditions have been satisfied or waived (the circumstances in (a) and (b) together, the Relevant Circumstances ), |
then the Buyer shall, within 5 Business Days of the Conditions Longstop Date, pay to the Investor Sellers (by transfer in immediately available funds to the Ropes & Gray client account (or such other account as the Investor Sellers may nominate in writing within 3 Business Days of the Conditions Longstop Date)), £30,000,000 (the Antitrust Termination Fee ). The obligations of the Buyer in relation to the Antitrust Termination Fee shall be satisfied by payment to the account referred to in this Clause 5.8. As between the Investor Sellers, the Antitrust Termination Fee shall be divided amongst them pro-rata to their holdings of A Ordinary Shares and B2 Ordinary Shares (taken together). The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that:
5.8.1 | the agreements contained in this Clause 5.8 constitute an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement; |
5.8.2 | the Antitrust Termination Fee is not a penalty, but is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Sellers and their Connected Persons for the efforts and resources expended and the opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance upon this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, and for the loss suffered by reason of the failure of such consummation, which amount would otherwise be uncertain and incapable of accurate determination; and |
5.8.3 | if the Relevant Circumstances apply, the Antitrust Termination Fee shall constitute the Sellers sole recourse against the Buyer and the Buyer shall have no other liability to the Sellers (or any of them) under this Clause 5 (other than in the event of fraud). |
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5.9 | Deposit |
5.9.1 | On or before the date (the Satisfaction Date ) falling 10 Business Days after satisfaction of the Conditions, the Buyer shall, unless Completion shall have taken place prior to the Satisfaction Date, cause to be paid by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to the Deposit Escrow Account, an amount equal to £150,000,000 (the Deposit ). If the Buyer fails to pay the Deposit on or prior to the Satisfaction Date, interest shall accrue on the amount thereof at a rate of 10% per annum accruing from day to day and compounding monthly (the Default Interest ) from the Satisfaction Date until the earlier of (i) the Deposit being transferred to the Deposit Escrow Account; and (ii) Completion. |
5.9.2 | The Deposit shall be held by the Escrow Agent on the terms of the Deposit Escrow Agreement provided that: |
(a) | if the Sellers Representatives validly terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 8.3.3 or if Completion does not occur as a result of the Buyer otherwise being in material breach of this Agreement, the parties hereby agree: |
(i) | that the Deposit and any interest accrued on such amount in the Deposit Escrow Account shall be released and promptly be paid to those Sellers that hold A Ordinary Shares (pro-rata to their holdings of A Ordinary Shares and B2 Ordinary Shares) as liquidated damages hereunder; |
(ii) | the Buyer shall pay those Sellers that hold A Ordinary Shares (pro-rata to their holdings of A Ordinary Shares and B2 Ordinary Shares) the Default Interest (if any); |
(iii) | promptly to give such instructions to the Escrow Agent as are required to facilitate the payments detailed above; and |
(iv) | that the Buyer shall not have any right or claim (and it hereby waives any such right or claim) in respect of the Deposit; or |
(b) | if Completion does not take place prior to the Long Stop Date, other than in the circumstances set out in Clause 5.9.2(a), the parties hereby agree: |
(i) | that the Deposit and any interest accrued on such amount in the Deposit Escrow Account shall be released and promptly be paid to the Buyer; |
(ii) | promptly to give such instructions to the Escrow Agent as are required to facilitate the payments detailed above; |
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(iii) | that the Sellers shall not have any right or claim (and hereby waive any such right or claim) in respect of the Deposit; and |
(iv) | this Agreement shall terminate. |
5.9.3 | If Completion occurs in accordance with Clause 8, the Deposit and any interest accrued on such amount in the Deposit Escrow Account shall be released to the Sellers in part satisfaction of the Buyers obligation to pay the Consideration in accordance with Clause 8.2 and the parties hereby agree promptly to give such instructions to the Escrow Agent as are required to facilitate any payment pursuant to this Clause 5.9.3. |
5.9.4 | The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that: |
(a) | the agreements contained in this Clause 5.9 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, the parties would not enter into this Agreement; and |
(b) | the Deposit payable by the Buyer pursuant to this Clause 5.9 is not a penalty, but is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate the Sellers and their Connected Persons for the efforts and resources expended and the opportunities foregone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance upon this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, and for the loss suffered by reason of the failure of such consummation, which amount would otherwise be uncertain and incapable of accurate determination. |
5.10 | If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Clause 5, without prejudice to any other remedies or accrued rights that the parties may have against each other, the provisions of this Agreement shall cease to have effect other than Clauses 1 ( Definitions and Interpretation ), this Clause 5 ( Conditions ), 12 ( Announcements ), 13 ( Confidentiality ), 18 ( Costs and Expenses ), 19 ( Notices ), 21 ( Entire Agreement ), 24 ( Remedies ) and 28 ( Governing Law and Jurisdiction ). |
6. | PRE-COMPLETION UNDERTAKINGS |
6.1 | Except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Buyer, the Investor Sellers and Senior Manager Sellers agree (i) with the Buyer and (ii) amongst themselves, that: |
6.1.1 | between the date of this Agreement and Completion, they shall exercise all of their control rights (including, but not limited to, as directors and/or officers (in each case, subject to their fiduciary duties in respect of the relevant companies) and/or shareholders) in so far as they are legally able to (and within the confines of any applicable competition law) to procure the performance and observance by each Group Company, or, where stated in Schedule 4, by the Company, of those matters listed in Part A of Schedule 4 and by each Joint Venture Company of those matters listed in Parts A to C of Schedule 4; |
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6.1.2 | between the date of this Agreement and the Satisfaction Date or, if earlier, Completion, they shall (within the confines of any applicable competition law) procure the performance and observance by each Group Company, or, where stated in Schedule 4, by the Company, of those matters listed in Part B of Schedule 4, save in respect of the Joint Venture Companies; |
6.1.3 | if Completion occurs after the Satisfaction Date, between the Satisfaction Date and Completion, and save in respect of the Joint Venture Companies, in respect of: |
(a) | the Investor Sellers, they shall exercise all of their control rights (including, but not limited to, as directors and/or officers (in each case, subject to their fiduciary duties in respect of the relevant companies) and/or shareholders) in so far as they are legally able to (and within the confines of any applicable competition law) to procure; and |
(b) | the Senior Manager Sellers, they shall (subject to their fiduciary duties as directors and/or officers of the relevant companies and within the confines of any applicable competition law) procure, |
the performance and observance by each Group Company, or, where stated in Schedule 4, by the Company, of those matters listed in Part B of Schedule 4; and
6.1.4 | between the date of this Agreement and Completion, they shall (within the confines of any applicable competition law) procure the performance and observance by each Group Company of those matters listed in Part C of Schedule 4, save in respect of the Joint Venture Companies. |
6.2 | Clause 6.1 shall not operate so as to prevent or restrict: |
6.2.1 | any action undertaken pursuant to a binding arrangement or agreement existing at the date hereof which has been Disclosed prior to the date of this Agreement or was not required to be so Disclosed pursuant to the Management Deed; |
6.2.2 | any matter which is specifically disclosed in writing to the Buyer prior to the date of this Agreement; |
6.2.3 | any arrangements or agreements between Group Companies; |
6.2.4 | any matter reasonably undertaken in good faith by any member of the Group in an emergency or disaster situation with the intention of minimising any adverse effect of such situation on the Group, provided that the Sellers Representatives shall notify the Buyer of any such emergency or disaster situation and the action to minimize the adverse effect on the Group as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, within 3 Business Days after such emergency or disaster situation; |
6.2.5 | any action required to be undertaken to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirement; |
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6.2.6 | any matter necessary in order to give effect to, implement or complete this Agreement; |
6.2.7 | any matter necessary to give effect to, implement or complete the Kenya Reorganisation; |
6.2.8 | any increase in emoluments of or change in the terms of employment of any category of employees of any member of the Group where such increase or change is made in the ordinary course consistent with past practice of the relevant employing member of the Group; |
6.2.9 | any action taken with the written consent of or at the request of the Buyer; or |
6.2.10 | any amendments to the articles of association of any Group Company, where such amendments are solely related to such Group Companys board of directors (including composition, quorum at board meetings and voting rights at board meetings). |
7. | INDEBTEDNESS SCHEDULES |
7.1 | At least five Business Days prior to each Potential Completion Date prior to Completion, the Sellers Representatives shall deliver to the Buyer a schedule signed by each Sellers Representative (the Initial Indebtedness Schedule ) setting out (on the assumption that Completion will occur on that Potential Completion Date): |
7.1.1 | the Exchange Consideration; |
7.1.2 | the amount of the Additional Consideration; |
7.1.3 | the amount of the Consideration payable to each of the Sellers for the Shares held by them together with a calculation showing in reasonable detail how such amounts have been calculated (and, for these purposes, the matters set out as deductions from the Consideration in Clauses 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.7 and 3.1.9 shall be as specified in the Initial Indebtedness Schedule); |
7.1.4 | details and the amount of any Seller Transaction Costs not included in the Exchange Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs (the Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs ); |
7.1.5 | the Sellers calculation of the Net Service Fee Amount; |
7.1.6 | the Sellers calculation of the Net Repurchase Amount; |
7.1.7 | the Sellers calculation of the Net Employee Payment Amount; |
7.1.8 | the Incentive Payment Excess Amount (if any); |
7.1.9 | the Sellers calculation of the Net Completion Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs; |
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7.1.10 | the amount of (a) the Bank Repayment Amount, (b) the Prepayment Amount and (c) the Sellers calculation of the Net Prepayment Amount, in each case together with currency, payee and account details; |
7.1.11 | details and the amount of any Leakage of which any of the Sellers Representatives are aware; and |
7.1.12 | a good faith estimate of the amount of the Kenya Reorganisation Costs (the Estimated Kenya Costs ). |
7.2 | The Sellers Representatives shall deliver an updated Initial Indebtedness Schedule signed by each of the Sellers Representatives (the Updated Indebtedness Schedule ) to the Buyer on Completion (and, for these purposes, the matters set out as deductions from the Consideration in Clauses 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.7 and 3.1.9 shall be as specified in the Updated Indebtedness Schedule). |
7.3 | If Completion is deferred beyond the intended Completion Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indebtedness Schedules have been delivered to the Buyer prior to such deferral occurring, the Sellers Representatives may deliver revised Indebtedness Schedules to the Buyer in accordance with Clauses 7.1 and 7.2 and the Indebtedness Schedules previously submitted shall cease to apply for all purposes. |
8. | COMPLETION |
8.1 | Subject to Clause 8.3, Completion shall take place at the offices of Ropes & Gray at 60 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7AW or at any other place that the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer may agree in writing either: |
8.1.1 | on the first of the Potential Completion Dates to occur after the last Condition is satisfied or waived, provided that if the last Condition is satisfied or waived within 3 Business Days prior to the next following Potential Completion Date then, save if the next following Potential Completion Date is 2 January 2018, either the Buyer or the Sellers Representatives may by written notice to the other defer Completion by up to 3 Business Days after the date which would otherwise have been the Completion Date; or |
8.1.2 | such other date as the Buyer and the Sellers Representatives shall agree in writing. |
8.2 | At Completion, each of the Sellers and the Buyer shall comply with their respective obligations in accordance with and as set out in Parts A and B respectively of Schedule 3 ( Completion Arrangements ). |
8.3 | If Completion does not take place on the Completion Date because a party to this Agreement fails to comply with any of its Material Obligations under this Clause 8 and Schedule 3 ( Completion Arrangements ) (the Defaulting Party ): (a) if the Defaulting Party is the Buyer, the Sellers Representatives (on behalf of all of the Sellers); or (b) if the Defaulting Party is a Seller, the Buyer, (the Non-Defaulting Party ) may by written notice to the others elect to: |
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8.3.1 | proceed to Completion to the extent reasonably practicable (which will not affect or limit any of the Non-Defaulting Partys rights under this Agreement); |
8.3.2 | defer Completion one or more times in relation to all of the Shares to such date as the Non-Defaulting Party may specify in writing, being a date not later than the Long Stop Date (and so that the provisions of Clause 8 shall apply to Completion deferred pursuant to this Clause 8.3.2); and |
8.3.3 | subject to Completion having first been deferred for a period of at least 10 Business Days under Clause 8.3.2 from the first such deferral, and the Non-Defaulting Party having complied with all of its Material Obligations (or being, subject to the other party having complied with its obligations, ready, able, and willing to comply with its Material Obligations), terminate this Agreement (whether or not such failure by the Defaulting Party amounts to a repudiatory breach), without prejudice to any other remedies or accrued rights that it may have against the Defaulting Party, following which the provisions of this Agreement shall cease to have effect, other than Clauses 1 ( Definitions and Interpretation ), 5 ( Conditions ), this Clause 8 ( Completion ), 12 ( Announcements ), 13 ( Confidentiality ), 18 ( Costs and Expenses ), 19 ( Notices ), 21 ( Entire Agreement ), 24 ( Remedies ) and 28 ( Governing Law and Jurisdiction ). |
8.4 | For the purposes of Clause 8.3, the Material Obligations : |
8.4.1 | of the Sellers shall be the obligations set out in paragraphs 1(a), 1(b), 1(c), 1(d), 1(e) in respect of the Company only, 1(f), 1(g), 1(h), 1(i) and 1(j) of Part A of Schedule 3; and |
8.4.2 | of the Buyer shall be the obligations set out in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Part B of Schedule 3. |
9. | WARRANTIES AND UNDERTAKINGS |
9.1 | Sellers Warranties |
Each Seller severally warrants to the Buyer that, as at the date of this Agreement, save as Disclosed in: (a) paragraphs 1 to 8 of section 1.1 of the specific disclosures included in the Disclosure Letter; (b) section 21.15 of the specific disclosures included in the Disclosure Letter; and (c) for the purposes of the warranty in Clause 9.1.7, Part C of Schedule 4 to the Management Deed, and as at Completion, save, for the purposes of the warranties in Clauses 9.1.4 and 9.1.7, as Disclosed in paragraphs 5 to 7 of section 1.1 of the specific disclosures included in the Disclosure Letter:
9.1.1 | he/she/it is the sole legal and beneficial owner and is entitled to sell and transfer the full legal and beneficial ownership of the Shares set out opposite his/her/its name in column 2 of Schedule 1 and otherwise on the terms set out in this Agreement; |
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9.1.2 | the Shares constitute all of the issued and allotted shares in the capital of the Company; |
9.1.3 | the Shares have been properly allotted and issued and are fully paid up or credited as fully paid up and free from any Encumbrances; |
9.1.4 | there is no agreement, arrangement or obligation requiring the creation, allotment, issue, transfer, redemption or repayment of, or the grant to any person of the right (whether conditional or not) to require the allotment, issue, transfer, redemption or repayment of, any shares in the capital of a Material Group Company (including an option or right of pre emption or conversion); |
9.1.5 | each Material Group Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; |
9.1.6 | the particulars of the issued share capital and the identity of the shareholders relating to each Material Group Company set out in schedule 4 of the Management Deed are true and accurate; |
9.1.7 | the Company or a (direct or indirect) wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the whole of the allotted and issued share capital of each of the Material Group Companies (other than the Company), in each case free from any Encumbrance (save for any Encumbrances which will be released on or prior to Completion); |
9.1.8 | each of the issued shares of the Material Group Companies has been properly allotted and issued and is fully paid up or credited as fully paid up; |
9.1.9 | he/she/it has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents which are to be entered into by him/her/it pursuant to or otherwise in connection with this Agreement; |
9.1.10 | this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents which are to be entered into by the relevant Seller will, when executed, constitute valid and legally binding obligations of such Seller, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; |
9.1.11 | save as set out in this Agreement, the entry into, and the implementation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents by the relevant Seller will not result in: |
(a) | in the case of an Investor Seller, a violation or breach of any provision of its memorandum and articles of association or equivalent constitutional documents; or |
(b) | a breach of, or give rise to a default under, any contract or other instrument to which he/she/it is a party or by which he/she/it is bound; and |
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(c) | a violation or breach of any applicable laws or regulations or of any order, decree or judgment of any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority applicable to him/her/it or any of his/her/its assets; and |
9.1.12 | no Seller or their respective Connected Persons is required to file, seek or obtain any notice, authorization, approval, order, permit or consent of or with any Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, except (i) any approvals specified in Clause 5, (ii) the notice specified in paragraph 2(d) of Part A to Schedule 4, and (iii) the Bright HSR Filing. |
9.2 | Buyers Warranties |
The Buyer warrants to each of the Sellers that as at the date of this Agreement and as at Completion:
9.2.1 | it is a company duly incorporated under the laws of England and Wales; |
9.2.2 | it has the full power and authority to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary corporate actions to authorise the execution and performance of, its obligations under this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is a party; |
9.2.3 | this Agreement constitutes, and the other Transaction Documents executed or to be executed by the Buyer will, when executed, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Buyer enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; |
9.2.4 | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Document will not: |
(a) | conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the constitutional documents of the Buyer; |
(b) | conflict with, breach or constitute a default under any agreement or arrangement to which it is a party or by which it is bound; or |
(c) | conflict with or result in a breach of any applicable laws or regulations, or any orders, judgments or decrees of any court, governmental agency or regulatory body; |
9.2.5 | none of the Buyers Group Companies is required to file, seek or obtain any notice, authorization, approval, order, permit or consent of or with any Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, except any approvals specified in Clause 5 and filings required to be made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and/or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange; |
9.2.6 | the Buyer has, and at Completion will have, the necessary cash resources immediately available to it on an unconditional basis, either held on deposit or available pursuant to unconditioned debt facilities, to meet its obligations under this Agreement when required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; |
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9.2.7 | none of the Buyers Group Companies is a party to any contract or agreement, or has made or entered into any arrangements or other understandings (whether or not binding), with any Group Company or any of its directors, officers or employees, except as expressly authorized by the Company; and |
9.2.8 | the Buyer is not insolvent or unable to pay its debts within the meaning of any laws relating to insolvency applicable to the Buyer. |
9.3 | Additional Undertakings |
Each Seller and the Buyer undertake to each other for itself and for each of that persons Connected Persons that except (a) as expressly provided for in any Transaction Document or (b) in the case of fraud, it has no rights against and may not make any claim against any employee, director, agent, officer or (except to the extent such adviser has entered into a reliance letter with it) adviser of another party or any of that other partys Connected Persons on whom it may have relied before agreeing to any term of, or entering into, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, and each and every such person shall be entitled to enforce this Clause 9.3 under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
9.4 | Due Diligence Investigation |
The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that:
9.4.1 | it has performed, with the assistance of professional advisers, a due diligence investigation with respect to the Shares, the Group Companies and the Groups business (the Due Diligence Investigation ); |
9.4.2 | the Due Diligence Investigation, together with the warranties in this Agreement and the Management Deed, formed the basis on which the Buyer has decided to enter into this Agreement on the terms set out herein; |
9.4.3 | for the purposes of the Due Diligence Investigation, the Buyer has had (and its advisors have had) opportunity to review any and all information made available to the Buyer and its advisors, by having had, among other things: |
(a) | access to the Confidential Management Presentations, the Due Diligence Reports, and the Data Room; |
(b) | the opportunity to submit questions and to receive answers from the Sellers; and |
(c) | access to senior management of the Company (including management presentations, interviews and site visits). |
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9.5 | Buyer Guarantee |
9.5.1 | The Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Sellers the due and punctual performance and observance by the Buyer of all its obligations, commitments, undertakings, warranties and indemnities under or pursuant to this Agreement, the Management Deed and the Tax Deed (the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations ); and agrees that if any Buyers Guaranteed Obligation is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify the Sellers immediately on demand against all Losses which the Sellers suffer through or arising from any act or omission that would be a breach by the Buyer of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations if the relevant Buyers Guaranteed Obligations were not unenforceable, invalid or illegal, to the extent of any limit on the liability of the Buyer in this Agreement, the Management Deed or the Tax Deed. |
9.5.2 | If and whenever the Buyer defaults for any reason whatsoever in the performance of any of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations, the Guarantor shall forthwith upon demand unconditionally perform (or procure performance of) and satisfy (or procure the satisfaction of) the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations in regard to which such default has been made in the manner prescribed by this Agreement, the Management Deed or the Tax Deed and so that the same benefits shall be conferred on the Sellers as they would have received if the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations had been duly performed and satisfied by the Buyer. |
9.5.3 | This guarantee is to be a continuing guarantee and accordingly is to remain in force until all the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations shall have been performed or satisfied. This guarantee is in addition to and without prejudice to and not in substitution for any rights or security which the Sellers may now or hereafter have or hold for the performance and observance of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations. |
9.5.4 | As a separate and independent stipulation the Guarantor agrees that any of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations (including any moneys payable) which may not be enforceable against or recoverable from the Buyer by reason of any legal limitation, disability or incapacity on or of the Buyer or the dissolution, amalgamation or reconstruction of the Buyer or any other fact or circumstances (other than any limitation imposed by this Agreement, the Management Deed or the Tax Deed) shall nevertheless be enforceable against and recoverable from the Guarantor as though the same had been incurred by the Guarantor and the Guarantor were the sole or principal obligor in respect thereof and shall be performed or paid by the Guarantor on demand. |
9.5.5 | The liability of the Guarantor under this Clause 9.5 shall not be affected, impaired, reduced or released by: |
(a) | any variation of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations; |
(b) | any forbearance, neglect or delay in seeking performance of the Buyers Guaranteed Obligations or any granting of time for such performance; |
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(c) | the illegality, invalidity, unenforceability of, or any defect in, any provision of this Agreement, the Management Deed or the Tax Deed or the Buyers obligations under any of them; |
(d) | any insolvency or similar proceeding; or |
(e) | any other fact or event which in the absence of this provision would or might constitute or afford a legal or equitable discharge or release or a defence to a guarantor. |
9.6 | Guarantors Warranties |
The Guarantor warrants to each of the Sellers that as at the date of this Agreement and as at Completion:
9.6.1 | it is a company duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri; |
9.6.2 | it has the full power and authority to enter into and perform, and has taken all necessary corporate actions to authorise the execution and performance of, its obligations under this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which it is a party; |
9.6.3 | this Agreement constitutes, and the other Transaction Documents executed or to be executed by the Guarantor will, when executed, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with their respective terms; |
9.6.4 | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Transaction Document will not: |
(a) | conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the constitutional documents of the Guarantor; |
(b) | conflict with, breach or constitute a default under any agreement or arrangement to which it is a party or by which it is bound; or |
(c) | conflict with or result in a breach of any applicable laws or regulations, or any orders, judgments or decrees of any court, governmental agency or regulatory body; and |
9.6.5 | the Guarantor is not insolvent or unable to pay its debts within the meaning of any laws relating to insolvency applicable to the Guarantor. |
10. | LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY |
10.1 | Limitation on Quantum |
10.1.1 | The aggregate liability of any: |
(a) | Investor Seller in respect of all and any Seller Claims; and |
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(b) | Management Seller in respect of all and any: (i) Seller Claims; (ii) Management Deed Claims; (iii) Tax Deed Claims; and (iv) Locked Box Claims under Clause 4.2.2 (other than any Leakage which is actually received by a particular Management Seller or its Connected Persons (in which case solely such Management Seller shall be responsible in respect of such Leakage without limit)), |
shall be limited to, and shall in no event exceed, an amount equal to the Consideration actually received by that Seller pursuant to this Agreement.
10.1.2 | The aggregate liability of the Sellers in respect of all and any Seller Claims relating to: |
(a) | Clause 6.1 shall be limited to, and shall in no event exceed, £75,000,000; and |
(b) | Clause 11.6 shall be limited to, and shall in no event exceed, £75,000,000. |
10.1.3 | The Sellers shall not be liable in respect of any Seller Claims pursuant to Clause 6.1 unless and until: |
(a) | the amount of any such Seller Claim pursuant to Clause 6.1 (or series of Seller Claims arising from substantially the same facts or circumstances) exceeds £100,000; and |
(b) | the aggregate amount of: |
(i) | all Seller Claims pursuant to Clause 6.1 for which the Sellers are liable (excluding any amounts in respect of a Seller Claim for which the Sellers have no liability as a result of Clause 10.1.3(a) above); and |
(ii) | all Warranty Claims for which the Warrantors (each as defined in the Management Deed) are liable pursuant to the Management Deed, or would be liable but for paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2(b) of schedule 3 to the Management Deed, |
exceeds £10,000,000, in which case the liability of the Sellers shall be equal to the entire amount of the liability and not merely the excess.
10.1.4 | For the purposes of the limits in this Clause 10.1, the liability of a Seller shall be deemed to include the amount of all costs, expenses and other liabilities (together with any VAT thereon) incurred or payable by that Seller in connection with the satisfaction, settlement or determination of any claim, proceeding, suit or action. |
10.1.5 |
The Sellers shall not be liable for any breach of the Sellers warranties in Clause 9.1 if and to the extent the Buyer is aware at the date of this Agreement of both (a) the facts, matters and/or circumstances which give rise to such Seller Claim with sufficient detail to allow a reasonable |
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purchaser to identify the scope of the matter and the extent of the claim; and (b) that those facts, matters and/or circumstances are reasonably likely to give rise to a Seller Claim. For the purposes of this confirmation, the Buyers awareness shall be interpreted to mean the actual awareness of Robert V. Vitale, Jeff A. Zadoks and Diedre J. Gray. |
10.2 | Time Limits for bringing Seller Claims and Notification |
10.2.1 | No Seller shall be liable in respect of any Seller Claim unless written notice of such Seller Claim is given by the Buyer to that Seller and the Sellers Representatives on or before the date falling, in respect of a Seller Claim relating to: |
(a) | Clause 6.1, 6 months; and |
(b) | any other provision of this Agreement, two years, |
after (and excluding) the date of Completion, specifying, in such reasonable detail, the legal and factual basis of the Seller Claim, the evidence on which the Buyer relies and, if reasonably practicable, the amount likely to be claimed.
10.2.2 | Where a breach giving rise to a Seller Claim is capable of remedy, the Buyer shall not be entitled to make any claim (whether for damages or otherwise) in respect of such breach to the extent that the breach (and any Losses of any Group Company and/or the Buyer arising from such breach) is remedied within 60 days after notice of the Seller Claim is given under Clause 10.2.1. |
10.2.3 | If notice of any Seller Claim is served by the Buyer under Clause 10.2.1, no Seller shall be liable in respect of such Seller Claim (if such Seller Claim has not been satisfied or settled) unless legal proceedings in respect of such Seller Claim are both issued and served within six months after (and excluding) the date on which notice is served and, if such condition is not satisfied, such Seller Claim shall be deemed to have been irrevocably withdrawn and waived by the Buyer. |
10.3 | Double Recovery and Compensation |
10.3.1 | The Buyer agrees that neither it nor any other Buyers Group Company shall be entitled to recover damages or otherwise claim reimbursement or restitution for any Seller Claim to the extent that (i) the Buyer or any other Buyers Group Company has already received or been otherwise reimbursed in respect of the same losses; or (ii) the subject of the Seller Claim has been or is made good in each case without any cost to any of the Buyers Group Company. |
10.3.2 | The Buyer agrees that no Seller shall be liable in respect of any Seller Claim to the extent of any corresponding savings by or net quantifiable financial benefit to any member of the Buyers Group arising from losses or the facts giving rise to such losses (for example where the amount (if any) by which any Tax for which any member of the Buyers Group would otherwise have been accountable or liable to be assessed is actually reduced or extinguished as a result of the matter giving rise to such liability). |
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10.4 | Buyer Actions |
10.4.1 | Subject to Clause 10.4.2: |
(a) | no Seller shall be liable in respect of any Seller Claim to the extent that the Seller Claim arises, or is increased, as a result of any matter or thing done, or omitted to be done by it, pursuant to and in compliance with this Agreement; and |
(b) | nothing in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document is to be construed as relieving the Buyer from any duty it may have to mitigate any loss or damage. |
10.4.2 | Clause 10.4.1 shall not apply to any Seller Claim under Clause 11.6 of this Agreement. |
10.5 | Indirect and consequential losses |
No party shall be liable for any indirect or consequential losses or any loss of profit, turnover, business, goodwill or reputation, or any damages, claims, demands, proceedings, costs, expenses, penalties, legal and other professional fees or any costs in relation to such indirect or consequential losses or damages which may be suffered or incurred by another party to this Agreement (or their Connected Persons) or which arise directly or indirectly in connection with any claim against a party to this Agreement or the Group Companies by any third party.
10.6 | Recovery from third parties |
10.6.1 | If a Seller has paid an amount in discharge of any Seller Claim, and the Buyer or any Group Company recovers from a third party a sum that indemnifies or compensates the Buyer or Group Company (in whole or in part) for the losses which are the subject matter of such Seller Claim, the Buyer shall, or shall cause the relevant Group Company to, pay to the relevant Seller as soon as practicable after receipt of such sum an amount equal to: |
(a) | the sum recovered from the third party less (i) any costs and expenses incurred in obtaining such recovery and (ii) any Taxation attributable to the recovery after taking account of any Relief available in respect of any matter giving rise to the Seller Claim; or |
(b) | if less, the amount previously paid by the Seller or Sellers to the Buyer less any Taxation attributable to it. |
10.6.2 | Where any amounts recovered and to be paid by the Buyer pursuant to this Clause 10.6 are in respect of multiple Seller Claims, such amount shall be allocated between the relevant Sellers pro rata in proportion to the amounts previously paid by them to the Buyer in discharge of such Seller Claims. The Buyer shall not be concerned with the apportionment between the Sellers of any amounts paid pursuant to this Clause 10.6. |
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10.7 | Confidential Management Presentations |
The Buyer acknowledges that the Confidential Management Presentations were provided to it on the basis that none of the Sellers nor any of their advisers makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information or accepts any duty of care to the Buyer in respect of the provision of such information.
10.8 | Fraud |
None of the limitations contained in this Clause 10 shall apply to any Seller Claim that arises or is increased, or is delayed, as a result of fraud.
11. | POST-COMPLETION ARRANGEMENTS |
11.1 | The Buyer: |
11.1.1 | acknowledges that the Sellers may need access, from time to time, after Completion to the Books and Records of the Group Companies, to the extent such Books and Records relate to events occurring prior to Completion; and |
11.1.2 | agrees that it shall, and shall procure that each Group Company shall, for a period of seven years following Completion (or until the expiry of such longer period as is required by law or such shorter period as the Sellers agree that such retention and maintenance is no longer required) properly retain and maintain such Books and Records. |
11.2 | The Buyer undertakes to procure that for a period of seven years following Completion, each Investor Seller, and their respective duly authorised agents (including, without limitation, the Investor Sellers accountants and other professional advisors), are afforded such reasonable access (upon reasonable notice, during normal business hours and subject to appropriate confidentiality undertakings) at the relevant Investor Sellers cost to the Books and Records and other financial information of each Group Company as it or they (and/or any other member of the same group of companies as the relevant Investor Seller and/or any person who directly or indirectly has an interest in the relevant Investor Seller) may reasonably require: |
11.2.1 | to enable the relevant Investor Seller to prepare their respective statutory or management accounts; or |
11.2.2 | for any other accounting or taxation purpose required by applicable law or court of competent jurisdiction, recognised stock exchange, or regulatory authority to whose rules the relevant Seller (or, as the case may be, other member of the same group of companies as the relevant Investor Seller and/or any person who directly or indirectly has an interest in the relevant Investor Seller) is subject; or |
11.2.3 | to enable the relevant Seller to respond to or make any third party claims. |
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11.3 | A directors and officers run-off insurance policy shall be placed by the Group upon Completion, providing a minimum of six years coverage from the Completion Date in respect of any person who was a director or officer of any Group Company, whether appointed by the Investor Sellers or not, at any time during the five year period prior to the date of this Agreement, in amounts which are not less than, and otherwise on terms which are no less favourable to the directors and officers insurance cover maintained by the Group immediately before Completion. The Buyer shall on request provide any such directors or officers with a copy of the insurance terms and conditions and proof of the premium payment. The Buyer undertakes that it shall not take or omit to take (and shall procure that each Buyers Group Company shall not take or omit to take) any action which it is aware will have the effect of invalidating such insurance policy. |
11.4 | The current directors of the Group have the benefit of an indemnity which is a qualifying third party indemnity provision as defined by Section 234 of the Act. The Buyer undertakes that it shall not take or omit to take (and shall procure that each Buyers Group Company shall not take or omit to take) any action to terminate, limit or otherwise amend such indemnity. |
11.5 | If the Kenya Reorganisation is implemented, the Buyer undertakes to exercise all of its control rights with respect to the Group following Completion to procure that Weetabix Limited complies with its obligations pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Kenya Reorganisation. |
11.6 | The Sellers shall, in their respective Relevant Proportions, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer fully on demand in respect of, and undertake to pay the Buyer an amount by which the aggregate of the following amounts: |
11.6.1 | any Tax Liability incurred, suffered or sustained by any member of the Group or the Buyer or asserted against any of them, in each case arising as a result of the implementation of the Kenya Reorganisation; |
11.6.2 | all legal, accounting and other advisors costs incurred by any member of the Group arising as a result of the preparation for, and the structuring, and implementation of, the Kenya Reorganisation; and |
11.6.3 | any legal, accounting and other advisors costs or implementation fee Weetabix Limited is required to bear by other shareholders of Weetabix East Africa Limited in connection with the preparation for, and the structuring, and implementation of, the Kenya Reorganisation, |
in each case reduced to take account of recoverable VAT thereon and by any Relief available to any Group Company in respect thereof (together, the Kenya Reorganisation Costs ), exceeds the Estimated Kenya Costs, in each case, to the extent that such Kenya Reorganisation Costs would not have been incurred if the Kenya Reorganisation had not taken place and, for the avoidance of doubt, not including (a) any costs or fees incurred in respect of the satisfaction of the CAK Condition or any other obligations under Clause 5 (or clause 5 of the transfer agreement entered into pursuant to Step 3 of the Kenya Reorganisation); and (b) any Tax Liability, legal, accounting or other advisers costs or any fees which would have been incurred as a result of the Transaction if the CAK Condition had been satisfied prior to Completion.
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11.7 | The Buyer shall procure that all reasonable steps are taken and all reasonable assistance is given to the Sellers to avoid or mitigate any Kenya Reorganisation Costs. |
11.8 | Any actual or potential claim under Clause 11.6.1 shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of clauses 6.1 to 6.5 of the Tax Deed, the provisions whereof shall apply mutatis mutandis . |
11.9 | To the extent that any payments are required to be made under Clause 11.6.1, clause 4 of the Tax Deed shall apply mutatis mutandis to such payments. |
11.10 | Where the Estimated Kenya Costs included in the Updated Indebtedness Schedule and deducted from the Consideration pursuant to Clause 3.1.8 is greater than the actual amount of the Kenya Reorganisation Costs, the Buyer shall within 20 Business Days of completion of the Kenya Reorganisation (including the transfer of Weetabix East Africa Limited back into the Group) provide the Sellers Representatives with a certificate setting out the Buyers reasonable and good faith calculation of the Kenya Reorganisation Costs and shall, within 10 Business Days of the later of: (a) the date of such certificate, and (b) the date on which the Investor Sellers confirm the bank account details, pay the amount of the excess of the Estimated Kenya Costs over the Kenya Reorganisation Costs by a wire transfer in clear funds to a bank account nominated by the Investor Sellers (the Nominated Account ). Any amounts received into the Nominated Account shall promptly be paid to the order of each Seller in his/her/its Relevant Proportion as an adjustment to the Consideration received by each such Seller. |
12. | ANNOUNCEMENTS |
12.1 | Subject to Clause 12.2 and save in respect of the Announcement to be made on or around the date hereof, no party shall at any time make any announcement or statement (nor permit any person connected with it to make any announcement or statement) concerning the terms of the sale or purchase of the Shares or the existence or provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or any ancillary matter without the prior written approval of the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
12.2 | Clause 12.1 shall not apply if and to the extent that an announcement is required: |
12.2.1 | by law; or |
12.2.2 | by any Regulatory Authority or securities exchange to which the relevant party (or person connected with it) is subject or submits, wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for disclosure has the force of law; or |
12.2.3 | the information in the proposed announcement is already in the public domain (other than through a breach of this Clause 12 by a party seeking to rely on this Clause 12.2.3), |
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in which case the party concerned shall take all such steps as may be reasonable and practicable in the circumstances to agree the contents of such announcement with the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer before making such announcement and provided that any such announcement shall be made only after notice to the Sellers Representatives and the Buyer, provided further, that, after Completion, the Buyer or its direct or indirect parent corporation shall not be required to give notice to or obtain the agreement of the Sellers Representatives or any Seller with respect to any announcement, disclosure or filing by any of them pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, save that the Sellers acknowledge that it is not reasonable or practicable to notify or agree the contents of any responses to questions in investor calls or presentations. The Sellers acknowledge that the Buyer or its direct or indirect parent corporation shall file a copy of this Agreement in connection with the current report on SEC Form 8-K disclosing the Buyers entry into this Agreement, after having provided the Sellers with a draft report and the opportunity to provide comments in advance of such filing.
12.3 | The restrictions contained in this Clause 12 shall continue to apply after Completion or termination of this Agreement without limit in time. |
13. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
13.1 | The Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate on Completion (without prejudice to any rights, liabilities or obligations that have accrued prior to termination). |
13.2 | Each Seller severally undertakes (in respect of himself/herself/itself only) to the Buyer, and the Buyer undertakes to each Seller, that at all times after the date of this Agreement it shall treat as strictly confidential and not disclose or use any information received or obtained as a result of entering into or performing this Agreement or any other Transaction Document which relates to: |
13.2.1 | any other party or its Connected Persons including, where such other party is an Investor Seller, any entity which manages and/or advises the same and where that party is the Buyer, the Buyers Group; |
13.2.2 | the provisions or the subject matter of any Transaction Document and any claim or potential claim in respect of any such document; or |
13.2.3 | the negotiations relating to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. |
13.3 | Each Seller severally undertakes (in respect of himself/herself/itself only) to the Buyer that with effect from Completion it shall treat as strictly confidential and not disclose or use any confidential information about a Group Company and/or its business. |
13.4 | Clauses 13.2 and 13.3 shall not prohibit disclosure or use of any information by any party if and to the extent: |
13.4.1 | the disclosure or use is required by law or for the purpose of any judicial, arbitral or analogous proceedings; |
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13.4.2 | the disclosure or use is required by any securities exchange or Regulatory Authority to which any party is subject or submits, wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law; |
13.4.3 | the disclosure or use is required to vest the full benefit of this Agreement in any party; |
13.4.4 | the disclosure is made to any member of its group provided such member agrees to keep the same strictly confidential; |
13.4.5 | the disclosure is made by any Investor Seller to its direct or indirect investors (including any shareholder and/or partner and those persons whom such Investor Seller reasonably believes are likely to become a direct or indirect investor) together with their and their investors directors, officers, advisors or agents provided that such information is disclosed on a strictly confidential basis; |
13.4.6 | the disclosure is made to professional advisers and/or auditors of any party on a need to know and strictly confidential basis; |
13.4.7 | the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party or any person to whom such party disclosed such confidential information; or |
13.4.8 | the other party has given prior written approval to the disclosure or use (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), |
provided that prior to disclosure or use of any information pursuant to Clause 13.4.1 or 13.4.2, the party concerned shall promptly notify or procure the notification of the other parties of such requirement with a view to providing (if reasonably practicable to do so) the other parties with the opportunity to contest such disclosure or use or otherwise to agree the timing and content of such disclosure or use, provided further, that, after Completion, the Buyer or its direct or indirect parent corporation shall not be required to give notice to or obtain the agreement of the Sellers Representatives or any Seller with respect to any announcement, disclosure or filing by any of them pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
14. | MANAGEMENT SELLERS REPRESENTATIVE |
14.1 | Management Sellers Representative |
14.1.1 | Each of the Management Sellers hereby irrevocably appoints the Management Sellers Representative as the sole representative of such Management Seller to act on his or her behalf for all purposes under this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, including for the purposes of: |
(a) | accepting and giving notices on behalf of such Management Seller under this Agreement in accordance with Clause 19 or under any other Transaction Document; |
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(b) | delivering payment instructions to the Buyer in connection with the payment of the Consideration; |
(c) | granting any consent or approval on behalf of such Management Seller under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; |
(d) | signing on behalf of such Management Seller any variation to this Agreement in accordance with Clause 22 or to any other Transaction Document as may be permitted under such other Transaction Document; |
(e) | taking any and all actions that may be necessary or desirable, as determined by the Management Sellers Representative in its sole discretion, in connection with the payment of the costs and expenses incurred with respect to the Transaction; and |
(f) | generally taking any and all other actions and doing any and all other things provided in or contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by the Management Sellers or the Management Sellers Representative on behalf of the Management Sellers. |
14.1.2 | Each Management Seller hereby irrevocably (by way of security for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement) appoints the Management Sellers Representative as its attorney with full authority on its behalf and in the Management Sellers name or otherwise to do all acts and to execute and deliver such documents or deeds as required by law or as may, in the reasonable opinion of the Management Sellers Representative, be required to give effect to the matters described in this Agreement. The Management Sellers Representative may appoint one or more persons to act as substitute or substitutes in its place for all or any of the purposes referred to in this Clause 14.1.2 and may revoke any appointment at any time. The Buyer shall be entitled to rely on, and shall not be under any duty to enquire as to the validity of (including as to whether such authority may have been revoked), the apparent authority of any person to whom the Management Sellers Representative may have delegated his authority as Management Sellers Representative. |
14.1.3 | The Buyer and each Management Seller acknowledge that in exercising the powers and authorities conferred by this Clause 14 and/or the Transaction Documents upon the Management Sellers Representative, the Management Sellers Representative shall not be acting, or be construed as acting, as the agent or trustee on behalf of any Management Seller, and each Management Seller and the Buyer agrees that the Management Sellers Representative shall have no liability whatsoever to the Buyer or any Seller in relation to the exercise of those powers and authorities, save to a Seller in the case of fraud or bad faith. |
14.1.4 | Notwithstanding Clause 14.1.3, the Buyer shall be entitled to rely on the exercise of the powers and authorities conferred on the Management Sellers Representative as if the relevant Management Seller is exercising such powers and authorities. |
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14.1.5 | The provisions of this Clause 14 are intended to be for the express benefit of, and will be enforceable by, the Management Sellers Representative in each case as a third party beneficiary in accordance with Clause 25. |
14.1.6 | A majority of 75% of the Management Sellers may remove the Management Sellers Representative and appoint a substitute by notice in writing to the Buyer. The provisions of this Clause 14 shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of any persons so appointed. |
14.2 | Sellers Representatives to act jointly |
Where any notice, consent or agreement is expressed under this Agreement as being given by the Sellers Representatives, such notice, consent or agreement shall only be valid if given jointly by all of the Sellers Representatives (directly or by a duly authorised attorney) (to the extent there is more than one). In the event of any inconsistency, no notice, consent or agreement will be deemed to have been given.
15. | FURTHER ASSURANCE |
Each Seller shall insofar as it/he/she is able to do so after Completion and at the cost and expense of the Buyer, execute and deliver all such documents, and do all such things, as the Buyer may from time to time reasonably consider necessary for the purpose of vesting the Shares in the Buyer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
16. | EFFECT OF COMPLETION |
Any provision of this Agreement and any other documents referred to in it which is capable of being performed after but which has not been performed at or before Completion and all warranties and covenants and other undertakings contained in or entered into pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding Completion.
17. | ASSIGNMENT |
17.1 | Subject to Clause 17.2 below, no party may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
17.2 | The Buyer may assign its benefits under this Agreement to any bank or financial institution or other person by way of security for the purposes of or in connection with the financing or refinancing (whether in whole or in part) by the Buyer of the acquisition of the Shares provided that the assignee of such rights shall not be entitled to further assign them other than by way of enforcement of such security. |
17.3 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 17.2 above, the parties hereby agree that where the Buyer assigns its benefits under this Agreement (whether in whole or in part) to any other person, the rights of the Sellers under this Agreement shall be no less than such rights would have been had the assignment not occurred and the obligations or liabilities of the Sellers (including in respect of Tax) shall be no greater than such obligations or liabilities would have been had the assignment not occurred. |
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18. | COSTS AND EXPENSES |
18.1 | Except for any Permitted Leakage and the Disclosed Seller Transaction Costs and where this Agreement expressly provides otherwise, each party shall pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiation, preparation, execution and implementation of this Agreement (and the documents referred to herein) or otherwise incurred in relation to it with a view to the sale and purchase hereunder. |
18.2 | Save as otherwise provided, the Buyer shall bear the cost of all stamp duty or other documentary transfer or transaction duties including in each case any related interest or penalties arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Buyer shall be responsible for arranging the payment of such stamp duty or other documentary transfer or transaction duties. |
18.3 | Each Seller agrees that the Sellers Representatives are authorised to (a) deduct from the amounts to be paid pursuant to Clauses 3.1 and 3.2 an amount equal to each Sellers share (pro rata to the number of Shares to be sold by it pursuant to this Agreement) of any Seller Transaction Costs (save to the extent that the same have been deducted from the Consideration pursuant to Clause 3.1.9) and any other professional fees or expenses paid, incurred or owing directly in connection with the Transaction by the Sellers and (b) allocate the amounts so deducted to the relevant Sellers. |
19. | NOTICES |
19.1 | Form of Notice |
Any notice or other communication to be given or made under or in connection with this Agreement (each a Notice ) must be given in writing to the party due to receive such Notice and must be signed by or on behalf of the person giving it.
19.2 | Method of Service |
A Notice must be served in one of the following ways:
19.2.1 | by hand by hand to the relevant address specified in Clause 19.5; or |
19.2.2 | by post by prepaid first-class post to the relevant address specified in Clause 19.5; or |
19.2.3 | by airmail by prepaid international airmail to the relevant address specified in Clause 19.5; or |
19.2.4 | by fax by fax to the relevant fax number specified in Clause 19.5. |
19.3 | Deemed Delivery |
Unless there is evidence that it was received earlier, a Notice is deemed given, as follows:
19.3.1 | by hand upon delivery if delivered during a Business Day, or at the start of the next Business Day if delivered at any other time; or |
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19.3.2 | by post at the start of the second Business Day after the date of posting; or |
19.3.3 | by airmail at the start of the fourth Business Day after posting; or |
19.3.4 | by fax upon receipt by the sender of a transmission report (or other appropriate evidence) that the fax has been transmitted to the addressee. |
19.4 | In Clause 19.3, during a Business Day means any time between 9.30am and 5.30pm on a Business Day based on the local time where the recipient of the Notice is located. References to the start of a Business Day and the end of a Business Day shall be construed accordingly. |
19.5 | Address for Service |
For the purposes of this Clause 19, the authorised address and fax number of:
19.5.1 | each of the Sellers Representatives is : |
(a) | Barnes (BVI) Limited |
C/O Vistra Corporate Services (BVI) Limited
Offshore Incorporations Centre
P.O. Box 4714
Road Town
Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Fax number: +65 6593 3711
For the attention of: Caroline Baker
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Ropes & Gray LLP
60 Ludgate Hill
London
EC4M 7AW
United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 20 3201 1501
For the attention of: Will Rosen
and
Ropes & Gray LLP
41 st Floor
One Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place
Central Hong Kong
Fax number: +852 3664 6588
For the attention of: Peng Yu
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(b) | Bright Food Europe Limited |
C/O Hackwood Secretaries Limited
One Silk Street
London
EC2Y 8HQ, United Kingdom
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Linklaters LLP Shanghai Office
29th Floor
Mirae Asset Tower
166 Lu Jia Zui Ring Road
Shanghai
200120 China
Fax number: +86 21 2891 1818
For the attention of: Richard Gu
and
Linklaters LLP
One Silk Street
London
EC2Y 8HQ, United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 207 456 2222
For the attention of: Carlton Evans
(c) | the Management Sellers Representative: |
Giles Michael Turrell
39 Albury Road
Walton on Thames
Surrey
KT12 5DT
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Mills & Reeve LLP
Botanic House, 100 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 1PH
United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 1223 355848
For the attention of: Anthony McGurk
19.5.2 | the Buyer and the Guarantor is: |
Post Holdings, Inc.
2503 S. Hanley Road
St Louis, Missouri 63144
Fax number: +1 314 646 3367
For the attention of: Diedre J. Gray, SVP, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
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Lewis Rice LLC
600 Washington Avenue
Suite 2500
St Louis, Missouri 63101
Fax: +1 314 621 7671
For the attention of: Tom W. Zook
and
Baker & McKenzie LLP
100 New Bridge Street
London
EC4V 6JA
United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 (0) 20 7919 1999
For the attention of: Charles Whitefoord
19.6 | Change of Details |
A party may change its address or fax number for service provided that it gives each other party to this Agreement not less than five Business Days prior notice in accordance with this Clause 19. Until the end of such notice period, service on either address shall remain effective.
20. | PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
If, at any time, any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
21. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
21.1 | This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (and any documents referred to in any such documents, including the documents in the Agreed Form) constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersedes and extinguishes any previous agreements, arrangements and understanding between, or Pre-Contractual Statements made or given by or on behalf of, the parties (whether written or oral) relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. |
21.2 | Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that it does not rely, and has not relied, on or been induced to enter into this Agreement and/or the other Transaction Documents by any Pre-Contractual Statement that is not expressly repeated in this Agreement or in any of the other Transaction Documents. |
21.3 | The Buyer and the Sellers agree that neither the Buyer (in the case of the Sellers) nor any Seller (in the case of the Buyer) shall have any remedy or bring any action against the other party (whether in equity, contract or tort (including negligence), as the case may be), in relation to any Pre-Contractual Statements relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Documents except to the extent expressly repeated in this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document. |
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21.4 | Nothing in this Clause 21 shall have the effect of limiting or restricting any liability arising as a result of fraud. |
22. | VARIATION AND INCONSISTENCY |
22.1 | No variation, supplement, deletion or replacement of or from this Agreement or any of its terms shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by or on behalf of each party. |
22.2 | If there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any of the other Transaction Documents, then the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. |
23. | WAIVER |
Any | waiver of a breach of any of the terms of this Agreement or of any default hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and shall in no way affect the other terms of this Agreement. |
24. | REMEDIES |
24.1 | Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or expressly agreed by the parties in writing, no failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any party, any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement shall affect that right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver of it. |
24.2 | The single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement shall not preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. |
24.3 | No waiver of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement shall take effect unless it is in writing and signed by authorised representatives of the party giving the waiver. |
24.4 | Save in the case of fraud or as set out in Clause 8.3 of this Agreement, the sole remedy for the Buyer for any breach of the warranties or any other breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (whether through negligence or otherwise) shall be in action for damages and no breach of any of the warranties or any other breach of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall entitle the Buyer to rescind or terminate this Agreement or otherwise treat it as terminated and/or to recover damages in tort or for misrepresentation and the Buyer waives all and any rights of recession in respect of this Agreement it may have (howsoever arising or deemed to arise) other than any such rights in respect of fraud. |
24.5 | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights, powers or remedies provided by law save that the parties may also rely on the remedies of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of this Agreement and/or any other Transaction Document by any other parties. |
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25. | THIRD PARTIES |
Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, a person who is not a party to this Agreement may not enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement, no consent of any third party is required for any amendment (including any release or compromise of any liability) or termination of this Agreement.
26. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original and all counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a counterpart of this Agreement by email (including by attachment) or telecopy shall be an effective mode of delivery.
27. | NO SET-OFF |
27.1 | The Buyer waives and relinquishes any right of set-off or counterclaim, deduction or retention which the Buyer might otherwise have in respect of any Seller Claim under or in relation to this Agreement or out of any payments which the Buyer may be obliged to make (or procure to be made) to the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise. |
27.2 | Save as expressly provided in this Agreement, no Seller shall be liable to make any payment under this Agreement or any Transaction Document nor shall the Buyer exercise any right of set-off or counter-claim, deduction or retention against or otherwise withhold payment of any sums stated to be payable by the Buyer to any other party under this Agreement or under any of the Transaction Documents unless and until such liability has been agreed by either the relevant Seller or has been finally determined by an arbitral tribunal appointed in accordance with Clause 28.2 and, in relation to which, all rights of appeal have been exhausted or are debarred by the passage of time. |
28. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
28.1 | Governing Law |
This Agreement, including Clause 28.2, and all matters arising from it (including all non-contractual obligations) are governed by English law.
28.2 | Jurisdiction |
Any and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any dispute regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (the SIAC ) in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (the SIAC Rules ) for the time being in force, which SIAC Rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Clause 28.2.
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The seat of the arbitration shall be Singapore. The number of arbitrators shall be three, of whom one arbitrator shall be nominated by the claimant(s) to the arbitration, one arbitrator shall be nominated by the respondent(s) to the arbitration, and one arbitrator (who shall act as chairperson) shall be appointed by the President of the Court of Arbitration of SIAC. The arbitration proceedings shall be conducted, and all written decisions or correspondences shall be, in English. Without limiting the discretion of the Tribunal, the parties record their desire that in principal the prevailing party or parties in the arbitration should be entitled to receive reimbursement of their reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees, experts fees, translation fees and the costs of the arbitration) incurred in connection therewith. The parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore to support and assist any arbitration commenced or contemplated pursuant to this Clause 28.2 or the enforcement of this Clause 28.2, including if necessary the grant of interlocutory relief. |
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SCHEDULE 1
57
SCHEDULE 2
THE COMPANY
Incorporated: | 21 February 2007 | |
Registered Number: | 06120878 | |
Registered Office: | Weetabix Mills Station Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Issued Share Capital: | £17,983,717.48 | |
comprising: | ||
10,834,831 A1 Ordinary Shares; | ||
6,746,544 A2 Ordinary Shares; | ||
388,571 B2 Ordinary Shares; | ||
1,201,254 C Ordinary Shares; | ||
175,794 D Ordinary Shares; and | ||
100 Preference Shares | ||
held as stated in the relevant parts of column 2 of Schedule 1. | ||
Directors: |
Guiyong Cui
Lili Wang
Richard Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary: | Christopher Thomas | |
Auditors: | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | |
Accounting Reference Date: | 31 December | |
Charges: | None | |
Nature of Business: | Activities of head offices (SIC code 70100) |
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SCHEDULE 3
COMPLETION ARRANGEMENTS
Part A: Sellers Obligations
1 . | DELIVERY OBLIGATIONS |
On or prior to Completion, the Sellers shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Buyer or the Buyers Solicitors:
Share transfers, statutory books, etc.
(a) | duly executed transfers in respect of the Shares in favour of the Buyer (or as it may direct), together with the relevant share certificates (or indemnities in the Agreed Form for any lost certificates) and any power of attorney under which any transfer is executed on behalf of any Seller; |
(b) | powers of attorney in the Agreed Form executed by each Seller in favour of the Buyer to enable the Buyer (pending registration of the relevant transfers) to exercise all voting and other rights attaching to the Shares held by it; |
(c) | the statutory books of the Company (which shall be written up to, but not including, the Completion Date) and the common seal (if any) of the Company; |
Resignations
(d) | a copy of the letters of resignation in the Agreed Form, executed by Guiyong Cui, Lili Wang, Mike Sursock, Tonghong Wu, Bin Zhang and Jianfu Zhao in respect of each Group Company of which they are directors; |
Other documents
(e) | certified copies of the board minutes of each Group Company in respect of the board meetings held pursuant to paragraph 2 below; |
(f) | the Related Party Termination Deed duly executed by the parties thereto; |
(g) | the Management Services Agreement Termination Deeds duly executed by the parties thereto; |
(h) | the Tax Deed duly executed by the Investor Sellers and Senior Manager Sellers; |
(i) | subject to and conditional upon the Buyer complying with its obligations pursuant to paragraph 2 of Part B of this Schedule 3, the Deeds of Release executed by the parties thereto (and the Buyer agrees to co-operate with the Sellers to procure the delivery of such Deeds of Release); |
(j) | the Updated Indebtedness Schedule; and |
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(k) | a copy (certified by the secretary of the relevant Investor Seller to be a true copy of a resolution in force at Completion) of the resolution of the directors of each of the Investor Sellers authorising the execution by such Investor Seller of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. |
2 . | PROCUREMENT OBLIGATIONS |
At Completion, the Investor Sellers agree with the Buyer to procure (and the Buyer agrees to co-operate with the Investor Sellers to procure) that at or prior to Completion a board meeting of each relevant Material Group Company (other than the Joint Venture Companies) will be duly convened and held at which (where relevant):
(a) | the transfers of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be approved for registration (subject only to the transfers being duly stamped) and the issue of share certificates in respect thereof to the Buyer or its nominee(s) be approved; |
(b) | such persons as the Buyer nominates shall be appointed directors, company secretary and auditors, of the relevant members of the Group so as to take effect upon Completion; and |
(c) | the resignations of the present directors of each Group Company referred to in paragraph 1(d) above be tendered and accepted so as to take effect upon Completion. |
3 . | MANAGEMENT SELLERS LOANS |
Immediately following Completion, each of the Management Sellers who has taken out a loan with any Group Company shall repay such loan together with any accrued but unpaid interest.
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Part B: Buyers Obligations
On or prior to Completion, the Buyer shall:
1. | pay the Consideration (and, for these purposes, the matters set out as deductions from the Consideration in Clauses 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.7 and 3.1.9 shall be as specified in the Updated Indebtedness Schedule) less: |
(a) | the Deposit (provided that the Deposit has been paid into the Deposit Escrow Account in accordance with Clause 5.9.1) which shall be released to the Sellers in accordance with Clause 5.9.3; and |
(b) | any Disputed Amount which shall be paid in to the Deposit Escrow Account in accordance with Clause 4.10, |
to the Sellers by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to the Ropes & Gray client account or such other UK account as the Sellers Representatives may direct;
2. | procure prepayment and cancellation by the relevant Group Companies of the Bank Repayment Amount and Prepayment Amount in accordance with the terms of the Existing Facility Agreements and provide the Sellers with written confirmation from each of the Facility Agents at Completion that the Bank Repayment Amount and Prepayment Amount has been so prepaid and cancelled; |
3. | provide evidence in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Sellers Representatives of satisfaction of the HSR Condition and, if the Kenya Reorganisation has not been implemented, the CAK Condition; |
4. | deliver to the Sellers Representatives the Tax Deed duly executed by the Buyer; and |
5. | deliver to Ropes & Gray and Linklaters: |
(a) | a copy (certified by the secretary of the Buyer to be a true copy of a resolution in force at Completion) of the resolution of the directors of the Buyer authorising the execution by the Buyer of each of the Transaction Documents to which the Buyer is a party; and |
(b) | a copy (certified by the secretary of the Guarantor to be a true copy of a resolution in force at Completion) of the resolution of the directors of the Guarantor authorising the execution by the Guarantor of each of the Transaction Documents to which the Guarantor is a party. |
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SCHEDULE 4
PRE-COMPLETION UNDERTAKINGS
Part A
1. |
(a) | carry on its business in the ordinary and usual course in all material respects in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and other requirements having the force of law in the same manner in all material respects as it was operated prior to the date of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any Tax and the submission of any return or other document in connection with Tax which is required to be paid or submitted on or prior to Completion); |
(b) | promptly give to the Buyer full details of any material change in its business, financial position and/or assets; |
(c) | maintain in force policies of insurance with limits of indemnity at least equal to, and otherwise on terms no less favourable to the Group than, those policies of insurance currently maintained by it and not do anything to permit any of its insurances to lapse or do anything which would make any policy of insurance void or voidable. |
2. | In respect of the Company only: |
(a) | provide such assistance as the Buyer may, on reasonable notice, reasonably request, including engaging PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for such purpose, in order to permit the preparation of the SEC Unaudited Financials; |
(b) | within 20 Business Days after the end of each calendar month, deliver to the Buyer monthly consolidated management accounts in respect of the Group prepared on a consistent basis with the Management Accounts; |
(c) | provide such assistance as the Buyer may reasonably request to enable the Buyer to prepare proforma consolidated financial statements for the Buyers Group and the Group in a form which will be required by the Buyer to comply with its reporting obligations following Completion; and |
(d) | on or before Completion, notify (or, where appropriate, procure that the relevant member of the Group notifies) the UK Pensions Regulator of any notifiable event in accordance with the requirements of section 69 of the Pensions Act 2004 and The Pensions Regulator (Notifiable Events) Regulations 2005 and provide a draft of any such notification reasonably in advance of its submission to the UK Pensions Regulator so as to permit the Buyer to provide comments on any such notification, which the Company shall consider in good faith; and |
(e) | subject to Clause 5 with respect to obtaining consents or approvals of any Competition Authority, make any notifications required by any applicable laws to and, where applicable, carry out any necessary consultation with, labor unions, employees, appropriate employee representatives and UK pension trustees regarding the transaction contemplated by this Agreement. |
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3. | Not: |
(a) | enter into any material leasing, hire purchase or other agreement or arrangement for payment on deferred terms other than in the ordinary course of business; |
(b) | enter into, modify in any material respect, agree to terminate or assign any Material Contract (as defined in the Management Deed) or assume any material liability, in each case otherwise than in the ordinary and usual course of business; |
(c) | effect any material change in the practices of ordering supplies and raw materials, shipping finished goods, invoicing customers or collecting debts from those practices adopted at the date of this Agreement; |
(d) | grant, modify in any material respect, dispose of or terminate, or agree to grant, modify in any material respect, dispose of or terminate any rights or enter into any agreement (including any licence, franchise, assignment, lien, encumbrance, charge, agreement or arrangement) relating to any material Intellectual Property (other than in the ordinary course of trading) or otherwise knowingly permit any of its rights relating to any material Intellectual Property to lapse; |
(e) | enter into any material agreement, arrangement, licence or sub-licence concerning any material software used by it, or make any material change to such software or do anything which could reasonably be expected to affect access to the source code of any third party software; |
(f) | do any act or enter into any transaction or arrangement which is reasonably likely to result in any member of the Group being either resident for Tax purposes in a jurisdiction other than its country of incorporation or subject to Tax in such a jurisdiction; |
(g) | amend, vary or withdraw an existing VAT registration or exercise an option to tax in respect of any Properties; |
(h) | apply for, surrender or agree to any material variation to any material environmental permit; |
(i) | appoint or employ, or make any offer of appointment or employment to, any new directors, employees or consultants at an annual salary or rate of remuneration in excess of £150,000 where the appointment of employment is in respect of an existing position or £100,000 in respect of any newly created position; |
(j) | other than (i) those required by law and which are set out in the Disclosure Letter, and (ii) those made in the ordinary course, make, or announce any proposal to make, any change or addition (whether immediate, conditional or prospective) to any terms and conditions of or in respect of employment of its directors or Senior Employees (as defined in the Management Deed); |
63
(k) | dismiss any of its directors, employees or consultants with an annual salary or remuneration in excess of £100,000 per annum or implement a termination of a group of twenty or more employees as part of a single process or fifty employees in total; or |
(l) | agree, conditionally or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing. |
64
Part B
1. | Not: |
(a) | incur capital expenditure in excess of £29,000,000 in aggregate; |
(b) | grant any credit or loans (other than credit given in the ordinary and usual course of business and advances made to employees against expenses incurred by them on behalf of any member of the Group in the ordinary and usual course of business and consistent with past practices); |
(c) | enter into any guarantee, indemnity or surety in excess of £1,000,000 in respect of indebtedness for money borrowed; |
(d) | acquire or dispose of any freehold or leasehold property or grant any material lease or third party right in respect of any of the Properties or in excess of £1,000,000; |
(e) | make, or announce any proposal to make, any material change (whether immediate, conditional or prospective) to any, or grant or create or resolve to contribute to any additional, retirement, death or disability benefits scheme (including any change or addition affecting former directors, employees or consultants or their dependants) other than those required by law or by a collective bargaining agreement which has been Disclosed or take any action or knowingly allow any action to be taken in relation to any such scheme, in each case other than in the ordinary and usual course of administering any such scheme; |
(f) | institute, settle or agree to settle any legal proceedings relating to its business, (save for debt collection in the ordinary and usual course of business or the settlement of any Tax claims set out in the Due Diligence Reports, up to the amount for each such Tax claim as expressly set out in the Due Diligence Reports) not exceeding £1,000,000; |
(g) | enter into any contract with a customer who when contracting is (i) located in any country targeted by any of the economic sanctions of the United States of America administered by the United States Treasury Departments office of Foreign Assets Control (being, at the date of this Agreement, Belarus, Cote DIvoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Iran, Liberia, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar (Burma), North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Western Balkans and Zimbabwe); or (ii) a person appearing on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons issued by the United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control; |
(h) | pass any resolution in general meeting save for resolutions dealing solely with ordinary course of trading matters; or |
(i) | agree, conditionally or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing. |
65
Part C
1.
(a) | no later than five (5) Business Days prior to Completion, submit to a shareholder vote (in compliance with Code Section 280G(b)(5)(B) and the regulations thereunder) the right of any individual who is, or could reasonably be expected to be as of Completion, a disqualified individual (as defined in Code Section 280G(c)) to receive payments and benefits that could be deemed a parachute payment (as defined in Code Section 280G(b)(2)), in a manner reasonably designed to cause the payments and benefits that would otherwise constitute a parachute payment to be exempt from the definition of parachute payment by reason of the exemption provided under Code Section 280G(b)(5)(B), including requirements that such disqualified individual waive in advance the right to any such payment or benefit if the requisite shareholder approval is not obtained. Prior to delivery to the stockholders and disqualified individuals of documents in connection with the stockholder approval contemplated under this paragraph, the Company will provide the Buyer and the Buyers Solicitors (i) its Code Section 280G calculations along with the assumptions used to make the calculations; and (ii) a reasonable opportunity to review such information and comment on all documents to be delivered to the stockholders and disqualified individuals in connection with the vote; |
(b) | not enter into any transaction with the Sellers or any Seller Connected Person other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice on an arms length basis; |
(c) | not borrow any money or accept any financial facility in excess of £1,000,000 (except borrowings under the Existing Facility Agreements in the ordinary and usual course of business and, for the avoidance of doubt, this restriction does not include the receipt of trade credit in the ordinary course of business); |
(d) | deliver to the Buyer the IFRS Audited Financials on or before 31 May 2017; and |
(e) | subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and to the extent permitted by law, allow the Buyer and any persons authorised by it for the purpose of satisfying themselves as to compliance with the covenants set out in this Schedule 4, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, (i) to make such investigation of its properties, businesses and operations (including ordering title investigations and third party inspections), and (ii) access to its books and records (including all statutory books, minute books, accounts, leases, contracts, supplier lists and customer lists) together with the right to take copies of any such documents at the Buyers expense and subject to an obligation to return such copies on demand if this Agreement is terminated for any reason and instruct its directors, officers and employees to reasonably cooperate with any such investigation and to give all such information and explanations to any such persons as aforesaid as may be requested by it or them as soon as reasonably practicable. |
66
2. | Not: |
(a) | dispose of or agree to dispose of, or grant, any option or right of pre-emption in respect of the shares in any subsidiary or any undertaking or business or any substantial part thereof; |
(b) | acquire or form any subsidiary, or acquire any shares in any company, or acquire the whole or any substantial part of the undertaking or business of any other company or any firm or person or enter into any joint venture or partnership with any other person; |
(c) | acquire or agree to acquire, or dispose of or agree to dispose of, any asset having a value in excess of £5,000,000 or receive any service in excess of £1,000,000 otherwise than at market value; |
(d) | create, purchase, redeem, allot or issue or agree to create, purchase, redeem, allot or issue any class of share or loan capital; |
(e) | issue, allow to come into being, grant or redeem any Encumbrance over any of its assets or undertakings, other than retention of title provisions in the ordinary and usual course of business; |
(f) | amend any previously filed Tax return, material election or claim save to the extent consistent with the prior practice of the Group or required by law; |
(g) | other than in respect of any such arrangement proposed prior to the date of this Agreement and communicated to the Buyer and save as contemplated by this Agreement, enter into or materially modify any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any trade union, works council, staff association or other employee representative body in respect of any directors or employees; |
(h) | incur any liabilities to any Seller or any Seller Connected Person or allow any Seller or any Seller Connected Person to incur any liabilities to any member of the Group other than trading liabilities incurred in the ordinary and usual course of business on an arms length basis, or |
(i) | agree, conditionally or otherwise, to do any of the foregoing. |
The Buyer hereby undertakes that it will not, prior to Completion, save as required by any law, applicable securities exchange, supervisory, regulatory or governmental body, divulge any confidential information relating to any member of the Group obtained by it or any Connected Person of the Buyer pursuant to paragraph 1(e) of Part C of this Schedule to any person other than its own officers, employees or professional advisers.
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IN WITNESS of which this document has been executed and delivered as a deed on the date which first appears on page 2 above.
Executed as a DEED by POST HOLDINGS, INC., acting by its President and CEO in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Robert V. Vitale President and CEO |
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Witness Signature: |
/s/ Diedre J. Gray |
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Witness Name: |
Diedre J. Gray |
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Witness Address: |
2503 S. Hanley Rd. |
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St. Lous, MO 63144 |
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Witness Occupation: |
Attorney |
Executed as a DEED by BARNES (BVI) LIMITED, acting by a director in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Tariq Sayed Usman Director |
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Witness Signature: |
/s/ Tam Ooi Lai |
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Witness Name: |
Tam Ooi Lai |
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Witness Address: |
c/o 1 Raffles Place #13-01 |
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One Raffles Place, Singapore 048616 |
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Witness Occupation: |
Fund Corporate Secretarial |
Executed as a DEED by BRIGHT FOOD EUROPE LIMITED, acting by two directors: |
) ) |
/s/ Wu Tonghong |
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Director | ||||
/s/ Wang Lili |
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Director |
Executed as a DEED for SALLY ABBOTT under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for DAVID ALLSOP under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for ANTHONY RAYMOND BOWDIDGE under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for STUART BRANCH under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for DARRYL BURGESS under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for ALEXANDER PAUL COSGROVE under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for FRANCESCA DAVIES under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for CHRIS DUBOIS under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for KEVIN FAWELL under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for GARETH DAVID MARTIN under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED by RICHARD WILLIAM THOMAS MARTIN |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for JOHN PICKLES under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for RICHARD DARCY SPAUGHTON under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for RAVI SINGH TARA under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED by GILES MICHAEL TURRELL |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for LOGAN TWEEDIE under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED for EMMA LOUISE VARLOW under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
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Executed as a DEED for KEVIN VERBRUGGEN under a power of attorney |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
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In the presence of: | ||||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ James Adams |
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Witness Name: |
James Adams |
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Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
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London EC4V 6VA |
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Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Exhibit 2.2
EXECUTION VERSION
Dated
18 April 2017
between
THE WARRANTORS
and
BUYER
MANAGEMENT WARRANTY DEED
relating to the sale and purchase of
LATIMER NEWCO 2 LIMITED
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
1. |
INTERPRETATION | 1 | ||||
2. |
WARRANTIES | 8 | ||||
3. |
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY | 9 | ||||
4. |
EFFECT | 9 | ||||
5. |
WARRANTORS REPRESENTATIVE | 10 | ||||
6. |
PAYMENTS | 10 | ||||
7. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS | 11 | ||||
8. |
CONFIDENTIALITY | 11 | ||||
9. |
ASSIGNMENT | 12 | ||||
10. |
COSTS AND EXPENSES | 12 | ||||
11. |
NOTICES | 12 | ||||
12. |
PARTIAL INVALIDITY | 14 | ||||
13. |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 14 | ||||
14. |
VARIATION | 15 | ||||
15. |
WAIVER | 15 | ||||
16. |
REMEDIES | 15 | ||||
17. |
THIRD PARTIES | 16 | ||||
18. |
COUNTERPARTS | 16 | ||||
19. |
GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION | 16 | ||||
20. |
DELIVERY | 16 | ||||
SCHEDULE 1 WARRANTORS |
17 | |||||
SCHEDULE 2 WARRANTIES |
18 | |||||
SCHEDULE 3 LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY |
35 | |||||
SCHEDULE 4 GROUP INFORMATION |
42 | |||||
Part A: The Company |
42 | |||||
Part B: The Subsidiaries |
43 | |||||
Part C: Joint Venture Companies |
60 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page | ||||||
SCHEDULE 5 PROPERTIES |
62 | |||||
Part A: Freehold Property |
62 | |||||
Part B: Leasehold Property |
63 |
ii
THIS DEED (the Deed ) is made on 18 April 2017 between the following parties:
(1) | The persons whose names and addresses are set out in Schedule 1 (together the Warrantors and each a Warrantor ); and |
(2) | WESTMINSTER ACQUISITION LIMITED , a company registered in England and Wales under number 10694659 which has its registered office at 100 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JA (the Buyer ). |
BACKGROUND
(A) | On or around the date of this Deed, the Buyer and the Sellers have entered into a sale and purchase agreement in respect of the Shares (the Sale and Purchase Agreement ). |
(B) | In connection with the Sale and Purchase Agreement, each of the Warrantors has agreed to provide the Warranties to the Buyer in accordance with the terms of this Deed. |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1. | INTERPRETATION |
1.1 | In this Deed (including its Recitals and Schedules): |
Accounts means the audited consolidated accounts of the Group comprising a balance sheet as at, cash flow statement and a profit and loss account for the accounting period ended on, the Accounts Date, together with the explanatory notes in respect of such accounts and the auditors and directors reports and notes on such accounts as found at document 2.1.1.3 of the Data Room;
Accounts Date means 2 January 2016;
Act means the Companies Acts 2006;
Agreed Form means a form agreed between the parties on or prior to the date of this Agreement, and for the purposes of identification initialled (or signed) by or on behalf of the parties;
Associated Person means, in relation to a company, any person (whether a director, officer, employee, consultant, agent, subsidiary or other person associated with that company) who performs or has performed services for or on behalf of that company;
Business Day means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday or public holiday in England and Wales, the United States of America (New York) and the Peoples Republic of China (including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) on which banks are open for the transaction of general commercial business;
Buyers Group means the Buyer, each of its parent undertakings and each of its and their respective subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time (which following Completion shall include the Company and each member of the Group) and Buyer Group Company shall be construed accordingly;
1
Claim means any claim, proceeding, suit or action in respect of any breach, indemnity, covenant, agreement, undertaking or other matter whatsoever under or pursuant to this Deed against any Warrantor (including any Warranty Claim) excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any claim under the Tax Deed;
Code means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
Company means Latimer Newco 2 Limited, further details of which are set out in Part A of Schedule 4;
Completion has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Connected Person means:
(a) | in the case of a person which is a body corporate, any subsidiary or parent company of that person and any subsidiary of any such parent company, in each case from time to time; |
(b) | in the case of a person who is an individual, any spouse, co-habitee and/or lineal descendants by blood or adoption or any person or persons acting in its or their capacity as trustee or trustees of a trust of which such individual is a settler; and |
(c) | in the case of a person which is a limited partnership, the partners of the person or their nominees or a nominee or trustee for the person or persons, or any investors in a fund which holds interests, directly or indirectly, in the limited partnership; |
Consideration has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Contingent Claim has the meaning given to it in paragraph 5.5 of Schedule 3;
Corruption Laws means the UK Bribery Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 or any other applicable law of similar effect governing official or commercial corruption, in each case, as amended from time to time;
Data Room means the electronic data room in respect of the Group operated by Merrill, the contents of which are listed in the index annexed to the Disclosure Letter and a copy of which, as at 12 April 2017, has been delivered to the Buyer on a USB stick on or prior to the date of this Deed;
December 2016 Management Accounts means the unaudited consolidated accounts of the Group comprising a balance sheet, a cash flow statement and a profit and loss account for the accounting period ended on 31 December 2016 a copy of which are contained at document 2.2.15.1.12 of the Data Room;
Disclosed means fairly disclosed to the Buyer in the Disclosure Letter or the Disclosure Documents (including, without limitation, the Data Room) with sufficient detail to enable a reasonable purchaser to identify the nature and scope of the matter disclosed;
2
Disclosed Schemes has the meaning given in paragraph 13.1 of Schedule 2;
Disclosure Documents means the Due Diligence Reports, the documents indexed in or attached to the Disclosure Letter and the contents of the Data Room, together with any documents or information deemed to be disclosed in the Disclosure Letter;
Disclosure Letter means the letter dated on or about the date of this Deed from the Warrantors to the Buyer relating, among other things, to the Warranties, the receipt of which has been acknowledged by the Buyer;
Due Diligence Reports means:
(a) | the Project Westminster Phase 2 Financial Vendor Due Diligence report produced by Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and dated 17 April 2017; and |
(b) | the Project Westminster Tax Vendor Due Diligence report produced by Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and dated 17 April 2017, |
in each case in the Agreed Form;
Encumbrance means any mortgage, charge, assignment, lien, option, restriction on equity, right of first refusal or pre-emption, claim or other third party right or interest or assignation, or any other type of preferential arrangement (including, without limitation, a title transfer or retention arrangement) having similar effect;
Environment means any and all organisms (including man), ecosystems, property and the following media:
(a) | air (including the air within buildings and the air within other natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground); |
(b) | water (including water under or within land or in drains or sewers and coastal and in-land waters); and |
(c) | land (including land under water); |
Environmental Laws means all applicable statutes and other laws which have as a purpose or effect the protection of the Environment and/or the prevention of Harm and/or the provision of remedies in respect of Harm and are in force and binding on the relevant member of the Group at the date of this Deed and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any of the foregoing relating to worker health and safety or town and country planning;
ERISA means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
Food Laws means all applicable laws, policy, regulation, procedure or compliance guidance of the UK Food Standards Agency, the US Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, or any other Regulatory Authority relating to the
3
production, manufacture, processing, labelling, promotion, sale, distribution, transportation, holding, safety or efficacy of the products of the Group or their regulation regarding food hygiene, temperature control, samples and analyses, food packaging, GM Food, chemical safety, biological safety, traceability, certification, and information to consumers;
Group means the Company and the Subsidiaries and Group Company or member of the Group shall mean any one of them and for the purposes of warranties at paragraphs 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 13.2, 13.4, 18 and 19 of Schedule 2 of this Deed shall include the Joint Venture Companies;
Harm means harm or damage to, or other interference with, the Environment and includes any detrimental effects on the health of living organisms or other interference with the ecosystems of which they form part and, in the case of humans, includes offence caused to any of their senses or harm or damage to their property;
Hazardous Substance means any substance, material, liquid, solid, gas or other matter of whatsoever nature, which is an actual or likely cause of or is otherwise capable of causing Harm or is regulated under Environmental Laws;
IFRS means the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board;
Intellectual Property shall mean (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and similar designations of origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and any registrations and applications for any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, URLs, website content, social media accounts, content handles, identifiers or similar; (c) marketing and advertising materials, works of authorship (whether or not copyrightable) and copyrights, and all registrations and applications for such copyrights and any renewals or extensions thereof; (d) rights in inventions, discoveries and ideas, whether patentable or not in any jurisdiction; patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs, and any renewals, extensions or reissues thereof; (e) rights in non-public information, trade secrets, know-how, formulae, recipes, methods, processes, procedures, research records, records of inventions, test information, market surveys, and confidential information, whether patentable or not, and rights to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person; (f) software, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, and related specifications and documentation; (g) image rights, rights of publicity; (h) rights to sue for passing off and/or unfair competition; and (i) any claims or causes of action (pending, threatened or which could be filed) by a party to the Transaction Documents against third parties arising out of or related to any infringement or misappropriation of any of the foregoing; and all other similar or equivalent rights subsisting now or in the future in any part of the world, in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications for, and renewals or extensions of and rights to claim priority from such rights for their full term;
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IT Systems means the computer hardware, data processing systems, computer software, networks and other peripherals used in the business of the Group at the date of this Deed;
Joint Venture Agreements means the joint venture agreements in folders 4.17 and 4.20 of the Data Room;
Joint Venture Companies means those companies listed in Part C of Schedule 4 and Joint Venture shall mean any one of them;
Leakage has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Leased Assets has the meaning attributed to it in paragraph 17.3;
Licences has the meaning given in paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 2;
Locked Box Accounts means the unaudited accounts of the Group, consisting of a balance sheet as at the Locked Box Date in the Agreed Form;
Locked Box Date means 31 December 2016;
Management Accounts means the unaudited monthly management accounts of the Group for the period commencing on the Locked Box Date and ending on the Management Accounts Date in the Agreed Form;
Management Accounts Date means 31 January 2017;
Material Assets has the meaning given in paragraph 17.1 of Schedule 2;
Material Contract means any contract which had an aggregate cost, benefit or value to the Group of more than £5,000,000 over the 12 month period prior to the Locked Box Date;
Material Proceedings has the meaning given in paragraph 18.3 of Schedule 2;
Notice has the meaning given to it in Clause 11;
Permitted Leakage has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Pre-Contractual Statement means any statement, representation, warranty, assurance, covenant, agreement, undertaking, indemnity, guarantee or commitment of any nature whatsoever (in any case whether oral, written, express or implied, and whether negligent or innocent) made, given or agreed to by any person (whether a party to this Deed or not) before the execution of this Deed;
Properties means each of the freehold and leasehold properties listed in Schedule 5 and Property shall mean any one of them;
Regulatory Authority means any supra national, national, state, municipal, federal, regional, public or local government (including any subdivision, court, administrative agency, department, instrumentality or commission or other authority of the same) or any quasi governmental, statutory or private body exercising any regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi governmental authority, including the European Union;
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Relevant Accounting Standards means, in relation to the Accounts or any balance sheet or profit and loss account of any company or other entity, any of the following in force on the date of the Accounts or such balance sheet or profit and loss account, namely any applicable Statement of Standard Accounting Practice, Financial Reporting Standard, Urgent Issues Task Force Abstract or Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the UK Accounting Standards Board (or any successor body) or any committee of it or body recognised by it and, to the extent that any member of the Group is not required to comply with any of the foregoing, the relevant accounting standards applicable to that member of the Group;
Restricted Person List means any list of sanctioned parties or designated parties maintained by the U.S., E.U. or U.K., including U.S. OFACs Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, U.S. Commerces Denied Persons List, the U.S. Commerce Entity List, the U.S. Department of States Debarred List and U.K. HM Treasurys Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets;
Sale and Purchase Agreement has the meaning given in Recital (A);
Seller Claims has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Sellers has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Senior Employees means those employees of the Group earning more than £100,000 per annum (or equivalent in any other currency);
Shares means all of the allotted and issued shares in the Company, as set out in Part A of Schedule 4;
Subsidiaries means those companies listed in Part B of Schedule 4 and Subsidiary shall mean any one of them;
Sum Recovered has the meaning given to it in paragraph 6.4 of Schedule 3;
Tax or Taxation have the meaning given to that term in the Tax Deed;
Tax Authority has the meaning given to that term in the Tax Deed;
Tax Deed has the meaning given to it in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Tax Warranties means those Warranties set out at paragraph 21 of Schedule 2;
Transaction Documents has the meaning given in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
U.S. Embargoed Territory means any country or territory subject to comprehensive sanctions administered by U.S. OFAC including Sudan, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Cuba and Crimea;
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VAT has the meaning given to that terms in the Sale and Purchase Agreement;
Warranties means the warranties set out in Schedule 2;
Warrantors Representative means Giles Michael Turrell and/or any other representative of the Warrantors appointed from time to time pursuant to Clause 5; and
Warranty Claim means a claim by the Buyer involving or relating to a breach of the Warranties;
1.2 | In this Deed, unless the context otherwise requires: |
1.2.1 | a reference to this Deed shall include any recitals and schedules to it and any reference to a Recital, paragraph, Clause or Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires, is a reference to a recital, paragraph or clause of, or schedule to, this Deed; |
1.2.2 | references to a statute or statutory instrument shall include references to such statute or statutory instrument as amended, extended, modified, consolidated or re-enacted and to any subordinate legislation made under such statute before the date of this Deed save where such amendment, extension, modification, consolidation or re-enactment would extend or increase the liability of the Warrantors under this Deed; |
1.2.3 | references to a person includes any individual, company, body corporate, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, organisation, institution, trust or agency, whether or not having a separate legal personality; |
1.2.4 | references to one gender includes all genders, and references to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; |
1.2.5 | headings are inserted for convenience only and shall be ignored in construing this Deed; |
1.2.6 | the words company , subsidiary , subsidiary undertaking , parent undertaking and holding company have the meanings given to them by the Act, except that where a holding company creates security over the shares of a subsidiary (including, without limitation, the Subsidiaries) that subsidiary shall not cease to be such solely as a result of the creation of the security; |
1.2.7 | references to a company shall also be construed to include any other company, corporation or body corporate wherever and however incorporated or established; |
1.2.8 | words immediately following the words including , includes or in particular shall be construed as being by way of illustration and shall not be construed as limiting the generality of any foregoing words; |
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1.2.9 | a reference to writing or written includes any method of representing or reproducing words in a legible form; |
1.2.10 | any English legal term for any action, remedy, method of judicial proceeding, legal document, legal status, court, official or any legal concept or thing shall, in respect of any jurisdiction other than that of England, be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term; and |
1.2.11 | references to time of the day are to London time. |
1.3 | The obligations of each Warrantor under this Deed are entered into individually by the Warrantor on his own behalf and are made severally and separate from any obligation entered into by any other Warrantor. No claim can be made against a Warrantor in respect of any breach of this Deed by any other Warrantor other than in respect of the Warrantors own breach. |
2. | WARRANTIES |
2.1 | Subject to Clauses 2.2, 2.3, 3 and 4, each Warrantor severally warrants to the Buyer that each of the Warranties is true and accurate as at the date of this Deed. |
2.2 | Each of the Warranties is given subject to and is qualified by: |
2.2.1 | the matters Disclosed; and |
2.2.2 | any limitations and exclusions expressly provided for in this Deed, including, without limitation, those set out in Schedule 3. |
2.3 | Each Warrantor shall only be liable for breach of a Warranty to the extent that he was actually aware as at the date of this Deed of the facts, matters and/or circumstances giving rise to such breach, and for these purposes the actual awareness of each Warrantor shall be interpreted to mean: |
2.3.1 | those facts, matters and circumstances of which each of the other Warrantors is actually aware; and |
2.3.2 | those facts, matters and circumstances of which a Warrantor is actually aware, having made due enquiry of each of Ravi Tara (Head of Group Finance), Paul Tonks (Head of Strategy), Patrick Rigby (Group Operations Director), Chris Thomas (General Counsel), Colm ODwyer (General Manager Drinks), David Tolson (Interim Head of Technical), Steve Van Tassel and Brad Challifoux (CEO & CFO North America), Darryl Burgess (Head of SalesChannels), Emma Varlow (Head of SalesOwn Label & Support Brands), Richard Spaughton (Head of SalesGrocery), John Shi (China GM), Danny Singh (Head of Finance UK), Logan Tweedie (IT& Business Systems). For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 2.3.2 shall include any implied or constructive awareness. |
2.4 | Each of the Warranties shall be construed as a separate and independent warranty and, save as expressly provided otherwise in this Deed, shall not be limited by reference to or inference from any other Warranty. |
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2.5 | The Warranties shall not be extinguished or affected by Completion. |
2.6 | For the avoidance of doubt, no Warranty, express or implied, is given in relation to any information or expression of opinion, intention or expectation or any forecast or projection contained or referred to in the Disclosure Letter or the Disclosure Documents. |
2.7 | The Warrantors shall not be liable for any losses arising under a Claim to the extent Robert V. Vitale, Jeff A. Zadoks, and Diedre J. Gray is actually aware as at the date of this Deed: (a) of the fact, matter, event or circumstance which is the subject matter of the Claim; and (b) that those facts, matters and/or circumstances are reasonably likely to give rise to a Claim. |
2.8 | Save in the case of fraud, each Warrantor agrees not to bring a claim against a Group Company or a director, officer or employee of a Group Company in respect of a misrepresentation, inaccuracy, error or omission in or from any information or advice provided by a Group Company or a director, officer or employee of a Group Company for the purpose of assisting the Warrantor to give the Warranties or to prepare the Disclosure Letter, save that nothing in this Clause 2.8 shall prevent any Warrantor from bringing a claim against another Warrantor. |
2.9 | The parties agree that only the Warranties given in respect of Tax are the Tax Warranties and each of the other Warranties shall be deemed not to be given in relation to Tax. |
3. | LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY |
The liability of the Warrantors under this Deed shall be limited by the limitations set out in Schedule 3.
4. | EFFECT |
4.1 | This Deed shall only become effective upon, and subject to, Completion having occurred in accordance with the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, such that no Claim may be brought by the Buyer unless and until Completion has occurred in accordance with the terms of the Sale and Purchase Agreement. |
4.2 | If the Sale and Purchase Agreement is terminated or rescinded for any reason, then save for Clauses 7 ( Announcements ), 8 ( Confidentiality ), 9 ( Assignment ), 10 ( Costs and Expenses ), 11 ( Notices ), 13 ( Entire Agreement ), 14 ( Variation ) to 17 ( Third Parties ) (inclusive) and 19 ( Governing Law and Jurisdiction ), this Deed shall automatically and immediately terminate and cease to be of any effect whatsoever and the Warrantors shall have no liability under or in connection with this Deed. |
4.3 | Notwithstanding Completion, the terms of this Deed shall continue in full force and effect and the remedies of the Buyer in respect of any breach of the Warranties shall continue to subsist (except as otherwise expressly provided), subject to the limitations contained in this Deed (including in Schedule 3). |
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5. | WARRANTORS REPRESENTATIVE |
5.1 | The Warrantors shall appoint one person (being a Warrantor) from time to time to be the representative of the Warrantors for the purposes described in Clause 5.2. |
5.2 | Each Warrantor irrevocably appoints the Warrantors Representative as the sole representative of such Warrantor with full authority to act on his behalf and in his name for all purposes under this Deed, including for the purposes of: |
5.2.1 | accepting notices on behalf of such Warrantor in accordance with Clause 11; |
5.2.2 | granting any consent or approval on behalf of such Warrantor under this Deed; |
5.2.3 | negotiating and/or agreeing and/or settling any Claim or agreeing any other matter referred to in or contemplated by this Deed; and |
5.2.4 | generally taking any and all other actions and doing any and all other things provided in or contemplated by this Deed to be performed by such Warrantor or the Warrantors Representative on behalf of such Warrantor, |
in each case, as the Warrantors Representative, acting in good faith, considers necessary or desirable. Each Warrantor agrees to be bound by each act, agreement, approval, consent and decision of the Warrantors Representative in relation to any such matter and the Buyer shall have no duty or be obliged to enquire further.
5.3 | Insofar as any loss, damage or other liability of any Warrantor is incurred or is increased as a result of any act, omission, agreement, approval, consent or decision of the Warrantors Representative, in each case acting in good faith in the proper execution and discharge of his appointment as Warrantors Representative under this Deed, the Warrantors Representative shall not be responsible for, nor shall he have any liability to any such Warrantor in relation to, any loss, damage or other liability or increased loss, damage or other liability. The Warrantors Representative shall have no power or authority to agree to any variation of the terms of this Deed on behalf of any other Warrantor or be authorised to execute any such variations on behalf of any other Warrantor. |
5.4 | A majority of 75% of the Warrantors may remove or replace the Warrantors Representative and appoint a substitute by notice in writing to the Buyer. The provisions of this Clause 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of any persons so appointed. The first Warrantors Representative shall be Giles Michael Turrell and he confirms his willingness to act as the Warrantors Representative upon and subject to the terms of this Deed. |
6. | PAYMENTS |
6.1 | Any payment made by a Warrantor to the Buyer in respect of a Claim shall be treated, so far as possible, by the Buyer and such Warrantor as a reduction of the consideration received by such Warrantor pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement. |
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6.2 | Save as otherwise provided in this Deed, any payment to be made by any party under this Deed shall be made in full without any set off, restriction, condition or deduction for on or account of any counterclaim. |
7. | ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Except as permitted under the Sale and Purchase Agreement, no party shall make or issue any announcement or statement (nor permit any person connected with it to make or issue any announcement or statement) concerning the existence or subject matter of this Deed.
8. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
8.1 | Subject to Clause 8.2, each party shall treat as strictly confidential and shall not disclose or use any information received or obtained as a result of entering into or performing this Deed which relates to: |
8.1.1 | any other party or its Connected Persons; |
8.1.2 | the provisions or the subject matter of this Deed or any claim or potential claim under this Deed; or |
8.1.3 | the negotiations relating to this Deed. |
8.2 | Clause 8.1 shall not prohibit disclosure or use of any information by any party, if and to the extent that: |
8.2.1 | the disclosure or use is required by applicable law or regulation or for the purpose of any judicial, arbitral or analogous proceedings; |
8.2.2 | the disclosure or use is required by any Tax Authority, securities exchange or Regulatory Authority to which any party is subject or submits, wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law; |
8.2.3 | the disclosure or use is required to vest the full benefit of this Deed in any party; |
8.2.4 | the disclosure is made to any member of its group provided such member agrees to keep the same strictly confidential; |
8.2.5 | the disclosure is made to professional advisers, auditors and/or bankers of any party on a need to know and strictly confidential basis; |
8.2.6 | the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party or any person to whom such confidential information has been disclosed; or |
8.2.7 | the Buyer (in the case of disclosure by any Warrantor) or the Warrantors Representative (in the case of disclosure by the Buyer) has given prior written approval to the disclosure or use (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), |
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provided that prior to disclosure or use of any information pursuant to Clause 8.2.1 or 8.2.2, the party concerned shall promptly notify or procure the notification of the other parties of such requirement with a view to providing (if reasonably practicable and legal to do so) the other parties with the opportunity to contest such disclosure or use or otherwise to agree to the timing and content of such disclosure or use; provided further, that the Buyer or its direct or indirect parent corporation shall not be required to give notice to, or obtain the agreement of, the Warrantors Representative or any Warrantor with respect to any announcement, disclosure or filing by any of them pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Warrantors acknowledge that the Buyer or its direct or indirect parent corporation shall file copy a copy of the this Deed in connection with the current report on SEC Form 8-K disclosing the Buyers entry into the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
9. | ASSIGNMENT |
9.1 | Subject to Clause 9.2 below, no party may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Deed without the prior written consent of the other party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
9.2 | The Buyer may assign its benefits under this Deed to any bank or financial institution or other person by way of security for the purposes of or in connection with the financing or refinancing (whether in whole or in part) by the Buyer of the transaction contemplated by the Sale and Purchase Agreement provided that the assignee of such rights shall not be entitled to further assign them other than by way of enforcement of such security. |
9.3 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 9.2 above, the parties hereby agree that where the Buyer assigns its benefits under this Deed (whether in whole or in part) to any such person as is referred to in Clause 9.2 above, the rights of the Warrantors under this Deed against the Buyers Group shall be no less than such rights would have been had the assignment not occurred and the obligations or liabilities of the Warrantors under this Deed (including in respect of Tax) shall be no greater than such obligations or liabilities would have been had the assignment not occurred. |
10. | COSTS AND EXPENSES |
Except where this Deed and/or any other Transaction Document provides otherwise, each party shall pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiation, preparation and implementation of this Deed (and the documents referred to in this Deed) or otherwise incurred in relation to the transactions contemplated by the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
11. | NOTICES |
11.1 | Form of Notice |
Any notice or other communication to be given or made under or in connection with this Deed (each a Notice ) must be given in writing to the party due to receive such Notice and must be signed by or on behalf of the person giving it.
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11.2 | Method of Service |
A Notice must be served in one of the following ways:
11.2.1 | by hand by hand to the relevant address specified in Clause 11.5; or |
11.2.2 | by post by prepaid first-class post to the relevant address specified in Clause 11.5; or |
11.2.3 | by airmail by prepaid international airmail to the relevant address specified in Clause 11.5; or |
11.2.4 | by fax by fax to the relevant fax number specified in Clause 11.5. |
11.3 | Deemed Delivery |
Unless there is evidence that it was received earlier, a Notice is deemed given, as follows:
11.3.1 | by hand upon delivery, if delivered during a Business Day or at the start of the next Business Day, if delivered at any other time; or |
11.3.2 | by post at the start of the second Business Day after the date of posting; or |
11.3.3 | by airmail at the start of the fourth Business Day after posting; or |
11.3.4 | by fax upon receipt by the sender of a transmission report (or other appropriate evidence) that the fax has been transmitted to the addressee. |
11.4 | In Clause 11.3, during a Business Day means any time between 9.30am and 5.30pm on a Business Day based on the local time where the recipient of the Notice is located. References to the start of a Business Day and the end of a Business Day shall be construed accordingly |
11.5 | Address for Service |
For the purposes of this Clause 11, the authorised address and fax number of:
11.5.1 | each of the Warrantors or the Warrantors Representative: |
the address set out against the name of each such person in column (2) of Schedule 1
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Mills & Reeve LLP
Botanic House, 98 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 1PH
United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 1223 355848
For the attention of: Anthony McGurk
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11.5.2 | the Buyer : |
Westminster Acquisition Limited
c/o Post Holdings, Inc.
2503 S. Hanley Road
St Louis, Missouri 63144
Fax number: +1 314 646 3367
For the attention of: Diedre J. Gray, SVP, General Counsel, Chief
Administrative Officer and Secretary
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Lewis Rice LLC
600 Washington Avenue
Suite 2500
St Louis, Missouri 63101
Fax:+1 314 621 7671
For the attention of: Tom W. Zook
and
Baker & McKenzie LLP
100 New Bridge Street
London
EC4V 6JA
United Kingdom
Fax number: +44 (0) 20 7919 1999
For the attention of: Charles Whitefoord
11.6 | Change of Details |
A party may change its address or fax number for service provided that it gives each other party to this Deed not less than five clear Business Days prior notice in accordance with this Clause 11. Until the end of such notice period, service on either address shall remain effective.
12. | PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
If, at any time, any provision of this Deed is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
13. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
13.1 | This Deed and the other Transaction Documents (and any documents referred to in any such documents, including the documents in the Agreed Form) constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties and supersedes and extinguishes any previous agreements, arrangements and understanding between, or Pre-Contractual Statements made or given by or on behalf of, the parties (whether written or oral) relating to the transactions contemplated by the Sale and Purchase Agreement. |
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13.2 | Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that it does not rely, and has not relied on, or been induced to enter into this Deed and/or the other Transaction Documents by any Pre-Contractual Statement that is not expressly repeated in this Deed or in any of the other Transaction Documents. |
13.3 | The Buyer and the Warrantors agree that neither the Buyer (in the case of the Warrantors) nor any Warrantor (in the case of the Buyer) shall have any remedy or bring any action against the other party (whether in equity, contract or tort (including negligence), as the case may be), in relation to any Pre-Contractual Statements relating to the subject matter of this Deed and/or any other Transaction Documents except to the extent expressly repeated in this Deed and/or any other Transaction Document. |
13.4 | Nothing in this Clause 13 shall have the effect of limiting or restricting any liability arising as a result of fraud. |
14. | VARIATION |
No variation, supplement, deletion or replacement of or from this Deed or any of its terms shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by or on behalf of each party.
15. | WAIVER |
Any waiver of a breach of any of the terms of this Deed or of any default under this Deed shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default and shall in no way affect the other terms of this Deed.
16. | REMEDIES |
16.1 | Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Deed or expressly agreed by the parties in writing, no failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any party, any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Deed shall affect that right, power or remedy or operate as a waiver of it. |
16.2 | The single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Deed shall not preclude any other or further exercise of it or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. |
16.3 | No waiver of any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Deed shall take effect unless it is in writing and signed by authorised representatives of the party giving the waiver. |
16.4 | Save in the case of fraud, the sole remedy for the Buyer for any breach of the Warranties or any other breach of this Deed (whether through negligence or otherwise) shall be an action for damages. No breach of any of the Warranties or any other breach of this Deed shall entitle the Buyer to rescind or terminate this Deed or otherwise treat it as terminated or to recover damages in tort or for misrepresentation and the Buyer waives all and any rights of recission in respect of this Deed that it may have other than in respect of fraud. |
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17. | THIRD PARTIES |
Other than the third parties referred to in Clause 2.8 (which persons may directly enforce that Clause), a person who is not a party to this Deed may not enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Deed under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Notwithstanding any term of this Deed, no consent of any third party is required for any amendment (including any release or compromise of any liability) or termination of this Deed.
18. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts and by each party on separate counterparts. Each counterpart is an original and all counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
19. | GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION |
19.1 | Governing Law |
This Deed and all matters arising from it (including all non-contractual obligations) are governed by English law.
19.2 | Jurisdiction of English courts |
The parties agree that:
19.2.1 | the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and decide any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Deed (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Deed or any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this Deed) (a Dispute ); and |
19.2.2 | the courts of England and Wales are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and, accordingly, will not argue to the contrary and for these purposes submit irrevocably to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in England and Wales. |
20. | DELIVERY |
This Deed is delivered on the date written at the start of this Deed.
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SCHEDULE 1
WARRANTORS
(1)
|
(2)
Address |
(3)
Relevant Proportion (%) |
(4)
Liability Cap |
|||
Giles Turrell |
51.72 | £1,138,000 | ||||
Richard Martin |
15.53 | £342,000 | ||||
Gareth Martin |
10.34 | £227,000 | ||||
Sally Abbott |
10.34 | £227,000 | ||||
Kevin Fawell |
3.16 | £70,000 | ||||
Stuart Branch |
8.91 | £196,000 | ||||
Total |
100 | £2,200,000 |
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SCHEDULE 2
WARRANTIES
1. | Shares and Share Capital |
1.1 | No person has claimed any right to call for the creation, allotment, issue, sale, transfer, redemption or repayment of any share or loan capital in any Group Company. |
1.2 | Since the Locked Box Date, no Group Company has: |
(a) | repaid or redeemed or agreed to repay or redeem any shares of any class of its share capital or otherwise reduced or agreed to reduce any class of its issued share capital or purchased any of its own shares or carried out any transaction having the effect of a reduction of capital; or |
(b) | made, or resolved or agreed to make, any issue of shares or other securities by way of capitalisation of profits or reserves. |
2. | Corporate Information |
2.1 | Each of the issued shares of the Subsidiaries has been properly allotted and issued and is fully paid up or credited as fully paid up. |
2.2 | Apart from the Subsidiaries, the Company does not own or have (and has not agreed to acquire) any interest of any nature whatsoever in any shares, debentures or other securities of any other body corporate. |
2.3 | The copy of the constitutional documents of each Group Company contained in the Data Room is accurate and complete. |
2.4 | The statutory books of each Group Company and all company registers and filings are up-to-date and contain in all material respects an accurate record of the matters which are required by law to be dealt with in them and no written notice or allegation that any of them is incorrect or should be rectified has been received by any Group Company. |
2.5 | No member of the Group has any liability to pay any amount to any of the Joint Venture Companies and/or to any of the other parties to the Joint Venture Agreements and/or their Connected Persons, other than (i) as set out in the Joint Venture Agreements and/or (ii) arising from trading in the ordinary course of business. |
2.6 | The business of the Joint Venture Companies has been carried on in the ordinary course and there is no fact, matter or circumstance in relation to any of the Joint Venture Companies which is likely to have a material adverse effect upon the business, assets, reputation or trading prospects of any other member of the Group. |
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3. | Accounts, Management Accounts and Locked Box Accounts |
3.1 | The Accounts: |
(a) | have been prepared and audited in accordance with the Relevant Accounting Standards and the Act; |
(b) | have been prepared, unless otherwise expressly stated in the Accounts, on a basis and using policies, practices, methods and estimation techniques consistent with that, adopted by the Group during the two preceding accounting periods; and |
(c) | give a true and fair view of the affairs, assets and liabilities of the Group on a consolidated basis as at the Accounts Date and of its profit or loss and cash flows on a consolidated basis for the financial year ended on the Accounts Date. |
3.2 | Each of the December 2016 Management Accounts and the Management Accounts: |
(a) | have been prepared in accordance with the same accounting policies, practices, methods and estimation techniques used in the preparation of the Accounts, with due care and on a basis consistent in all material respects with that adopted in the preparation of the Accounts; and |
(b) | are not misleading in any material respect and do not materially overstate the value of the assets or materially understate the liabilities (actual, contingent or otherwise) of the Group as at: |
(i) | in the case of the December 2016 Management Accounts, the Locked Box Date; and |
(ii) | in the case of the Management Accounts, the Management Accounts Date. |
In interpreting the statements in this paragraph 3.2, regard must be had to the purpose for which the December 2016 Management Accounts and the Management Accounts were prepared and the fact that they were not prepared to a statutory or audit standard.
3.3 | The Locked Box Accounts: |
(a) | have been prepared in accordance with the same accounting policies, practices, methods and estimation techniques used in the preparation of the Accounts, with due care and on a basis consistent in all material respects with that adopted in the preparation of the Accounts; and |
(b) | are not misleading in any material respect and do not materially overstate the value of the assets or materially understate the liabilities (actual, contingent or otherwise) of the Group as at the Locked Box Date. |
In interpreting the statements in this paragraph 3.3, regard must be had to the purpose for which the Locked Box Accounts were prepared and the fact that they were not prepared to an audit standard.
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3.4 | Accounting Records |
All the books, ledgers and accounting and other financial records of each Group Company required to be kept by law or Relevant Accounting Standards or IFRS have been fully, properly and accurately kept and completed in accordance with the requirements of law, Relevant Accounting Standards and IFRS.
4. | Events since the Locked Box Date |
4.1 | Since the Locked Box Date: |
(a) | the business of the Group as a whole has been carried on, in all material respects, in the ordinary course; |
(b) | the Company has not, except in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice, acquired, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of any assets of whatsoever nature, in each case with a individual value of in excess of £1,000,000, and with an aggregate value in excess of £5,000,000; |
(c) | no Group Company has offered or agreed to offer price reductions, discounts or allowances on sales of goods or services, nor provided them or agreed to provide them at less than cost, to an extent that may materially affect the profitability of the Group; and |
(d) | there has been no material adverse change in the turnover or the financial or trading position of the Group as a whole. |
4.2 | Except as reflected in the Locked Box Accounts, no member of the Group has any material liabilities, other than liabilities (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business after Locked Box Date (none of which result from, arise out of, relate to, or are in the nature of or caused by any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of law); (ii) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or the Sale and Purchase Agreement; or (iii) that have been discharged or paid in full prior to the date hereof in the ordinary course of business and no Group Company has agreed to incur any such liability. |
5. | Bank borrowings |
5.1 | Other than as Disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, no Group Company has any material outstanding indebtedness (other than trade credit arising in the ordinary course of trading) or has in place any outstanding debt instruments and there are no commitments or agreements relating to the creation of the same. |
5.2 | In the 12 months immediately preceding the date of this Deed, no event which is an event of default under or any material breach of any of the terms of any loan capital, borrowing, debenture or financial facility of any member of the Group or would entitle any third party to call for repayment prior to normal maturity has occurred or been alleged. |
5.3 | During the period of 12 months ending on the date of this Deed, no Group Company has applied for or received any grant or allowance from any authority or agency. |
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6. | Insolvency |
6.1 | No order has been made and no resolution has been passed for the winding up of any Group Company and no petition has been presented for the purpose of winding up any Group Company. |
6.2 | No administration order has been made and no petition or application for such an order has been made or presented in respect of any Group Company. |
6.3 | No receiver (which expression shall include an administrative receiver) has been appointed in respect of any Group Company. |
6.4 | No composition or similar arrangement with creditors, including but not limited to a voluntary arrangement, has been proposed in respect of any Group Company. |
6.5 | No Group Company has admitted itself to be insolvent or unable to pay its debts (or deemed to be unable to do so within the meaning of s.123 Insolvency Act 1986) nor suspended or ceased, or threatened to suspend or cease, to carry on all or a material part of its business. |
7. | Licences and Consents |
7.1 | All material licences, permissions, authorisations and consents required by each Group Company for or in connection with the carrying on of its business as it is currently being carried on (the Licences ) have been obtained and are in full force and effect and no Group Company is in material breach of the terms or conditions of any such Licences. |
7.2 | No written notice has been received by any member of the Group that any such Licence is likely to be suspended, cancelled or revoked. |
8. | Properties |
8.1 | The Properties are the only properties owned, leased, used or occupied by any member of the Group for the purposes of its business. |
8.2 | Each Group Company possesses good and marketable title to the Properties set against its name in Schedule 5 (which title is freehold or leasehold as set out in Schedule 5), in each case free of all Encumbrances, and the relevant Group Company is in exclusive occupation of the Property set against its name. |
8.3 | Title to each of the Properties where title is not registered at the Land Registry is properly constituted by, and can be deduced from, documents of title in the possession and under the control of a Group Company. |
8.4 | The Company has not entered into any agreement to dispose of, or terminate the lease on, any Property or any part of any Property or to acquire, use or occupy any other properties. |
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8.5 | In relation to each of the Properties: |
(a) | a copy of the relevant lease and title deeds and documents together with all material deeds and documents supplemental to such lease or title deeds or documents are contained in the Data Room; |
(b) | there are no subsisting claims, litigation or arbitration proceedings nor is there any cause of action threatened or pending; and |
(c) | the current use of the Properties is the permitted use under the relevant planning legislation and, in case of the Properties which are leasehold, under the terms of the leases or otherwise. |
8.6 | No member of the Group has any actual or contingent liability (whether as owner, former owner, or as tenant or former tenant, or as original contracting party or as guarantor of any party) in relation to any freehold or leasehold property. |
8.7 | Each Group Company has paid all sums properly due in relation to the Properties and the relevant Group Company has not been given notice of any grounds for forfeiture, rescission, avoidance, repudiation or termination of such leases and no Group Company has received any notice of termination of any lease nor knows of any existing circumstance which would entitle any relevant lessor to serve a notice of termination of any lease. |
8.8 | There are no notices, negotiations or proceedings pending in relation to rent reviews under the leases of the Properties nor is any rent liable at the date of this Deed to be reviewed. |
8.9 | All buildings and structures comprised in the Properties: |
(a) | are in a reasonable state of repair and condition and there are no structural or material defects in them; and |
(b) | have not been the subject of flooding or drainage defects and no substances the use of which is not now approved by current good building practice were used in the construction of any part of them. |
9. | Environmental Matters |
9.1 | There are no claims or proceedings pending, or threatened, against any member of the Group with respect to any breach of or liability under any Environmental Laws relating to the Group which is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business of the Group taken as a whole. |
9.2 | No member of the Group has received any written: |
(a) | notice or complaints alleging or specifying; or |
(b) | remediation notice, |
alleging any breach of or liability under any Environmental Laws relating to the Group which is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business of the Group taken as a whole.
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9.3 | There are in relation to the Properties and former properties no land conditions (including the migration of Hazardous Substances) that contravene Environmental Laws and/or which have given rise to or are reasonably likely to give rise to any material liability under Environmental Laws. |
10. | Contracts |
10.1 | The Data Room contains a materially complete, unredacted copy of all Material Contracts to which a Group Company is a party at the date of this Deed (or where such contracts are not in writing, summary particulars of such contracts) and no Group Company has received any written notice that it is in breach of any material terms of such contracts. |
10.2 | Each Material Contract is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms. |
10.3 | No party with whom a Group Company has entered into a Material Contract has within the last 12 months preceding the date of this Deed given notice in writing of its intention to terminate such Material Contract. |
10.4 | No member of the Group is party to any agreement or arrangement which: |
(a) | is outside the ordinary course of business; |
(b) | restricts its ability to carry on its business in any part of the world in accordance with normal business practices and/or contains exclusivity provisions; or |
(c) | is not wholly on arms length terms. |
10.5 | No member of the Group is a party to any contract or arrangement (other than service agreements) in which any of the Sellers or directors of any Group Company is directly or indirectly interested in a personal capacity. |
10.6 | Save as Disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, no Group Company is, nor has agreed to become: |
(a) | a member of any joint venture, consortium, partnership or other unincorporated association; |
(b) | party to a profit or loss sharing arrangement; |
(c) | party to any arrangement which, upon completion, is likely to result in a loss for the Group Company which is not fully provided for in the Locked Box Accounts; |
(d) | party to any arrangement or agreement that binds or purports to bind the shareholder(s) of the Company or their holding companies and/or any other subsidiary of such holding company that is not a Group Company; or |
(e) | party to any arrangement which establishes any guarantee, indemnity, suretyship, form of comfort or support (whether legally binding or not) given by the Group Company in respect of any other partys liability for any obligations. |
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10.7 | The execution and completion of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents shall not: |
(a) | require the consent of any third party pursuant to the terms of a Material Contract; |
(b) | modify, accelerate, conflict with or result in a breach of the terms of, or the termination of, any arrangement to which a member of the Group is a party or by which it is bound, or give rise to any right to do so; |
(c) | cause any member of the Group to lose the benefit of any right, licence, permit, grant or privilege that it enjoys at present or cause any person who normally does business with a member of the Group not to continue to do so on the same basis as previously; |
(d) | relieve any person of any obligation to a member of the Group (whether contractual or otherwise); or |
(e) | result in any liability being created or increased on the part of a member of the Group. |
11. | Insurance |
11.1 | A list of all current material insurance policies of the Group or in which any member of the Group has an interest is contained in the Data Room and in respect of such insurance policies: |
(a) | all premiums due have been paid; and |
(b) | no material insurance claim is outstanding and no circumstances exist which are likely to give rise to such a claim. |
11.2 | There have been no material changes to the terms of the insurance policies of the Group in the six month period ending on the date of this Deed and there are no circumstances that are reasonably likely to give rise to any change to any material term of the insurance policies of the Group. |
12. | Employees |
12.1 | The Data Room contains: |
(a) | a schedule setting out details of all of the Groups employees as at 31 January 2017, including those who are on maternity leave or absent because of disability or other long-term leave of absence; |
(b) | copies of the employment contracts or service agreements of each Senior Employee; |
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(c) | copies of the standard terms and conditions of employment applicable to the employees of the Group (other than the Senior Employees); |
(d) | copies of the employment policies applicable to the employees of the Group; and |
(e) | copies of all collective bargaining, works council, employee representative or other contract with any labour union, works council, employee committee or representative of any employee group. |
12.2 | No Senior Employee has given notice terminating his contract of employment (which has not yet terminated) or is under notice of dismissal. |
12.3 | There are no current, pending or threatened claims or disputes of any type with a value in excess of £100,000 in relation to any Group Company in respect of the employment or engagement of any employee, former employee, director, former director, or consultant engaged or formerly engaged to provide services to the Group Company. |
12.4 | There is no current, pending or threatened industrial action of any type against any Group Company by any significant number or category of the employees, or by any employee representatives or trade union representing any of the employees and no such industrial action has occurred in the last 12 months. There are no facts which might indicate that there may be any such trade dispute strike or industrial action. |
12.5 | No Group Company has any agreement or arrangement (whether oral or in writing or existing by reason of custom and practice and whether or not legally binding) with any trade union or other employees representatives and no Group Company recognises, has received any request for recognition of, any trade union, works council, or other employees representatives for the purpose of collective bargaining, negotiation, information or consultation. |
12.6 | Neither the execution nor delivery of any of the Transaction Documents nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will result in any payment (whether contingent or otherwise) becoming due to any employee (current, former or retired) of the Group Companies. |
12.7 | No Group Company has any liability in respect of any bonus or other long term employee incentive plan relating to any period prior to the Locked Box Date the liability in respect of which is not provided for in full in the Locked Box Accounts. |
13. | Pensions |
13.1 | The Data Room contains: |
(a) | details of: |
(i) | each scheme, arrangement or agreement (whether or not legally enforceable) for the provision of pension, retirement, supplementary retirement, death, ill-health, disability or accident benefits which a Group Company maintains, is a party to, contributes to, or otherwise participates in (excluding, for these purposes, any applicable state social security arrangements); and |
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(ii) | details of each material employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA) and any other material benefit arrangement or material obligation to provide benefits (other than merely as salary), including, any unqualified deferred compensation plan, |
(together, the Disclosed Schemes ); and
(b) | copies of all material documents governing or setting out the rules of each of the Disclosed Schemes and each such document is true, complete and accurate and contains no material omissions. |
13.2 | No plan or proposal to amend or to discontinue any Disclosed Scheme has been communicated to any Relevant Person or the trustees or managers of any Disclosed Scheme. |
13.3 | Apart from the Disclosed Schemes and any applicable state social security arrangements, no Group Company operates or has any obligation to provide any arrangement or practice to provide pension, death, ill-health, disability or accident benefits to or for the benefit of any of its directors or employees or their dependants and there are no proposals to enter into or establish any such arrangement or practice. |
13.4 | Save for the current payment period, there are no material contributions or payments due from any Group Company to or in respect of the Disclosed Schemes (other than those Disclosed Schemes which do not require funds to be contributed or paid to or in respect of them) which have not been paid and each Group Company has complied in all material respects with its obligations under the Disclosed Schemes. |
13.5 | Each Disclosed Scheme, in all material respects, complies with and has, in the six year period ending on the date of this Deed, complied with all applicable rules, laws, by-laws and regulations. |
13.6 | No Group Company has any current or contingent liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA, (B) Section 302 of ERISA, or (C) Code Sections 412, 430 and 4971. None of the assets of any Group Company is subject to a lien arising under or in connection with any Disclosed Scheme under the Code or ERISA. No Group Company has any liability for Taxes under Code Section 4980H. No Group Company has, or has in the six year period ending on the date of this Deed had, any liability in connection with, or obligation to contribute to, any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA and subject to ERISA. |
13.7 | Where applicable, each Group Company complies with and has, in the six year period ending on the date of this Deed, complied with its obligations under the Pensions Act 2008 and relevant regulations in relation to automatic enrolment and there are no circumstances which may result in failure to comply with such obligations. |
13.8 | There are no current: |
(a) | claims or disputes with a value in excess of £100,000; or |
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(b) | investigations by any Tax Authority or Regulatory Authority, |
in relation to any Disclosed Scheme.
13.9 | The UK Pensions Regulator has not issued any contribution notice or financial support direction pursuant to its powers under sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004 in relation to any Disclosed Scheme and there are no actions or investigations being undertaken by the UK Pensions Regulator in relation to the exercise of such powers. No application for a clearance statement under sections 42 or 46 of the Pensions Act 2004 has been made in relation to any Disclosed Scheme and there is no proposal to make such an application. |
13.10 | No debt on any Group Company under section 75 or section 75A of the Pensions Act 1995 in respect of any Disclosed Scheme has arisen or been imposed. |
13.11 | No Relevant Person has made any claim (other than a routine claim for benefits) or complaint (including a complaint to the Pension Ombudsman) which remains unsolved against any Group Company or in respect of any Disclosed Scheme or made any complaint in respect of any act, event or omission arising out of or in connection with the provision of Relevant Benefits by any Group Company or Disclosed Scheme. |
13.12 | For the purposes of this paragraph 13: |
Relevant Benefits means any pension, lump sum, gratuity or other like benefit provided or to be provided on retirement or on death, or by virtue of a pension sharing order or provision, or in anticipation of retirement, or, in connection with past service, after retirement or death or to be provided on or in anticipation of or in connection with any change in the nature of the service of any employee or officer, or any obligation to provide health or welfare benefits for any former employee (or their beneficiaries or dependents) following such employees termination of service; and
Relevant Person means:
(a) | an employee of a Group Company; or |
(b) | a former employee of a Group Company; or |
(c) | any dependant of an employee or a former employee of a Group Company. |
14. | Intellectual Property |
14.1 | Details of all material registered Intellectual Property rights owned by any Group Company are Disclosed in the Disclosure Documents. |
14.2 | All Intellectual Property rights used by any Group Company that are material to the current operations of the business of the Group are owned by or licensed to a Group Company free from any Encumbrance and are sufficient for the operation of the business of the Group as conducted at the date of this Deed. |
14.3 | All fees relating to the Intellectual Property due on or before the Locked Box Date have been paid in full. |
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14.4 | No third party is infringing any Intellectual Property owned by any Group Company and no claims concerning such infringement have been made or considered by any Group Company in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of this Deed. |
14.5 | No written notice has been received by a Group Company in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of this Deed alleging that the use of any Intellectual Property rights by any Group Company infringes the Intellectual Property of any third party. |
15. | Information Technology |
15.1 | The IT Systems are in satisfactory working order and perform in accordance with applicable specifications and service levels agreed with suppliers. No part of the IT Systems has materially failed to function or suffered a virus or other malware incident at any time in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of this Deed which had a materially disruptive effect on the Groups ability to carry on its business. |
15.2 | All parts of the IT Systems are mutually integrated, compatible and interoperable with all relevant software, hardware interfaces and IT infrastructure used in or connected to the IT Systems used by the Group. |
15.3 | All IT Systems that are material to the current operations of the business of the Group are owned by or licensed to a Group Company. Except as Disclosed, the use of and access to the IT Systems, records, data and information of the Group is not wholly or partially dependent on any facilities which are not under the exclusive ownership or control of a Group Company. |
15.4 | The Group Companies are in material compliance with the terms and conditions of all software licences or software-as-a-service agreements involving software forming part of the IT Systems. |
16. | Data Protection |
16.1 | The Group is complying in all material respects with data processing legislation and all other applicable laws and regulations regulating data protection, privacy or the recording, monitoring or interception of communications and has not received notice from, nor been subject to, enquiries by any regulatory authority regarding non-compliance or alleged non-compliance with applicable data protection legislation. |
16.2 | Each Group Company that is required under the Data Protection Act 1998 to be registered with the Information Commissioner is so registered and the contents of such registration are complete and accurate in all material respects. |
16.3 | The Group has received no complaint, claim or action from any data subject: |
(a) | alleging non-compliance with applicable data protection legislation; |
(b) | for compensation from any data subject for inaccuracy, loss or unauthorised processing by the Group of personal data; |
(c) | requesting access to personal data or applications for rectification or erasure of personal data which have not been satisfied at the date of this Deed. |
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16.4 | The Group Companies have in place written agreements with any third party that they use to process personal data on their behalf and such agreements contain provisions to protect and maintain the confidentiality and security of personal data. |
17. | Assets |
17.1 | Each of the assets that is material to the current operations of the business of the Group (other than the Properties and the Intellectual Property and other than assets disposed of, realised or applied in the ordinary course of business or acquired in the ordinary course of business subject to reservation of title or similar arrangements) (the Material Assets ) is owned both legally and beneficially by the relevant Group Company free from Encumbrance and each of those assets capable of possession is in the possession or under the control of the relevant Group Company. |
17.2 | There is no dispute between any Group Company and any person relating to any of the Material Assets. |
17.3 | Details of all assets used by the Group that are material to the current operations of the business of the Group and are leased by the Group (excluding the Properties and the Intellectual Property) (the Leased Assets ) are included in the Data Room. There has been no default by any Group Company in the performance of any material provision of leases in respect of the Leased Assets. |
17.4 | All the plant, machinery, equipment and vehicles used by the members of the Group in the conduct of its business have been regularly maintained in accordance with the appropriate technical specifications, safety regulations and the terms and conditions of any applicable agreement and are not obsolete or in need of renewal. |
18. | Legal Compliance and Litigation |
18.1 | Each Group Company is conducting its business in material compliance with all applicable laws, by-laws and regulations, and, with respect to employment matters, the relevant Group Companys policies, collective agreements and/or recognition agreements, and no Group Company is, nor has been during the three year period immediately preceding the date of this Deed, in material breach of any such laws, by-laws or regulations. |
18.2 | No Group Company has received written notice that is still outstanding from any Regulatory Authority that it is in violation of, or in default with respect to any statute, regulation, order, decree or judgment of any Regulatory Authority of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, where such violation or default would have a material adverse effect on the assets or financial position of the Group taken as a whole. |
18.3 | None of the activities, contracts or rights of any Group Company is ultra vires, criminal, illegal, unlawful, unauthorised, invalid, unenforceable, in breach of any contract, covenant or duty or in conflict with the rights of any person. |
18.4 | No Group Company is engaged in any litigation, arbitration or other dispute resolution process, or administrative or criminal proceedings, whether as claimant, defendant or otherwise which is material in the context of the business of the Group taken as a whole ( Material Proceedings ) other than as claimant in the collection of debts arising in the ordinary course of business. For the purposes of this paragraph, a claim or proceeding shall be material if it involves a claim for £100,000 or more, any injunctive relief or any specific performance. |
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18.5 | No Material Proceedings by or against any member of the Group are pending or threatened. |
18.6 | No Group Company (i) has been or is designated on any Restricted Person List or is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by a party designated on such list, (ii) participated in any transaction or conduct directly or indirectly involving a party designated on any Restricted Person List or owned or controlled by such party, (iii) is established in or holds assets in or has participated in a transaction or conduct directly or indirectly involving a US Embargoed Territory, (iv) exported (including deemed exportation) or re-exported (including deemed re-exportation), directly or indirectly, or participated in the shipment of any good, technology or services in violation of any US, EU or other applicable export control or economic sanctions laws, regulations or orders administered by U.S. OFAC, U.S. Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, or any competent authority of an EU Member State or other country or region, or (v) otherwise participated in any export, re-export or transaction or conduct prohibited by U.S., E.U. or other applicable export control or economic sanctions laws. |
18.7 | No Group Company is or has been the subject of any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any governmental, administrative or regulatory body regarding any actual or alleged sanctions offences, and no such investigation, inquiry or proceedings have been threatened or are pending and there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry, proceedings or claim. |
18.8 | No Group Company has during the three year period immediately preceding the date of this Deed: |
(a) | engaged in any activity, practice or conduct that would constitute a breach or attempted breach of E.U., U.K., U.S. or other applicable antitrust or competition laws; or |
(b) | been the subject of any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any Regulatory Authority or been the subject of any claim by any customer or any other person or entity regarding any unlawful practice or alleged unlawful practice under EU, US, UK or other applicable antitrust or competition laws and no such investigation, inquiry, proceeding or claim has been threatened or is pending and there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry, proceedings or claim. |
19. | Anti Bribery and Anti-Corruption |
19.1 | No Group Company or Associated Person has during the three year period immediately preceding the date of this Deed: |
(a) | engaged in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute a breach or attempted breach of Corruption Laws by a Group Company, Associated Person or other person or entity; or |
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(b) | been the subject of any investigation, inquiry or enforcement proceedings by any Regulatory Authority or been the subject of any claim by any customer or other person or entity regarding any offence or alleged offence under Corruption Laws and no such investigation, inquiry, proceeding or claim has been threatened or is pending and there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such investigation, inquiry, proceedings or claim. |
20. | Food Standards and Trading |
20.1 | In the 3 years prior to the date of this Deed: |
(a) | each Group Company and, with respect to products and ingredients supplied to members of the Group, each supplier, has been in compliance with all Food Laws applicable to it; |
(b) | no member of the Group has sold, manufactured, produced, distributed or marketed any product which is or was faulty, defective, dangerous, or a threat to the health and safety of a consumer when consumed in the intended manner or which does not comply in any material respect with any warranties or representations expressly or impliedly made by the relevant member of the Group or with all applicable Food Laws; and |
(c) | all claims on the labelling and in the advertising and promotional materials of the products manufactured, produced, distributed or marketed by any member of the Group have been and continue to be in compliance with all applicable Food Laws. |
20.2 | In the 3 years prior to the date of this Deed no Group Company has received any notice, with respect to the members of the Group or any product sold, manufactured, produced, distributed or marketed by any Group Company, from any Regulatory Authority or any other person regarding any: |
(a) | actual, alleged, possible or potential material violation of, or failure to comply with, any Food Law; |
(b) | actual, alleged, possible or potential material obligation on the part of any Group Company to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any material remedial action of any nature; or |
(c) | pending or threatened investigation, proceeding, or inquiry under any Food Laws. |
20.3 | In the 3 years prior to the date of this Deed none of the products sold, manufactured, produced, distributed or marketed by any member of the Group have been subject to any voluntary or mandatory product withdrawal, modification, cancellation, suspension, safety alert, recall, seizure, detention or other corrective action as a result of an actual or potential violation of any applicable Food Laws. |
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21. | Tax |
Locked Box Accounts
21.1 | Provision or reserve (as appropriate) has been made in the Locked Box Accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice and all relevant accounting standards: |
(a) | for all Tax for which each Group Company is liable or accountable (whether primarily or otherwise) in respect of all income, profits or gains earned, accrued or received on or before the Locked Box Accounts Date or in respect of any event occurring on or before the Locked Box Accounts Date; and |
(b) | for all deferred Tax assets and liabilities of each Group Company. |
Tax Returns and Compliance
21.2 | Each Group Company has in the last four years: |
(a) | submitted on a timely basis every material Tax return, notice and computation; and |
(b) | provided on a timely basis all information, |
it is required by law to submit to any Tax Authority, and each such Tax return, notice and computation and all such information is true, accurate and complete and no such return, notice, computation or information is the subject of any dispute with any Tax Authority.
21.3 | Each Group Company has, in the four year period ending on the date of this Deed, prepared, kept and preserved complete, accurate and up-to-date records as required by law. |
21.4 | Each Group Company has properly and within applicable time limits paid all Tax which it has become liable to pay and there is no Tax liability in respect of which the date for payment has been postponed by agreement with the relevant Tax Authority or by virtue of any right under any Tax legislation. |
21.5 | Each Group Company has, in the four year period ending on the date of this Deed, properly made all deductions, withholdings and retentions required to be made by it on account of Tax and has, in the four year period ending on the date of this Deed, duly accounted for all such deductions, withholdings and retentions to each relevant Tax Authority. |
21.6 | Each Group Company is not, and has not in the last four years been, liable to pay a material penalty, surcharge or fine in connection with Tax. |
21.7 | No Group Company has in the last four years been, or is currently, subject to any non-routine investigation, audit, enquiry or visit by any Tax Authority. No Group Company has in the last four years been involved in any dispute with any Taxation Authority and there are no facts which are likely to cause any Group Company to be subject to, any non-routine visit, audit, investigation, enquiry, discovery or access order by any Taxation Authority. |
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21.8 | All transactions made in the four year period ending on the date of this Deed between each Group Company and any person who is or who has been connected or otherwise associated with the Group Company in any way for any Tax purposes, have been and are on arms length terms. |
Tax Grouping
21.9 | No Group Company has at any time in the last four years (a) had its tax affairs or payments dealt with on a consolidated or group basis with any person other than another Group Company or (b) entered into any tax sharing arrangement. |
Tax Residency
21.10 | Each Group Company is and has always been resident for tax purposes solely in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated. No Group Company has any taxable branch, agency, permanent or fixed establishment, or other taxable presence in any other jurisdiction. |
Tax Avoidance
21.11 | No Group Company has in the last four years been, or is currently, party to any transaction which is required to be disclosed to any Tax Authority under any rules requiring disclosure of tax-advantaged transactions or any arrangement or scheme of which the main purpose or one of the main purposes, was the avoidance of a liability to Tax. |
Value Added Tax
21.12 | Each Group Company which is required to be registered is properly registered for the purposes of VAT in each jurisdiction in which it is liable to be so registered. |
21.13 | Each Group Company has during the last four years complied in all respects with all Tax legislation concerning VAT. |
21.14 | No Group Company is, nor has during the last four years been, wholly or partially exempt from VAT and all supplies made by each Group Company are taxable supplies and no Group Company has been denied credit for any input tax. |
Stamp Duty
21.15 | All material documents in the enforcement of which any Group Company may be interested have been duly stamped. |
Clearances
21.16 | No Tax Authority has agreed to operate any special arrangement (being an arrangement not available to taxpayers generally and not specifically provided for in Tax legislation) in respect of the Tax affairs of any Group Company. |
21.17 | Each Tax Authority clearance or ruling on which any Group Company relies or has in the last four years relied was made on the basis of full and accurate disclosure and each Group Company has complied with any applicable conditions of the same. |
33
Tax Indemnity
21.18 | No Group Company is bound by any indemnity, guarantee or covenant to pay in respect of Tax in connection with the disposal of any interest in any entity. |
Position since the Accounts Date
21.19 | Since the Accounts Date, no Tax has arisen or is likely to arise to any Group Company (or would have arisen but for the use of any available reliefs) and no Group Company has disposed of any material capital asset or entered into any other transaction in each case outside the ordinary course of business which will give rise to any Tax liability. |
Each Group Company has duly made all claims, elections or consents in respect of Tax which are assumed to have been made for the purposes of computing any provision or reserve for Tax (including deferred Tax) included the Locked Box Accounts.
Completion
21.20 | No liability to Tax will arise for any Group Company as a result of the entry into or Completion of the Sale and Purchase Agreement. |
Secondary liability
21.21 | No Group Company is liable for any Tax which is the primary liability of any person other than a Group Company. |
No Capital Increase
21.22 | For the purposes of Part 14 Corporation Tax Act 2010 ( CTA ), there has not been a significant increase in the amount of the capital (within the meaning of section 688 CTA 2010) of B.L.Marketing Limited following a change of ownership (within the meaning of section 719 CTA 2010) of B.L.Marketing Limited. |
431 Elections
21.23 | Joint elections under section 431 Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 ( ITEPA ) for full disapplication of Chapter 2 ITEPA that meet the requirements of section 431 ITEPA have been entered into between each Management Seller and their respective employer that cover all employment-related securities acquired by that Management Seller. |
34
SCHEDULE 3
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY
1. | Limitation on Quantum |
1.1 | Without prejudice to any other provisions of this Deed, the total aggregate liability of each Warrantor in respect of: |
(a) | any Warranty Claim shall be limited to the proportionate share of that Warranty Claim set opposite his name in column 3 of Schedule 1; |
(b) | all Warranty Claims shall be limited to and shall not, in any event, exceed the amount set opposite such Warrantors name in column 4 of Schedule 1; and |
(c) | without prejudice to paragraphs 1.1(a) and (b) above, all Claims, all Seller Claims, all claims under the Tax Deed and any claim pursuant to clause 4.2.2 of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (other than a claim in respect of any Leakage which is actually received by a particular Warrantor or its Connected Person) shall be limited to and shall not, in any event, exceed an amount equal to the Consideration actually received by that Warrantor pursuant to the Sale and Purchase Agreement. |
1.2 | The Warrantors shall not be liable in respect of any Warranty Claim (or series of Warranty Claims arising from substantially the same facts or circumstances) unless and until: |
(a) | the amount of any such Warranty Claim (or series of Warranty Claims) exceeds £100,000; and |
(b) | the aggregate amount of all Warranty Claims for which the Warrantors are liable (excluding any amounts in respect of a Warranty Claim for which the Warrantors have no liability as a result of paragraph 1.2(a) above) exceeds £10,000,000, in which event the Warrantors shall be liable for the amount by which the aggregate amount of all such Warranty Claims exceeds £10,000,000. |
1.3 | For the purposes of the limits in this paragraph 1, the liability of a Warrantor shall be deemed to include the amount of all costs, expenses and other liabilities (together with any VAT thereon) incurred or payable by that Warrantor in connection with the satisfaction, settlement or determination of any claim, proceeding, suit or action. |
2. | Time Limits for bringing Claims and Notification |
2.1 | No Claim shall be brought against the Warrantors and the Warrantors shall not be liable for any Claim unless the Buyer shall have given the Warrantors Representative notice in writing of that Claim stating in reasonable detail the matter which gives rise to the Claim, the nature of the Claim and its bona fide estimate of the amount claimed (save in respect of a Contingent Claim (as defined below), where the likely amount of such Claim is not known or cannot reasonably be estimated by the Buyer at the time) in respect of such Claim on or before: |
35
(a) | the date falling 12 months after Completion in the case of a Warranty Claim for breach of any of the Warranties other than the Tax Warranties; and |
(b) | the date falling four years after Completion in the case of a Warranty Claim for breach of any of the Tax Warranties. |
2.2 | If notice of any Claim is served by the Buyer under paragraph 2.1, no Warrantor shall be liable in respect of such Claim (if such Claim has not been satisfied or settled) unless legal proceedings in respect of such Claim are both issued and served within six months after (and excluding) the date on which notice is served and, if such conditions are not satisfied, such Claim shall be deemed to have been irrevocably withdrawn and waived by the Buyer and the Buyer shall, upon such withdrawal, forthwith take such action (at the Buyers cost) as may be necessary to discontinue such Claim. |
3. | Bringing, Withdrawing and Settling Claims |
3.1 | None of the Warrantors shall be liable for any Warranty Claim unless the same Warranty Claim has been brought against and pursued in the same manner against all of the Warrantors. |
3.2 | If the Buyer withdraws a Warranty Claim against any (but not all) of the Warrantors, the Buyer shall also withdraw that Warranty Claim against each of the other Warrantors. |
3.3 | If the Buyer settles a Warranty Claim against any (but not all) of the Warrantors, the Buyer shall offer to each of the other Warrantors settlement terms which are, so far as practicable, the same (having regard to the percentage of each claim to be borne by, and the aggregate liability of, such Warrantors) as those agreed with those Warrantors with whom the Buyer has settled. |
3.4 | For the avoidance of doubt, any Warranty Claim shall be served by the Buyer on the Warrantors Representative on behalf of all of the Warrantors. |
4. | No Liability if Loss is Otherwise Compensated For |
The Buyer agrees that:
4.1 | neither it nor any other Buyer Group Company shall be entitled to recover damages or otherwise claim reimbursement or restitution to the extent that the Buyer Group has already received or been otherwise reimbursed for the losses arising out of the matters, facts or circumstances giving rise to a Claim; |
4.2 | no liability shall attach to the Warrantors by reason of any Claim to the extent that the loss occasioned to the Buyer or any other Buyer Group Company has been recovered under any other Claim; |
4.3 | the Warrantors shall not be liable for any Claim to the extent that the loss occasioned to the Buyer or any other Buyer Group Company has been or is made good or compensation is otherwise paid to the Buyer or any other Buyer Group Company; and |
36
4.4 | no Warrantor shall be liable for any Warranty Claim to the extent that the fact, matter, event or circumstance giving rise to such Claim is remediable and is remedied (at no cost to the Buyer Group) within 60 days of the date on which written notice of such Warranty Claim is served on the Warrantors Representative. |
5. | Other Limitations |
The Warrantors shall not be liable under any of the Warranties:
5.1 | to the extent that: |
(a) | a specific provision, reserve or allowance has been made in the Accounts, the Management Accounts or the Locked Box Accounts in respect of the fact, matter, event or circumstance giving rise to the Warranty Claim; or |
(b) | the fact, matter, event or circumstance giving rise to the Warranty Claim was Disclosed in the notes to the Accounts, the Management Accounts or the Locked Box Accounts; or |
(c) | any specific provision, reserve or allowance made in the Accounts, the Management Accounts or the Locked Box Accounts in respect of the fact, matter, event or circumstance giving rise to such Warranty Claim is insufficient as a result of any legislation not in force at the date of this Deed which is not published at the date of this Deed; |
5.2 | to the extent that such Warranty Claim is attributable to, arises as a result of, or is increased by any change after the date of this Deed in the Taxation or accounting bases, policies, practices or methods applied in preparing any accounts or valuing any assets of the Group from those used in preparing the Accounts or the Locked Box Accounts; or |
5.3 | to the extent that such liability arises or is increased as a result of any legislation not published at the date of this Deed; or |
5.4 | to the extent that such Warranty Claim is attributable to, arises as a result of, or is increased by the failure or omission by any Buyer Group Company or any person acting in accordance with the directions of any Buyer Group Company to make any claim, election, surrender or disclaimer or give any notice or consent or do any other thing under the provisions of any enactment or regulation relating to Taxation after the date of this Deed, and the making, giving or doing of which was specifically identified or identifiable and taken into account in computing a specific provision for Taxation in the Accounts, the Management Accounts or the Locked Box Accounts; or |
5.5 | in respect of any liability which is contingent and/or is not capable of being quantified (a Contingent Claim ), unless and until such contingent liability becomes an actual liability and/or capable of being quantified (as relevant), provided that: |
(a) |
this paragraph shall not operate to avoid a claim made in respect of a contingent or unquantifiable liability within the applicable time limits specified in paragraph 2 of this Schedule if the notice of such claim has been served before the expiry of the relevant period (even if such liability does not become an actual or quantifiable liability, as the case may be, until |
37
after the expiry of such period) provided that when such liability ceases to be contingent, the Warrantors shall have no liability for any claim that has been resolved or settled in either case without loss for any member of the Buyers Group; |
(b) | if written notice of such Contingent Claim is given in accordance with paragraph 5.5(a), the period for instituting legal proceedings stated in paragraph 2.1 shall not commence until the date on which the relevant liability becomes an actual liability and/or capable of being quantified (as relevant; or |
5.6 | if and to the extent that the fact, matter or circumstances giving rise to the Warranty Claim has been Disclosed; or |
5.7 | to the extent that such liability occurs or arises as a result of or is otherwise attributable wholly or partly to any voluntary act, transaction or omission of any Buyer Group Company (other than a Group Company) or their respective directors, employees or agents on or after Completion (including, without limitation, any change in the terms, amount or scope of the Companys or any Group Companys insurance after Completion) otherwise than in the ordinary course of business as carried on as at Completion, or if required to comply with any applicable law or with obligations incurred prior to the date of this Deed; or |
5.8 | to the extent that the fact, matter or circumstance of the Group Company giving rise to the Warranty Claim occurs or arises out of or as a result of any act, transaction or omission whatsoever authorised in writing by or carried out at the written request of the Buyer or any Buyer Group Company other than as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with obligations incurred prior to the date of this Deed; or |
5.9 | if and to the extent that, a Group Company is compensated for the amount of such loss under any policy of insurance in force immediately prior to the date of Completion. |
6. | Recovery from Third Parties |
6.1 | Subject to paragraph 6.2, if any Buyer Group Company is at any time entitled (whether by reason of a right to take legal action, an insurance or payment discount or otherwise) to recover from some other person any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to a Warranty Claim (whether before or after the Warrantors have made a payment under this Deed), the Buyer shall: |
(a) | promptly notify the Warrantors Representative; |
(b) | provide such information as the Warrantors Representative may require (acting reasonably and subject to the Warrantors Representative entering into a confidentiality undertaking on the terms reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer) relating to such right of recovery and the steps taken or to be taken by the Buyer or any Buyer Group Company in connection with it; |
38
(c) | before being entitled to recover any amount from the Warrantors under this Deed, first take, or procure that the relevant Buyer Group Company takes, all reasonable steps (whether by way of a claim against its insurers or otherwise including but without limitation legal proceedings) as the Warrantors may reasonably require to enforce such recovery; and |
(d) | will keep the Warrantors Representative fully and promptly informed of the progress of any action taken, |
and thereafter the amount of any claim against the Warrantor will be reduced (in addition to the other limitations on the liability of the Warrantors contained in this Deed) by the Sum Recovered.
6.2 | Nothing in this paragraph 6 shall: |
(a) | require the Buyer or any member of the Buyers Group to do anything or omit to do anything where such action or omission would, in the opinion of the Buyer (acting reasonably) be prejudicial in any material respect to the goodwill of the business of any member of the Buyers Group; |
(b) | require any member of the Buyers Group to do anything or omit to do anything if the relevant third party claim is a criminal action or proceeding or arises out of criminal, or allegedly criminal, behaviour on the part of any Group Company; or |
(c) | require any member of the Buyers Group to do anything that would conflict, or be reasonably likely to conflict, with the terms of an injunction. |
6.3 | If at any time the Warrantors or any one of them pays an amount pursuant to a Warranty Claim and any Buyer Group Company subsequently becomes entitled to recover from some other person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax Authority) any sum in respect of any matter giving rise to such Warranty Claim, the Buyer shall and shall procure that the relevant Buyer Group Company shall take all necessary steps to enforce such recovery and shall immediately repay to the relevant Warrantor or Warrantors the amount paid by it or them in respect of the Warranty Claim up to the Sum Recovered from such other person. |
6.4 | For the purposes of this paragraph 6, the expression Sum Recovered means an amount equal to the amount recovered from the third party (and for this purpose, in addition to any cash payment, any payment in kind or discount, credit or like benefit obtained shall constitute an amount recovered) plus any interest in respect of the amount recovered from the third party less all reasonable costs and expenses properly and reasonably incurred by the Buyer or (as the case may be) the relevant Buyer Group Company in recovering the amount from the third party. |
7. | Conduct of Warranty Claims |
7.1 | Subject to paragraph 7.2, if the Buyer or any Buyer Group Company becomes aware of a fact, matter, event or circumstance which might give rise to a Warranty Claim: |
(a) | the Buyer shall (or shall procure that any Buyer Group Company concerned shall) as soon as reasonably practicable give written notice of such matter to the Warrantors Representative; |
39
(b) | the Buyer shall (and shall procure that any Buyer Group Company concerned shall) provide to the Warrantors Representative and its advisers reasonable access during normal working hours and upon reasonable notice to premises and personnel and to relevant assets, documents and records within the Buyers Group for the purposes of investigating the matter; |
(c) | subject to providing suitable confidentiality undertakings to the Buyer, the Warrantors Representative may take copies of the documents or records, and photograph the premises or assets, referred to in paragraph 7.1(b) above; |
(d) | the Buyer shall (and shall procure that any Buyer Group Company concerned shall) keep the Warrantors Representative promptly informed of all material facts, matters and circumstances relevant to the matter, its conduct and its progress, including the levels of related fees and costs incurred from time to time; |
(e) | the Buyer shall consult with the Warrantors Representative with respect to such matter including, in advance, in relation to any proposed course of conduct of or material actions in relation to the matter and any material changes proposed to such course of conduct or actions and, in implementing and/or deciding whether to implement such proposed course of conduct, actions and/or changes, take due and reasonable account of the views of the Warrantors Representative prior to any such implementation; |
(f) | the Buyer shall (and shall procure that any Buyer Group Company concerned shall): |
(i) | take such action and give such information and assistance in connection with the affairs of the Buyer or any relevant Buyer Group Company as the Warrantors Representative may reasonably request to negotiate, avoid, dispute, resist, mitigate, compromise, defend or appeal against the matter or to enforce against a person (other than a Warrantor) the rights of any Buyer Group Company in relation to the matter; |
(ii) | in connection with proceedings related to the matter (other than against a Warrantor), use advisers nominated by the Warrantors Representative and/or, if the Warrantors Representative requests, allow the Warrantors Representative the exclusive conduct of the proceedings, |
on the basis that the Warrantors will indemnify the Buyer against all reasonable costs properly and reasonably incurred by the Buyers Group directly as a result of any such action but only to the extent that such costs would not, in the reasonably opinion of the Warrantors Representative, otherwise have been incurred by the Buyers Group.
40
(g) | the Buyer shall not, and shall ensure that no Buyer Group Company will, admit liability in respect of, or compromise or settle, the matter without the prior written consent of the Warrantors Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). |
7.2 | Neither the Buyer nor any Buyer Group Company shall be required to take any action or refrain from taking any action pursuant to paragraph 7.1 above: |
(a) | where such action or omission would, in the opinion of the Buyer (acting reasonably) be prejudicial in any material respect to the goodwill of the business of any member of the Buyers Group or its reputation or relationship with any Tax Authorities; |
(b) | if the relevant claim is a criminal action or proceeding or arises out of criminal, or allegedly criminal, behaviour on the part of any Group Company; or |
(c) | that would conflict, or be reasonably likely to conflict, with the terms of an injunction. |
7.3 | The Buyer shall take all reasonable action to avoid or mitigate any loss or liability suffered (or that would otherwise be suffered) by it or any Buyer Group Company in respect of a matter giving rise to a Warranty Claim. |
7.4 | The Warrantors shall not be liable in respect of any Warranty Claim that arises or to the extent it is increased as a result of any failure by any Buyer Group Company to comply with the provisions of paragraphs 7.1 and 7.3 above. |
8. | Miscellaneous |
8.1 | The Buyer shall not be entitled to claim for any indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits, turnover, business, goodwill or reputation or damages calculated on a multiple valuation theory. |
8.2 | None of the limitations contained in this Schedule 3 shall apply to any Claim that arises or is increased, or is delayed, as a result of fraud of the Warrantors. |
41
SCHEDULE 4
GROUP INFORMATION
Part A: The Company
Name of Company |
Latimer Newco 2 Limited | |
Registered Number | 06120878 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills Station Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 21 February 2007 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issued Share Capital |
£17,983,717.48 comprising:
- 10,834,831 A1 Ordinary Shares;
- 6,746,544 A2 Ordinary Shares;
- 388,571 B2 Ordinary Shares;
- 1,201,254 C Ordinary Shares;
- 175,794 D Ordinary Shares; and
- 100 Preference Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | As set out in Schedule 1 of the Sale and Purchase Agreement | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Lili Wang
Richard Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
42
Part B: The Subsidiaries
Name of Company | Latimer Newco Limited | |
Registered Number | 5653097 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 13 December 2005 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£13,816,331.10 comprising:
- 13,813,671 A Ordinary Shares; and
- 26,601 B Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 13,840,272 Shares held by Latimer Newco 2 Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
43
Name of Company | Latimer Holdings Limited | |
Registered Number | 4966644 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 17 November 2003 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£21.00 comprising:
- 21 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 21 Shares held by Latimer Newco Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
44
Name of Company | Latimer Group Limited | |
Registered Number | 4966642 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northhamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 17 November 2003 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£130,597.59 comprising:
- 400,187,560,000 Deferred Shares;
- 39,665,213 Ordinary A Shares;
- 500,000 Ordinary B Shares;
- 54,794 Ordinary C Shares;
- 40,000 Ordinary D Shares;
- 200,000 Ordinary E Shares;
- 100,000 Ordinary F Shares;
- 200,000 Ordinary G Shares;
- 160,000 Ordinary H Shares;
- 300,000 Ordinary I Shares; and
- 1,056,923 Ordinary J Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 400,229,836,930 Shares held by Latimer Holdings Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
45
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Name of Company | Latimer Acquisitions Limited | |
Registered Number | 4966641 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 17 November 2003 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£12.00 comprising:
- 12 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 12 Shares held by Latimer Group Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
46
Name of Company | B.L. Marketing Limited | |
Registered Number | 1001241 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 29 January 1971 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£1,001.00 comprising:
- 1,001 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 1001 Shares held by Latimer Acquisitions Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
47
Name of Company | Weetabix Limited | |
Registered Number | 267687 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 13 August 1932 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£2,969,004.25 comprising:
- 16,800 Ordinary Shares; and
- 11,808,817 Ordinary A Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 11,825,617 Shares held by B.L. Marketing Limited | |
Directors |
Guiyong Cui
Wang Lili
Richard William Thomas Martin
Mike Sursock
Giles Michael Turrell
Tonghong Wu
Bin Zhang
Jianfu Zhao |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
48
Name of Company | B.L. Agriculture Limited | |
Registered Number | 2134052 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation |
21 May 1987 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£2.00 comprising:
- 2 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) |
1 Share held by Weetabix Limited
1 Share held by Richard William George |
|
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
49
Name of Company | Globe Export Services Limited | |
Registered Number | 1309201 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 19 April 1977 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£2000.00 comprising:
- 2000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) |
1999 Shares held by Weetabix Limited
1 Share held by Richard William George |
|
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Name of Company | Firestar Limited | |
Registered Number | JE37681 | |
Registered Office | Ordnance House, 31 Pier Road, St Helier, Jersey | |
Date of Incorporation | 13 April 1987 | |
Place of Incorporation | Jersey | |
Issue Share Capital |
£9.00 comprising:
- 9 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | Globe Export Services Ltd | |
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
50
Name of Company | Millbrook Haulage and Storage Co. Ltd | |
Registered Number | 1076912 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 17 October 1972 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£120,000.00 comprising:
- 120,000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 120,000 Shares held by Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Name of Company | Weetabix Foods Limited | |
Registered Number | 1333423 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 11 October 1977 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£2,000.00 comprising:
- 2000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) |
1999 Shares held by Weetabix Limited
1 Share held by Richard William George |
|
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
51
Name of Company | Weetabix Trustee Limited | |
Registered Number | 2800024 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 10 March 1993 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£100.00 comprising:
- 100 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
52
Name of Company | Ryecroft Foods Limited | |
Registered Number | 1770169 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 15 November 1983 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£26,667.00 comprising:
- 24,000 Ordinary Shares; and
- 2667 Ordinary A Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) |
24,000 Shares held by Weetabix Limited
2667 Shares held by Weetabix Foods Limited |
|
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
53
Name of Company | Vibixa Limited | |
Registered Number | 314793 | |
Registered Office | Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, NN15 5JR | |
Date of Incorporation | 3 June 1936 | |
Place of Incorporation | England and Wales | |
Issue Share Capital |
£250,000.00 comprising:
- 250,000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 250,000 Shares held by Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
54
55
Name of Company | Melck Street Management PTY Ltd | |
Registered Number | 2001/015234/07 | |
Date of Incorporation | 1 February 2001 | |
Place of Incorporation | South Africa | |
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Directors |
Giles Turrell,
Gareth Martin,
Leonard Mead (resigned) |
|
Issued Share Capital | 200 Ordinary Shares of R1 each | |
Name of Company | Weetabix GmbH | |
Registered Number | HRB 5328 | |
Registered Office | Konigstrabe 1, 32545, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany | |
Date of Incorporation | 16 February 2004 | |
Place of Incorporation | Germany | |
Issue Share Capital |
EUR100,000.00 comprising:
- 1,000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 1,000 Shares held by Weetabix Limited | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Directors |
Giles Michael Turrell
Richard William Thomas Martin |
56
Name of Company | Weetabix Iberica SL | |
Registered Number | B84447739 | |
Date of Incorporation | 19 October 2005 | |
Place of Incorporation | Spain | |
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Directors |
Richard Martin
Giles Turrell |
|
Issued Share Capital | 1,000 shares of EUR100 each | |
Name of Company | Weetabix Food Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd | |
Registered Number | 91310000310509574X | |
Date of Incorporation | 30 June 2014 | |
Place of Incorporation | China | |
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Giles Michael Turrell
Richard Willian Thomas Martin
Gareth David Martin |
|
Issued Share Capital | Registered share capital of RMB 2,000,000 | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
57
Name of Company | Weetabix Mexico SA de CV | |
Registered Number | 131922 | |
Date of Incorporation | 23/03/2012 | |
Place of Incorporation | San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon | |
Issue Share Capital | 50,000 class I ordinary shares of MXN 1.00 | |
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited (49,999 class I ordinary shares), Richard William Thomas Martin (1 class I ordinary share) | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December | |
Directors |
G Turrell
A Alvarez
R Martin |
|
Name of Company | Weetabix Ireland Limited | |
Registered Number | 517302 | |
Registered Office | One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 | |
Date of Incorporation | 6 September 2012 | |
Place of Incorporation | Republic of Ireland | |
Issue Share Capital |
EUR30,000.00 comprising:
- 30,000 Ordinary Shares |
|
Shareholder(s) | 30,000 Shares held by Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Richard William Thomas Martin
Giles Michael Turrell |
|
Secretary | Christopher Thomas | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
58
Name of Company | Weetabix Mes FZE | |
Registered Number | 181498 | |
Registered Office | Office NO 1106, Jafza, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
Date of Incorporation | 10 July 2016 | |
Place of Incorporation | UAE | |
Issue Share Capital | 2 Ordinary Shares of AED100,000 each | |
Shareholder(s) | Weetabix Limited | |
Directors |
Giles Michael Turrell
Sean Holder |
59
Part C: Joint Venture Companies
Name of Company | Alpen Food Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd | |
Registered Number | 1995/010073/07 | |
Registered Office | 1 Melck Street, Maitland, 7405 | |
Date of Incorporation | 20 September 1995 | |
Place of Incorporation | South Africa | |
Issue Share Capital |
4000 Ordinary Shares of R1 each
2000 owned by Melck Street Management
2000 Pioneer Foods |
|
Shareholder(s) | Melck Street Management PTY Ltd and Pioneer Foods (Proprietary) Limited | |
Directors |
Giles Michael Turrell
Jay Ann Jacobs
Leonard Anthony Mead (dismissed)
Tertius Alwyn Carstens |
|
Secretary | Andrew Stan Le Roux | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
60
Name of Company | Weetabix East Africa Limited | |
Registered Number | CPR/2009/7862 | |
Registered Office | LR No. 209/8642, Likoni Road, PO Box Number 200 - 00606, Nairobi, Kenya | |
Date of Incorporation | 29 July 2009 | |
Place of Incorporation | Kenya | |
Issue Share Capital | 499 Ordinary Shares and 1 Class B Share | |
Shareholder(s) |
Weetabix Limited - 250 Ordinary Shares
Pioneer Foods Proprietary Limited 249 Ordinary Shares
Liaquat Ahsan Manji 1 Class B Share |
|
Directors |
Giles Michael Turrell
Liaquat Ahsan Manji (resigned)
Gareth David Martin
Pritpal Singh Deogun (resigned)
Tertius Carstens
Thushen Govender |
|
Secretary | Manseer Secretarial Services, P.O. Box 30626-00100, Nairobi, Kenya | |
Accounting Reference Date | 31 December |
61
SCHEDULE 5
PROPERTIES
Part A: Freehold Property
No. |
Owner of freehold title |
Address of Property |
Title number | |||
1 | B. L. Marketing Limited | Land and building on the south side of Macadam Road, Corby NN17 4JN ( Corby 3 ) | NN168304 | |||
2 | B. L. Marketing Limited | Land and buildings on the south side of Earlstrees Road, Corby NN17 4AZ ( Corby 2 ) | NN243839 | |||
3 | B. L. Marketing Limited | Land and buildings at the junction of Earlstrees Road and Rockingham Road, Corby, NN17 2AG ( Corby 1 ) | NN195622 | |||
4 | B. L. Marketing Limited | Weetabix Mills, Station Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | NN247599 | |||
5 | Weetabix Limited | Land on the south west side of Station Road, Burton Latimer | NN243844 and NN243845 | |||
6 | Weetabix Limited | Land on the south side of Station Road, Burton Latimer | NN243841 | |||
7 | Millbrook Haulage and Storage Co. Limited | Ryecroft Mill, Smith Street, Ashton-under-Lyne | GM904528 | |||
8 | Weetabix Limited | Land & Buildings on South East side of Earlstree Road, Corby | NN134520 | |||
9 | The Weetabix Company, Inc. | 20 Cameron Street, Clinton, Massachusetts, 01510 | N/A |
No. |
Owner of freehold title |
Address of Property |
Title number |
|||
10 | The Weetabix Company, Inc. | 12 Industrial Drive, Sterling, Massachusetts 01564 | N/A | |||
11 | Alpen Food Company South Africa (Pty) Limited | Erf 162908 Cape Town, City of Cape Town, Cape Division, the Province of the Western Cape, South Africa | | |||
12 | Weetabix East Africa Limited | Land comprised by measurement 0.6208 of a hectare or thereabouts situated in the City of Nairobi in the Nairobi area of the Republic of Kenya | 209/8642 (IR 2964) |
Part B: Leasehold Property
No. |
Owner of leasehold title |
Lessor |
Address of Property |
Title number | ||||
1 | Ryecroft Foods Limited | Millbrook Haulage and Storage Co. Limited | Ryecroft Mill, Ryecroft Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 0DD | MAN31231 | ||||
2 | Weetabix Limited | B.L. Marketing Limited | Weetabix Mills, Station Road, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR | NN306099 | ||||
3 | Weetabix Limited | B.L. Marketing Limited | Land and building on the south side of Macadam Road, Corby NN17 4JN ( Corby 3 ) | NN306095 | ||||
4 | Weetabix Limited | B.L. Marketing Limited | Land and buildings on the south side of Earlstrees Road, Corby NN17 4AZ ( Corby 2 ) | NN306097 | ||||
5 | Weetabix Limited | B.L. Marketing Limited | Land and Buildings at the junction of Earlstrees Road and Rockingham Road, Corby, NN17 2AG ( Corby 1 ) | NN306096 | ||||
6 | Weetabix of Canada Limited | Ontario Development Corp. | Property at Northam Industrial Park, Cobourg, Northumberland County, Ontario | N/A |
No. |
Owner of leasehold title |
Lessor |
Address of Property |
Title
number |
||||
7 | The Weetabix Company, Inc. | Normandy Nickerson Road LLC | First Floor, Building 500, Marlborough Technology Park, 500 Nickerson Road, Massachusetts | N/A |
IN WITNESS of which this Deed has been executed and delivered as a deed on the date which first appears on page 1 above.
Executed as a DEED by WESTMINSTER ACQUISITION LIMITED , acting by a |
) ) |
/s/ Robert V. Vitale | ||
director in the presence of: |
Director |
|||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Diedre J. Gray |
|||
Witness Name: |
Diedre J. Gray |
|||
Witness Address: |
2503 S. Hanley Rd. |
|||
St. Louis, MO 63144 |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Attorney |
|||
Executed as a DEED by GILES TURRELL , acting by way of his duly authorised attorney Richart Martin, in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED by RICHARD MARTIN in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
|||
Executed as a DEED by GARETH MARTIN , acting by way of his duly authorised attorney Richard Martin, in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED by SALLY ABBOTT , acting by way of her duly authorised attorney Richard Martin, in the presence of |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
|||
Executed as a DEED by KEVIN FAWELL , acting by way of his duly authorised attorney Richard Martin, in the presence of |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Executed as a DEED by STUART BRANCH , acting by way of his duly authorised attorney Richard Martin, in the presence of: |
) ) |
/s/ Richard Martin |
||
Witness Signature: |
/s/ Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Name: |
Charles Whitefoord |
|||
Witness Address: |
100 New Bridge Street |
|||
London EC4V 6VA |
||||
|
||||
Witness Occupation: |
Solicitor |
Exhibit 99.1
Post Holdings to Acquire Weetabix for £1.4 Billion
| Establishes UK platform with iconic brand in the ready-to-eat cereal category |
| Immediately accretive to Posts Adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow, excluding one-time transaction expenses |
| Synergistic fit in multiple geographies |
| Post management reaffirms certain fiscal 2017 guidance and provides preliminary second quarter financial results |
St. Louis, Missouri - April 18, 2017 - Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today announced it has agreed to acquire Weetabix Limited (Weetabix) from Shanghai based state owned enterprise Bright Food Group and an investment fund advised by Baring Private Equity Asia.
Weetabix is a leading United Kingdom (UK) based packaged food company that primarily produces ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal products spanning branded and private label. Founded in 1932, Weetabix holds the number two overall position in the UK RTE cereal category. Its portfolio includes the iconic Weetabix brand, which holds the number one brand position in the UK RTE cereal category, as well as Alpen (the number one muesli brand in the UK), Barbaras , Weetos and Ready Brek .
In North America, Weetabix operates a leading natural and organic RTE cereal and snacking platform in both branded and private label, led by the Barbaras brand and the Puffins sub-brand and serving leading natural and specialty channel and conventional retailers.
Additionally, Weetabix has an established and extensive international presence, with operations in Africa through two joint ventures and a distribution export business to over 90 countries. Post has agreed in principle to establish a joint venture with Bright Food Group and an investment fund advised by Baring Private Equity Asia to manage the Weetabix China operations.
We have long admired Weetabix as a leader in cereal and believe it will be a fantastic strategic fit within Post, said Rob Vitale, Posts President and CEO. Combining together two category leaders continues our strategy of strengthening our portfolio in stable categories and diversifying into new markets, bringing much-loved brands to significantly more customers globally. We are excited about the growth opportunities that this acquisition brings.
The combination of Post and Weetabix creates a diversified international food company with substantial free cash flow generation, enabling Post to fund growth over the long-term, including international cross-selling opportunities through expansion of Post products in select international markets and further expansion of Weetabix and Barbaras in North America.
At the closing of the transaction, Sally Abbott, Weetabixs Director of Marketing, will become Managing Director of Weetabix UK and Ireland and report to Rob Vitale. Giles Turrell, Weetabixs current CEO, will assume the newly created role of Chairman of Weetabix with responsibility for overseeing the integration of Weetabix into the Post portfolio. The other members of Weetabixs existing management team will continue to lead the organization.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the third calendar quarter (Posts fiscal fourth quarter), subject to the satisfaction of limited closing conditions, including the expiration of waiting periods under U.S. antitrust laws.
Financial Details
Post will acquire Weetabix for £1.4 billion on a cash free, debt free basis, subject to certain adjustments as described in the purchase agreement. Post expects to fund the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and through borrowings under its existing revolving credit facility and/or, subject to market conditions, a new senior secured term loan facility.
1
Post management expects Weetabix to contribute approximately £120 million of adjusted EBITDA on an annual basis before the realization of cost synergies which Post management expects to be approximately £20 million annually by the third full fiscal year post-closing, resulting from benefits of scale, shared administrative services and infrastructure optimization and rationalization. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Posts Adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow, excluding one-time transaction expenses.
For additional information regarding non-GAAP measures, such as adjusted EBITDA, see the related explanations presented under Use of Non-GAAP Measure and Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure later in this release.
2
Preliminary Unaudited Selected Financial Data for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2017
Post has provided the following preliminary unaudited selected financial data for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 ended March 31, 2017, which should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and managements discussion and analysis included in Posts filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the matters discussed under Risk Factors in Posts Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 and Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016:
| Net sales of approximately $1.25 billion; |
| Net loss of approximately $4 million; and |
| Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $228 million. |
The preliminary financial data discussed above consist of estimates derived from Posts internal books and records and have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, Posts management, are based upon information available to management as of the date hereof, and have not been prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the SEC or the guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for the preparation or presentation of financial information. The preliminary estimates discussed above are subject to the completion of financial closing procedures, final adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time the financial results for the second quarter are finalized. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from these estimates and all of these preliminary estimates are subject to change. In addition, preliminary results for the second quarter are not necessarily indicative of operating results for any future period or results for the full year.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. For additional information regarding non-GAAP measures, see the related explanations presented under Use of Non-GAAP Measure and Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure later in this release.
Outlook
Post management has affirmed its fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $920-$950 million, excluding any contribution from Weetabix.
Post provides Adjusted EBITDA guidance and discloses its expectations as to the effect of the Weetabix transaction on Posts Adjusted EBITDA, including the expected annual contribution of Weetabix, and free cash flow only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking non-GAAP guidance measures to the mostly directly comparable GAAP measures due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps, provision for legal settlement, transaction and integration costs, restructuring and plant closure costs, losses on assets held for sale, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges and other charges reflected in the Companys reconciliation of historic numbers, the amounts of which, based on historical experience, could be significant. For additional information regarding Posts non-GAAP measures, see the related explanations presented under Use of Non-GAAP Measure later in this release.
Additional Information
Barclays, Rabobank, Credit Suisse and Nomura are acting as financial advisors to Post.
Use of Non-GAAP Measure
Post uses Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, both of which are non-GAAP measures, in this release to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as it excludes certain items as listed later in this release, and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.
3
Post Management uses certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, as key metrics in the evaluation of underlying Company and segment performance, in making financial, operating and planning decisions, and, in part, in the determination of cash bonuses for its executive officers and employees. Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, provides increased transparency and assists investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of the Company and its segments and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends.
The reconciliation of Posts Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided at the end of this release under Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure. Because Post discusses free cash flow in this release only in relation to managements expectations of the future effect of the Weetabix transaction on this non-GAAP measure, Post has not, for the reasons discussed above, provided a reconciliation of its forward-looking free cash flow expectations to the mostly directly comparable GAAP measures.
Prospective Financial Information
Prospective financial information is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying the prospective financial information described above will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. For further discussion of some of the factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from the information provided above see Forward-Looking Statements below. Accordingly, the prospective financial information provided above is only an estimate of what Post management believes is realizable as of the date of this press release. It should also be recognized that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future that the data is forecast. In light of the foregoing, the information should be viewed in context and undue reliance should not be placed upon it.
Conference Call to Discuss Acquisition
The Company will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. EDT (1:00 p.m. BST) in which Robert V. Vitale, President and Chief Executive Officer will discuss the acquisition and respond to questions.
Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing (877) 540-0891 in the United States and (678) 408-4007 from outside of the United States. The conference identification number is 9376515. Interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at www.postholdings.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, April 25, 2017 by dialing (800) 585-8367 in the United States and (404) 537-3406 from outside of the United States and using the conference identification number 9376515. A webcast replay will also be available for a limited period on the Companys website in the Investor Relations section.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Post and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding Posts fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range, expected synergies and benefits of the acquisition, expected sources of financing, expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities, regulatory approvals and the expected timing of the completion of the transaction. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as expect, anticipate, believe, estimate, potential, should or similar words. There is no assurance that the acquisition of Weetabix will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include the following:
| the timing to consummate the acquisition of Weetabix; |
| the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions; |
| our ability to promptly and effectively integrate the Weetabix business and obtain expected cost savings and synergies within the expected timeframe; |
| operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with Weetabix employees, customers or suppliers) that may be greater than expected following the consummation of the acquisition of Weetabix; |
| our ability to retain certain key employees at Weetabix; |
4
| our ability to borrow funds under a new senior secured term loan facility on terms acceptable to us or at all; |
| the risks associated with the disruption of managements attention from ongoing business operations due to this transaction; |
| our ability to continue to compete in our product markets and our ability to retain our market position; |
| our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and trends; |
| our ability to identify and complete acquisitions and manage our growth; |
| changes in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations; |
| our ability to integrate acquired businesses and whether acquired businesses will perform as expected; |
| changes in economic conditions and consumer demand for our products; |
| significant volatility in the costs of certain raw materials, commodities, packaging or energy used to manufacture our products; |
| impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles; |
| our ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs; |
| our ability to comply with increased regulatory scrutiny related to certain of our products and/or international sales; |
| allegations that our products cause injury or illness, product recalls and product liability claims and other litigation; |
| legal and regulatory factors, including environmental laws, advertising and labeling laws, changes in food safety and laws and regulations governing animal feeding and housing operations; |
| our ability to maintain competitive pricing, introduce new products and successfully manage our costs; |
| the ultimate impact litigation may have on us; |
| the ultimate outcome of the remaining portions of the Michael Foods egg antitrust litigation, including formal court approval of the announced settlement with the direct purchaser plaintiffs; |
| the loss or bankruptcy of a significant customer; |
| consolidations in the retail grocery and foodservice industries; |
| the ability of our private label products to compete with nationally branded products; |
| disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chain; |
| our reliance on third party manufacturers for certain of our products; |
| disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets; |
| fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; |
| changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and changes to or new laws and regulations affecting our business; |
| loss of key employees; |
| changes in weather conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other events beyond our control; |
| labor strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts; |
| losses or increased funding and expenses related to our qualified pension and other post-retirement plans; |
| business disruptions caused by information technology failures and/or technology hacking; |
| our ability to protect our intellectual property; |
| media campaigns and improper use of social media that damage our brands; |
| our ability to successfully operate our international operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
| significant differences in our actual operating results from our guidance regarding our future performance; |
| our ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including with respect to acquired businesses; |
| our high leverage and substantial debt, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business; |
| our ability to service our outstanding debt or obtain additional financing, including both secured and unsecured debt; and |
| other risks and uncertainties described in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
These forward-looking statements represent the Companys judgment as of the date of this release. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
5
About Post Holdings, Inc.
Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, foodservice, food ingredient, private label, refrigerated and active nutrition food categories. Through its Post Consumer Brands business, Post is a leader in the ready-to-eat cereal category and offers a broad portfolio that includes recognized brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats ® , Pebbles, Great Grains ® , Grape-Nuts ® , Honeycomb ® , Frosted Mini Spooners ® , Golden Puffs ® , Cinnamon Toasters ® , Fruity Dyno-Bites ® , Cocoa Dyno-Bites ® , Berry Colossal Crunch ® and Malt-O-Meal ® hot wheat cereal. Posts Michael Foods Group supplies value-added egg products, refrigerated potato products, cheese and other dairy case products and dry pasta products to the foodservice, food ingredient and private label retail channels and markets retail brands including All Whites ® , Bettern Eggs ® , Simply Potatoes ® and Crystal Farms ® . Posts Active Nutrition platform aids consumers in adopting healthier lifestyles through brands such as PowerBar ® , Premier Protein ® and Dymatize ® . Posts Private Brands Group manufactures private label peanut butter and other nut butters, dried fruits, baking and snacking nuts, cereal and granola. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Brad Harper / brad.harper@postholdings.com / (314) 644-7626
UK Media
Finsbury: Dorothy Burwell +44 7733 294 930 / James Thompson +44 7879 810 327 / post@finsbury.com
6
EXPLANATION AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURE
Post uses Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, in this release to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as it excludes certain items as listed below, and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies.
Post believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Companys operating performance and liquidity because (i) we believe it is widely used to measure a companys operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets, (ii) it presents a measure of corporate performance exclusive of the Companys capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired, and (iii) it is a financial indicator of a companys ability to service its debt, as the Company is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in the Companys financing documents.
Preliminary Adjusted EBITDA for Post for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 reflects adjustments for net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, as well as the following adjustments:
a. | Loss on extinguishment of debt: The Company has excluded losses recorded on extinguishment of debt as such losses are inconsistent in amount and frequency. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
b. | Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps: The Company has excluded the impact of non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to estimates of fair value and economic conditions and the amount and frequency of such adjustments and settlements are not consistent. |
c. | Non-cash stock-based compensation : The Companys compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain executives and employees by aligning their long-term compensation interests with shareholders investment interests. The Company has excluded non-cash stock-based compensation as non-cash stock-based compensation can vary significantly based on reasons such as the timing, size and nature of the awards granted and subjective assumptions which are unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period and do not contribute to meaningful comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
d. | Transaction costs and integration costs: The Company has excluded transaction costs related to professional service fees and other related costs associated with signed and closed business combinations and divestitures and integration costs incurred to integrate acquired or to-be-acquired businesses as the Company believes that these exclusions allow for more meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance and comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. The Company believes such costs are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of acquired assets as part of the Company or the performance of the divested assets, and are not factored into managements evaluation of potential acquisitions or its performance after completion of an acquisition or the evaluation to divest an asset. In addition, the frequency and amount of such charges varies significantly based on the size and timing of the acquisitions and divestitures and the maturities of the businesses being acquired or divested. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions and divestitures, which often drive the magnitude of such expenses, may not be indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of future acquisitions or divestitures. By excluding these expenses, management is better able to evaluate the Companys ability to utilize its existing assets and estimate the long-term value that acquired assets will generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of the Companys operating performance. |
e. | Provision for legal settlement: The Company has excluded gains and losses recorded to recognize a receivable or liability associated with an anticipated resolution of certain ongoing litigation as the Company believes such gains and losses do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Companys current operating performance or comparisons of the Companys operating performance to other periods. |
7
f. | Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges : The Company has excluded the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates. Additionally, these adjustments are primarily non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. |
8
RECONCILIATION OF POST PRELIMINARY NET LOSS TO PRELIMINARY ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited)
(in millions)
Three Months Ended
March 31, |
||||
2017 | ||||
Preliminary Net Loss |
$ | (4 | ) | |
Income tax expense |
| |||
Interest expense, net |
80 | |||
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
62 | |||
Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps |
(1 | ) | ||
Depreciation and amortization |
78 | |||
Non-cash stock-based compensation |
6 | |||
Integration costs |
4 | |||
Transaction costs |
3 | |||
Provision for legal settlement |
(1 | ) | ||
Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges |
1 | |||
|
|
|||
Preliminary Adjusted EBITDA |
$ | 228 | ||
|
|
9
Post Holdings, Inc. Post Holdings to Acquire Weetabix April 18, 2017 Exhibit 99.2
Certain matters discussed in this presentation are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Post Holdings, Inc. (“Post” or “the Company”) and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding Post’s fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range, expected synergies and benefits of the acquisition of Weetabix Limited (“Weetabix”), expected sources of financing, expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities, regulatory approvals, the expected timing of the completion of the transaction and our free cash flow illustrative calculation. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “should” or similar words. There is no assurance that the acquisition of Weetabix will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties include the following: the timing to consummate the acquisition of Weetabix; the ability and timing to obtain required regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions; our ability to promptly and effectively integrate the Weetabix business and obtain expected cost savings and synergies within the expected timeframe; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with Weetabix employees, customers or suppliers) that may be greater than expected following the consummation of the acquisition of Weetabix; our ability to retain certain key employees at Weetabix; our ability to borrow funds under a new senior secured term loan facility on terms acceptable to us or at all; the risks associated with the disruption of management’s attention from ongoing business operations due to this transaction; our ability to continue to compete in our product markets and our ability to retain our market position; our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and trends; our ability to identify and complete acquisitions and manage our growth; changes in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations; our ability to integrate acquired businesses and whether acquired businesses will perform as expected; changes in economic conditions and consumer demand for our products; significant volatility in the costs of certain raw materials, commodities, packaging or energy used to manufacture our products; impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles; our ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs; our ability to comply with increased regulatory scrutiny related to certain of our products and/or international sales; allegations that our products cause injury or illness, product recalls and product liability claims and other litigation; legal and regulatory factors, including environmental laws, advertising and labeling laws, changes in food safety and laws and regulations governing animal feeding and housing operations; Forward-Looking Statements
(Continued from prior page): our ability to maintain competitive pricing, introduce new products and successfully manage our costs; the ultimate impact litigation may have on us; the ultimate outcome of the remaining portions of the Michael Foods egg antitrust litigation, including formal court approval of the announced settlement with the direct purchaser plaintiffs; the loss or bankruptcy of a significant customer; consolidations in the retail grocery and foodservice industries; the ability of our private label products to compete with nationally branded products; disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chain; our reliance on third party manufacturers for certain of our products; disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in estimates in critical accounting judgments and changes to or new laws and regulations affecting our business; loss of key employees; changes in weather conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other events beyond our control; labor strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts; losses or increased funding and expenses related to our qualified pension and other post-retirement plans; business disruptions caused by information technology failures and/or technology hacking; our ability to protect our intellectual property; media campaigns and improper use of social media that damage our brands; our ability to successfully operate our international operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; significant differences in our actual operating results from our guidance regarding our future performance; our ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including with respect to acquired businesses; our high leverage and substantial debt, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business; our ability to service our outstanding debt or obtain additional financing, including both secured and unsecured debt; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this presentation. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking Statements (Cont’d)
Prospective Financial Information The prospective financial information provided in this presentation regarding Post’s and Weetabix’s future performance, including Post’s expected Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2017, the contribution of Weetabix to Adjusted EBITDA, and specific dollar amounts and other plans, expectations, estimates and similar statements, represents Post management’s estimates as of the date of this presentation only and are qualified by, and subject to, the assumptions and the other information set forth on the slide captioned “Forward-Looking Statements.” The estimated 2017 Adjusted EBITDA, the contribution of Weetabix to Adjusted EBITDA, and the dollar amounts and other plans, expectations, estimates and similar statements contained in this presentation are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, are inherently subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change and are necessarily speculative in nature. It can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of the estimates furnished by us will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, the information set forth herein is only an estimate of what management believes is realizable as of the date hereof, and actual results will vary from the estimates set forth herein. Investors should also recognize that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future that the data is forecast. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged to put the estimated 2017 Adjusted EBITDA, the contribution of Weetabix to Adjusted EBITDA, and other prospective financial information in context and not to place undue reliance on it. The estimated fiscal 2017 Adjusted EBITDA, including the contribution of Weetabix to Adjusted EBITDA, is not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and neither our independent registered public accounting firms nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines these estimates and, accordingly, no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. The estimated 2017 Adjusted EBITDA is stated as a high and low range, which is intended to provide a sensitivity analysis as variables are changed but it is not intended to represent that actual results could not fall outside of the estimated ranges. Any failure to successfully implement our operating strategy or the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” could result in the actual operating results being different than the estimates set forth herein, and such differences may be adverse and material. Market and Industry Data This presentation includes industry and trade association data, forecasts and information that was prepared based, in part, upon data, forecasts and information obtained from independent trade associations, industry publications and surveys and other independent sources available to the Company. Some data also are based on Post’s good faith estimates, which are derived from management’s knowledge of the industry and from independent sources. These third-party publications and surveys generally state that the information included therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the publications and surveys can give no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. Post has not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor has it ascertained the underlying economic assumptions on which such data are based. Additional Information
Use of Non-GAAP Measure While Post reports financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., this presentation includes the non-GAAP measure Adjusted EBITDA for Post on both a historical and forecast basis, neither of which is in accordance with or a substitute for GAAP measures, and free cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure which represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other adjustments as detailed later in this presentation under “Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure”. For a reconciliation of certain Adjusted EBITDA measures in this presentation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure see “Post Historical Financials Reconciliation” in the appendix. Because Post discusses free cash flow in this presentation only in relation to management’s expectations of the future effect of the Weetabix transaction on this non-GAAP measure, Post has not, for the reasons discussed below, provided a reconciliation of its forward-looking free cash flow expectations to the mostly directly comparable GAAP measures. Post Management uses certain non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, as key metrics in the evaluation of underlying Company and segment performance, in making financial, operating and planning decisions, and, in part, in the determination of cash bonuses for its executive officers and employees. Management believes the use of non-GAAP measures, including Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow, provides increased transparency and assists investors in understanding the underlying operating performance of the Company and its segments and in the analysis of ongoing operating trends. Post considers Adjusted EBITDA an important supplemental measure of performance and ability to service debt. Adjusted EBITDA is often used to assess performance because it allows comparison of operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the effects of various items. Adjusted EBITDA has various limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of results as reported under GAAP. Post provides its fiscal year 2017 Adjusted EBITDA guidance and discloses its expectations as to the effect of the Weetabix transaction on Post’s Adjusted EBITDA, including the expected annual contribution of Weetabix, and free cash flow only on a non-GAAP basis and does not provide a reconciliation of its forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA non-GAAP guidance measures to the mostly directly comparable GAAP measures due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps, provision for legal settlement, transaction and integration costs, restructuring and plant closure costs, losses on assets held for sale, mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges and other charges reflected in the Company’s reconciliation of historic numbers, the amounts of which, based on historical experience, could be significant. Trademarks and Service Brands The logos, trademarks, trade names and service marks mentioned in this presentation, including Honey Bunches of Oats®, Pebbles™, Post Selects®, Great Grains®, Post® Shredded Wheat, Golden Crisp®, Alpha-Bits®, Spoon Size® Shredded Wheat, Post® Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts®, Honeycomb®, Oh!s™, Shreddies™, Malt-O-Meal®, Farina®, Dyno-Bites®, MOM’s Best®, Better Oats™, Attune®, Uncle Sam®, Erewhon®, Golden Temple™, Peace Cereal®, Sweet Home Farm®, Willamette Valley Granola Company™, Premier Protein®, Joint Juice®, PowerBar®, Dymatize®, Supreme Protein®, Papetti’s®, All Whites®, Better’n Eggs®, Easy Eggs®, Emulsa™, Table Ready™, Davidson’s Safest Choice™, Abbotsford Farms®, Simply Potatoes® and Crystal Farms® brands are currently the property of, or are under license by, Post or its subsidiaries. Additional Information (Cont’d)
Transaction Overview Post to acquire Weetabix Limited (“Weetabix”) for £1.4bn (1) Acquiring a leading brand in a category core to Post Weetabix is the #2 manufacturer in the UK ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal category with an iconic brand portfolio (2) #1 cereal brand in UK (Weetabix) (2) #1 muesli brand in UK (Alpen) (2) Other attractive brands include Barbara’s, Ready Brek, Weetos, and Weetabix On-the-Go Significant value creation opportunity Expected to be immediately accretive to Post’s Adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow (3) Expected run-rate cost synergies of approximately £20mm by the third full fiscal year post-closing Purchase price represents 11.7x adjusted EBITDA (4) and 10.0x run-rate synergized adjusted EBITDA (5) Transaction expected to be financed with cash on hand and through borrowings under Post’s existing revolving credit facility and/or, subject to market conditions, a new senior secured term loan facility Expected closing in the third calendar quarter (Post’s fiscal fourth quarter), subject to regulatory approvals and limited closing conditions On a cash-free, debt-free basis. See Post’s April 18, 2017 press release and Form 8-K for further details. Per AC Nielsen Scantrack, 12 months to 31 December 2016. Excluding one-time transaction costs. Multiple of 11.7x represents: (i) purchase price of £1.4bn, divided by (ii) Post management estimate of Weetabix adjusted EBITDA of £120mm on an annual basis. Multiple of 10.0x represents: (i) purchase price of £1.4bn, divided by (ii) Post management estimate of Weetabix adjusted EBITDA of £120mm on an annual basis plus £20mm expected run-rate cost synergies. Please refer to “Additional Information – Prospective Financial Information” and “Additional Information – Use of Non-GAAP Measure.”
Compelling Strategic and Financial Rationale Per AC Nielsen Scantrack, 12 months to 31 December 2016. Strategically, Weetabix Provides… Leadership in the second largest RTE cereal market in the world Weetabix is the clear #1 UK RTE cereal brand with 10.6% market share (1) #1 muesli brand in the UK (Alpen) (1) Access to growing UK active nutrition market Expected to make Post / Weetabix the leader in the growing UK Breakfast Drinks category Strategic optionality for future UK or other international M&A Platform for future packaged food consolidation Unique partnership opportunity Bright Food and Baring Private Equity Asia in China Pioneer Foods in South Africa and Kenya Established presence and operational capabilities in export markets Global reach of over 90 countries Financially, Weetabix Provides… Attractive EBITDA margins Accretive to Post’s EBITDA margins Attractive and reliable free cash flow Modest capital expenditure and working capital needs lead to strong free cash flow generation and free cash flow conversion Stable, recurring and predictable free cash flow Cost and revenue synergies £20mm expected run-rate cost synergies by third full fiscal year post-closing Significant cross-selling revenue opportunities Tax efficiency Lower UK marginal tax rate Attractive after-tax cost of financing
Company Description Net Sales Breakdown (1) Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Kettering, UK Weetabix is an iconic leading brand with 85 years of heritage and best-in-class health credentials Supported by leading brands including , , , and Recently entered the portable drink market with Established international platform UK business continues to grow in both volume and value (currency) share in the UK healthy cereal market North American business is targeted to natural, organic and non-GMO (includes Barbara’s, its sub-brand Puffins and private label brands) International business (excludes UK, Ireland, North America, China and Africa) is largely export-driven through distributors to over 90 countries Well-invested manufacturing footprint with three manufacturing facilities in the UK, two in North America and two in Africa Weetabix Overview Per Weetabix Management. Based on FY16 Net Sales of approximately £410mm. Weetabix unaudited financial statements prepared on an EU IFRS basis. Net Sales by Brand / Product Type Net Sales by Geography
Weetabix is an Iconic Brand that Anchors a Stable and Diversified Portfolio Iconic and Trusted Brand #1 Position in the UK Market Clear #1 brand with 10.6% market share (1) Active leader and “captain” role in category Strong and long-standing relationships with UK retailers Most Trusted Brand in the Category 97% of Weetabix products classified as “healthy” (2) 85 years of British heritage 40% penetration of UK homes (3) Next brand has only 25% penetration (3) Weetabix holds a Royal Warrant from HRH Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales Stable and Diversified Portfolio of Brands and Products Core UK Weetabix Core UK Alpen On-The-Go Drinks Other Attractive Brands Per AC Nielsen Scantrack, 12 months to 31 December 2016. Per Dunnhumby report, 52 Weeks to May 2015. Per Kantar Worldpanel, 52 Weeks to 6 November 2016.
A Strategic Combination… Diversified Cash Flow Strong Business Units and Brand Positioning Successful M&A Track Record Strategic optionality for future UK or other international M&A Flexible Business Model Talented Management Team PF Adj. EBITDA (2) = $1.1bn PF Sales (1) = $5.5bn Post Consumer Brands Weetabix Michael Foods Group Active Nutrition Private Brands Legend … creating a powerhouse portfolio of food brands Scale and leadership position in UK RTE cereal with an iconic brand portfolio Note: Assumes USD / GBP FX rate of 1.25. Based on Post FY16 Net Sales of $5,027mm and Weetabix FY16 Net Sales of approximately £410mm. Weetabix unaudited financial statements prepared on an EU IFRS basis. Based on Post FY16 Adjusted EBITDA of $934mm and Post management estimate of Weetabix adjusted EBITDA of £120mm on an annual basis. Segment percentages exclude the impact of Corporate / Other expenses. Please see the Appendix for a reconciliation of Post FY16 Adjusted EBITDA to the nearest GAAP figure. Please refer to “Additional Information – Use of Non-GAAP Measure.” Strong free cash flow generation and free cash flow conversion Financial performance trends demonstrate earnings reliability
Synergy Potential with Further Upside Cost Related Leverage Post’s existing North American supply chain and route to market Optimize respective UK and European footprint and infrastructure Savings potential in worldwide procurement and logistics Manufacturing optimization and rationalization Elimination of redundant costs Revenue Related Ability to sell Weetabix products in Post markets Sale of Post products into the UK and other international markets Increased health & wellness offering to complement existing offering Access to China through strategic joint venture Expected to provide run-rate cost synergies of approximately £20mm by the third full fiscal year post-closing with potential upside
Enhances Post’s Free Cash Flow Profile Illustrative Free Cash Flow (“FCF”) Calculation ($ in mm) + Significantly FCF accretive to common shareholders Recurring revenue stream supported by strong or growing market positions or attractive category trends Attractive adjusted EBITDA margins Limited capex needs Modest working capital requirements Tax efficiency 1 2 3 4 Cash Flow Characteristics Weetabix Acquisition 5 P P P P P Note: Assumes USD / GBP FX rate of 1.25. Assumed for illustrative purposes to be the midpoint of Post FY17 guidance range. Please refer to “Additional Information – Prospective Information” and “Additional Information – Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure.” Post management estimate of Weetabix adjusted EBITDA of £120mm on an annual basis. Run-rate cost synergies of approximately £20mm expected by the third full fiscal year post-closing. Pro forma for the impact of the senior notes issued on February 14, 2017, the redemption of the 6.75% senior notes and the 7.375% senior notes on March 8, 2017 and the expected rate on permanent financing for the acquisition of Weetabix Limited.
Key Takeaways Highly strategic transaction Acquiring a leading brand in a category core to Post Expands Post’s geographic footprint in the UK and other international markets Expands Post’s platform in health & wellness offerings and natural & organic channels Ability to expand Weetabix’s distribution in North America and Post’s distribution internationally Creates follow-on acquisition opportunities Synergy opportunity in worldwide procurement, international sales, and infrastructure optimization and rationalization Attractive valuation 10.0x run-rate synergized adjusted EBITDA (1) Resulting in compelling financial impact Expected to be immediately accretive to Post’s Adjusted EBITDA margins and free cash flow (2) Meaningful synergy potential Multiple of 10.0x represents: (i) purchase price of £1.4bn, divided by (ii) Post management estimate of Weetabix adjusted EBITDA of £120mm on an annual basis plus £20mm expected run-rate cost synergies. Excluding one-time transaction costs. Please refer to “Additional Information – Prospective Financial Information” and “Additional Information – Use of Non-GAAP Measure.”
Appendix
Post uses Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, in this presentation to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as it excludes certain items as listed below, and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s operating performance and liquidity because (i) we believe it is widely used to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets, (ii) it presents a measure of corporate performance exclusive of the Company’s capital structure and the method by which the assets were acquired, and (iii) it is a financial indicator of a company’s ability to service its debt, as the Company is required to comply with certain covenants and limitations that are based on variations of EBITDA in the Company’s financing documents. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to provide forward-looking guidance and to forecast future results. Post’s Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 reflects adjustments for interest expense, net, income tax, depreciation and amortization, as well as the following adjustments: Loss on extinguishment of debt: The Company has excluded losses recorded on extinguishment of debt as such losses are inconsistent in amount and frequency. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps: The Company has excluded the impact of non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to estimates of fair value and economic conditions and the amount and frequency of such adjustments and settlements are not consistent. Provision for legal settlement: The Company has excluded gains and losses recorded to recognize a receivable or liability associated with an anticipated resolution of certain ongoing litigation as the Company believes such gains and losses do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Non-cash stock-based compensation: The Company’s compensation strategy includes the use of stock-based compensation to attract and retain executives and employees by aligning their long-term compensation interests with shareholders’ investment interests. The Company has excluded non-cash stock-based compensation as non-cash stock-based compensation can vary significantly based on reasons such as the timing, size and nature of the awards granted and subjective assumptions which are unrelated to operational decisions and performance in any particular period and do not contribute to meaningful comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure
Transaction costs and integration costs: The Company has excluded transaction costs related to professional service fees and other related costs associated with signed and closed business combinations and divestitures and integration costs incurred to integrate acquired or to-be-acquired businesses as the Company believes that these exclusions allow for more meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance and comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. The Company believes such costs are generally not relevant to assessing or estimating the long-term performance of acquired assets as part of the Company or the performance of the divested assets, and are not factored into management’s evaluation of potential acquisitions or its performance after completion of an acquisition or the evaluation to divest an asset. In addition, the frequency and amount of such charges varies significantly based on the size and timing of the acquisitions and divestitures and the maturities of the businesses being acquired or divested. Also, the size, complexity and/or volume of past acquisitions and divestitures, which often drive the magnitude of such expenses, may not be indicative of the size, complexity and/or volume of future acquisitions or divestitures. By excluding these expenses, management is better able to evaluate the Company’s ability to utilize its existing assets and estimate the long-term value that acquired assets will generate for the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that the adjustments of these items more closely correlate with the sustainability of the Company’s operating performance. Restructuring and plant closure costs, including accelerated depreciation: The Company has excluded certain costs associated with facility closures as the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Assets held for sale: The Company has excluded adjustments recorded to adjust the carrying value of facilities and other assets classified as held for sale as such adjustments represent non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these adjustments do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Inventory valuation adjustments on acquired businesses: The Company has excluded the impact of fair value step-up adjustments to inventory in connection with business combinations as such adjustments represent non-cash items, are not consistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and size of the Company’s acquisitions. Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges: The Company has excluded the impact of mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges due to the inherent uncertainty and volatility associated with such amounts based on changes in assumptions with respect to fair value estimates. Additionally, these adjustments are primarily non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure (cont’d)
Gain on sale of business and/or plant: The Company has excluded gains recorded on divestitures as such adjustments represent non-cash items and the amount and frequency of such adjustments are not consistent. Additionally, the Company believes that these costs do not reflect expected ongoing future operating expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company’s current operating performance or comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to other periods. Foreign currency gains and losses on intercompany loans: The Company has excluded the impact of foreign currency fluctuations related to intercompany loans denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective legal entity in evaluating Company performance to allow for more meaningful comparisons of performance to other periods. Explanation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure (cont’d)
($ in mm) Fiscal Year Ended Sep 30 2016 Net Loss $ (3.3) Income tax benefit (26.8) Interest expense 306.5 Loss on extinguishment of debt 86.4 Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments and cash settlements on interest rate swaps 182.9 Depreciation and amortization, including accelerated depreciation 302.8 Provision for legal settlement 34.0 Non-cash stock-based compensation 17.2 Transaction costs 1.2 Integration costs 19.3 Restructuring and plant closure costs 6.3 Assets held for sale 9.3 Inventory valuation adjustments on acquired businesses 1.1 Mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges (0.9) Gain on sale of business/plant (2.0) Foreign currency gain on intercompany loans (0.1) Adjusted EBITDA $ 933.9 Post Historical Financials Reconciliation
Post Holdings, Inc.