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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
OR | ||
þ |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 | ||
OR | ||
o |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the transition period from to | ||
OR | ||
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
Date of event requiring this shell company report |
Not Applicable | Jersey, Channel Islands | |
(Translation of Registrants Name Into English) | (Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
Name of Each Exchange | ||
Title of Each Class | on Which Registered | |
American Depositary Shares, each represented by one Ordinary Share, par value 10 pence per share |
The New York Stock Exchange |
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| technological innovation; | |
| telecommunications or technology disruptions; | |
| future regulatory actions and conditions in our operating areas; | |
| our dependence on a limited number of clients in a limited number of industries; | |
| our ability to attract and retain clients; | |
| our ability to expand our business or effectively manage growth; | |
| our ability to hire and retain enough sufficiently trained employees to support our operations; | |
| negative public reaction in the US or the UK to offshore outsourcing; | |
| regulatory, legislative and judicial developments; | |
| increasing competition in the business process outsourcing industry; |
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| political or economic instability in India, Sri Lanka and Jersey; | |
| worldwide economic and business conditions; | |
| our ability to successfully grow our revenues, expand our service offerings and market share and achieve accretive benefits from our acquisition of Aviva Global Services Singapore Private Limited, or Aviva Global, and our master services agreement with Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited, or AVIVA MS, as described below; and | |
| our ability to successfully consummate strategic acquisitions. |
For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statement of Income
Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 459.9 | $ | 352.3 | $ | 202.8 | $ | 162.2 | $ | 104.1 | ||||||||||
Cost of revenue(1) |
363.3 | 271.2 | 145.7 | 140.3 | 89.7 | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
96.5 | 81.1 | 57.1 | 21.9 | 14.4 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses(1) |
72.7 | 52.5 | 36.3 | 24.9 | 18.8 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
2.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.6 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill,
intangibles and other
assets(2) |
15.5 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
5.5 | 26.8 | 19.9 | (4.4 | ) | (7.0 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income, net |
9.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (0.1 | ) | (0.4 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (0.1 | ) | |||||||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
14.7 | 29.2 | 19.9 | (4.7 | ) | (6.8 | ) | |||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(5.2 | ) | (2.6 | ) | (1.6 | ) | (1.1 | ) | | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | 9.5 | $ | 26.6 | $ | 18.3 | $ | (5.8 | ) | $ | (6.7 | ) | ||||||||
Income (loss) per share/ADS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
$ | 0.23 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.56 | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | (0.22 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted |
$ | 0.22 | $ | 0.65 | $ | 0.52 | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | (0.22 | ) | ||||||||
Weightedaverage shares/ADSs
outstanding (basic) |
42,070,206 | 38,608,188 | 32,874,299 | 30,969,658 | 30,795,888 | |||||||||||||||
Weightedaverage shares/ADSs
outstanding (diluted) |
42,945,028 | 41,120,497 | 35,029,766 | 30,969,658 | 30,795,888 |
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As of March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 102.7 | $ | 112.3 | $ | 18.5 | $ | 9.1 | $ | 14.8 | ||||||||||
Bank deposits and marketable securities |
8.1 | 12.0 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
47.9 | 40.6 | 28.1 | 25.2 | 18.1 | |||||||||||||||
Other current assets(3) |
23.4 | 18.5 | 10.8 | 9.7 | 9.5 | |||||||||||||||
Total current assets |
182.1 | 183.4 | 57.4 | 44.0 | 42.5 | |||||||||||||||
Deposits and deferred tax asset |
15.4 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 1.3 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net |
96.9 | 44.5 | 42.5 | 26.7 | 27.6 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred contract costs non current |
1.3 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
50.8 | 41.8 | 30.6 | 24.7 | 15.3 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
346.5 | 275.9 | 134.8 | 98.0 | 86.6 | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||
Note payable |
| | | 10.0 | | |||||||||||||||
Accrual for earn out payment |
33.7 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
78.1 | 63.4 | 53.3 | 54.8 | 39.4 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities non-current |
1.8 | 0.0 | 2.3 | | | |||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities(4) |
5.7 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||
Total shareholders equity |
227.2 | 205.5 | 78.2 | 43.0 | 46.7 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 346.5 | $ | 275.9 | $ | 134.8 | $ | 98.0 | $ | 86.6 | ||||||||||
For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions, except percentages and employee data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other Consolidated Financial Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 459.9 | $ | 352.3 | $ | 202.8 | $ | 162.2 | $ | 104.1 | ||||||||||
Gross profit as a percentage of revenue |
21.0 | % | 23.0 | % | 28.1 | % | 13.5 | % | 13.8 | % | ||||||||||
Operating income (loss) as a percentage
of revenue |
1.2 | % | 7.6 | % | 9.8 | % | (2.7 | )% | (6.7 | )% | ||||||||||
Other Unaudited Consolidated Financial
and Operating Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments(5) |
$ | 290.7 | $ | 219.7 | $ | 147.9 | $ | 99.0 | $ | 49.9 | ||||||||||
Gross profit as a percentage of revenue
less repair payments |
33.2 | % | 36.9 | % | 38.6 | % | 22.1 | % | 28.9 | % | ||||||||||
Operating income (loss) as a percentage
of revenue less repair payments |
1.9 | % | 12.2 | % | 13.4 | % | (4.4 | )% | (14.1 | )% | ||||||||||
Number of employees (at period end) |
18,104 | 15,084 | 10,433 | 7,176 | 4,472 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Includes the following share-based compensation amounts: |
For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
$ | 2.4 | $ | 1.0 | $ | 0.1 | $ | 0.0 | $ | 0.0 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
4.4 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
(2) | We recorded an impairment charge of $8.9 million on the goodwill, $6.4 million on intangible assets and $0.2 million on other assets acquired in the purchase of Trinity Partners Inc., or Trinity Partners. | |
(3) | Consists of funds held for clients, employee receivables, prepaid expenses, prepaid income taxes, deferred tax assets and other current assets. | |
(4) | Consists of obligation under capital leases non-current, deferred revenue non-current, deferred rent and accrued pension liability. | |
(5) | Revenue less repair payments is a non-GAAP measure. See the explanation below, as well as Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Overview and notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The following table reconciles our revenue (a GAAP measure) to revenue less repair payments (a non-GAAP measure): |
For the Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 459.9 | $ | 352.3 | $ | 202.8 | $ | 162.2 | $ | 104.1 | ||||||||||
Less: Payments to repair centers |
169.2 | 132.6 | 54.9 | 63.2 | 54.2 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
$ | 290.7 | $ | 219.7 | $ | 147.9 | $ | 99.0 | $ | 49.9 | ||||||||||
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| increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; | |
| require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on the bank loan, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund capital expenditures, working capital and other general corporate purposes; | |
| require us to seek lenders consent prior to paying dividends on our ordinary shares; and | |
| limit our ability to incur additional borrowings or raise additional financing through equity or debt instruments. |
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| significant currency fluctuations between the US dollar and the pound sterling (in which our revenue is principally denominated) and the Indian rupee (in which a significant portion of our costs are denominated); | |
| legal uncertainty owing to the overlap of different legal regimes, and problems in asserting contractual or other rights across international borders; | |
| potentially adverse tax consequences, such as scrutiny of transfer pricing arrangements by authorities in the countries in which we operate; | |
| potential tariffs and other trade barriers; | |
| unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; | |
| the burden and expense of complying with the laws and regulations of various jurisdictions; and | |
| terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war. |
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| a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms; and | |
| the ability of our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of our preferred shares and to issue the preferred shares without shareholder approval, which could be exercised by our board of directors to increase the number of outstanding shares and prevent or delay a takeover attempt. |
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| announcements of technological developments; | |
| regulatory developments in our target markets affecting us, our clients or our competitors; | |
| actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; | |
| changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts; |
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| changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other companies engaged in business process outsourcing; | |
| addition or loss of executive officers or key employees; | |
| sales or expected sales of additional shares or ADSs; and | |
| loss of one or more significant clients. |
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Source: IDC |
Source: NASSCOM Everest India BPO Study (January 2008) | |
Note: Years ending December 31 |
Note: Years ending March 31 |
| established reputation and industry leadership; |
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| demonstrated ability to execute a diverse range of mission-critical and often complex business processes; | |
| capability to scale employees and infrastructure without a diminution in quality of service; and | |
| ability to innovate, add new operational expertise and drive down costs. |
| The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals which developed The Global Outsourcing 100, in conjunction with neoIT, an industry consultant, named us the Best Performing Finance and Accounting Outsourcing Provider in 2007 and the leading insurance outsourcer in 2008; | |
| KLM Dutch Royal Airlines recognized us with the Partners in Innovation Challenge Award in 2008; | |
| The Auto Body Professionals Club, a UK automobile repair trade organization, ranked us as the best accident management company in 2007; | |
| The Global Six Sigma experts and practitioners ranked us the best achievement of Six Sigma in Outsourcing in 2007; | |
| FAO Research Inc., an independent research firm worldwide, recognized us for Outstanding Finance and Accounting Best Practices on two client engagements in 2007; | |
| The Institute of Directors, an association promoting the development of Indian business leadership, recognized us with the Golden Peacock Innovation Award in 2007; and | |
| NASSCOM named us among the top two India-based offshore business process outsourcing companies in terms of revenue in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. |
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| offer a suite of services that can deliver a comprehensive industry-focused business process outsourcing program; | |
| leverage our existing capabilities to win additional clients and identify new industry-specific service offerings; | |
| cultivate client relationships that may involve few processes upon initial engagement to develop deeper engagements ultimately involving a number of integrated processes; | |
| provide proprietary technology platforms for use in niche areas in specific sectors such as auto insurance and travel; | |
| recruit and retain talented employees by offering them industry-focused career paths; and | |
| achieve market leadership in several of the industries we target. |
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| airlines; | |
| travel intermediaries; and | |
| others such as global distribution systems and network providers. |
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| customer interaction: customer complaint resolution, loyalty program management; | |
| passenger revenue accounting: refunds, fare audit, ticket coupon matching, sales accounting; | |
| cargo operations and accounting: scheduling, booking, flight planning, mail revenue accounting; | |
| revenue management: seat allocation, processing meal requests, yield maximization through inventory management, fare filing, fare construction and quotation; | |
| reporting and analytics: aircraft load factor, costs, market share, revenue and competition reports; and | |
| other miscellaneous services: updating employee records, calculation of medical leave and overtime for staff. |
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| integrated financial institutions; | |
| commercial and retail banks; | |
| mortgage banks and investors in mortgage-backed securities; | |
| asset managers and financial advisory service providers; | |
| life, property and casualty, and health insurers; | |
| insurance brokers and loss assessors; and | |
| self-insured auto fleet owners. |
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| sales and marketing support activities such as broker and advisor support; | |
| customer account set-up and maintenance processes such as application processing, application verification, credit evaluation and customer care; | |
| trading and securities operations such as order entry, reconciliation, reporting and exceptions research; and | |
| portfolio administration services including net asset value calculation, trade reconciliation and settlements. |
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| Finance and Accounting Services, focused on finance and accounting services; and | |
| Knowledge Services, focused on market, business and financial research and analytical services. |
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| Planning services providing daily updates of current and future cash flows of the clients 150 affiliated companies; | |
| Back office services managing core treasury functions; | |
| Middle office services providing processes such as credit monitoring, and hedging analysis; | |
| Accounting service providing end-to-end accounting services in enterprise resource planning including book closing, account reconciliation and budget preparation; and | |
| Treasury operations services providing reports on hedging positions, outstanding balance and money market dividend. |
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Air Canada |
Liverpool | |
AVIVA |
Marsh | |
British Airways |
SAGA | |
Centrica |
SITA | |
Fedex |
Travelocity | |
GfK |
Virgin Atlantic Airways | |
Indymac |
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Year Ended March 31, | ||||
2008 | 2007 | |||
Below $1.0 million |
145 | 115 | ||
$1.0 million to $5.0 million |
36 | 30 | ||
$5.0 million to $10.0 million |
8 | 3 | ||
More than $10.0 million |
6 | 6 |
| focused business process outsourcing service companies based in offshore locations like India, such as Genpact Limited, or Genpact, Firstsource Solutions Ltd., or Firstsource, and ExlService Holdings, Inc., or ExlService; | |
| business process outsourcing divisions of numerous information technology service companies located in India such as Infosys BPO Ltd (formerly Progeon Ltd) owned by Infosys Technologies Limited, or Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, or Tata Consultancy, and Wipro BPO, owned by Wipro Technologies Limited; and | |
| global companies such as Accenture Ltd., Affiliated Computer Services Inc., Electronic Data Systems Corporation, and International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, which provide an array of products and services, including broad-based information technology, software, consulting and business process outsourcing services. |
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| the court which pronounced the judgment has jurisdiction to entertain the case according to the principles recognized by Jersey law with reference to the jurisdiction of the US courts; | |
| the judgment is final and conclusive it cannot be altered by the courts which pronounced it; | |
| there is payable pursuant to the judgment a sum of money, not being a sum payable in respect of tax or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty; | |
| the courts of the US have jurisdiction in the circumstances of the case; | |
| the judgment can be enforced by execution in the jurisdiction in which the judgment is given; | |
| the person against whom the judgment is given does not benefit from immunity under the principles of public international law; |
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| there is no earlier judgment in another court between the same parties on the same issues as are dealt with in the judgment to be enforced; | |
| the judgment was not obtained by fraud, duress and was not based on a clear mistake of fact; and | |
| the recognition and enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy in Jersey, including observance of the principles of natural justice which require that documents in the US proceeding were properly served on the defendant and that the defendant was given the right to be heard and represented by counsel in a free and fair trial before an impartial tribunal. |
| recognize or enforce judgments of US courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the US or any state in the US; or | |
| entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the federal securities laws of the US or any state in the US. |
| where the judgment has not been pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction; | |
| where the judgment has not been given on the merits of the case; |
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| where the judgment appears on the face of the proceedings to be founded on an incorrect view of international law or a refusal to recognize the law of India in cases where such law is applicable; | |
| where the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice; | |
| where the judgment has been obtained by fraud; or | |
| where the judgment sustains a claim founded on a breach of any law in force in India. |
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Notes: | ||
(1) | Our joint venture company set up with Advanced Contact Solutions, Inc. which has a 35.0% ownership interest in WNS Philippines Inc. | |
(2) | Formerly known as Flovate Technologies Limited. |
|
(3) | Formerly known as Flovate Software Technologies India Private Limited. | |
(4) | All the shares except one share are owned by WNS (Mauritius) Limited, or WNS Mauritius. The remaining one share is owned by WNS Global Services (UK) Limited, or WNS UK, to satisfy the regulatory requirement to have two shareholders for each company. | |
(5) | 75.1% of the share capital of Marketics was transferred to us in May 2007 and the remaining 24.9% of the share capital was held in an escrow account to be transferred to us upon payment of a contingent earn-out consideration for the acquisition of Marketics. In July 2008, we made payment of the earn-out consideration. Pursuant thereto, the remaining 24.9% of the share capital of Marketics is in the process of being transferred to us. | |
(6) | Aviva Global has exercised its call option to acquire Noida Customer Operations Private Limited, a company incorporated in India, from a third party BPO provider. Completion of the transfer is expected to take place in August 2008. |
Total Space | Total Number of | |||||||||||
Location | (square feet) | Workstations/Seats | Lease Expiration | Extendable Until(1) | ||||||||
India: |
||||||||||||
Mumbai |
478,425 | 3,553 | ||||||||||
Plant 10 |
February 12, 2011 | May 15, 2011 | ||||||||||
Plant 11 (old) |
May 31, 2010/ | February 28, 2013/ | ||||||||||
January 31, 2011 | February 28, 2013 | |||||||||||
Plant 11 |
January 23, 2009 | July 23, 2014 | ||||||||||
Raheja (Units 001/902) |
January 29, 2009 | January 29, 2015 | ||||||||||
Raheja (Unit 101) |
April 30, 2009 | April 30, 2015 | ||||||||||
Raheja (Units 002/201) |
April 30, 2009 | April 30, 2015 | ||||||||||
Plant 5 |
February 28, 2010 | August 31, 2015 | ||||||||||
Airoli Phase I(2) |
October 31, 2013 | October 31, 2018 | ||||||||||
Airoli Phase II(2) |
April 30, 2014 | April 30, 2019 | ||||||||||
Airoli Phase III(2) |
October 31, 2014 | October 31, 2019 | ||||||||||
Gurgaon |
293,255 | 1,897 | ||||||||||
Towers A & B |
October 31, 2009/ | April 30, 2014/ | ||||||||||
November 30, 2009 | May 31, 2014 | |||||||||||
Tower C |
September 30, 2010 | March 31, 2015 | ||||||||||
Building 6 (Phase I) |
March 15, 2012 | September 15, 2017 | ||||||||||
Building 6 (Phase II)(3) |
March 31, 2012 | September 30, 2017 | ||||||||||
Building 6 (Phase III)(3) |
December 31, 2012 | December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||
Pune |
606,728 | 3,972 | ||||||||||
Sofotel |
December 31, 2011 | N/A | ||||||||||
NTrance |
March 9, 2014/ | N/A | ||||||||||
August 5, 2014 | N/A | |||||||||||
Level 1(4) |
February 2, 2012 | N/A | ||||||||||
Level 2(4) |
August 30, 2011 | N/A | ||||||||||
Level 4(4) |
February 2, 2011 | N/A | ||||||||||
Weikfield(5) |
August 14, 2013 | August 14, 2017 | ||||||||||
Marisoft(4) |
February 28, 2009 | June 30, 2009 | ||||||||||
Nashik |
109,741 | 827 | ||||||||||
Unity(4) |
January 31, 2010 | January 31, 2010 | ||||||||||
Shreeniketan |
June 30, 2010 | December 30, 2009 | ||||||||||
Vascon(6) |
See footnote(7) | N/A | ||||||||||
Bangalore |
19,468 | 287 | ||||||||||
Prestige Garnet |
December 31, 2010 | Option to renew for further term of 3 years | ||||||||||
Koddihelli |
November 24, 2010 | Option to renew for a further term of 11 months | ||||||||||
Indiranagar |
September 30, 2008 | Option to renew on mutually agreed terms |
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Total Space | Total Number of | |||||||||||
Location | (square feet) | Workstations/Seats | Lease Expiration | Extendable Until(1) | ||||||||
Sri Lanka: |
11,521 | 170 | ||||||||||
Colombo (WTC) |
November 30, 2008 | Option to renew for a further term of 1 to 3 years | ||||||||||
Colombo (HNB) |
September 30, 2008 | N/A | ||||||||||
UK: |
27,159 | 414 | ||||||||||
Ipswich WNSA |
August 26, 2012 | N/A | ||||||||||
Ipswich(SFH)-WNSA |
October 31, 2009 | N/A | ||||||||||
Ipswich-WNSWT |
August 26, 2012 | N/A | ||||||||||
Marple-Call-24-7 |
April 3, 2013 | N/A | ||||||||||
The Lodge-WNS UK Sales |
December 15, 2009 | N/A | ||||||||||
US: |
||||||||||||
New York |
3,149 | N/A | May 31, 2009 | N/A | ||||||||
Romania: |
||||||||||||
Bucharest |
13,971 | 133 | January 1, 2013 | N/A(8) | ||||||||
The Philippines: |
||||||||||||
Superstone |
76,900 | 400 | December 31, 2010 | N/A |
Notes: | ||
N/A means not applicable. | ||
(1) | Reflects the expiration date if each of our applicable extension options are exercised. | |
(2) | Delivery centers are under construction and we are in the process of carrying out interior fit out works. We expect to move into these office premises over a period of 18 months commencing in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The estimated capital expenditure for the interior fit out works for the delivery centers at Airoli Phases I, II and III is $13.1 million. We estimate that we will have a total of 4,000 seats upon completion. The leases in respect of the delivery centers at Airoli Phase II and III include options to lease an additional 220,225 square feet of space at the same premises. | |
(3) | Delivery centers are under construction and we are in the process of carrying out interior fit out works. We expect to move into these office premises over a period of 18 months commencing from March 2009. The estimated capital expenditure for the interior fit out works for the delivery centers at Building 6 Phases II and III is $3.0 million. We estimate that we will have a total of 1,243 seats upon completion. | |
(4) | These delivery centers are scheduled to be closed in the second half of fiscal 2009. | |
(5) | Delivery center is under construction and we are in the process of carrying out interior fit out works. We expect to move into these office premises over a period of six months commencing from July 2008. The estimated capital expenditure for the interior fit out works for the delivery center is $9.6 million, of which $6.0 million has been spent. We estimate that we will have a total of 2,819 seats upon completion. | |
(6) | Delivery center is under construction and we are in the process of carrying out interior fit out works. We expect to move into these office premises in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. The estimated capital expenditure for the interior fit out works for the delivery center is $2.0 million. We estimate that we will have a total of 741 seats upon completion. | |
(7) | The lease will be for a term of five years commencing from the date of completion of the interior fit out works which is expected to be in the third quarter of 2009. | |
(8) | No option to renew unless mutually agreed by the parties in writing. |
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Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
(US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 459.9 | $ | 352.3 | $ | 202.8 | ||||||
Less: Payments to repair centers |
$ | 169.2 | $ | 132.6 | $ | 54.9 | ||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
$ | 290.7 | $ | 219.7 | $ | 147.9 | ||||||
| In fiscal 2003, we acquired Town & Country Assistance Limited (which we subsequently rebranded as WNS Assistance and which constitutes WNS Auto Claims BPO, our reportable segment for financial statement purposes), a UK-based automobile claims handling company, thereby extending our service portfolio beyond the travel industry to include insurance-based automobile claims processing. | |
| In fiscal 2003, we invested in capabilities to begin providing enterprise services and knowledge services to address the requirements of emerging industry segments in the offshore outsourcing context. |
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| In fiscal 2003 and 2004, we invested in our infrastructure to expand our service portfolio from data-oriented processing to include complex voice and blended data/voice service capabilities, and commenced offering comprehensive processes in the travel and banking, financial services and insurance, or BFSI, industries. | |
| In fiscal 2004, we acquired the health claims management business of Greensnow Inc. | |
| In fiscal 2005, we opened facilities in Gurgaon, India, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, thereby expanding our operating footprints across India, Sri Lanka and the UK. | |
| In fiscal 2006, we acquired Trinity Partners (which we subsequently merged into our subsidiary, WNS North America Inc.), a provider of business process outsourcing services to financial institutions, focusing on mortgage banking. | |
| In fiscal 2007, we expanded our facilities in Pune, Gurgaon and Mumbai. | |
| In fiscal 2007, we acquired the fare audit services business of PRG Airlines and the financial accounting business of GHS. | |
| In May 2007, we acquired Marketics, a provider of offshore analytics services. | |
| In June 2007, we acquired Flovate, a company engaged in the development and maintenance of software products and solutions, which we subsequently renamed as WNS Workflow Technologies Limited. | |
| In July 2007, we completed the transfer of our delivery center in Sri Lanka to AVIVA. | |
| In January 2008, we launched a 133-seat facility in Bucharest, Romania. | |
| In April 2008, we opened a facility in Manila, the Philippines. | |
| In April 2008, we acquired Chang Limited, an auto insurance claims processing services provider in the UK through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Call 24/7. | |
| In June 2008, we acquired BizAps, a provider of SAP solutions to optimize the enterprise resource planning functionality for our finance and accounting processes. | |
| In July 2008, we entered into the transaction with AVIVA consisting of a share sale and purchase agreement pursuant to which we acquired from AVIVA all the shares of Aviva Global and the AVIVA master services agreement pursuant to which we will provide BPO services to AVIVAs UK and Canadian businesses, as described under Recent Developments above. |
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Revenue | Revenue Less Repair Payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended March 31, | Year Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||
Top five clients |
57.3 | % | 55.2 | % | 41.0 | % | 42.2 | % | 45.7 | % | 52.8 | % | ||||||||||||
Top ten clients |
68.2 | % | 70.1 | % | 58.5 | % | 56.0 | % | 61.9 | % | 65.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Top 20 clients |
77.8 | % | 79.3 | % | 73.0 | % | 70.7 | % | 74.7 | % | 78.1 | % |
| travel; | |
| BFSI (which includes our WNS Auto Claims BPO segment); | |
| emerging businesses (which serves the consumer products, retail, professional services, pharmaceutical and media and entertainment industries using core service capabilities provided by our Finance and Accounting Services and Knowledge Services capabilities); and | |
| industrial and infrastructure which was spun off from emerging business to become a separate business unit in April 2008. |
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Revenue | Revenue Less Repair Payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended March 31, | Year Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Units | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
Travel |
22.5 | % | 22.8 | % | 33.1 | % | 35.6 | % | 36.6 | % | 45.4 | % | ||||||||||||
BFSI |
57.4 | % | 61.8 | % | 55.6 | % | 32.7 | % | 38.7 | % | 39.1 | % | ||||||||||||
Emerging businesses |
20.1 | % | 15.4 | % | 11.3 | % | 31.7 | % | 24.7 | % | 15.5 | % | ||||||||||||
Total |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Revenue | Revenue Less Repair Payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended March 31, | Year Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Locations | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
UK |
49.1 | % | 53.9 | % | 62.6 | % | 50.3 | % | 50.5 | % | 49.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Europe (excluding UK) |
25.4 | % | 22.4 | % | 12.5 | % | 9.4 | % | 11.5 | % | 16.3 | % | ||||||||||||
North America
(primarily US) |
24.7 | % | 22.9 | % | 24.2 | % | 39.1 | % | 36.8 | % | 33.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Rest of World |
0.8 | % | 0.8 | % | 0.7 | % | 1.2 | % | 1.2 | % | 0.9 | % | ||||||||||||
Total |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||
48
| per full-time-equivalent arrangements typically involve billings based on the number of full-time employees (or equivalent) deployed on the execution of the business process outsourced; | |
| per transaction arrangements typically involve billings based on the number of transactions processed (such as the number of e-mail responses, or airline coupons or insurance claims processed); and | |
| cost-plus arrangements typically involve billing the contractually agreed direct and indirect costs and a fee based on the number of employees deployed under the arrangement. |
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| developing a broad client base which has resulted in limited reliance on any particular client; | |
| seeking to balance our revenue base by targeting industries that offer significant offshore outsourcing potential; | |
| addressing the largest markets for offshore business process outsourcing services, which provide geographic diversity across our client base; and | |
| focusing our service mix on diverse data, voice and analytical processes, resulting in enhanced client retention. |
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Weighted | Weighted | Weighted | ||||||||||||||
Number of | average | average fair | average intrinsic | |||||||||||||
Grants made during the quarter ended | options granted | exercise price | value per share | value per share | ||||||||||||
June 30, 2005 |
160,500 | $ | 5.44 | $ | 5.65 | $ | 0.21 | |||||||||
September 30, 2005 |
828,100 | 6.27 | 6.27 | | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2005 |
45,479 | 6.07 | 6.07 | | ||||||||||||
March 31, 2006 |
447,400 | 11.72 | 11.99 | 0.27 |
| Achievement of major milestones by us, such as key new client wins and acquisitions; | |
| Public company comparables and private market transactions for sale of equity; | |
| The absence of a public trading market for our shares; | |
| Our recent operating results at the time of a grant; | |
| The fact that we are majority owned by a single shareholder; and | |
| The likelihood of us selling our shares to the public in the future. |
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As of March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Total headcount |
18,104 | 15,084 | 10,433 | |||||||||
Built up seats (1) |
11,062 | 8,794 | 6,534 | |||||||||
Used seats (1) |
8,559 | 7,769 | 5,004 | |||||||||
Seat utilization rate (2) |
1.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Built up seats refer to the total number of production seats (excluding support functions like Finance, Human Resource and Administration) that are set up in any premises. Used seats refer to the number of built up seats that are being used by employees. The remainder would be termed vacant seats. The vacant seats would get converted into used seats when we acquire a new client or increase headcount. | |
(2) | The seat utilization rate is calculated by dividing the total headcount by the number of built up seats to show the rate at which we are able to utilize our built up seats. |
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Revenue | Revenue Less Repair Payments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended March 31, | Year Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||
Unaudited | Unaudited | Unaudited | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
79.0 | % | 77.0 | % | 71.9 | % | 66.8 | % | 63.1 | % | 61.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Gross profit |
21.0 | % | 23.0 | % | 28.1 | % | 33.2 | % | 36.9 | % | 38.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SG&A |
15.8 | % | 14.9 | % | 17.9 | % | 25.0 | % | 23.9 | % | 24.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles assets |
0.6 | % | 0.5 | % | 0.4 | % | 1.0 | % | 0.9 | % | 0.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill,
intangibles and other assets |
3.4 | % | | | 5.3 | % | | | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income |
1.2 | % | 7.6 | % | 9.8 | % | 1.9 | % | 12.1 | % | 13.4 | % | ||||||||||||
Other income, net |
2.0 | % | 0.7 | % | 0.0 | % | 3.2 | % | 1.1 | % | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(1.1 | )% | (0.7 | )% | (0.8 | )% | (1.8 | )% | (1.2 | )% | (1.1 | )% | ||||||||||||
Net income |
2.1 | % | 7.6 | % | 9.0 | % | 3.3 | % | 12.0 | % | 12.3 | % |
Year Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Revenue |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Less: Payments to repair centers |
36.8 | % | 37.6 | % | 27.1 | % | ||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
63.2 | % | 62.4 | % | 72.9 | % | ||||||
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Year Ended March 31, 2008 | Year Ended March 31, 2007 | Year Ended March 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WNS Global | WNS Auto | WNS Global | WNS Auto | WNS Global | WNS Auto | |||||||||||||||||||
BPO | Claims BPO | BPO | Claims BPO | BPO | Claims BPO | |||||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment revenue(1) |
$ | 261.2 | $ | 199.7 | $ | 195.0 | $ | 158.8 | $ | 125.2 | $ | 79.6 | ||||||||||||
Less: Payments to repair centers |
| 169.1 | | 132.6 | | 54.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments(1) |
261.2 | 30.6 | 195.0 | 26.2 | 125.2 | 24.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue(2) |
181.7 | 11.1 | 122.1 | 17.0 | 76.8 | 15.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other costs(3) |
63.3 | 5.0 | 45.6 | 4.2 | 30.9 | 3.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Segment operating income |
$ | 16.2 | $ | 14.5 | $ | 27.3 | $ | 5.1 | $ | 17.5 | $ | 5.1 | ||||||||||||
Notes: | ||
(1) | Segment revenue and revenue less repair payments include inter-segment revenue of $1.1 million for fiscal 2008, $1.5 million for fiscal 2007 and $2.0 million for fiscal 2006. | |
(2) | Cost of revenue includes inter-segment expenses of $1.1 million for fiscal 2008, $1.5 million for fiscal 2007 and $2.0 million for fiscal 2006, and excludes stock-based compensation expenses of $2.4 million for fiscal 2008, $1.0 million for fiscal 2007 and $0.1 million for fiscal 2006, which are not allocable between our segments. | |
(3) | Excludes stock-based compensation expenses of $4.4 million for fiscal 2008, $2.7 million for fiscal 2007 and $1.8 million for fiscal 2006, which are not allocable between our segments. SG&A expenses comprise other costs and stock-based compensation expenses. |
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Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March | December | September | June | March | December | September | June | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited, US dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue(1) |
$ | 116.1 | $ | 115.6 | $ | 115.6 | $ | 112.5 | $ | 110.7 | $ | 102.0 | $ | 86.6 | $ | 53.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
88.8 | 91.9 | 92.5 | 90.2 | 85.2 | 81.3 | 67.3 | 37.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross profit |
27.3 | 23.8 | 23.1 | 22.3 | 25.5 | 20.7 | 19.3 | 15.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SG&A(2) |
21.4 | 17.8 | 18.8 | 14.7 | 16.3 | 14.0 | 12.1 | 10.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangibles assets |
0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill,
intangibles and other assets |
| | 15.5 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
5.3 | 5.1 | (11.6 | ) | 6.8 | 8.7 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 5.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income (loss), net |
2.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.3 | (0.1 | ) | (0.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Provision) for income taxes |
(1.4 | ) | (1.7 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (1.0 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (0.6 | ) | (0.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
6.1 | 5.5 | (10.5 | ) | 8.4 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.6 |
Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March | December | September | June | March | December | September | June | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross profit as a
percentage of
revenue |
23.5 | % | 20.6 | % | 20.0 | % | 19.8 | % | 23.1 | % | 20.3 | % | 22.2 | % | 29.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income
(loss) as a
percentage of
revenue |
4.5 | % | 4.4 | % | (10.1 | )% | 6.0 | % | 7.9 | % | 6.2 | % | 7.7 | % | 9.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Gross profit as a
percentage of
revenue less repair
payments |
36.4 | % | 32.1 | % | 32.2 | % | 32.0 | % | 39.8 | % | 36.3 | % | 36.4 | % | 34.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income
(loss) as a
percentage of
revenue less repair
payments |
7.0 | % | 6.9 | % | (16.2 | )% | 9.7 | % | 13.7 | % | 11.0 | % | 12.6 | % | 11.0 | % |
Fiscal 2008 | Fiscal 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March | December | September | June | March | December | September | June | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 116.1 | $ | 115.6 | $ | 115.6 | $ | 112.5 | $ | 110.7 | $ | 102.0 | $ | 86.6 | $ | 53.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Less: Payments to repair centers |
41.0 | 41.6 | 43.8 | 42.8 | 46.7 | 44.8 | 33.6 | 7.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
$ | 75.1 | $ | 74.1 | $ | 71.7 | $ | 69.8 | $ | 64.0 | $ | 57.2 | $ | 53.0 | $ | 45.5 | ||||||||||||||||
Notes: | ||
(1) | The financial information for the quarters from and including the quarter ended June 2007 reflects the acquisitions of Marketics in May 2007 and Flovate in June 2007. | |
(2) | Our SG&A expenses for the three months period ended September 30, 2007 include a provision for bad debts of $1.4 million towards accounts receivable from FMFC, one of our mortgage services customer that filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in August 2007. We have filed our claims with the bankruptcy court for the unpaid invoices, lost profit on the minimum revenue commitment and certain administrative claims. |
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Payments Due By Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | Less than 1 Year | 2-3 Years | 4-5 Years | More than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
(US dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operating leases |
$ | 74,652 | $ | 15,820 | $ | 23,932 | $ | 12,794 | $ | 22,106 | ||||||||||
Purchase obligations |
$ | 1,826 | $ | 1,826 | | | | |||||||||||||
Capital lease obligations |
| | | | | |||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 76,478 | $ | 17,646 | $ | 23,932 | $ | 12,794 | $ | 22,106 | ||||||||||
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Name | Age | Designation | ||||
Directors |
||||||
Ramesh N. Shah
|
60 | Chairman of the Board | ||||
Neeraj Bhargava
|
44 | Director and Group Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Jeremy Young
|
43 | Director | ||||
Eric B. Herr(1)(2)(3)
|
60 | Director | ||||
Deepak S. Parekh(3)(4)(5)
|
63 | Director | ||||
Richard O. Bernays(1)(4)(6)
|
65 | Director | ||||
Anthony Armitage Greener(1)(3)(4)(7)
|
68 | Director | ||||
Executive Officers |
||||||
Ramesh N. Shah
|
60 | Chairman of the Board | ||||
Neeraj Bhargava
|
44 | Group Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Alok Misra(8)
|
41 | Group Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Anup Gupta(9)
|
36 | Group Chief Operating Officer | ||||
J.J. Selvadurai(10)
|
49 | Managing Director of European Operations |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. | |
(2) | Chairman of the Audit Committee. | |
(3) | Member of the Compensation Committee. | |
(4) | Member of the Audit Committee. | |
(5) | Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. | |
(6) | Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Bernays was appointed as Chairman of the Compensation Committee in place of Mr. Shah with effect from July 2007. | |
(7) | Appointed as a director in June 2007. Sir Anthony was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with effect from July 2007. | |
(8) | Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from February 18, 2008. | |
(9) | Formerly the Chief Executive Officer Travel Services. Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. | |
(10) | On October 1, 2007, Mr. J.J. Selvadurai assumed the position of Managing Director of WNS UK in place of Mr. Alan Stephen Dunning. At the same time, the position of Managing Director of WNS UK became an executive level position and was renamed as Managing Director of European Operations. Mr. Dunning has since undertaken a senior advisory role to help us further expand our UK and European businesses. |
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| group profit after taxes, plus share-based compensation expenses plus amortization of intangible assets; | |
| operating margins; | |
| annual revenue less repair payments; and | |
| exit revenue less repair payments, which is the average monthly revenue less repair payments earned calculated based on the last two months of the fiscal year. |
| Chairman of the Board achievement of specified revenue targets in the US; | |
| Group Chief Executive Officer retention of key managers holding a position of Assistant Vice President and above and the successful completion of our initial public offering; | |
| Group Chief Financial Officer achievement of profit after tax targets, acquisition targets and statutory compliance; and | |
| Managing Director of European Operations achievement of specified revenue targets in the UK and Europe. |
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| medical insurance; | |
| leave travel assistance; | |
| telephone expenses reimbursement; | |
| food coupons; | |
| company car schemes; | |
| petrol and maintenance for cars; | |
| health clubs; | |
| accident and life insurance (based on the level of seniority); | |
| leased residential accommodation; and | |
| relocation benefits (individually negotiated). |
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As of March 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||
Name | Salary | Bonus | Other Benefits | |||||||||
Ramesh N. Shah |
$ | 400,000 | $ | 185,000 | $ | 51,608 | ||||||
Neeraj Bhargava |
480,000 | 325,000 | 68,431 | |||||||||
Alok Misra(1) |
41,691 | | 2,172 | |||||||||
Anup Gupta(2) |
393,747 | 148,920 | 20,438 | |||||||||
J.J. Selvadurai (3) |
180,265 | 70,968 | 76,234 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from February 18, 2008. | |
(2) | Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. | |
(3) | Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
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Number of | ||||||||||||||||
Ordinary Shares Underlying | ||||||||||||||||
Name | Options Granted | RSUs Granted | Exercise Price Per Share(1) | Expiration Date | ||||||||||||
Directors |
||||||||||||||||
Ramesh N. Shah |
21,875 | 32,813 | $ | 27.75 | April 5, 2017 | |||||||||||
Neeraj Bhargava |
26,250 | 39,350 | $ | 27.75 | April 5, 2017 | |||||||||||
Jeremy Young |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Eric B. Herr |
2,000 | 2,500 | $ | 22.98 | August 7, 2017 | |||||||||||
Deepak S. Parekh |
2,000 | 2,500 | $ | 22.98 | August 7, 2017 | |||||||||||
Richard O. Bernays |
2,000 | 2,500 | $ | 22.98 | August 7, 2017 | |||||||||||
Anthony Armitage Greener(2) |
2,000 | 2,500 | $ | 22.98 | August 7, 2017 | |||||||||||
14,000 | | $ | 28.48 | June 15, 2017 | ||||||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||||
Alok Misra(3) |
13,260 | 16,620 | $ | 15.32 | February 17, 2018 | |||||||||||
Anup Gupta(4) |
8,203 | 12,305 | $ | 27.75 | April 5, 2017 | |||||||||||
8,000 | 12,000 | $ | 15.68 | December 20, 2017 | ||||||||||||
J.J. Selvadurai(5) |
8,227 | 12,340 | $ | 27.75 | April 5, 2017 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Applicable in respect of options granted. There is no exercise price for RSUs. | |
(2) | Appointed as a director in June 2007. The information in this table excludes options to purchase 14,000 shares granted to Sir Anthony Armitage Greener in June 2007. | |
(3) | Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from February 18, 2008. | |
(4) | Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. | |
(5) | Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
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| Options. The plan administrator may grant options on shares. The per share option exercise price of all options granted pursuant to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan will not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. No incentive stock option may be granted to a grantee who owns more than 10% of our |
83
outstanding shares unless the exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to an incentive stock option become exercisable for the first time by any optionee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such excess will be treated as a non-qualified option. The plan administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, shares or other property acceptable to the plan administrator (and may involve a cashless exercise of the option). The term of options granted under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, the term of an incentive stock option granted to a person who owns more than 10% of our outstanding shares on the date of grant may not exceed five years. | ||
Under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, our independent directors each received options to purchase 14,000 shares initially and an option to purchase 7,000 shares upon reelection to our board of directors at each annual meeting of shareholders thereafter. On August 7, 2007, our board of directors adopted an amendment to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan to eliminate the provision for fixed grants of options to our directors. The number of awards to be granted to our independent directors will instead be determined by our board of directors or our compensation committee. Pursuant to this, our board of directors and our compensation committee determined that each independent director will be granted 2,000 options and 2,500 RSUs for fiscal 2008. The options granted to independent directors will be non-qualified options with a per share exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date that the option is granted. Options granted to independent directors will become exercisable in cumulative annual installments of 33 1/3% on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. | ||
| Restricted Shares. The plan administrator may grant shares subject to various restrictions, including restrictions on transferability, limitations on the right to vote and/or limitations on the right to receive dividends. | |
| Share Appreciation Rights. The plan administrator may grant share appreciation rights representing the right to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share on the date of exercise over the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. The term of share appreciation rights granted may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. The plan administrator may elect to pay share appreciation rights in cash, in shares or in a combination of cash and shares. | |
| Performance Shares and Performance Shares Units. The plan administrator may grant awards of performance shares denominated in a number of shares and/or awards of performance share units denominated in unit equivalents of shares and/or units of value, including dollar value of shares. These awards may be linked to performance criteria measured over performance periods as determined by the plan administrator. | |
| Share Payments. The plan administrator may grant share payments, including payments in the form of shares or options or other rights to purchase shares. Share payments may be based upon specific performance criteria determined by the plan administrator on the date such share payments are made or on any date thereafter. | |
| Deferred Shares. The plan administrator may grant awards of deferred shares linked to performance criteria determined by the plan administrator. Shares underlying deferred share awards will not be issued until the deferred share awards have vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or upon the satisfaction of any vesting conditions or performance criteria set by the plan administrator. Recipients of deferred share awards generally will have no rights as shareholders with respect to such deferred shares until the shares underlying the deferred share awards have been issued. | |
| Restricted Share Units. The plan administrator may grant RSUs, subject to various vesting conditions. On the maturity date, we will transfer to the participant one unrestricted, fully transferable share for each vested RSU scheduled to be paid out on such date. The plan administrator will specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the participant for such shares. | |
| Performance Bonus Awards. The plan administrator may grant a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of performance goals based on performance criteria and measured over a performance period determined appropriate by the plan administrator. Any such cash bonus paid to a covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code may be a performance-based award as described below. |
84
| Performance-Based Awards. The plan administrator may grant awards other than options and share appreciation rights to employees who are or may be covered employees, as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code, that are intended to be performance-based awards within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code in order to preserve the deductibility of these awards for federal income tax purposes. Participants are only entitled to receive payment for performance-based awards for any given performance period to the extent that pre-established performance goals set by the plan administrator for the period are satisfied. The plan administrator will determine the type of performance-based awards to be granted, the performance period and the performance goals. Generally, a participant will have to be employed by us on the date the performance-based award is paid to be eligible for a performance-based award for any period. |
85
| Class I, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in July 2010; | |
| Class II, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in September 2008; and | |
| Class III, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in 2009. |
| Class I: Sir Anthony Armitage Greener and Mr. Richard O. Bernays; | |
| Class II: Mr. Ramesh N. Shah and Mr. Neeraj Bhargava; and | |
| Class III: Mr. Jeremy Young, Mr. Eric B. Herr and Mr. Deepak S. Parekh. |
86
| to serve as an independent and objective party to monitor our financial reporting process and internal control systems; | |
| to review and appraise the audit efforts of our independent accountants and exercise ultimate authority over the relationship between us and our independent accountants; and | |
| to provide an open avenue of communication among the independent accountants, financial and senior management and the board of directors. |
87
| to assist the board of directors by identifying individuals qualified to become board members and members of board committees, to recommend to the board of directors nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders, and to recommend to the board of directors nominees for each committee of the board of directors; | |
| to monitor our corporate governance structure; and | |
| to periodically review and recommend to the board of directors any proposed changes to the corporate governance guidelines applicable to us. |
Number of Ordinary Shares | ||||||||
Beneficially Owned | ||||||||
Name | Number | Percent | ||||||
Directors |
||||||||
Ramesh N. Shah(1) |
392,395 | 0.924 | % | |||||
Neeraj Bhargava(2) |
267,118 | 0.629 | % | |||||
Jeremy Young(3) |
21,366,644 | 50.322 | % | |||||
Eric B. Herr |
4,667 | 0.011 | % | |||||
Deepak S. Parekh |
4,667 | 0.011 | % | |||||
Richard O. Bernays |
4,667 | 0.011 | % | |||||
Anthony Armitage Greener |
| | ||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||
Alok Misra |
| | ||||||
Anup Gupta |
124,970 | 0.294 | % | |||||
J.J. Selvadurai(4) |
267,688 | 0.630 | % | |||||
All our
directors and executive officers as a group (ten persons)(5) |
22,432,816 | 52.873 | % |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Of the 392,395 shares beneficially owned by Ramesh N. Shah, 141,265 shares are indirectly held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Shah, and the remainder are held directly. | |
(2) | Of the 267,118 shares beneficially owned by Neeraj Bhargava, 87,300 shares are indirectly held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Bhargava, and the remainder is held directly. |
(3) | Jeremy Young is a director of our company and a Managing Director and member of Warburg Pincus LLC. All shares indicated as owned by Mr. Young was a result of his affiliation with the Warburg Pincus entities. Mr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by the Warburg Pincus entities. | |
(4) | Of the 267,688 shares beneficially owned by J.J. Selvadurai, 251,666 shares are indirectly held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Selvadurai, and the remainder is held directly by his relatives. | |
(5) | Includes the shares beneficially owned by Jeremy Young, nominee director of Warburg Pincus, because of his affiliation with the Warburg Pincus entities. Mr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by the Warburg Pincus entities. |
88
Option Awards | RSU Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of | Number of | |||||||||||||||||||||||
shares | shares | Number of | Number of | |||||||||||||||||||||
underlying | underlying | shares | shares | |||||||||||||||||||||
unexercised | unexercised | underlying | underlying | |||||||||||||||||||||
options | Exercise Price | options | Exercise Price | RSUs held that | RSUs held that | |||||||||||||||||||
Name | (Exercisable) | per share | (Unexercisable) | per Share | have vested | have not vested | ||||||||||||||||||
Directors |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ramesh N. Shah |
166,666 | £ | 3.50 | 83,334 | £ | 3.50 | | 151,118 | ||||||||||||||||
38,333 | $ | 20.00 | 76,667 | $ | 20.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
7,292 | $ | 27.75 | 14,583 | $ | 27.75 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Neeraj Bhargava |
1 | £ | 0.9971 | | | | 180,324 | |||||||||||||||||
50,000 | £ | 3.50 | 50,000 | £ | 3.50 | | | |||||||||||||||||
45,000 | $ | 20.00 | 90,000 | $ | 20.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
8,750 | $ | 27.75 | 17,500 | $ | 27.75 | | | |||||||||||||||||
Jeremy Young |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Eric B. Herr |
4,667 | $ | 20.00 | 9,333 | $ | 20.00 | | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| | 2,000 | $ | 22.98 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Deepak S. Parekh |
4,667 | $ | 20.00 | 9,333 | $ | 20.00 | | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| | 2,000 | $ | 22.98 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Richard O. Bernays |
4,667 | $ | 28.87 | 9,333 | $ | 28.87 | | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| | 2,000 | $ | 22.98 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Anthony Armitage Greener(1) |
4,667 | $ | 28.48 | 9,333 | $ | 28.48 | | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| | 2,000 | $ | 22.98 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alok Misra(2) |
| | 13,260 | $ | 15.32 | | 41,279 | |||||||||||||||||
Anup Gupta(3) |
3,334 | £ | 3.0000 | | | 4,935 | 83,403 | |||||||||||||||||
23,334 | £ | 3.5000 | 23,333 | £ | 3.50 | | | |||||||||||||||||
6,667 | £ | 7.0000 | 6,667 | £ | 7.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
6,667 | $ | 20.00 | 13,333 | $ | 20.00 | | | |||||||||||||||||
1,667 | $ | 30.31 | 3,333 | $ | 30.31 | | | |||||||||||||||||
2,734 | $ | 27.75 | 5,469 | $ | 27.75 | | | |||||||||||||||||
| | 8,000 | $ | 15.68 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
J.J. Selvadurai(4) |
6,667 | $ | 20.00 | 13,333 | $ | 20.00 | 4,946 | 58,639 | ||||||||||||||||
1,667 | $ | 30.21 | 3,333 | $ | 30.21 | | | |||||||||||||||||
2,742 | $ | 27.75 | 5,485 | $ | 27.75 | | |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Appointed as a director in June 2007. The information in this table excludes the options to purchase 14,000 shares granted to Sir Anthony in June 2007. | |
(2) | Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer with effect from February 18, 2008. | |
(3) | Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. | |
(4) | Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
89
Name of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage Beneficially Owned | ||||||
Warburg Pincus(1)
|
21,366,644 | 50.32 | % | |||||
FMR LLC(2)
|
6,285,400 | 14.80 | % | |||||
Tiger Global Management, L.L.C.(3)
|
2,246,266 | 5.29 | % | |||||
Nalanda India Fund Limited(4)
|
2,210,253 | 5.21 | % |
Notes: | ||
(1) | Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G jointly filed with the Commission on August 22, 2006 by Warburg Pincus Private Equity VIII, L.P., or WP VIII, Warburg Pincus International Partners, L.P., or WPIP, Warburg Pincus Netherlands International Partners I, CV, or WP Netherlands, Warburg, Pincus Partners, LLC, or WPP LLC, Warburg, Pincus & Co., or Warburg Pincus, and Warburg Pincus LLC, or WP LLC. The sole general partner of each of WP VIII, WPIP and WP Netherlands is WPP LLC. WPP LLC is managed by Warburg Pincus. WP LLC manages each of WP VIII, WPIP and WP Netherlands. Charles R. Kaye and Joseph P. Landy are each Managing General Partners of Warburg Pincus and Co-President and Managing Members of WP LLC. Each of Warburg Pincus, WPP LLC, WP LLC, Mr. Kaye and Mr. Landy disclaims beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein. | |
(2) | Formerly FMR Corp. Information is based on a report on Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G jointly filed with the Commission on February 14, 2008 by FMR LLC, Edward C. Johnson 3d, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund. Edward C. Johnson 3d is the Chairman of FMR LLC. Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR Corp., is the investment adviser to Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund. | |
(3) | Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G jointly filed with the Commission on September 26, 2006 by Charles P. Coleman, III and Tiger Global Management, L.L.C, or Tiger. Tiger serves as the management company of two domestic private investment partnerships and the investment manager of an offshore investment vehicle. Mr. Coleman is the Managing Member of Tiger. | |
(4) | Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G filed with the Commission on March 20, 2008 by Nalanda India Fund Limited. |
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| immediately following the date on which the distribution is proposed to be made, we will be able to discharge our liabilities as they fall due; and | |
| having regard to our prospects and to the intentions of our directors with respect to the management of our business and to the amount and character of the financial resources that will in their view be available to us, we will be able to continue to carry on business and we will be able to discharge our liabilities as they fall due until the expiry of the period of 12 months immediately following the date on which the distribution is proposed to be made or until we are dissolved under Article 150 of the 1991 Law, whichever first occurs. |
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Price per ADS on NYSE | ||||||||
High | Low | |||||||
Fiscal Year: |
||||||||
2007(1) |
$ | 35.83 | $ | 20.79 | ||||
2008 |
$ | 29.85 | $ | 12.81 | ||||
Financial Quarter: |
||||||||
2007 |
||||||||
Second quarter(1) |
$ | 29.85 | $ | 20.79 | ||||
Third quarter |
$ | 34.63 | $ | 27.70 | ||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 35.83 | $ | 28.00 | ||||
2008 |
||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 29.85 | $ | 24.61 | ||||
Second quarter |
$ | 28.65 | $ | 16.15 | ||||
Third quarter |
$ | 25.00 | $ | 15.31 | ||||
Fourth quarter |
$ | 17.99 | $ | 12.81 | ||||
2009 |
||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 20.00 | $ | 15.60 | ||||
Month: |
||||||||
January 2008 |
$ | 17.48 | $ | 12.81 | ||||
February 2008 |
$ | 17.99 | $ | 13.95 | ||||
March 2008 |
$ | 16.42 | $ | 14.20 | ||||
April 2008 |
$ | 20.00 | $ | 15.60 | ||||
May 2008 |
$ | 19.74 | $ | 16.83 | ||||
June 2008 |
$ | 18.99 | $ | 16.70 |
Note: | ||
(1) | From July 2006 following the completion of our initial public offering on the NYSE. |
93
94
| increase our authorized or paid-up share capital; | |
| consolidate and divide all or any part of our shares into shares of a larger amount; | |
| sub-divide all or any part of our shares into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by our Memorandum of Association; | |
| convert any of our issued or unissued shares into shares of another class; | |
| convert all our issued par value shares into no par value shares and vice versa; | |
| convert any of our paid-up shares into stock, and reconvert any stock into any number of paid-up shares of any denomination; | |
| convert any of our issued limited shares into redeemable shares which can be redeemed; | |
| cancel shares which, at the date of passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of the authorized share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled; | |
| reduce our issued share capital; or | |
| alter our Memorandum or Articles of Association. |
95
| the consideration of our annual financial statements and report of our directors and auditors; | |
| the election of directors (if necessary); | |
| the appointment of auditors and the fixing of their remuneration; | |
| the sanction of dividends; and | |
| the transaction of any other business of which notice has been given. |
96
| it is in respect of a share which is fully paid-up; | |
| it is in respect of only one class of shares; | |
| it is in favor of a single transferee or not more than four joint transferees; | |
| it is duly stamped, if so required; and | |
| it is delivered for registration to our registered office for the time being or another place that we may from time to time determine accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and any other evidence as we may reasonably require to prove the right of the transferor or person renouncing to make the transfer or renunciation. |
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
| controlling possible conflicts of interests between us and our directors, such as loans by us or directors, and contracts between us and our directors other than a duty on directors to disclose an interest in any transaction to be entered into by us or any of our subsidiaries which to a material extent conflicts with our interest; | |
| specifically requiring particulars to be shown in our accounts of the amount of loans to officers or directors emoluments and pensions, although these would probably be required to be shown in our accounts in conformity to the requirement that accounts must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; | |
| requiring us to file details of charges other than charges of Jersey realty; or | |
| as regards statutory preemption provisions in relation to further issues of shares. |
Corporate Law Issue | Delaware Law | Jersey Law | ||
Special Meetings of
Shareholders
|
Shareholders of a Delaware corporation generally do not have the right to call meetings of shareholders unless that right is granted in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws. However, if a corporation fails to hold its annual meeting within a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated for a period of 13 months after its last annual meeting, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order a meeting to be held upon the application of a shareholder. | Under the 1991 Law, directors shall, notwithstanding anything in a Jersey companys articles of association, call a general meeting on a shareholders requisition. A shareholders requisition is a requisition of shareholders holding not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of the shareholders of the company who have the right to vote at the meeting requisitioned. Failure to call an annual general meeting in accordance with the requirements of the 1991 Law is a criminal offense on the part of a Jersey company and its directors. The JFSC may, on the application of any officer, secretary or shareholder call, or direct the calling of, an annual general meeting. | ||
Interested Director Transactions
|
Interested director transactions are not voidable if (i) the material facts as to the interested directors relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the board of directors and the board in good faith authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, (ii) the material facts are disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote on such transaction and the transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the majority of shares entitled to vote on the matter or (iii) the transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board of directors, a committee or the | A director of a Jersey company who has an interest in a transaction entered into or proposed to be entered into by the company or by a subsidiary which conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the company and of which the director is aware, must disclose the interest to the company. Failure to disclose an interest entitles the company or a member to apply to the court for an order setting aside the transaction concerned and directing that the director account to the company for any profit. A transaction is not voidable and a director is not accountable notwithstanding a failure to disclose if the transaction is confirmed by special resolution and the nature and extent of the directors interest in the transaction are disclosed in |
104
Corporate Law Issue | Delaware Law | Jersey Law | ||
shareholders. | reasonable detail in the notice calling the meeting at which the resolution is passed. Without prejudice to its power to order that a director account for any profit, a court shall not set aside a transaction unless it is satisfied that the interests of third parties who have acted in good faith thereunder would not thereby be unfairly prejudiced and the transaction was not reasonable and fair in the interests of the company at the time it was entered into. | |||
Cumulative Voting
|
Delaware law does not require that a Delaware corporation provide for cumulative voting. However, the certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation may provide that shareholders of any class or classes or of any series may vote cumulatively either at all elections or at elections under specified circumstances. | There are no provisions in the 1991 Law relating to cumulative voting. | ||
Approval of Corporate
Matters by Written Consent
|
Unless otherwise specified in a Delaware corporations certificate of incorporation, action required or permitted to be taken by shareholders at an annual or special meeting may be taken by shareholders without a meeting, without notice and without a vote, if consents in writing setting forth the action, are signed by shareholders with not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting. All consents must be dated. No consent is effective unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the corporation. | Insofar as the memorandum or articles of a Jersey company do not make other provision in that behalf, anything which may be done at a meeting of the company (other than remove an auditor) or at a meeting of any class of its shareholders may be done by a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who, at the date when the resolution is deemed to be passed, would be entitled to vote on the resolution if it were proposed at a meeting. A resolution shall be deemed to be passed when the instrument, or the last of several instruments, is last signed or on such later date as is specified in the resolution. | ||
Business Combinations
|
With certain exceptions, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all the assets of a Delaware corporation must be approved by the board of directors and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. | A sale or disposal of all or substantially all the assets of a Jersey company must be approved by the board of directors and, only if the Articles of Association of the company require, by the shareholders in general meeting. A merger between two or more Jersey companies must be documented in a merger agreement which must be approved by special resolution of each of the companies merging. |
105
Corporate Law Issue | Delaware Law | Jersey Law | ||
Limitations on Directors Liability
|
A Delaware corporation may include in its certificate of incorporation provisions limiting the personal liability of its directors to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for many types of breach of fiduciary duty. However, these provisions may not limit liability for any breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, the authorization of unlawful dividends, shares repurchases or shares barring redemptions, or any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Moreover, these provisions would not be likely to bar claims arising under US federal securities laws. | The 1991 Law does not contain any provisions permitting Jersey companies to limit the liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty. Any provision, whether contained in the articles of association of, or in a contract with, a Jersey company or otherwise, whereby the company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person, for some benefit conferred or detriment suffered directly or indirectly by the company, agrees to exempt any person from, or indemnify any person against, any liability which by law would otherwise attach to the person by reason of the fact that the person is or was an officer of the company is void (subject to what is said below). | ||
Indemnification of
Directors and Officers
|
A Delaware corporation may indemnify a director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in defense of an action, suit or proceeding by reason of his or her position if (i) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the director or officer had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. | The prohibition referred to above does not apply to a provision for exempting a person from or indemnifying the person against (a) any liabilities incurred in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) (i) in which judgment is given in the persons favor or the person is acquitted, (ii) which are discontinued otherwise than for some benefit conferred by the person or on the persons behalf or some detriment suffered by the person, or (iii) which are settled on terms which include such benefit or detriment and, in the opinion of a majority of the directors of the company (excluding any director who conferred such benefit or on whose behalf such benefit was conferred or who suffered such detriment), the person was substantially successful on the merits in the persons resistance to the proceedings, (b) any liability incurred otherwise than to the company if the person acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company, (c) any liability incurred in connection with an application made to the court for relief from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust under Article 212 of the 1991 Law in which relief is granted to the person by the court or (d) any liability against which the company normally maintains insurance for persons other than directors. |
106
Corporate Law Issue | Delaware Law | Jersey Law | ||
Appraisal Rights
|
A shareholder of a Delaware corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair value of the shares held by that shareholder (as determined by a court) in lieu of the consideration the shareholder would otherwise receive in the transaction. | The 1991 Law does not confer upon shareholders any appraisal rights. | ||
Shareholder Suits
|
Class actions and derivative actions generally are available to the shareholders of a Delaware corporation for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and actions not taken in accordance with applicable law. In such actions, the court has discretion to permit the winning party to recover attorneys fees incurred in connection with such action. | Under Article 141 of the 1991 Law, a shareholder may apply to court for relief on the ground that a companys affairs are being conducted or have been conducted in a manner which is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of its shareholders generally or of some part of its shareholders (including at least the shareholder making the application) or that an actual or proposed act or omission by the company (including an act or omission on its behalf) is or would be so prejudicial. There may also be common law personal actions available to shareholders. Under Article 143 of the 1991 Law (which sets out the types of relief a court may grant in relation to an action brought under Article 141 of the 1991 Law), the court may make an order regulating the affairs of a company, requiring a company to refrain from doing or continuing to do an act complained of, authorizing civil proceedings and providing for the purchase of shares by a company or by any of its other shareholders. | ||
Inspection of Books
and Records
|
All shareholders of a Delaware corporation have the right, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, to inspect or obtain copies of the corporations shares ledger and its other books and records for any proper purpose. | The register of shareholders and books containing the minutes of general meetings or of meetings of any class of shareholders of a Jersey company must during business hours be open to the inspection of a shareholder of the company without charge. The register of directors and secretaries must during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may by its articles or in general meeting impose, but so that not less than two hours in each business day be allowed for inspection) be open to the inspection of a shareholder or director of the company without charge. |
107
Corporate Law Issue | Delaware Law | Jersey Law | ||
Amendments to Charter
|
Amendments to the certificate of incorporation of a Delaware corporation require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon or such greater vote as is provided for in the certificate of incorporation; a provision in the certificate of incorporation requiring the vote of a greater number or proportion of the directors or of the holders of any class of shares than is required by Delaware corporate law may not be amended, altered or repealed except by such greater vote. | The memorandum and articles of association of a Jersey company may only be amended by special resolution (being a two-third majority) passed by shareholders in general meeting or by written resolution signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote. |
108
109
110
Fiscal Year: | Period End(1) | Average(2) | High | Low | |||||||||||||
2004 |
Rs. 43.40 | Rs. 45.78 | Rs. 47.46 | Rs. 43.40 | |||||||||||||
2005 |
43.62 | 44.87 | 46.45 | 43.27 | |||||||||||||
2006 |
44.48 | 44.21 | 46.26 | 43.05 | |||||||||||||
2007 |
43.10 | 45.06 | 46.83 | 42.78 | |||||||||||||
2008 |
40.02 | 40.13 | 43.05 | 38.48 |
Month: | High | Low | ||||||
February 2008 |
Rs. 40.11 | Rs. 39.12 | ||||||
March 2008 |
40.46 | 39.76 | ||||||
April 2008 |
40.45 | 39.73 | ||||||
May 2008 |
42.93 | 40.45 | ||||||
June 2008 |
42.97 | 42.38 | ||||||
July 2008 |
43.29 | 41.10 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | The noon buying rate at each period end and the average rate for each period may differ from the exchange rates used in the preparation of financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. | |
(2) | Represents the average of the noon buying rate on the last day of each month during the period. |
111
Fiscal Year: | Period End(1) | Average(2) | High | Low | ||||||||||||
2004 |
£ | 0.54 | £ | 0.59 | £ | 0.65 | £ | 0.53 | ||||||||
2005 |
0.53 | 0.54 | 0.57 | 0.51 | ||||||||||||
2006 |
0.57 | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.52 | ||||||||||||
2007 |
0.51 | 0.52 | 0.58 | 0.50 | ||||||||||||
2008 |
0.50 | 0.50 | 0.52 | 0.47 |
Month: | High | Low | ||||||
February 2008 |
£ 0.52 | £ 0.50 | ||||||
March 2008 |
0.50 | 0.49 | ||||||
April 2008 |
0.51 | 0.50 | ||||||
May 2008 |
0.51 | 0.50 | ||||||
June 2008 |
0.51 | 0.50 | ||||||
July 2008 |
0.51 | 0.50 |
Notes: | ||
(1) | The noon buying rate at each period end and the average rate for each period may differ from the exchange rates used in the preparation of financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. | |
(2) | Represents the average of the noon buying rate on the last day of each month during the period. |
112
113
| banks; | |
| certain financial institutions; | |
| insurance companies; | |
| broker dealers; | |
| traders that elect to mark-to-market; | |
| tax-exempt entities; | |
| persons liable for alternative minimum tax; | |
| real estate investment trusts; | |
| regulated investment companies; | |
| US expatriates; | |
| persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; | |
| persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting stock; or | |
| persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities. |
114
| a citizen or resident of the US; | |
| a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
| an estate whose income is subject to US federal income taxation regardless of its source; or | |
| a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more US persons for all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable US Treasury regulations to be treated as a US person. |
115
| at least 75% of its gross income is passive income, or | |
| at least 50% of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. |
| the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares, |
116
| the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we became a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income, and | |
| the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge normally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year. |
117
118
119
120
| pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets | |
| provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and members of our board of directors; and | |
| provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements. |
121
122
Fiscal | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Audit fees |
$ | 770,000 | $ | 400,000 | ||||
Audit-related fees |
39,000 | 250,000 | ||||||
Tax fees |
126,418 | 327,414 | ||||||
All other fees |
188,295 | 224,900 |
123
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008 and 2007 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended March 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity for the years ended March 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 | |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
124
1.1
|
Memorandum of Association of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as amended incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
1.2
|
Articles of Association of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as amended incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
2.1
|
Form of Deposit Agreement among WNS (Holdings) Limited, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Depositary, and the holders and beneficial owners of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADR, issued thereunder (including the Form of ADR) incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
2.2
|
Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate of WNS (Holdings) Limited incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 14, 2006. | |
4.1
|
Share Purchase Agreement dated April 20, 2007 among, WNS (Mauritius) Limited, Marketics Technologies (India) Private Limited and the selling shareholders named therein incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.2
|
Lease Deed dated January 25, 2006 between DLF Cyber City and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.3
|
Lease Deed dated March 10, 2005 between M/s DLF Cyber City and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
4.4
|
Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 59,202 square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
4.5
|
Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. with respect to the lease of office premises with an area of 4,867 square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.6
|
Leave and License Agreement dated November 10, 2005 between Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 20,360 square feet at Plant 10 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. |
125
4.7
|
Leave and License Agreement dated May 31, 2006 between Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Ltd. and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd. with respect to Plant 11 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
4.8
|
Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Limited with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 36,500 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.9
|
Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 35,930 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.10
|
Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 35,870 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.11
|
Leave and License Agreement dated December 29, 2006 between Sofotel Software Services Private Limited and WNS Global Services (Private) Ltd with respect to the lease of office premises with an aggregate area of 34,500 square feet in the Commercial Office Building incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2007 (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on June 26, 2007. | |
4.12
|
WNS (Holdings) Limited 2002 Stock Incentive Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
4.13
|
Form of WNS (Holdings) Limited 2006 Incentive Award Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-135590) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on July 3, 2006. | |
4.14
|
Amendment to the WNS (Holdings) Limited 2006 Incentive Award incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Current Report on Form 6-K (File No. 001-32945) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, as filed with the Commission on August 7, 2007. | |
4.15
|
Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, relating to the sale and purchase of shares in Aviva Global Services Singapore Private Limited between Aviva International Holdings Limited and WNS Capital Investment Limited. **# | |
4.16
|
Master Services Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, between Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited and WNS Capital Investment Limited. **# | |
4.17
|
Facility Agreement, dated July 11, 2008, by and among WNS (Mauritius) Limited as borrower, WNS (Holdings) Limited, WNS Capital Investment Limited, WNS UK and WNS North America Inc. as guarantors, ICICI Bank UK Plc as lender, arranger and agent, ICICI Bank Canada as lender and arranger and Morgan Walker Solicitors LLP as security trustee. **# | |
8.1
|
List of subsidiaries of WNS (Holdings) Limited. ** |
126
12.1
|
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** | |
12.2
|
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 17 CFR 240, 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** | |
13.1
|
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** | |
13.2
|
Certification by the Chief Financial Officer to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** | |
15.1
|
Consent of Ernst & Young independent registered public accounting firm. ** |
** | Filed herewith. | |
# | Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The omitted portions have been separately filed with the Commission. |
127
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED |
||||
By: | /s/ Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Name: | Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Title: | Group Chief Executive Officer | |||
128
F-2 | ||||
F-3 | ||||
F-4 | ||||
F-5 | ||||
F-7 | ||||
F-8 |
F-1
ERNST & YOUNG |
F-2
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 102,698 | $ | 112,340 | ||||
Bank deposits and marketable securities |
8,074 | 12,000 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowable of $1,784 and $364, respectively |
47,302 | 40,340 | ||||||
Accounts receivable related parties |
586 | 252 | ||||||
Funds held for clients |
6,473 | 6,589 | ||||||
Employee receivables |
1,179 | 1,289 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
3,776 | 2,162 | ||||||
Prepaid income taxes |
2,776 | 3,225 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets |
618 | 701 | ||||||
Other current assets |
8,596 | 4,524 | ||||||
Total current assets |
182,078 | 183,422 | ||||||
Goodwill |
87,470 | 37,356 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
9,393 | 7,091 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
50,840 | 41,830 | ||||||
Deferred contract costs non current |
1,278 | | ||||||
Deposits |
7,391 | 3,081 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets |
8,055 | 3,101 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 346,505 | $ | 275,881 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Account payable |
$ | 15,562 | $ | 18,505 | ||||
Accounts payable related parties |
6 | 246 | ||||||
Accrued employee costs |
26,848 | 18,492 | ||||||
Deferred revenue current |
7,790 | 9,827 | ||||||
Income taxes payable |
1,879 | 88 | ||||||
Obligation under capital leases current |
| 13 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
211 | | ||||||
Accrual for earn out payment |
33,699 | | ||||||
Other current liabilities |
25,806 | 16,239 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
111,801 | 63,410 | ||||||
Deferred revenue non current |
1,549 | 5,051 | ||||||
Deferred rent |
2,627 | 1,098 | ||||||
Accrued pension liability |
1,544 | 771 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities non current |
1,834 | 23 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies
|
||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
119,355 | 70,353 | ||||||
Shareholders equity: |
||||||||
Ordinary
shares, $0.16 (10 pence) par value, authorized: 50,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: 42,363,100 and 41,842,879 shares, respectively |
6,622 | 6,519 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
167,459 | 154,952 | ||||||
Ordinary shares subscribed: 1,666 and 30,022 shares, respectively |
10 | 137 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
38,839 | 30,685 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
14,220 | 13,235 | ||||||
Total shareholders equity |
227,150 | 205,528 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ | 346,505 | $ | 275,881 | ||||
F-3
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||
Third parties |
$ | 456,401 | $ | 345,216 | $ | 186,500 | ||||||
Related parties |
3,466 | 7,070 | 16,309 | |||||||||
459,867 | 352,286 | 202,809 | ||||||||||
Cost of revenue (a) |
363,322 | 271,174 | 145,730 | |||||||||
Gross profit |
96,545 | 81,112 | 57,079 | |||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||
Selling general and administrative expenses (a) |
72,699 | 52,461 | 36,347 | |||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
2,869 | 1,896 | 856 | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill, intangibles and other assets |
15,464 | | | |||||||||
Operating income |
5,513 | 26,755 | 19,876 | |||||||||
Other income, net (a) |
9,184 | 2,500 | 456 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
(3 | ) | (100 | ) | (429 | ) | ||||||
Income before income taxes |
14,694 | 29,155 | 19,903 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(5,194 | ) | (2,574 | ) | (1,574 | ) | ||||||
Net income |
$ | 9,500 | $ | 26,581 | $ | 18,329 | ||||||
Basic income per share |
$ | 0.23 | $ | 0.69 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||
Diluted income per share |
0.22 | 0.65 | 0.52 | |||||||||
(a) Includes the following related party amounts: |
||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
$ | 236 | $ | 1,849 | $ | 1,250 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
345 | 793 | 481 | |||||||||
Other income |
61 | 368 | 250 |
F-4
Retained | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Ordinary | earnings | Deferred | other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares | paid-in | shares | (accumulated | share-based | comprehensive | shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Par value | capital | subscribed | deficit) | compensation | income | equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2005 |
31,194,553 | $ | 4,585 | $ | 43,522 | $ | 157 | $ | (14,225 | ) | $ | (288 | ) | $ | 9,200 | $ | 42,951 | |||||||||||||||
Shares issued for
exercised options |
1,710,936 | 286 | 2,901 | (157 | ) | | | | 3,030 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued to a Director |
150,000 | 26 | 876 | | | | | 902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for
acquisition of Trinity
Partners Inc. |
2,266,022 | 393 | 13,354 | | | (635 | ) | | 13,112 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
| | | 10 | | | | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options forfeited |
| | (51 | ) | | | 51 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred share-based
compensation |
| | 166 | | | (166 | ) | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchase of immature
shares and modification
of options |
| | 1,460 | | | | | 1,460 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred
share-based compensation |
| | | | | 456 | | 456 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | 18,329 | | | 18,329 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency
translations |
| | | | | | (2,086 | ) | (2,086 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
16,243 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2006 |
35,321,511 | $ | 5,290 | $ | 62,228 | $ | 10 | $ | 4,104 | $ | (582 | ) | $ | 7,114 | $ | 78,164 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for exercised
options |
2,047,684 | 398 | 6,147 | (10 | ) | | | | 6,535 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued in initial
public offering (IPO) |
4,473,684 | 831 | 77,828 | | | | 78,659 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
| | 137 | | | | 137 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options forfeited |
| | (7 | ) | | | 7 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation
charge |
| | 3,064 | | | | | 3,064 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits from
exercise of share-based
options |
| | 5,692 | | | | | 5,692 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of deferred
share-based compensation |
| | | | | 575 | | 575 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of
adoption of SFAS
No. 158 |
| | | | | | (138 | ) | (138 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | 26,581 | | | 26,581 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of
cash flow hedges |
| | | | | 337 | 337 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency
translations |
| | | | | | 5,922 | 5,922 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
32,840 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
F-5
Retained | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Ordinary | earnings | Deferred | other | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary shares | paid-in | shares | (accumulated | share-based | comprehensive | shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Par value | capital | subscribed | deficit) | compensation | income | equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2007 |
41,842,879 | $ | 6,519 | $ | 154,952 | $ | 137 | $ | 30,685 | $ | | $ | 13,235 | $ | 205,528 | |||||||||||||||||
Shares issued for exercised
options and restricted
share units |
520,221 | 103 | 4,228 | (137 | ) | | | | 4,194 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock options exercised |
10 | | | | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation
charge |
| | 6,816 | | | | | 6,816 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excess tax benefits from
exercise of share-based
options |
| | 1,613 | | | | | 1,613 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
IPO cost |
(150 | ) | | | | | (150 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustment to retained
earnings upon adoption
of FIN 48 |
| | | | (1,346 | ) | | | (1,346 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| | | | 9,500 | 9,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pension Adjustment |
| | | | | | (486 | ) | (486 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of
cash flow hedges |
| | | | | (98 | ) | (98 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency
translation |
| | | | | | 5,528 | 5,528 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
14,444 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification |
| | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Translation loss transferred
to income statement on
sale of subsidiary |
| | | | | | 43 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash flow hedges gain
transferred to net income |
(4,002 | ) | (4,002 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2008 |
42,363,100 | $ | 6,622 | $ | 167,459 | $ | 10 | $ | 38,839 | $ | | $ | 14,220 | $ | 227,150 | |||||||||||||||||
F-6
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 9,500 | $ | 26,581 | $ | 18,329 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities: |
||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
21,321 | 16,662 | 11,308 | |||||||||
Share-based compensation |
6,816 | 3,683 | 1,922 | |||||||||
Amortization of deferred financing cost |
| | 125 | |||||||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts |
1,542 | (33 | ) | 101 | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment |
39 | (57 | ) | (32 | ) | |||||||
Deferred rent expenses |
1,339 | | | |||||||||
Impairment of goodwill, intangibles and other assets |
15,464 | | | |||||||||
Income accrued on marketable securities |
(8 | ) | | | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
(5,387 | ) | (4,122 | ) | (1,028 | ) | ||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation |
(1,613 | ) | (5,692 | ) | | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
of effect of acquisitions: |
||||||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(5,880 | ) | (10,022 | ) | (2,976 | ) | ||||||
Other current assets |
(5,334 | ) | (6,665 | ) | (439 | ) | ||||||
Accounts payable |
(4,685 | ) | (5,975 | ) | (290 | ) | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
(4,817 | ) | 8,159 | (2,193 | ) | |||||||
Other liabilities |
12,754 | 16,800 | 10,019 | |||||||||
Net cash
provided by operating activities |
41,051 | 39,318 | 34,846 | |||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities |
||||||||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (See Note 3) |
(36,121 | ) | (938 | ) | (3,862 | ) | ||||||
Facilities and property cost (See Note 13) |
(28,134 | ) | (27,475 | ) | (14,893 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
178 | 1,841 | 77 | |||||||||
Transfer of delivery centre to AVIVA |
1,570 | | | |||||||||
Bank deposits and marketable securities |
3,969 | (12,000 | ) | | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(58,538 | ) | (38,572 | ) | (18,678 | ) | ||||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||||||
Proceeds from IPO, net of expenses |
(150 | ) | 78,787 | | ||||||||
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation |
1,613 | 5,692 | | |||||||||
Ordinary shares issued and subscribed |
4,204 | 6,672 | 3,942 | |||||||||
Principal payments under capital leases |
| (173 | ) | (299 | ) | |||||||
Repayment of note payable |
| | (10,000 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
5,667 | 90,978 | (6,357 | ) | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
2,178 | 2,068 | (361 | ) | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(9,642 | ) | 93,791 | 9,450 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
112,340 | 18,549 | 9,099 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
$ | 102,698 | $ | 112,340 | $ | 18,549 | ||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
||||||||||||
Cash paid for interest |
$ | | $ | 118 | $ | 440 | ||||||
Cash paid for income taxes |
6,323 | 709 | 2,288 | |||||||||
Shares issued for the acquisition of Trinity Partners Inc. |
| | 13,747 |
F-7
1. | ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS |
2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | |
Basis of preparation |
Use of estimates |
Foreign currency translation |
Revenue recognition |
F-8
F-9
Cost of revenue |
Cash and cash equivalents |
Bank deposits and marketable securities |
Funds held for clients |
Accounts receivable |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Balance at the beginning of the year |
$ | 364 | $ | 373 | $ | 284 | ||||||
Charged to operations |
1,602 | 164 | 134 | |||||||||
Write-off, net of collections |
(126 | ) | (132 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||
Reversal |
(61 | ) | (65 | ) | (13 | ) | ||||||
Translation adjustment |
5 | 24 | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Balance at the end of the year |
$ | 1,784 | $ | 364 | $ | 373 | ||||||
F-10
Property and equipment |
Asset description | Asset life (in years) | |
Computers and software |
3 | |
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment |
4-5 | |
Vehicles |
3 | |
Leasehold improvements |
Lesser of estimated useful life or lease term |
Software capitalisation |
Accounting for leases |
Goodwill and intangible assets |
F-11
Asset description | Asset life (in months) | |
Customer contracts |
24-60* | |
Customer relationship |
24-60* | |
Intellectual Property rights |
36 | |
Know-how |
24 | |
Covenant not-to-compete |
24 |
* | The weighted average amortization period for intangibles from the date of purchase is 56 months. |
Income taxes |
Employee benefits | ||
Defined contribution plans |
F-12
Defined benefit plan |
Advertising costs |
Derivative financial instruments |
F-13
Earnings per share |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 9,500 | $ | 26,581 | $ | 18,329 | ||||||
Denominator: |
||||||||||||
Basic weighted average ordinary shares outstanding |
42,070,206 | 38,608,188 | 32,874,299 | |||||||||
Dilutive impact of stock options |
874,822 | 2,512,309 | 2,155,467 | |||||||||
Diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding |
$ | 42,945,028 | $ | 41,120,497 | $ | 35,029,766 | ||||||
Share-based compensation |
F-14
Fair value of financial instruments |
Concentration of risk |
Reclassifications |
Recently issued accounting standards |
F-15
3. | ACQUISITIONS |
F-16
Amount | ||||
Cash |
$ | 1,834 | ||
Accounts receivable |
2,131 | |||
Other assets |
562 | |||
Property and equipment |
190 | |||
Intangible (customer relationships) |
8,960 | |||
Goodwill |
54,469 | |||
Current liabilities |
(1,170 | ) | ||
Deferred tax liability |
(1,877 | ) | ||
Total purchase consideration |
$ | 65,099 | ||
F-17
4. | PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT |
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Computers and software |
$ | 46,937 | $ | 37,753 | ||||
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment |
37,675 | 29,217 | ||||||
Vehicles |
2,898 | 1,710 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
24,349 | 17,884 | ||||||
Capital work-in-progress |
4,446 | 776 | ||||||
116,305 | 87,340 | |||||||
Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(65,465 | ) | (45,510 | ) | ||||
Property and equipment, net |
$ | 50,840 | $ | 41,830 | ||||
F-18
5. | GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLES |
March 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||
Accumulated | ||||||||||||
Gross | amortization | Net | ||||||||||
Customer contracts |
$ | 13,792 | $ | 13,757 | $ | 35 | ||||||
Customer relationships |
12,212 | 4,200 | 8,012 | |||||||||
Intellectual Property Rights |
1,863 | 517 | 1,346 | |||||||||
Know-how |
343 | 343 | | |||||||||
Covenant not-to-compete |
100 | 100 | | |||||||||
$ | 28,310 | $ | 18,917 | $ | 9,393 | |||||||
March 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||
Accumulated | ||||||||||||
Gross | amortization | Net | ||||||||||
Customer contracts |
$ | 13,666 | $ | 8,369 | $ | 5,297 | ||||||
Customer relationships |
2,482 | 688 | 1,794 | |||||||||
Know-how |
316 | 316 | | |||||||||
Covenant not-to-compete |
100 | 100 | | |||||||||
$ | 16,564 | $ | 9,473 | $ | 7,091 | |||||||
Year ending March 31, | Amount | |||
2009 |
$ | 2,616 | ||
2010 |
2,588 | |||
2011 |
2,059 | |||
2012 |
1,956 | |||
2013 |
174 | |||
$ | 9,393 | |||
F-19
WNS | WNS | |||||||||||
Global | Auto Claims | Total | ||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2006 |
$ | 12,956 | $ | 20,818 | $ | 33,774 | ||||||
Goodwill arising on acquisition |
897 | | 897 | |||||||||
Foreign currency translation |
84 | 2,601 | 2,685 | |||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2007 |
13,937 | 23,419 | 37,356 | |||||||||
Goodwill arising on acquisition |
||||||||||||
Marketics |
54,469 | | 54,469 | |||||||||
Flovate |
| 3,288 | 3,288 | |||||||||
Impairment on Goodwill (Refer Note 6) |
(8,889 | ) | | (8,889 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency translation |
778 | 518 | 1,246 | |||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2008 |
$ | 60,245 | $ | 27,225 | $ | 87,470 | ||||||
6. | LOSS OF CLIENT |
7. | INCOME TAXES |
March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Current taxes |
||||||||||||
Domestic taxes |
$ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Foreign taxes |
10,581 | 6,696 | 2,602 | |||||||||
10,581 | 6,696 | 2,602 | ||||||||||
Deferred taxes |
||||||||||||
Domestic taxes |
| | | |||||||||
Foreign taxes |
(5,387 | ) | (4,122 | ) | (1,028 | ) | ||||||
$ | 5,194 | $ | 2,574 | $ | 1,574 | |||||||
F-20
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Jurisdiction |
||||||||||||
India |
$ | 21,962 | $ | 19,909 | $ | 16,053 | ||||||
United States |
1,099 | 1,401 | (1,163 | ) | ||||||||
United Kingdom |
16,541 | 6,517 | 5,821 | |||||||||
Other (a) |
(24,908 | ) | 1,328 | (808 | ) | |||||||
Income before income taxes |
$ | 14,694 | $ | 29,155 | $ | 19,903 | ||||||
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Net income before taxes |
$ | 14,694 | $ | 29,155 | $ | 19,903 | ||||||
Enacted tax rates in Jersey |
0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||
Statutory income tax |
| | | |||||||||
Provision due to: |
||||||||||||
Foreign minimum alternative taxes and state taxes |
75 | | | |||||||||
Differential foreign tax rates |
4,997 | 2,138 | 1,454 | |||||||||
Others |
122 | 436 | 120 | |||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
$ | 5,194 | $ | 2,574 | $ | 1,574 | ||||||
F-21
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||
Property and equipment |
$ | 3,223 | $ | 1,941 | ||||
Net operating loss carry forward |
292 | 707 | ||||||
Accruals deductible on actual payment |
1,363 | 506 | ||||||
Share-based compensation |
1,567 | 673 | ||||||
Minimum alternate tax |
2,922 | 673 | ||||||
Others |
13 | | ||||||
Total deferred tax assets |
9,380 | 4,079 | ||||||
Less: Valuation allowances |
(283 | ) | (277 | ) | ||||
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances |
9,097 | 3,802 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||
Property and equipment |
(220 | ) | (9 | ) | ||||
Intangibles |
(2,249 | ) | (14 | ) | ||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
(2,469 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||
Net deferred tax assets |
$ | 6,628 | $ | 3,779 | ||||
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Current |
||||||||
Deferred tax assets |
$ | 618 | $ | 701 | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
(211 | ) | | |||||
Net current deferred tax assets |
$ | 407 | $ | 701 | ||||
Non current |
||||||||
Deferred tax assets |
$ | 8,338 | $ | 3,378 | ||||
Less: Valuation allowance (a) |
(283 | ) | (277 | ) | ||||
8,055 | 3,101 | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
(1,834 | ) | (23 | ) | ||||
Net non current deferred tax assets |
$ | 6,221 | $ | 3,078 | ||||
F-22
Balance at April 1, 2007 |
$ | 15,856 | ||
Increase related to prior year tax positions |
63 | |||
Effect of exchange rate changes |
1,119 | |||
Balance at March 31, 2008 |
$ | 17,038 |
8. | DEFERRED REVENUE |
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Payments in advance of services |
$ | 6,728 | $ | 10,946 | ||||
Advance billings |
1,601 | 2,743 | ||||||
Claims handling |
508 | 795 | ||||||
Other |
502 | 394 | ||||||
$ | 9,339 | $ | 14,878 | |||||
F-23
9. | RETIREMENT BENEFITS | |
Defined contribution plans |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Provident fund India |
$ | 5,107 | $ | 3,153 | $ | 1,839 | ||||||
Pension scheme UK |
569 | 542 | 404 | |||||||||
401(k) plan US |
601 | 422 | 225 | |||||||||
$ | 6,277 | $ | 4,117 | $ | 2,468 | |||||||
Defined benefit plan gratuity |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
Change in projected benefit obligations |
||||||||
Obligation at beginning of the year |
$ | 1,271 | $ | 759 | ||||
Translation adjustment |
95 | 21 | ||||||
Service cost |
437 | 490 | ||||||
Interest cost |
114 | 53 | ||||||
Benefits paid |
(119 | ) | (75 | ) | ||||
Business combination |
(24 | ) | | |||||
Actuarial loss |
480 | 23 | ||||||
Benefit obligation at end of the year |
$ | 2,254 | $ | 1,271 | ||||
Change in plan assets |
||||||||
Plan assets at beginning of the year |
$ | 500 | $ | 451 | ||||
Translation adjustment |
40 | 9 | ||||||
Actual return |
44 | 32 | ||||||
Actual contributions |
85 | 83 | ||||||
Benefits paid |
(119 | ) | (75 | ) | ||||
Plan assets at end of the year |
$ | 550 | $ | 500 | ||||
Funded status |
$ | (1,704 | ) | $ | (771 | ) | ||
Current |
(160 | ) | | |||||
Non-current |
(1,544 | ) | (771 | ) | ||||
Net amount recognized |
(1,704 | ) | (771 | ) | ||||
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of the year |
$ | 1,577 | $ | 747 | ||||
F-24
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Net periodic gratuity cost |
||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 437 | $ | 490 | $ | 205 | ||||||
Interest cost |
114 | 53 | 35 | |||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(38 | ) | (35 | ) | (27 | ) | ||||||
Amortization |
8 | 35 | 8 | |||||||||
Net periodic gratuity cost for the year |
$ | 521 | $ | 543 | $ | 221 | ||||||
Year ended March 31, | ||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||
Discount rate |
7.6-10.25% | 9.8% | 8.0% | |||
Rate of increase in compensation levels |
11%-15% for 5 years and 7% thereafter |
9%-11% for 5 years and 7%-9% thereafter |
9%- 11% for 5 years and 7%- 9% thereafter |
|||
Rate of return on plan assets |
7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% |
Year ending March 31, | Amount | |||
2009 |
$ | 636 | ||
2010 |
712 | |||
2011 |
824 | |||
2012 |
856 | |||
2013 |
883 | |||
2014-2018 |
2,128 | |||
$ | 6,039 | |||
F-25
10. | ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |
Total accumulated | ||||||||||||||||
Cumulative | Changes in fair | other | ||||||||||||||
translation | value of Cash | Pension | comprehensive | |||||||||||||
adjustment | flow hedges | adjustments * | income | |||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2006 |
$ | 7,114 | $ | | $ | | $ | 7,114 | ||||||||
Change during the year |
5,922 | 337 | (138 | ) | 6,121 | |||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2007 |
13,036 | 337 | (138 | ) | 13,235 | |||||||||||
Change during the year |
5,571 | | (486 | ) | 5,085 | |||||||||||
Reclassified to income statement |
| (4,002 | ) | | (4,002 | ) | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges |
| (98 | ) | | (98 | ) | ||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2008 |
$ | 18,607 | $ | (3,763 | ) | $ | (624 | ) | $ | 14,220 | ||||||
* | The Pension adjustment for 2006 is the cumulative effect of the adoption of SFAS No. 158 |
11. | SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
12. | SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Share-based compensation recorded in |
||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
$ | 2,436 | $ | 995 | $ | 127 | ||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
4,380 | 2,688 | 1,795 | |||||||||
Total share-based compensation |
$ | 6,816 | $ | 3,683 | $ | 1,922 | ||||||
Recognized income tax benefit |
$ | (1,574 | ) | $ | (671 | ) | $ | | ||||
F-26
Share-based options |
Weighted | Weighted average | Aggregate | ||||||||||||||
average | remaining contract | intrinsic | ||||||||||||||
Shares | exercise price | term (in years) | value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at April 1, 2007 |
2,501,200 | $ | 10.86 | 8.5 | $ | 45,732 | ||||||||||
Granted |
221,102 | 26.3 | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(218,622 | ) | 14.7 | |||||||||||||
Lapsed |
(10,999 | ) | 9.79 | |||||||||||||
Exercise of options |
(433,694 | ) | 4.2 | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2008 |
2,058,987 | $ | 13.46 | 7.86 | $ | 4,096 | ||||||||||
Options vested and expected to vest |
1,721,313 | $ | 13.46 | 7.86 | $ | 3,424 | ||||||||||
Options exercisable |
1,062,937 | $ | 9.5 | 7.2 | $ | 6,276 |
Expected life |
3.5 years | |||
Risk free interest rates |
4.5% | |||
Volatility |
29.9% | |||
Dividend yield |
0% |
F-27
Restricted Shares Units (RSUs) |
Expected life |
2 years | |||
Risk free interest rates |
4.4% | |||
Volatility |
29.1% | |||
Dividend yield |
0.0% |
Weighted | Weighted average | |||||||||||||||
average | remaining contract | Aggregate | ||||||||||||||
Shares | fair value | term (in years) | intrinsic value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at April 1, 2007 |
298,500 | $ | 22.3 | 9.38 | $ | 8.698 | ||||||||||
Granted |
456,831 | 21.68 | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited |
(82,498 | ) | 26.3 | |||||||||||||
Vested |
(86,527 | ) | 21.3 | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2008 |
586,306 | $ | 24.11 | 8.93 | $ | 7,311 | ||||||||||
RSUs expected to vest |
499,533 | $ | 24.11 | 8.93 | $ | 6,229 | ||||||||||
RSUs exercisable |
10,116 | $ | 29.65 | 8.6 | $ | 156 |
F-28
13. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
Name of the related party | Relationship | |
Warburg Pincus |
Principal shareholder | |
British Airways Plc. (up to July 31, 2006) |
Principal shareholder and significant customer | |
Flovate
Technologies Limited (Flovate) (up to June 10, 2007) (Refer Note 3) |
A company of which a member of management is a principal shareholder | |
Datacap Software Private Limited (Datacap) |
A company of which a member of management is a principal shareholder |
Amount receivable (payable) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended March 31, | at March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
Nature of transaction/related party | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||
British Airways |
$ | | $ | 4,913 | $ | 14,663 | $ | $ | 10 | |||||||||||
Warburg Pincus and its affiliates |
3,466 | 2,157 | 1,646 | 586 | 242 | |||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
||||||||||||||||||||
Flovate |
236 | 1,849 | 1,216 | | | |||||||||||||||
Datacap |
| | 34 | | | |||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
||||||||||||||||||||
Warburg Pincus affiliate |
189 | 202 | 193 | | | |||||||||||||||
Flovate |
130 | 554 | 288 | | | |||||||||||||||
Datacap |
26 | 37 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Property and equipment additions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Warburg Pincus affliliate |
702 | 2,112 | 559 | 6 | (17 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Flovate |
394 | 2,163 | 1,552 | | (95 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income |
||||||||||||||||||||
Warburg Pincus affiliate |
25 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Flovate |
36 | 368 | 250 | | (134 | ) |
F-29
14. | OTHER INCOME, NET |
Year ended March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net |
$ | 2,943 | $ | (1,388 | ) | $ | (402 | ) | ||||
Interest income |
5,254 | 3,468 | 439 | |||||||||
Gain on sale of property and equipment |
62 | 101 | 32 | |||||||||
Other |
925 | 319 | 387 | |||||||||
$ | 9,184 | $ | 2,500 | $ | 456 | |||||||
15. | SEGMENTS |
F-30
Year ended March 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||
WNS | WNS | Inter | ||||||||||||||
Global | Claims | segments (a) | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue from external customers |
$ | 260,146 | $ | 199,721 | $ | | $ | 459,867 | ||||||||
Segment revenue |
261,210 | 199,721 | (1,064 | ) | 459,867 | |||||||||||
Payments to repair centers |
| 169,510 | | 169,510 | ||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
261,210 | 30,571 | (1,064 | ) | 290,717 | |||||||||||
Depreciation |
17,071 | 1,381 | | 18,452 | ||||||||||||
Other costs |
227,909 | 14,758 | (1,064 | ) | 241,603 | |||||||||||
Segment operating income |
16,231 | 14,431 | | 30,662 | ||||||||||||
Unallocated share-based compensation
expense |
6,816 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
2,869 | Impairment of goodwill, intangibles and
other assets |
15,464 | |||||||||||||
Other income |
(9,184 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
3 | |||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
14,694 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
5,194 | |||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 9,500 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditure |
$ | 27,609 | $ | 525 | $ | | $ | 28,134 | ||||||||
Segment assets, net of eliminations as at
March 31, 2008 |
$ | 269,259 | $ | 77,246 | $ | | $ | 346,505 | ||||||||
Year ended March 31, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
WNS | WNS | Inter | ||||||||||||||
Global | Claims | segments (a) | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue from external customers |
$ | 193,518 | $ | 158,768 | $ | | $ | 352,286 | ||||||||
Segment revenue |
194,992 | 158,768 | (1,474 | ) | 352,286 | |||||||||||
Payments to repair centers |
| 132,586 | | 132,586 | ||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
194,992 | 26,182 | (1,474 | ) | 219,700 | |||||||||||
Depreciation |
12,782 | 1,984 | | 14,766 | ||||||||||||
Other costs |
154,948 | 19,126 | (1,474 | ) | 172,600 | |||||||||||
Segment operating income |
27,262 | 5,072 | | 32,334 | ||||||||||||
Unallocated share-based compensation
expense |
(3,683 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(1,896 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income |
2,500 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(100 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
29,155 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(2,574 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 26,581 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditure |
$ | 24,731 | $ | 2,744 | $ | | $ | 27,475 | ||||||||
Segment assets, net of eliminations as at
March 31, 2007 |
$ | 206,366 | $ | 69,515 | $ | | $ | 275,881 | ||||||||
F-31
Year ended March 31, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||
WNS | WNS | Inter | ||||||||||||||
Global | Claims | segments (a) | Total | |||||||||||||
Revenue from external customers |
$ | 123,226 | $ | 79,583 | $ | | $ | 202,809 | ||||||||
Segment revenue |
125,229 | 79,583 | (2,003 | ) | 202,809 | |||||||||||
Payments to repair centers |
| 54,904 | | 54,904 | ||||||||||||
Revenue less repair payments |
125,229 | 24,679 | (2,003 | ) | 147,905 | |||||||||||
Depreciation |
8,677 | 1,775 | | 10,452 | ||||||||||||
Other costs |
99,040 | 17,762 | (2,003 | ) | 114,799 | |||||||||||
Segment operating income |
17,512 | 5,142 | | 22,654 | ||||||||||||
Unallocated share-based compensation
expense |
(1,922 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(856 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other income |
456 | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(429 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes |
19,903 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
(1,574 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ | 18,329 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditure |
$ | 12,689 | $ | 2,204 | $ | | $ | 14,893 | ||||||||
Segment assets, net of eliminations as at
March 31, 2006 |
$ | 92,415 | $ | 42,388 | $ | | $ | 134,803 | ||||||||
March 31, | ||||||||||||
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||
UK |
$ | 225,920 | $ | 189,854 | $ | 126,866 | ||||||
North America |
113,744 | 80,767 | 49,134 | |||||||||
Europe (excludes UK) |
116,864 | 78,955 | 25,421 | |||||||||
Other |
3,339 | 2,710 | 1,388 | |||||||||
$ | 459,867 | $ | 352,286 | $ | 202,809 | |||||||
F-32
March 31, | ||||||||
2008 | 2007 | |||||||
UK |
$ | 32,220 | $ | 25,852 | ||||
India |
112,056 | 57,084 | ||||||
US |
1,967 | 2,382 | ||||||
Other |
1,460 | 959 | ||||||
$ | 147,703 | $ | 86,277 | |||||
16. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Leases |
Year ending March 31, | Operating leases | |||
2009 |
$ | 15,820 | ||
2010 |
14,068 | |||
2011 |
9,864 | |||
2012 |
7,477 | |||
2013 |
5,317 | |||
Thereafter |
22,106 | |||
Total minimum lease payments |
$ | 74,652 | ||
Bank guarantees and other |
F-33
17. | TRANSFER OF DELIVERY CENTRE TO AVIVA |
Sri Lanka Delivery Center |
Ntrance Delivery Center |
F-34
18. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
F-35
Slaughter and May
|
Eversheds LLP | |
One Bunhill Row
|
One Wood Street | |
London EC1Y 8YY
|
London EC2V 7SW | |
(JADM/TLW) |
Page | ||||||
Costs and expenses | 32 | |||||
Counterparts | 33 | |||||
Invalidity | 33 | |||||
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 | 33 | |||||
Choice of governing law | 33 | |||||
Jurisdiction | 34 | |||||
Agent for service | 34 | |||||
Language | 35 | |||||
SCHEDULES |
||||||
Schedule 1 (Completion arrangements) | 36 | |||||
Schedule 2 (Warranties) | 41 | |||||
Schedule 3 (Limitations on the Sellers liability) | 54 | |||||
Schedule 4 (Permitted Leakage) | 64 | |||||
Attachment 1 Part A (Basic information about the Company) | 65 | |||||
Attachment 1 Part B (Basic information about the Existing Subsidiaries) | 67 | |||||
Attachment 1 Part C (Basic information about the EXL Pune SPV) | 73 | |||||
Attachment 1 Part D (Basic information about the Chennai SPV) | 75 | |||||
Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties) | 77 | |||||
Attachment 3 (Existing Guarantees and Indemnities) | 83 | |||||
Attachment 4 (Purchase Price Adjustments) | 84 |
1. | AVIVA INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED whose registered office is at St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ (registered in England No. 02180206) (the Seller); |
2. | WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED whose registered office is at 10 Frere Felix de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius (registered in Mauritius No. 081866) (the Purchaser). |
(A) | The Seller has agreed to sell and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase and pay for the Shares (as defined in this Agreement) in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement. | |
(B) | Particulars of each member of the current Group (as defined in this Agreement) are set out in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Company) and Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Existing Subsidiaries). Part C of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the EXL Pune SPV) contains particulars relating to the EXL Pune SPV and Part D of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Chennai SPV) contains particulars relating to the Chennai SPV. | |
(C) | Aviva Global Services (Management Service) Private Limited has agreed to appoint the Purchaser as service provider and prime contractor to supply certain business process outsourcing services to members of the Retained Group and the Purchaser has agreed to supply such services, in each case on the terms and conditions set out in the Master Services Agreement |
1. | Interpretation | |
1.1 | In this Agreement, the Schedules and the Attachments to it: |
Accounts | means the audited financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act, Cap. 50 and Financial Reporting Standards generally accepted in Singapore for the accounting reference period ended on 31 December 2007 comprising the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and the notes to the accounts, a copy of which is included in the Disclosure Documents; |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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Accounts Date | means 31 March 2008; | ||
AGSSV Share | means the one share of 1 Indian Rupee in the share capital of Aviva Global Shared Services Private Limited held by Norwich Union Insurance Limited; | ||
Bangalore Share | means the one share of 10 Indian Rupees in the share capital of Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited held by Undershaft Limited; | ||
Books and Records | has its common law meaning and includes, without limitation, all notices, correspondence, inquiries, drawings, plans, books of account and other documents and all computer disks or tapes or other machine legible programs or other records (excluding software); | ||
Business Day | means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in London; | ||
Business Information | means all information (in whatever form held) including (without limitation) all: |
(i) | formulas, designs, specifications, drawings, know-how, manuals and instructions; | ||
(ii) | customer lists, sales, marketing and promotional information; | ||
(iii) | business plans and forecasts; and | ||
(iv) | all accounting and tax records, correspondence, orders and enquiries; |
Cash | means all cash at bank or in hand and all cash equivalents, and any interest thereon; | ||
Chennai Cash | means the amount of Cash held by the Chennai SPV as at the close of business on the Completion Date (as that term is defined in the Chennai SSPA) of the Chennai SSPA, as determined in accordance with sub-clause 4.6 or 4.8 of the Chennai SSPA (as applicable) and stated in pounds sterling; | ||
Chennai Initial Payment | means XXXXX (being XXXXX plus the Chennai Provisional Consideration) payable by Chennai SPV to 24/7 Customer.com Inc. pursuant to sub-clause 4.1 of the Chennai SSPA; |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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Chennai Inter-company Payable | means the amount of the inter-company payable owed by Chennai SPV to 24/7 Customer.com Inc. as at the close of business on the Completion Date (as that term is defined in the Chennai SSPA) of the Chennai SSPA, as determined in accordance with sub-clause 4.6 or 4.8 of the Chennai SSPA (as applicable) and stated in pounds sterling; | ||
Chennai NAV | means the Net Asset Value (as that terms is defined in the Chennai SSPA) of the Chennai SPV as determined in accordance with sub-clause 4.6 or 4.8 of the Chennai SSPA and stated in pounds sterling; | ||
Chennai Provisional Cash | means XXXXX; | ||
Chennai Provisional Consideration | means XXXXX; | ||
Chennai Provisional Inter-company Payable | means XXXXX; | ||
Chennai SPV | means Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited, basic information concerning which is set out in Part D of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Chennai SPV); | ||
Chennai SSPA | means the share sale and purchase agreement relating to the acquisition by the Company of Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited from 24/7 Customer, Inc. executed by the parties to that agreement on 8 July 2008; | ||
Companies Act | means the Companies Act 2006, the Companies Act 1985, the Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985, the Companies Act 1989 and Part V of the Criminal Justice Act 1993; | ||
Company | means Aviva Global Services Singapore Private Limited, basic information concerning which is set out in Part A of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Company); | ||
Completion | means completion of the sale and purchase of the Shares under this Agreement; | ||
Completion Date | means the date of this Agreement or such other date as the parties may agree in writing; |
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Computer Systems | means all computer hardware, Software, microprocessors and any other items that connect with any of them which in each case are used by any member of the Group or are in the possession of any member of the Group; | ||
Customer Group | has the meaning given in the Master Services Agreement; | ||
Data Room List | has the meaning given in the Disclosure Letter; | ||
Disclosure Documents | means the documentation relating to the Group which has, prior to the date of this Agreement, been made available for inspection and which are listed in or annexed to the Disclosure Letter (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the documentation listed in the Data Room List and the Supplementary List); | ||
Disclosure Letter | means the letter dated 10 July 2008 (disclosing, amongst other things, the Disclosure Documents) written by the Seller to the Purchaser for the purposes of sub-clause 10.1 (Purchasers remedies and Sellers limitations on liability) and delivered to the Purchasers Solicitors before the execution of this Agreement; | ||
EHS Matters | means all matters relating to the protection, maintenance or condition of, or prevention of harm to, the environment (air, water and land), or its remediation, restoration or renewal, or the protection of human health, the conditions of the work place or the creation of any nuisance; | ||
Enquiries | means a written request being made (no more than one Business Day before the date of this Agreement) for details of any fact or circumstance that renders any of the Warranties referring to the recipients area of responsibility inaccurate in any material respect; | ||
Exchange Rate | means the spot rate of exchange at which Standard Chartered Bank will convert Indian Rupees into pounds sterling as at 11 a.m. on the relevant date; | ||
Existing Subsidiaries | means the Indian Subsidiaries and the Sri Lankan Subsidiary, basic information concerning which are set out in Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Existing Subsidiaries); | ||
EXL Call Option | means the option granted by EXL Holdings Inc. to the Company over the entire issued share capital of EXL Pune SPV in the Virtual Shareholders Agreement dated 24 August 2004 between, inter alia, the Company, EXL Holdings Inc. and EXL |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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Pune SPV (as amended by the three amendment letters dated 1 July 2007, 16 September 2007 and 5 February 2008 respectively); | |||
EXL Noida Escrow Deed | means the escrow deed entered into between, inter alia, ExlService Holdings Inc., the Company and Aviva Group Holding Limited on 30 May 2008; | ||
EXL Noida Settlement Deed | means the deed of settlement entered into between, inter alia, Norwich Union Insurance Limited, the Seller, the Company and ExlService Holdings, Inc., on the date hereof; | ||
EXL Pune Cash | means the amount of Cash held by the EXL Pune SPV as at the close of business on the Completion Date (as that term is defined in the EXL Pune SSPA) of the EXL Pune SSPA, as determined in accordance with sub-clause 4.5 or 4.7 of the EXL Pune SSPA (as applicable) and stated in pounds sterling; | ||
EXL Pune Completion Notice | means the notice delivered to ExlService Holdings Inc. by the Company and Aviva Global Holdings Limited on the date hereof giving notice of the Companys intention to complete the EXL Pune SSPA within 30 Business Days; | ||
EXL Pune Escrow Deed | means the escrow deed entered into between ExlService Holdings Inc., the Company and Aviva Group Holdings Limited on 27 June 2008; | ||
EXL Pune NAV | means the Net Asset Value (as that terms is defined in the EXL Pune SSPA) of the EXL Pune SPV as determined in accordance with sub-clause 4.5 or 4.7 of the EXL Pune SSPA and stated in pounds Sterling; | ||
EXL Pune Provisional Cash | means XXXXX | ||
EXL Pune Provisional Consideration | means XXXXX | ||
EXL Pune SPV | means Noida Customer Operations Private Limited, basic information concerning which is set out in Part C of Attachment 1 (Basic Information About the EXL Pune SPV); | ||
EXL Pune SSPA | means the share sale and purchase agreement relating to the acquisition by the Company of Noida Customer Operations Private Limited from Exlservice Holdings, Inc. to be executed by the parties to that agreement in substantially the form disclosed to the Purchaser in the Disclosure Documents and currently |
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held in escrow by Aviva Group Holdings Limited pursuant to the EXL Pune Escrow Deed; | |||
Group | unless otherwise specified, means the Company and all the Subsidiaries; | ||
Indian Subsidiaries | means Aviva Global Shared Services Private Limited and Aviva Global Services Bangalore Private Limited, basic information concerning which is set out in Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Existing Subsidiaries); | ||
Indian Subsidiary Accounts | means the audited financial statements of the Indian Subsidiaries each prepared in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in India for the accounting reference period ended on the Accounts Date comprising the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and the notes to the accounts, a copy of each of which are included in the Disclosure Documents; | ||
Information Technology | means computer hardware, software and networks; | ||
Inscope Business Units | means Customer Group business units located in: |
(i) | the United Kingdom (excluding Morley Asset Management); or | ||
(ii) | Canada, |
at the date of this Agreement; | |||
Inscope Services | means : |
(i) | finance and accounting; | ||
(ii) | insurance back-office including claims processing, policy administration, underwriting/actuarial support, premium processing and collection, subrogation, collections and recoveries; | ||
(iii) | customer interaction services including call-centres, email handling, correspondence management services; | ||
(iv) | mid-office/analytics services including market research data processing, customer/sales data running and analytics, business and financial research and analytics; | ||
(v) | back-office services for other industries that any member of Customer Group diversifies into including |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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asset management; |
Intellectual Property | means patents, trade marks, rights in designs, copyrights and database rights (whether or not any of these is registered and including applications for registration of any such thing) and all rights or forms of protection of a similar nature or having equivalent or similar effect to any of these which may subsist anywhere in the world; | ||
Inter-company Funding | means the XXXXX owed by the Company to the Seller as at the Accounts Date; | ||
IP Security Interest | means any mortgage, charge, lien, pledge, assignment by way of security or other security interest of any kind and any agreement to create any of the foregoing; | ||
Management Accounts | means the unaudited management accounts of the Company as at 31 March 2008, a copy of which is included in the Disclosure Documents; | ||
Master Services Agreement | means the agreement for the provision of business process outsourcing services entered into between the Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited and the Purchaser on the date hereof; | ||
Names | means Aviva, Norwich Union, RAC, Hibernian and any other trading or business name of the Retained Group used by the Group prior to the date of this Agreement; | ||
Ordinary Trading Items | means ordinary trade indebtedness outstanding at Completion and relating to the period up to Completion only, between, on the one hand, one or more members of the Group and, on the other hand, one or more members of the Retained Group; | ||
Proceedings | means any proceeding, suit or action arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; | ||
Property or Properties | means freehold, leasehold or other immovable property in any part of the world; | ||
Property Owner | means, in relation to any Relevant Property, the person referred to as the owner in Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties); | ||
Purchasers Group | means the Purchaser, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time, any holding company of the Purchaser from time to time and all other subsidiaries of any such holding company from time to time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each member of the Group following |
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Completion); | |||
Purchasers Solicitors | means Eversheds LLP of One Wood Street, London EC2V 7SW and/or Desai & Diwanjii of Lentin Chambers, Dalal Street, Fort Mumbai 400001, as applicable; | ||
Relevant Property | means the Property or Properties referred to in Attachment 2 (Relevant Properties); | ||
Request for Proposal | means the documents of that name dated 3 November 2007 and 31 March 2008 and the letter amending the 31 March 2008 Request for Proposal sent by Deutsche Bank to WNS Global Services Private Limited and WNS (Limited) dated 8 May 2008; | ||
Retained Group | means the Seller, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time, any holding company of the Seller from time to time and all other subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings of any such holding company from time to time (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, members of the Group following Completion); | ||
Security Interest | means any mortgage, charge, lien, pledge, assignment by way of security, encumbrance, hypothecation or other security interest of any kind and any agreement to create any of the foregoing; | ||
Sellers Account | means the account held by the Seller with Citibank, of Citigroup Centre, Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5LB, swift code CITIGB2L, account number 10410195; | ||
Sellers Marks | has the meaning given in sub-clause 11.1 (Retained Group Brands); | ||
Sellers Solicitors | means Slaughter and May of One Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YY; | ||
Senior Employees | has the meaning given in sub-paragraph 17.1 of Schedule 3 (Warranties); | ||
Service Document | means a claim form, application notice, order or judgement or other document relating to any Proceedings; | ||
Shares | means all the issued shares in the capital of the Company; | ||
Share Purchase Price | means the amount set out in the line entitled Share Purchase Price in Attachment 4 (Purchase Price Adjustments); |
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Share Purchase Documents | means this Agreement, the Disclosure Letter, the Tax Covenant, and any other agreements entered into pursuant to this Agreement other than the Master Services Agreement; | ||
Software | means any form of computer program, including applications software and operating systems; | ||
Sri Lankan Subsidiary | means Aviva Global Services Lanka (Private) Limited basic information concerning which is set out in Part B of Attachment 1 (Basic information about the Existing Subsidiaries); | ||
Sri Lankan Subsidiary Accounts | means the audited financial statements of the Sri Lankan Subsidiary prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards generally accepted in Sri Lanka for the accounting reference period ended on the Accounts Date comprising the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and the notes to the accounts, a copy of which is included in the Disclosure Documents; | ||
Subsidiaries | means the Existing Subsidiaries; | ||
Supplementary List | has the meaning given in the Disclosure Letter; | ||
Tax | has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant; | ||
Tax Authority | has the meaning given in the Tax Covenant; | ||
Tax Covenant | means the tax covenant in the agreed form; | ||
Tax Warranties | means the warranties set out in paragraph 18 (Tax) of Schedule 3 (Warranties) and Tax Warranty shall be construed accordingly; | ||
Warranties | means the warranties set out in Schedule 3 (Warranties) given by the Seller and Warranty shall be construed accordingly; and | ||
Working Hours | means 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on a Business Day. |
1.2 | In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified: |
(A) | references to clauses, sub-clauses, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, sub-sub-paragraphs, Schedules and Attachments are to clauses, sub-clauses, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, sub-sub-paragraphs of, and Schedules and Attachments to, this Agreement; |
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(B) | a reference to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to the same as it may have been, or may from time to time be, amended, modified or re-enacted except to the extent that any amendment or modification made or coming into effect of any statute or statutory provision after the date of this Agreement would increase or alter the liability of the Seller under this Agreement; | ||
(C) | references to a company shall be construed so as to include any company, corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established; | ||
(D) | references to a person shall be construed so as to include any individual, firm, company, government, state or agency of a state, local or municipal authority or government body or any joint venture, association or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality); | ||
(E) | use of any genders includes the other genders; | ||
(F) | the expressions accounting reference date, accounting reference period, allotment, current assets, debentures, holding company, paid up, profit and loss account, subsidiary and subsidiary undertaking shall have the meaning given in the Companies Acts and the definition of body corporate shall have the meaning given in section 1173 of the Companies Act 2006; | ||
(G) | a person shall be deemed to be connected with another if that person is connected with another within the meaning of section 839 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1988; | ||
(H) | references to writing shall include any modes of reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form; | ||
(I) | references to times of the day are to London time; | ||
(J) | headings to clauses, Schedules and Attachments are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement; | ||
(K) | the Schedules and Attachments form part of this Agreement and shall have the same force and effect as if expressly set out in the body of this Agreement, and any reference to this Agreement shall include the Schedules; | ||
(L) | references to the knowledge, information, belief or awareness of the Seller (or similar phrases) shall be limited to the actual knowledge of Teresa Copping (in her capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Company) and Steven Turpie (in his capacity as Financial Director of the Company) each having also made Enquiries of Roger Adams as to Tax, Rajiv Trehan as to Property and Papiya Banerjee as to pensions and employment matters; |
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(M) | references to 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 England be deemed to include what most nearly approximates in that jurisdiction to the English legal term; | ||
(N) | any indemnity or covenant to pay (a Payment Obligation) being given on an after-Tax basis or expressed to be calculated on an after-Tax basis means that to the extent that the amount payable pursuant to such Payment Obligation (the Payment) is subject to a deduction or withholding required by law in respect of Tax or is chargeable to any Tax in the hands of the recipient it shall be adjusted as necessary so as to ensure that, after taking into account: |
(i) | the amount of Tax required to be deducted or withheld from, and the Tax chargeable on such amount (including on the increased amount); and | ||
(ii) | any Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit which is available to the indemnified party or the recipient of the Payment solely as a result of the matter giving rise to the Payment Obligation or as a result of receiving the Payment (which amount of Tax and Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit is to be determined by the auditors of the recipient at the shared expense of both parties and is to be certified as such to the party making the Payment), |
the recipient of the Payment is in the same position as it would have been in if there had been no such Tax or Tax credit, repayment or other Tax benefit; and |
(O) | references to any document in the agreed form means the document in a form agreed by the parties to this Agreement and initialled for the purposes of identification by the Purchasers Solicitors on behalf of the Purchaser and the Sellers Solicitors on behalf of the Seller. |
2. | Sale and purchase |
2.1 | The Seller shall sell with full title guarantee and the Purchaser shall purchase the Shares free from any Security Interest and from all other rights exercisable by third parties, together with all rights attached or accruing to them at Completion including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends, distributions or any return of capital declared, paid or made by any member of the Group on or at any time after Completion. | |
2.2 | The Seller waives all rights of pre-emption over any of the Shares conferred upon it by the articles of association of the Company or in any other way and undertakes to take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that any rights of pre-emption over any of the Shares are waived at the cost and expense of the Purchaser. |
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3. | Consideration |
The consideration for the sale of the Shares by the Seller shall be the payment by the Purchaser to the Seller of the Share Purchase Price payable in accordance with clause 4 (Completion) and determined with reference to Attachment 4 (Purchase Price Adjustments). |
4. | Completion |
4.1 | Completion shall take place immediately after signature of this Agreement at the offices of the Seller at 6 Temasek Boulevard, #22-01 Suntec Tower 4, Singapore. | |
4.2 | At Completion the Seller shall do those things listed in Part A (Sellers obligations) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) and the Purchaser shall do those things listed in Part B (Purchasers obligations) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements). | |
4.3 | Neither the Purchaser nor the Seller 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. | |
4.4 | If the respective obligations of the Seller and/or the Purchaser under sub-clause 4.2 and Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) are not complied with on the Completion Date the Purchaser or, as the case may be, the Seller may: |
(A) | defer Completion (so that the provisions of this clause 4 shall apply to Completion as so deferred); or | ||
(B) | proceed to Completion as far as practicable (without limiting its rights under this Agreement); or | ||
(C) | terminate this Agreement by notice in writing to the other party. |
4.5 | If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with sub-clause 4.4 (and without limiting any partys right to claim damages), all obligations of the Seller and the Purchaser under this Agreement shall end (except for the provisions of clauses 21 (Announcements), 22 (Confidentiality) and clause 23 (Costs and Expenses)) but (for the avoidance of doubt) all rights and liabilities of the parties which have accrued before termination shall continue to exist. | |
4.6 | Payment by or on behalf of the Purchaser for the amount stated in clause 3 (Consideration) in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part B (Purchasers obligations) of Schedule 2 (Completion arrangements) shall constitute payment of the consideration for the Shares and shall discharge the obligation of the Purchaser under clause 2 (Sale and purchase). |
5. | Sellers Warranties |
5.1 | Subject to sub-clauses 10.1 and 10.2 (Purchasers remedies and Sellers limitations on liability), the Seller warrants to the Purchaser that each of the Warranties is accurate in all material respects at the date of this Agreement. |
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5.2 | The Purchaser acknowledges that it does not rely on and has not been induced to enter into this Agreement on the basis of any warranties, representations, covenants, undertakings, indemnities or other statements whatsoever, other than the Warranties, and acknowledges that neither the Seller nor any members of the Retained Group (including, for this purpose, any member of the Group), or any of its or their respective agents, officers or employees have given any such warranties, representations, covenants, undertakings, indemnities or other statements. | |
5.3 | Each of the Warranties shall be construed as a separate and independent warranty and (except where expressly provided to the contrary) shall not be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other Warranty. | |
5.4 | Any payment made by the Seller pursuant to this clause 5 shall (so far as possible) be treated as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent of the payment. |
6. | Locked Box |
6.1 | The Seller covenants that during the period from the Accounts Date and to the date of this Agreement, and save as permitted by Schedule 4 (Permitted Leakage): |
(A) | no member of the Group has declared, authorised, made or paid any dividend or distribution to any member of the Retained Group; | ||
(B) | no member of the Group has transferred any asset to, or assumed, indemnified or incurred any liability for the benefit of any member of the Retained Group; | ||
(C) | no member of the Group has waived or released in favour of any member of the Retained Group any liability to pay, nor has any member of the Retained Group failed to pay when due and payable, any sum or obligation due by any such member of the Retained Group to any member of the Group; | ||
(D) | no payment, management charge or fee has been or will be levied by any member of the Retained Group against any member of the Group, and there has been no payment by any member of the Group to any member of the Retained Group, other than any payment made pursuant to a trading contract entered into in the ordinary course and on arms length terms (including, for this purpose, payment of any Ordinary Trading Items); | ||
(E) | no Group recharges by and between members of the Retained Group and members of the Group have been made other than any payment made pursuant to a trading contract entered into in the ordinary course and on arms length terms (including, for this purpose, payment of any Ordinary Trading Items); and | ||
(F) | no member of the Group has made or entered into any agreement or arrangement to give effect to any of the matters referred to in sub-clauses 6.1(A) to (E) above. |
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6.2 | To the extent that any of the events set out in sub-clause 6.1 have occurred, the Seller covenants to pay the Purchaser on an after-Tax basis an amount equal to such payments, dividends, distributions, other returns of capital, the value of any asset transferred, liability assumed or incurred (or in respect of which an indemnity has been given) or loss or liability incurred or sum or obligation waived, or which will be paid, returned, transferred, assumed, waived or incurred pursuant to an agreement or arrangement to do any of the foregoing. | |
6.3 | In this clause 6, references to the Group are to be interpreted as references to the Company, to each Existing Subsidiary and not (for the avoidance of doubt) to the EXL Pune SPV, the Chennai SPV or NTrance Customer Services Private Limited. | |
6.4 | Any payment made by the Seller pursuant to this clause 6 shall (so far as possible) be treated as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent of the payment. |
7. | EXL Pune SPV Transfer |
7.1 | As soon as practicable after completion of the EXL Pune SSPA and, in any event within 20 Business Days of completion of the EXL Pune SSPA, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company, in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the EXL Pune SSPA, shall prepare (or cause the preparation of) and deliver to the Seller a draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV drawn up in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the EXL Pune SSPA (such draft statement to include an amount for the EXL Pune NAV and an amount for the EXL Pune Final Cash). | |
7.2 | Following receipt of the statement delivered to it under sub-clause 7.1, the Seller shall be entitled (but not obliged) to undertake (or procure its accountants to undertake) a review of the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV and the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall provide to the Seller and its accountants all assistance and information reasonably required by the Seller and/or (as the case may be) its accountants in order to enable the Seller to undertake this review. The Seller shall be entitled to notify the Company that it disagrees with the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV, any such notification to give reasons in detail for such disagreement, at any time up to and including the date that is five Business Days after delivery to it of the draft statement. In the absence of notification on or before that date, the Seller shall be deemed to have agreed to such draft statement in the form delivered to it and the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall deliver to ExlService Holdings, Inc. a copy of the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV in such form, in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the EXL Pune SSPA. | |
7.3 | In the event that a notification of disagreement is given to the Company in accordance with sub-clause 7.2, the Seller and the Company shall (in conjunction with the Companys auditors and the Sellers accountants (if relevant)) meet and discuss the Sellers objections to the draft statement referred to in sub-clause 7.1 (and any other matters relating to the draft statement which are raised by the Seller) in order to seek to reach agreement upon such adjustments (if any) to the draft statement as are acceptable to the Seller and the Company. If no agreement has been reached upon such adjustments on the date 28 Business Days after delivery to the Company of the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV, then the Purchaser shall procure that |
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the Company shall deliver to ExlService Holdings, Inc. a draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV in such form as the Seller shall, in its discretion (but acting reasonably), specify. | ||
7.4 | Following the delivery of the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV to ExlService Holdings, Inc., the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request; | ||
(B) | co-operate with the Independent Accountant and comply with any reasonable requests made by that Independent Accountant in connection with it carrying out its duties as provided for under the EXL Pune SSPA; and | ||
(C) | allow the Seller to take sole conduct of further negotiations with ExlService Holdings Inc. and the Independent Accountant in connection with the determination of the EXL Pune NAV, including, but not limited to: |
(i) | meeting with ExlService Holdings, Inc. and discussing with ExlService Holdings, Inc. its objections to the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV and, where applicable, agreeing adjustments to the draft statement of the EXL Pune NAV; | ||
(ii) | appointment of the Independent Accountant; | ||
(iii) | providing notification of outstanding matters in dispute to the Independent Accountant; | ||
(iv) | preparation of Companys Opening Submissions; and | ||
(v) | preparation of Companys Submissions in Reply, |
provided that the Seller agrees to pay to the Company that proportion of the fees of the Independent Accountant incurred in relation to the final determination of the statement of the EXL Pune NAV as the Independent Accountant determines should be paid by the Company. |
7.5 | Upon the final determination of the statement of the EXL Pune NAV in accordance with the terms of either sub-clause 4.5 or 4.7 of the EXL Pune SSPA (as applicable), the amounts representing the EXL Pune NAV and the EXL Pune Cash stated in Indian Rupees shall be converted to pounds sterling in order to determine the EXL Pune NAV and the EXL Pune Cash for the purposes of this Agreement. Such conversion is to be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of the final determination of the statement of the EXL Pune NAV. The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser by telegraphic transfer within seven Business Days of such determination an amount equal to: |
(A) | EXL Pune NAV less EXL Pune Provisional Consideration; less |
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(B) | EXL Pune Cash less EXL Pune Provisional Cash, |
unless such amount is negative. If the amount is negative no amount shall be payable by the Seller to the Company pursuant to this sub-clause 7.5 and, subject to sub-clause 7.6 below, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to the absolute value of such negative amount by telegraphic transfer within seven Business Days of determination of such amount. |
7.6 | Notwithstanding sub-clause 7.5 above, if ExlService Holdings Inc. fails to pay to the Company an amount owed to the Company pursuant to sub-clause 4.12.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA, then the Purchaser shall be entitled to withhold payment to the Seller of that part of the amount that would otherwise be payable by the Purchaser to the Seller pursuant to sub-clause 7.5 above that is equal to the amount the amount that ExlService Holdings Inc. has failed to pay, provided that if such payment is not received by the Company in accordance with sub-clause 4.12.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | forthwith notify the Seller by written notice; | ||
(B) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request and the Seller shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to avoid, bring, dispute, resist, mitigate, settle, compromise, defend or appeal (as appropriate) any claim or counter-claim in respect thereof or adjudication with respect thereto; | ||
(C) | at the request of the Seller, without limitation of sub-clause 7.6(B), allow the Seller to take the sole conduct of an action against ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) as the Seller may deem appropriate in connection with the failure by ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) to make such payment in the name of the Company and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Seller all such assistance as it may require in avoiding, bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing (as appropriate) any such claim or counter-claim or adjudication in respect thereof and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Company, as appropriate, but to act solely in accordance with the Sellers instructions; and | ||
(D) | make no agreement, settlement, compromise or admission of liability, with ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) in relation to any such claim, or counter-claim, or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Seller. |
7.7 | Any payment made pursuant to this clause 7 shall (so far as possible) be treated as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent of the payment. | |
7.8 | In this clause 7, the terms Business Day, Independent Accountant, Opening Submissions and Submissions in Reply shall have the respective meanings given to them in the EXL Pune SSPA. |
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8. | Chennai SPV Transfer |
8.1 | As soon as practicable after completion of the Chennai SSPA and, in any event within 20 Business Days of completion of the Chennai SSPA, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company, in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the Chennai SSPA, shall prepare (or cause the preparation of) and deliver to the Seller a draft statement of the Chennai NAV drawn up in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the Chennai SSPA (such draft statement to include an amount for the Chennai NAV, Chennai Cash and Chennai Inter-company Payable). | |
8.2 | Following receipt of the statement delivered to it under sub-clause 8.1, the Seller shall be entitled (but not obliged) to undertake (or procure its accountants to undertake) a review of the draft statement of the Chennai NAV and the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall the provide to the Seller and its accountants all assistance and information reasonably required by the Seller and/or (as the case may be) its accountants in order to enable the Seller to undertake this review. The Seller shall be entitled to notify the Company that it disagrees with the draft statement of the Chennai NAV, any such notification to give reasons in detail for such disagreement, at any time up to and including the date that is five Business Days after delivery to it of the draft statement. In the absence of notification on or before that date the Seller shall be deemed to have agreed to such draft statement in the form delivered to it and the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall deliver to 24/7 Customer.com Inc. a copy of the draft statement of the Chennai NAV in such form, in accordance with the requirements of clause 4 (Consideration) of the Chennai SSPA. | |
8.3 | In the event that a notification of disagreement is given to the Company in accordance with sub-clause 8.2, the Seller and the Company shall (in conjunction with the Companys auditors and the Sellers accountants (if relevant)) meet and discuss the Sellers objections to the draft statement referred to in sub-clause 8.1 (and any other matters relating to the draft statement which are raised by the Seller) in order to seek to reach agreement upon such adjustments (if any) to the draft statement as are acceptable to the Seller and the Company. If no agreement has been reached upon such adjustments on the date 28 Business Days after delivery to the Company of the draft statement of the Chennai NAV, then the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall deliver to 24/7 Customer.com Inc. a draft statement of the Chennai NAV in such form as the Seller shall, in its discretion (but acting reasonably), specify. | |
8.4 | Following the delivery of the draft statement of the Chennai NAV to 24/7 Customer.com Inc., the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request; | ||
(B) | co-operate with the Independent Accountant and comply with any reasonable requests made by that Independent Accountant in connection with it carrying out of the its duties as provided for under the Chennai SSPA; and |
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(C) | allow the Seller to take sole conduct of further negotiations with 24/7 Customer.com Inc. and the Independent Accountant in connection with the determination of the Chennai NAV, including, but not limited to: |
(i) | meeting with 24/7 Customer.com Inc. and discussing with 24/7 Customer.com Inc. its objections to the draft statement of the Chennai NAV and, where applicable, agreeing adjustments to the draft statement of the Chennai NAV; | ||
(ii) | appointment of the Independent Accountant; | ||
(iii) | providing notification of outstanding matters in dispute to the Independent Accountant; | ||
(iv) | preparation of the Companys Opening Submissions; and | ||
(v) | preparation of the Companys Submissions in Reply, |
provided that the Seller agrees to pay to the Company that proportion of the fees of the Independent Accountant incurred in relation to the final determination of the statement of the Chennai NAV as the Independent Accountant determines should be paid by the Company. |
8.5 | Upon the final determination of the statement of the Chennai NAV in accordance with the terms of either sub-clause 4.6 or 4.8 of the Chennai SSPA (as applicable) and the final determination of the Chennai Inter-company Payable in accordance with the terms of sub-clause 4.14 of the Chennai SSPA, the amounts representing the Chennai NAV, Chennai Cash and the Chennai Inter-company Payable stated in Indian Rupees shall be converted to pounds sterling in order to determine the Chennai NAV, Chennai Cash and Chennai Inter-company Payable for the purposes of this Agreement. Such conversion is to be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of the final determination of the statement of the Chennai NAV. The Seller shall pay to the Purchaser by telegraphic transfer within seven Business Days of such determination an amount equal to: |
(A) | Chennai NAV less Chennai Provisional Consideration; less | ||
(B) | Chennai Cash less Chennai Provisional Cash, plus | ||
(C) | Chennai Inter-company Payable less Chennai Provisional Inter-company Payable, |
unless such amount is negative. If the amount is negative no amount shall be payable by the Seller to the Company pursuant to this sub-clause 8.5 and, subject to sub-clause 8.6 below, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to the absolute value of such negative amount by telegraphic transfer within seven Business Days of determination of such amount. |
8.6 | Notwithstanding sub-clause 8.5 above, if: |
(A) | as a result of sub-clause 4.15 of the Chennai SSPA the amount payable by 24/7 Customer.com Inc. to the Company pursuant to the Chennai SSPA is less than the |
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amount that the Company would, but for this sub-clause 8.6(A), be liable to pay to the Seller, then the liability of the Company to the Seller pursuant to clause 8.5 shall be limited to the amount payable by 24/7 Customer.com Inc. to the Company, taking account of sub-clause 4.15 of the Chennai SSPA; and |
(B) | 24/7 Customer.com Inc. fails to pay to the Company an amount payable to Company pursuant to sub-clause 4.13.2 of the Chennai SSPA, then the Purchaser shall be entitled to withhold payment to the Seller of that part of the amount that would otherwise be payable by the Purchaser to the Seller pursuant to clause 8.5 above that is equal to the amount that 24/7 Customer.com Inc. has failed to pay, provided that if such payment is not received by the Company in accordance with sub-clause 4.13.2 of the Chennai SSPA, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall: |
(i) | forthwith notify the Seller by written notice; | ||
(ii) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request and the Seller shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to avoid, bring, dispute, resist, mitigate, settle, compromise, defend or appeal (as appropriate) any claim or counter-claim in respect thereof or adjudication with respect thereto; | ||
(iii) | at the request of the Seller, without limitation of sub-clause 8.6(B), allow the Seller to take the sole conduct of such action against 24/7 Customer.com Inc. (or a subsidiary of 24/7 Customer.com Inc.) as the Seller may deem appropriate in connection with the failure by 24/7 Customer.com Inc. (or a subsidiary of 24/7 Customer.com Inc.) to make such payment in the name of the Company and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Seller all such assistance as it may require in avoiding, bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing (as appropriate) any such claim or counter-claim or adjudication in respect thereof and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Company, as appropriate, but to act solely in accordance with the Sellers instructions; and | ||
(iv) | make no agreement, settlement, compromise or admission of liability, with 24/7 Customer.com Inc. (or a subsidiary of 24/7 Customer.com Inc.) in relation to any such claim, or counter-claim, or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Seller. |
8.7 | Any payment made pursuant to this clause 8 shall (so far as possible) be treated as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent of the payment. | |
8.8 | In this clause 8, the terms Business Day, Independent Accountant, Opening Submissions and Submissions in Reply shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Chennai SSPA. |
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9. | Purchasers warranties and undertakings |
9.1 | The Purchaser warrants that: |
(A) | the Purchaser has full capacity and authority and has obtained all necessary licences, permits and consents to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Share Purchase Documents to which it is a party; | ||
(B) | this Agreement and the other Share Purchase Documents have been duly authorised by it and is executed by its duly authorised representatives; | ||
(C) | the obligations of the Purchaser under this Agreement constitute, and the obligations of the Purchaser under the other Share Purchase Documents will, when delivered, constitute binding obligations of the Purchaser in accordance with their respective terms; | ||
(D) | the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under, this Agreement and the other Share Purchase Documents will not: |
(i) | result in a material breach of any provision of the constitutional documents of the Purchaser; | ||
(ii) | result in a material breach of, or constitute a default under, any instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound; | ||
(iii) | result in a breach of any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental agency to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser is bound; or | ||
(iv) | require the consent of its shareholders or of any other person (including any statutory or non-statutory regulator or ombudsman to whose regulatory regime any member of the Group or of the Purchasers Group is subject); |
(E) | the Purchaser is not insolvent or unable to pay its debts and no order has been made or resolution passed for its winding up or for an administration order and no receiver, administrative receiver or manager has been appointed by any person of its business or all or a substantial part of its assets or any material part thereof nor has any equivalent event taken place in any jurisdiction other than England or Wales; and | ||
(F) | as at the date of this Agreement, the Purchaser is not aware of anything likely to lead to any of the events referred to in sub-clauses 9.1(A) to (E) above. |
9.2 | Following Completion, the Purchaser undertakes to use all reasonable endeavours to procure as soon as possible and in any event within three months of Completion the release (by providing to the beneficiary of each such guarantee, indemnity or contingent obligation a bank guarantee or other security arrangement reasonably acceptable to the beneficiary, if and to the extent required) of the Seller or any member of the Retained Group from any guarantee, |
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indemnity or other contingent obligation given by or binding upon the Seller or any other member of the Retained Group in relation to or arising out of any obligations or liabilities of any member of the Group. For the avoidance of doubt and in respect of any guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation given by or binding upon the Seller or any other member of the Retained Group, this sub-clause 9.2 will not operate so as to require the Purchaser to incur or assume any liability or obligation beyond the liability or obligation given by or binding upon the Seller or any other member of the Retained Group in respect of that guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation. |
9.3 | Pending release of the Seller or any member of the Retained Group from any guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation referred to in sub-clause 9.2 above, the Purchaser undertakes to hold and keep the Seller, for itself and as trustee for the other members of the Retained Group, indemnified on an after-Tax basis from and against all actions, claims, proceedings, loss, damage, all payments, costs or expenses incurred by the Seller or any other member of the Retained Group in relation to or arising out of any guarantee, indemnity or other contingent obligation given or undertaken by the Seller or any other member of the Retained Group in relation to or arising out of any obligations or liabilities of any member of the Group arising after Completion. | |
9.4 | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall transfer all of its rights, obligations and liabilities under the Noida ISFA and the Ancilliary Noida Documents (as both those terms are defined in the EXL Noida Settlement Deed) to Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited by procuring that the Company shall execute and deliver one or more counterparts or engrossments of a novation agreement in the form attached to the EXL Noida Settlement Deed at Annex III (as modified to reflect the Sellers choice of Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited as transferee) as soon as reasonably practicable after a request from the Seller and do all such acts and things as may reasonably be required for the purpose of giving effect to that transfer. | |
9.5 | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall not terminate, revoke, amend, waive, novate, assign or otherwise modify in any way, whether in whole or in part, either the EXL Noida Settlement Deed or the EXL Noida Escrow Deed. | |
9.6 | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company pay to Norwich Union Insurance Limited £796,911 or such other amount as is paid to the Company by ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) pursuant to the EXL Noida Settlement Deed by way of a refund of the capital investment made by Norwich Union Insurance Limited in a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc. Upon receipt of such amount by the Company from ExlService Holdings, Inc., the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall (i) immediately give notice of such receipt to the Seller; and (ii) within seven Business Days of such receipt pay such amount to Norwich Union Insurance Limited by telegraphic transfer. If payment is not received by the Company in accordance with the EXL Noida Settlement Deed, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | forthwith notify the Seller by written notice; |
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(B) | subject to the Seller indemnifying the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser against any liability, cost, damage or expense which may be properly incurred thereby, promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request and the Seller shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to avoid, bring, dispute, resist, mitigate, settle, compromise, defend or appeal (as appropriate) any claim or counter-claim in respect thereof or adjudication with respect thereto; | ||
(C) | at the request of the Seller, without limitation of sub-clause 9.6(B), allow the Seller to take the sole conduct of such action against ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) as the Seller may deem appropriate in connection with the failure by ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) to make such payment in the name of the Company and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Seller all such assistance as it may require in avoiding, bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing (as appropriate) any such claim or counter-claim or adjudication in respect thereof and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Company, as appropriate, but to act solely in accordance with the Sellers instructions; and | ||
(D) | make no agreement, settlement, compromise or admission of liability, with ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) in relation to any such claim, or counter-claim, or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Seller. |
9.7 | (A) | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall do all such acts and things as may be required on its part to complete: |
(i) | the EXL Pune SSPA within 30 days of the issue of the EXL Pune Completion Notice or (failing that) as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; and | ||
(ii) | the Chennai SSPA on or before 1 August 2008. |
(B) | Without limitation, the Purchaser shall procure that (unless the Seller otherwise agrees in writing) the Company shall: |
(i) | not terminate, revoke, amend, waive, novate, assign or otherwise modify in any way, whether in whole or in part, any of the EXL Pune Completion Notice, the EXL Pune Escrow Deed, the EXL Pune SSPA, or the Chennai SSPA; | ||
(ii) | waive the conditions referred to in sub-clause 3.1(B) of the EXL Pune Escrow Deed if such conditions have not been fulfilled within 30 days of the issue of the EXL Pune Completion Notice; | ||
(iii) | pay the EXL Pune Provisional Consideration in Indian Rupees and into such bank account(s) of EXL Service.com (India) Private Limited and Rajiv Kishan |
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Luthra as ExlService Holdings, Inc. shall nominate in accordance with sub-clause 6.2.3 of the EXL Pune SSPA; and | |||
(iv) | pay the Chennai Initial Payment in US Dollars to 24/7 Customer.com Inc. in accordance with sub-clause 4.1 of the Chennai SSPA. |
(C) | The Seller agrees to provide all such assistance and cooperation to the Purchaser in complying with its obligations under sub-clause 9.7(A) as the Purchaser may reasonably require. Without limitation, the Seller: |
(i) | shall promptly give such information and access to personnel, documents and records within the power and control of a member of the Retained Group as the Purchaser may reasonably require for that purpose; and | ||
(ii) | the Seller shall give due consideration to any reasonable request for the Purchaser to refer to the Seller in any announcement proposed to be made by the Purchaser or the Company in connection with either or both bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing any such claim or counter-claim required for this purpose or any adjudication in respect thereof. |
(D) | Without limitation of sub-clause 9.7(A)(i) the Seller shall use reasonable endeavours (without being obliged to incur any expenditure) to assist EXL Pune SPV to obtain the approvals or written clarifications referred to in sub-clause 3.1(B) of the EXL Pune Escrow Deed as soon as reasonably practicable after the service of the EXL Pune Completion Notice with such reasonable endeavours to include the Seller encouraging EXL Pune SPV to write (in or substantially in the form of the letter provided to EXL Service Holdings, Inc. and/or EXL Pune SPV on behalf of the Seller before the date of this Agreement) as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of service of the EXL Pune Completion Notice to each of the Department of Telecommunications and the Indian Customs authorities for the respective approval or written clarification referred to in such sub-clause. | ||
(E) | Without limitation of sub-clause 9.7(A)(ii) the Seller shall use reasonable endeavours (without being obliged to incur any expenditure) to assist Chennai SPV to obtain the consents referred to in sub-clause 5 of the Chennai SSPA (if such consents are required) as soon as reasonably practicable after Completion with such reasonable endeavours to include the Seller encouraging Chennai SPV to write as soon as reasonably practicable after Completion to each of the Indian Department of Telecommunications and the Indian Customs authorities for their respective consents. |
9.8 | In the event that ExlService Holdings, Inc. fails to comply with any of its obligations under sub-clause 6.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA or, the Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | forthwith notify the Seller by written notice; |
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(B) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request and the Seller shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to compel (in the case of a failure to comply with the EXL Pune SSPA) ExlService Holdings, Inc. to comply with its obligations under clause 6.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA as soon as reasonably practicable after Completion (as that term is defined in the EXL Pune SSPA); | ||
(C) | at the request of the Seller, without limitation of sub-clause 9.8(B), allow the Seller to take the sole conduct of such action against ExlService Holdings, Inc. as the Seller may deem appropriate in connection with the failure by ExlService Holdings, Inc. to comply with any of its obligations under clause 6.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Seller all such assistance as it may require in avoiding, bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing any such claim or any counter-claim or any adjudication in respect thereof and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Company, as appropriate, but to act solely in accordance with the Sellers instructions; and | ||
(D) | in the case of a failure of EXL Pune SPV to comply with the EXL Pune SSPA, make no agreement, settlement, compromise or admission of liability, with ExlService Holdings, Inc. (or a subsidiary of ExlService Holdings, Inc.) in relation to any such claim, counterclaim, or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Seller. |
9.9 | In the event that 24/7 Customer.com Inc fails to comply with any of its obligations under sub-clause 6.2 of the Chennai SSPA, the Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall: |
(A) | forthwith notify the Seller by written notice; | ||
(B) | promptly take such action and give such information and access to personnel, premises, chattels, documents and records (which the Purchaser shall procure are preserved) to the Seller and its professional advisers as the Seller may reasonably request and the Seller shall be entitled to require the Company to take such action and give such information and assistance in order to compel (in the case of a failure to comply with the Chennai SSPA) 24/7 Customer.com Inc to comply with its obligations under clause 6.2 of the Chennai SSPA as soon as reasonably practicable after Completion (as that term is defined in the Chennai SSPA); | ||
(C) | at the request of the Seller, subject as provided in sub-clause 9.8(B), allow the Seller to take the sole conduct of such action against 24/7 Customer.com Inc as the Seller may deem appropriate in connection with the failure by 24/7 Customer.com Inc to comply with any of its obligations under clause 6.2 of the Chennai SSPA and in that connection the Purchaser shall give or cause to be given to the Seller all such assistance as it may require in avoiding, bringing, disputing, resisting, settling, compromising, defending or appealing any such claim or any counter-claim or any |
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adjudication in respect thereof and shall instruct such solicitors or other professional advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Company, as appropriate, but to act solely in accordance with the Sellers instructions; and |
(D) | in the case of a failure of Chennai SPV to comply with the Chennai SSPA, make no agreement, settlement, compromise or admission of liability, with 24/7 Customer.com Inc (or a subsidiary of 24/7 Customer.com Inc) in relation to any such claim, counterclaim, or adjudication without the prior written consent of the Seller. |
9.10 | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that each of the Company and EXL Pune SPV shall, following completion of the EXL Pune SSPA, comply in a timely manner with all applicable post-completion obligations of the Company and EXL Pune SPV, under the EXL Pune SSPA. In particular, but without limitation, the Purchaser undertakes to procure that the Company shall pay in Indian Rupees any amount required to be paid by the Company in accordance with sub-clause 4.12.2 of the EXL Pune SSPA into such bank account(s) of EXL Service.com (India) Private Limited and Rajiv Kishan Luthra as ExlService Holdings, Inc. shall nominate. | |
9.11 | The Purchaser undertakes to procure that each of the Company and Chennai SPV shall, following completion of the Chennai SSPA, comply in a timely manner with all applicable post-completion obligations of the Company and Chennai SPV, under the Chennai SSPA. In particular, but without limitation, the Purchaser undertakes to procure that: |
(A) | Chennai SPV shall pay the Chennai Provisional Inter-company Payable to 24/7 Customer.com, Inc. in accordance with sub-clause 4.3 of the Chennai SSPA; | ||
(B) | the Company shall pay in US Dollars any amount required to be paid by the Company in accordance with sub-clause 4.13.1 of the Chennai SSPA into such bank account(s) as is nominated by 24/7 Customer.com Inc.; and | ||
(C) | Chennai SPV shall pay any amount required to be paid by Chennai SPV in accordance with sub-clause 4.14 of the Chennai SSPA. |
9.12 | Any payments made by the Purchaser or the Seller pursuant to this clause 9 or as a result of the breach of warranties or undertakings given by the Purchaser pursuant to this clause 9 shall (so far as possible) be treated as an adjustment to the consideration for the Shares to the extent of the payment. |
10. | Purchasers remedies and Sellers limitations on liability |
10.1 | The Purchaser shall not be entitled to claim that any fact, event, circumstance, matter, act or omission causes any of the Warranties to be breached if fairly disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, or the Disclosure Documents or in any other document referred to in the Disclosure Letter. | |
10.2 | No liability shall attach to the Seller in respect of claims under the Warranties if and to the extent that the limitations set out in Schedule 3 (Limitations on the Sellers liability) apply. |
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10.3 | If, at any time (and whether before, at or following Completion) the Purchaser becomes aware (whether it does so by reason of any disclosure made pursuant to clause 5 (Sellers Warranties) or not) that there has been any breach of the Warranties or any other term of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall not be entitled to terminate or rescind this Agreement. This sub-clause 10.3 shall be without prejudice to the Purchasers rights under sub-clause 4.4 (Completion). |
11. | Retained Group Brands |
11.1 | The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall transfer or licence, or shall operate as an agreement to transfer or licence, any right, title or interest in or to the Names or any associated logo or device which the members of the Retained Group own, or any identical or similar name or mark (the Sellers Marks). Following Completion, the Purchaser shall not, and shall procure that no member of the Purchasers Group shall, hold itself out as being part of or in any way connected with the Retained Group. | |
11.2 | Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-clause 11.1, the trade mark rights of the Retained Group, or the provisions of the Master Services Agreement and subject to sub-clause 11.4, the Purchaser shall procure that for: |
(A) | a minimum period of five (5) years following Completion; and | ||
(B) | thereafter for so long as any member of the Retained Group continues to retain an interest in the Sellers Marks, |
no member of the Purchasers Group shall use the Sellers Marks. |
11.3 | The Purchaser shall procure that the Company and the Subsidiaries whose corporate names include any Name, as soon as reasonably practicable following Completion and in any event by the date falling ten Business Days after Completion, pass all required resolutions to change their corporate names to a name which does not include any Name or any confusingly similar name and shall procure the prompt registration of the new name with the appropriate court or registry. Upon receipt of confirmation from the appropriate court or registry that such name change has been effected, the Purchaser shall provide the Seller with written proof that such name change has been effected. | |
11.4 | Except to the extent that the same is expressly permitted under the Master Services Agreement, the Purchaser shall procure that the Company and each of the Subsidiaries shall by the last day of the third month following the Completion Date: |
(A) | have ceased to use all of the Sellers Marks; and | ||
(B) | have removed or deleted the Sellers Marks from all existing stocks, sales literature, promotional materials, invoices, business cards, internet websites, stationary, buildings, signage and vehicles. |
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11.5 | This clause 11 is given by the Purchaser for the benefit of the Seller and for each member of the Retained Group and each member of the Retained Group shall be entitled to enforce the terms of this clause 11 against the Purchaser in accordance with the terms of clause 26 (Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999). |
12. | Intellectual Property and Business Information |
12.1 | Save to the extent any (i) Intellectual Property, or (ii) rights in Business Information have, in either case, in the previous twelve months been exclusively used by the Group, if a member of the Group owns after Completion any (i) Intellectual Property, or (ii) rights in Business Information which, in either case, in the year prior to Completion related to the business of the Retained Group, the Purchaser shall procure that such Intellectual Property and/or rights in Business Information are transferred to the Seller or a company nominated by the Seller for nominal consideration as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the ownership of such rights. | |
12.2 | Except to the extent that the same is expressly provided for in the Master Services Agreement, each of (i) the Purchaser and (ii) the Seller shall procure that all licenses of any Intellectual Property or rights in Business Information owned by any member of respectively (i) the Retained Group (or to be owned by the Seller or its nominee pursuant to sub-clause 12.1), or (ii) the Group (or to be owned by the Purchaser or its nominee pursuant to this Agreement) granted to any member of the Group or any member of the Retained Group (respectively) terminate at Completion. |
13. | Gross Payments |
13.1 | All sums payable under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of all deductions and withholdings whatsoever, save only as may be required by law. If any deductions or withholdings are required by law to be made from any such sums (with the exception of deductions and withholdings that are required by law to be made from the consideration for the sale of the Shares to which sub-clause 13.2 shall instead apply) then to the extent that they are not expressed to be paid on an after-Tax basis, the party liable to make the payment shall pay to the recipient such sums as will, after the deduction or withholding is made, leave the recipient with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of any such requirement to make a deduction or withholding. | |
13.2 | If any deductions or withholdings are required by law to be made from the consideration for the sale of the Shares, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller such sums as will, after the deduction or withholding is made, leave the Seller with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of any such requirement to make a deduction or withholding and for such purpose the amount the Seller would have been so entitled to receive shall be the Share Purchase Price as referred to in clause 3 (Consideration). | |
13.3 | The parties agree for the avoidance of doubt that: |
(A) | where the Purchaser makes a deduction or withholding from the consideration for the sale of the Shares as paid on Completion, the Purchaser shall not and shall not be |
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entitled to set off or otherwise deduct, or take into account any amount which it is owed or may claim, claims or has claimed by or from the Seller (including any amount which it may claim, claims or has claimed under sub-clause 2.3 of the Tax Covenant) against its liability to pay an increased amount to the Seller as provided for in sub-clause 13.2; and |
(B) | where the Purchaser has made no deduction or withholding from the consideration for the sale of the Shares as paid on Completion and subsequently the Seller pays an amount to the Purchaser under sub-clause 2.3 of the Tax Covenant in respect of a liability for an amount which should have been deducted or withheld from such consideration, the Seller shall not be entitled to claim that the making of such payment under sub-clause 2.3 of the Tax Covenant has reduced the amount it has received so as to result in a further payment being due to it under sub-clause 13.2. |
14. | Access |
14.1 | The Purchaser shall make available to the Seller any Books and Records of any member of the Group (or, if practicable, the relevant parts of those Books and Records) which are required by the Seller for the purpose of dealing with its Tax affairs and, accordingly, the Purchaser shall, upon being given reasonable notice by the Seller and subject to the Seller giving such undertaking as to confidentiality as the Purchaser shall reasonably require, procure that such Books and Records are made available to the Seller for inspection (during Working Hours) and copying (at the Sellers expense) for and only to the extent necessary for such purpose and for a period of six years from Completion. | |
14.2 | The Seller shall make available to the Purchaser any Books and Records of the Retained Group (or, if practicable, the relevant parts of those Books and Records) which are required by the Purchaser for the purpose of dealing with its Tax affairs and, accordingly, the Seller shall, upon being given reasonable notice by the Purchaser and subject to the Purchaser giving such undertaking as to confidentiality as the Seller shall reasonably require, procure that such Books and Records are made available to the Purchaser for inspection (during Working Hours) and copying (at the Purchasers expense) for and only to the extent necessary for such purpose and for a period of six years from Completion. |
15. | 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. |
16. | Remedies and waivers |
16.1 | Except as provided in Schedule 3 (Limitations on the Sellers liability), no delay or omission by any party to this Agreement in exercising any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement or any other documents referred to in it shall: |
29
(A) | affect that right, power or remedy; or | ||
(B) | operate as a waiver thereof. |
16.2 | Except as provided in Schedule 3 (Limitations on the Sellers liability), 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. | |
16.3 | Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers and remedies provided by law. |
17. | Assignment |
17.1 | Subject to sub-clause 17.2, the Purchaser shall not assign, or purport to assign, all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, the Agreement or the other Share Purchase Documents (or any causes of action arising in connection with any of them). | |
17.2 | The benefit of this Agreement shall be assignable by the Purchaser to a wholly-owned member of the Purchasers Group (provided that, if such assignee is to cease to be a wholly-owned member of the Purchasers Group, then the Purchaser shall procure that such assignee shall re-assign such benefit prior to ceasing to be a wholly owned member of the Purchasers Group to a company that is a wholly-owned member of the Purchasers Group). | |
17.3 | Subject to sub-clause 17.1, the Purchaser shall not make a declaration of trust in respect of or enter into any arrangement whereby it agrees to hold in trust for any other person all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, this Agreement or the other Share Purchase Documents. | |
17.4 | The parties hereby agree that where the Purchaser assigns the benefit of this Agreement in whole or in part to any other person, the rights of the Seller and all members of the Retained Group under this Agreement against the Purchasers Group shall be no less than such rights would have been had the assignment not occurred and the liabilities of the Seller and all members of the Retained Group under this Agreement shall be no greater than such liabilities would have been had the assignment not occurred. | |
17.5 | The Purchaser shall not sub-contract or enter into any arrangement whereby another person is to perform any or all of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Share Purchase Documents. |
18. | Further assurance |
Insofar as it is able to do so after Completion, the Seller shall, on being required to do so by the Purchaser and at the Purchasers expense, do or procure the doing of all such acts and/or execute or procure the execution of such documents as the Purchaser may reasonably consider necessary for vesting the Shares, the AGSSV Share and the Bangalore Share in the Purchaser or its nominee(s) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
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19. | Entire Agreement |
19.1 | The Share Purchase Documents constitute the whole and only agreement between the parties relating to the sale and purchase of the Shares. In entering into the Share Purchase Documents, each party to this Agreement acknowledges that it is not relying upon any pre-contractual statement which is not expressly set out in them. | |
19.2 | Except in the case of fraud, no party shall have any right of action against any other party to this Agreement arising out of or in connection with any pre-contractual statement except to the extent that it is repeated in the Share Purchase Documents. | |
19.3 | For the purposes of this clause, pre-contractual statement means any draft, agreement, undertaking, representation, warranty, promise, assurance or arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether or not in writing, relating to the subject matter of the Share Purchase Documents made or given by any person at any time prior to the date of this Agreement. | |
19.4 | This Agreement may only be varied in writing signed by each of the parties. |
20. | Notices |
20.1 | A notice under this Agreement shall only be effective if it is in writing. Faxes and e-mail are not permitted. | |
20.2 | Notices under this Agreement shall be sent to a party to this Agreement at its address or number and for the attention of the individual (or individuals) set out below: |
Party and title of individual | Address | |
Aviva plc |
||
Company Secretary of
Aviva plc
|
Aviva plc St Helens 1 Undershaft London, EC3P 3DQ |
|
Seller |
||
Company Secretary of
Aviva plc c/o Company Secretary of Aviva International Holdings Limited |
Aviva plc c/o Aviva International Holdings Limited St Helens 1 Undershaft London, EC3P 3DQ |
|
Purchaser |
||
Company Secretary of
WNS Capital Investment
Limited
|
Multiconsult, 10 Frere Felix de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius |
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Party and title of individual | Address | |
Copy to: |
||
Vikas Gupta
|
WNS Global Services Pvt. Ltd., Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex, Pirojashah Nagar, Vikhroli (W), Mumbai 400079, India |
Provided that a party may change its notice details on giving notice to the other party of the change in accordance with this clause. |
20.3 | Any notice given under this Agreement shall, in the absence of earlier receipt, be deemed to have been duly given as follows: |
(A) | if delivered personally, on delivery; and | ||
(B) | if sent by first class post, two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
20.4 | Any notice given under this Agreement outside Working Hours in the place to which it is addressed shall be deemed not to have been given until the start of the next period of Working Hours in such place. | |
20.5 | The provisions of this clause shall not apply in relation to the service of Service Documents. |
21. | Announcements |
21.1 | No announcement concerning the sale of the Shares or any ancillary matter shall be made by either party to this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. This sub-clause does not apply in the circumstances described in sub-clause 21.2. | |
21.2 | Either party may make an announcement concerning the sale of the Shares or any ancillary matter if required by: |
(A) | law; or | ||
(B) | any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body or any Tax Authority to which that party is subject or submits, wherever situated, whether or not the requirement has the force of law, |
subject to the party concerned taking all such steps as may be reasonable and practicable in the circumstances to agree the contents of such announcement with the other party before making such announcement. |
21.3 | The restrictions contained in this clause shall continue to apply after Completion or termination of this Agreement without limit in time. |
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22. | Confidentiality |
22.1 | Each party to this Agreement shall treat as confidential all information obtained as a result of entering into or performing this Agreement which relates to: |
(A) | the provisions of this Agreement; | ||
(B) | the negotiations relating to this Agreement; | ||
(C) | the subject matter of this Agreement; or | ||
(D) | the other party, |
and the Purchaser shall also treat as confidential all information obtained as a result of entering into or performing this Agreement which relates to the Retained Group. |
22.2 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of this clause, either party may disclose confidential information: |
(A) | if and to the extent required by law or for the purpose of any Proceedings; | ||
(B) | if and to the extent required by any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body or any Tax Authority to which that party is subject or submits, wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law; | ||
(C) | if and to the extent required to vest the full benefit of this Agreement in that party; | ||
(D) | to its professional advisers, auditors and bankers subject to the party procuring each such recipients agreement to keep such information confidential to the same extent as if such recipient were a party to this Agreement; | ||
(E) | if and to the extent the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that party; or | ||
(F) | if and to the extent the other party has given prior written consent to the disclosure. |
Any information to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (B) shall be disclosed only after consultation with the other party, to the extent permitted by law. |
22.3 | The restrictions contained in this clause shall continue to apply after Completion or termination of this Agreement without limit in time. |
23. | Costs and expenses |
23.1 | Except as otherwise stated in any other provision of this Agreement or the Share Purchase Documents, each party to this Agreement shall pay its own costs and expenses incurred in relation to the negotiations leading up to the sale and purchase of the Shares and the |
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preparation, execution and carrying into effect of this Agreement, the Share Purchase Documents and all other documents referred to in this Agreement. |
24. | Counterparts |
24.1 | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the parties to it on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each party has executed at least one counterpart. | |
24.2 | Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement, but all the counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
25. | Invalidity |
If at any time any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, that shall not affect or impair: |
(A) | the legality, validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of this Agreement; or | ||
(B) | the legality, validity or enforceability under the law of any other jurisdiction of that or any other provision of this Agreement. |
26. | Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 |
26.1 | Clause 11 (Retained Group Brands) (the Third Party Rights Clause) confers a benefit on certain persons named therein who are not a party to this Agreement (each for the purposes of this clause a Third Party) and, subject to the remaining provisions of this clause, is intended to be enforceable by the Third Party by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. | |
26.2 | The parties to this Agreement do not intend that any term of this Agreement, apart from the Third Party Rights Clause, should be enforceable, by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, by any person who is not a party to this Agreement. | |
26.3 | Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clause 26.1 this Agreement may be rescinded or varied in any way and at any time by the parties to this Agreement without the consent of any Third Party. | |
26.4 | Notwithstanding sub-clause 26.1, no Third Party may enforce, or take any step to enforce, the Third Party Rights Clause without the prior written consent of the Seller, which may, if given, be given on and subject to such terms as the Purchaser may determine. |
27. | Choice of governing law |
This Agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English law. |
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28. | Jurisdiction |
28.1 | The courts of England are to have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement. Any Proceedings shall be brought in the English courts. This clause is not concluded for the benefit of any particular party or parties to this Agreement. | |
28.2 | Each party waives (and agrees not to raise) any objection, on the ground of forum non conveniens or on any other ground, to the taking of proceedings in the English courts. Each party also agrees that a judgment against it in Proceedings brought in England shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction. | |
28.3 | Each party irrevocably submits and agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. |
29. | Agent for service |
29.1 | Purchaser irrevocably appoints WNS Global Services (UK) Limited of Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London, NW1 3ER to be its agent for the receipt of service of process in England. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent. | |
29.2 | Any Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served if marked for the attention of WNS Global Services (UK) Limited at Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London, NW1 3ER or such other address within England and Wales as may be notified to the party wishing to serve the Service Document and: |
(A) | left at the specified address; or | ||
(B) | sent to the specified address by first class post. |
In the case of (A), the Service Document will be deemed to have been duly served when it is left. In the case of (B), the Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
29.3 | If an agent at any time ceases for any reason to act as such, the Purchaser shall appoint a replacement agent having an address for service in England or Wales and shall notify the Seller of the name and address of the replacement agent. Failing such appointment and notification, the Seller shall be entitled by notice to the Purchaser to appoint a replacement agent to act on the Purchasers behalf. The provisions of this sub-clause 29.3 applying to service on an agent apply equally to service on a replacement agent. | |
29.4 | A copy of any Service Document served on an agent shall be sent by post to the Purchaser. Failure or delay in so doing shall not prejudice the effectiveness of service of the Service Document. |
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30. | Language |
Each notice, demand, request, statement, instrument, certificate, or other communication under or in connection with this Agreement shall be in English. |
Signed by Steven Turpie
|
) | |||||
for and on behalf of
|
) | |||||
AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES
|
) | /s/ Steven Turpie | ||||
(MANAGEMENT SERVICES)
|
) | |||||
PRIVATE LIMITED
|
) | |||||
Signed by Johnson Jayaratnam
|
) | |||||
Selvadurai for and on behalf of
|
) | |||||
WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT
|
) | /s/ Johnson Jayaratnam Selvadurai | ||||
LIMITED
|
) |
Page | ||||||
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES | 73 | |||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES | 73 | |||||
COUNTERPARTS | 73 | |||||
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS | 74 | |||||
AGENT FOR SERVICE | 75 | |||||
INTERPRETATION | 76 | |||||
GOVERNING LAW | 77 | |||||
Schedule 1 Definitions |
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Schedule 2 Service Descriptions (Statements of Work) |
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Schedule 2.1 Contact Centre Operations |
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Schedule 2.2 Infrastructure Services For Contact Centres |
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Schedule 2.3 Services For General Insurance |
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Schedule 2.4 A Services For Life Insurance Customer Experience |
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Schedule 2.4 B Services For Life Insurance Customer Experience RBS Department |
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Schedule 2.5 Services For Healthcare | ||||||
Schedule 2.6 Services For Canada |
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Schedule 2.7 Services For NU UK ITS |
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Appendix 2.7A Management Information Pack |
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Schedule 2.8A Finance And Accounting (NUI) |
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Schedule 2.8B Finance And Account (NUL) |
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Schedule 2.8C Finance And Accounting (Aviva Group) |
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Schedule 2.10 Services For NUOS Financial Services |
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Schedule 3 Service Levels And Service Credits |
Appendix 3A Service Levels Matrix |
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Appendix 3H Interim SLAs |
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Appendix 3I NUI Offshore Performance |
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Schedule 4 Pricing, Invoicing and Payment |
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Appendix 4A Supplier Pricing Forms |
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Appendix 4B Financial Responsibility/Asset Ownership Matrix |
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Appendix 4C Financial Base Case |
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Schedule 5 Human Resources |
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Appendix 1 Key Supplier Employees |
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Appendix 2 Pre Commencement Transferable Employee Roles |
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Appendix 3 Supplier personnel skill requirements |
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Schedule 6 Governance and Service Management |
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Schedule 7 Transition and Transformation |
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Appendix 7A Transition Plan |
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Schedule 8 Forecasting and Capacity Planning |
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Schedule 9 IT Services |
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Schedule 9A Off-shore IT Services Catalogue |
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Appendix 9B NUCS Incident and Service Request Management |
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Schedule 10 Change Management |
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Schedule 11 Benchmarking |
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Schedule 12 Exit Management |
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Schedule 13 Reports |
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Appendix 13A Description of Reports |
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Schedule 14 Security Management |
Schedule 15 Business Continuity Disaster Recovery and Incident Management |
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Appendix 15A Business Continuity Planning Framework |
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Appendix 15B Crisis Response Plan |
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Appendix 15C Business Continuity Planning Recovery Requirements Questionnaire |
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Appendix 15D Business Protection Policy |
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Appendix 15E Business Continuity Questionnaires |
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Schedule 16 Pre-Commencement Period |
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Schedule 17 Policies and Procedures |
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Appendix 17A List of Customer Policies and Procedures |
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Schedule 18 Executive Assessment |
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Schedule 19 Sites |
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Schedule 20 Form of Escrow Agreement |
(1) | AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES (MANAGEMENT SERVICES) PRIVATE LIMITED, a company incorporated in Singapore (company number 200812047E) whose registered office is situated at 3 Anson Road, #07-01 Springleaf Tower Singapore 079909 (Customer); and | |
(2) | WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT LIMITED, a company incorporated in Mauritius (company number 081866) whose registered office is situated at 10 Frere Felix de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius (Supplier). |
(A) | Customer is a member of the Aviva plc group, which is one of the worlds largest insurers. Its principal business activities include life insurance, pensions, retail fund management, general insurance and other miscellaneous service activities. | |
(B) | Customer issued written requests for proposals (RFP) dated 2 November 2007 and 29 March 2008 in relation to its requirement to select a strategic supplier for offshore business process services. A number of submissions were received in response to the RFP, one of which was received from a member of the Supplier Group. Following evaluation and clarification of the RFP submissions, Supplier was selected as the preferred contractor. | |
(C) | Following discussions and negotiation between the Parties and certain due diligence by Supplier, Customer now wishes to enter into this Agreement. | |
(D) | Customer now wishes to appoint Supplier for the Term as service provider and prime contractor to supply the Services to Customer and Supplier agrees to supply the Services on that basis, in each case on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. |
1. | SERVICE PROVISION |
1.1 | Supplier shall supply or procure the supply of the Pre-Commencement Services and the Historic Services to Customer and all relevant Service Recipients in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, Schedule 16 (Pre-Commencement Period) and the other relevant provisions of this Agreement. On and from the Commencement Date until the end of the Term, Supplier shall provide, or as prime contractor shall procure the provision of, the Principal Services (other than the Transition Work and the Transformation Work) to Customer and all other Service Recipients in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Agreement. | |
1.2 | Supplier shall perform, or as prime contractor shall procure the performance of, the Transition Work and the Transformation Work in accordance with Clause 5.1. |
2 |
1.3 | Supplier shall provide the Services from the Sites unless the Parties agree otherwise through the Change Control Procedure. | |
1.4 | Subject at all times to Clause 1.7, Customer acknowledges that Supplier is being engaged by Customer to provide the Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka on an exclusive basis to the Inscope Business Units and accordingly Customer undertakes with Supplier that during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the day being the earlier of: |
(A) | for Services in respect of which Customer has exercised a right of termination pursuant to this Agreement and only in respect of the Services and the Service Recipient in respect of which such termination right has been exercised, the relevant date of termination of Services (but excluding any partial rights to terminate pursuant to Clause 23.12); and | ||
(B) | 60 months from the date of this Agreement, |
Customer shall procure that: |
(C) | none of the Inscope Business Units shall themselves perform, or contract with any third party or third parties (including, subject to Clause 1.7(A), any member of the Customer Group) to provide, the whole or any part of any Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka. |
1.5 | Subject to Clause 1.6, no provision of this Agreement (including Clause 19 (Growth and Acquisitions) and Clause 23.24 (Departing Entities, Departing Businesses and Termination)) shall require Supplier to supply, and/or procure the supply of, the Services to an Unapproved Entity pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise comply with this Agreement (or procure the compliance with this Agreement) with respect to that Unapproved Entity, save that in the event that Supplier does agree to supply the Services to an Unapproved Entity then such person shall be treated as a Service Recipient under this Agreement without limitation or derogation and the Supplier shall comply with this Agreement in full with respect to that Service Recipient. | |
1.6 | Where a Service Recipient (including any Joining Entity or any Departing Entity) becomes a BPO Supplier after its receipt of the Services then such Service Recipient shall continue to be treated as a Service Recipient under this Agreement without limitation or derogation, provided that the volumes of Services supplied to such Service Recipient cannot increase without Suppliers consent above the level they were at the time (i) such Service Recipient became a BPO Supplier, and (ii) Notice has been received by Customer from Supplier that the volume of Services shall not increase pursuant to this Clause. | |
1.7 | The exclusive right in Clause 1.4: |
(A) | shall not limit the ability of any of the Inscope Business Units to procure Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka from another member of Customer Group (provided that such member of Customer Group is not a BPO Supplier) to the |
3 |
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extent that such procurement of Inscope Services is required for any member of Customer Group to be compliant with the lawful direction of a Regulator or with Applicable Law; | |||
(B) | shall be subject to the terms of Clause 1.9; | ||
(C) | shall be subject to the rights and obligations of any member of Customer Group under: |
(i) | any agreement which was in place prior to the date of this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | the Noida Agreement, provided that the term of the Noida Agreement is not extended beyond 31 December 2012. From 1 January 2010 this exception to the exclusivity shall only apply to the extent that the number of full time employees under the Noida Agreement is 600 or less; or | ||
(iii) | any agreement of or relating to a Joining Entity (excluding any Inscope Business Unit) whether in place before or after the date of this Agreement provided that such agreement was in place prior to the date such Joining Entity became a Joining Entity and prior to such Joining Entity receiving Services under this Agreement, |
which (in each case) would otherwise cause a member of Customer Group to breach Clause 1.4. Customer shall not, and shall ensure that each relevant member of Customer Group (including any such Joining Entity) shall not, renew or extend the terms of any such agreement referred to in this Clause 1.7(C) (including extending the scope of the services) to the extent that such terms relate to all or any Inscope Services unless Customer (or relevant member of Customer Group as applicable) is contractually bound to do so. In the discretion of the relevant member of Customer Group (taking account, amongst other things, of the potential or likelihood of: (i) harm or damage to Customer Groups reputation and its commercial relationships; and (ii) breach of contract being alleged or occurring), Supplier agrees that Customer and the relevant members of Customer Group may take reasonable steps to withdraw from the receipt of services supplied to them under the agreements referred to in this Clause 1.7(C) in an orderly manner and where reasonably practicable to do so; | |||
(D) | shall not limit the ability of any of the Inscope Business Units to: (i) tender for, or to secure, Inscope Services from any Successor Service Provider from India or Sri Lanka during or in preparation for any Exit Period; or (ii) to receive Inscope Services from any Successor Service Provider from India or Sri Lanka during any Exit Period (but for the avoidance of doubt, not to receive Inscope Services from India or Sri Lanka prior to any Exit Period); | ||
(E) | shall be subject to the exercise of the rights granted to Customer under this Agreement (including pursuant to Clause 4 (Specific Service Remedies)) to the |
4 |
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extent that the exercise of such rights causes a member of Customer Group to breach Clause 1.4. |
1.8 | Customer shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that, in respect of any agreement entered into by a member of Customer Group, after the date of this Agreement, in relation to material outsourcing of Inscope Services by an Inscope Business Unit from a third party outsourcing supplier, such outsourcing supplier engages the Supplier Group in respect of any Inscope Services to be provided to any In Scope Business Unit from India or Sri Lanka with respect to that agreement. | |
1.9 | In the event that the Parties fail to agree within a reasonable period of negotiation the commercial terms for: (a) any statement of work relevant to any New Services which are Inscope Services to be provided from India or Sri Lanka (New Services SOW) and at the relevant time of Customers request such New Services are currently being offered by Supplier to other customers of Supplier Group; or (b) any statement of work relevant to the provision of any Principal Services which are Inscope Services to be provided from India or Sri Lanka at the request of Customer to a Joining Entity under Clause 19 (Growth and Acquisitions) (Joining Entity SOW) and which at the relevant time of Customers request are currently being offered by Supplier to other customers of Supplier Group: |
(A) | Customer shall within a reasonable period of time following such failure to agree notify Supplier of such fact and the basis in a reasonable level of detail why the Parties have failed to agree the relevant commercial terms in a notice (Disagreement Notice); and | ||
(B) | following the submission of the Disagreement Notice either Party shall have the right to escalate the issues the subject matter of the Disagreement Notice in accordance with Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management) and notwithstanding any such escalation subject to sub-Clauses 1.9(C)-(H) (inclusive): |
(i) | the exclusivity provisions set out in Clause 1.4 shall not apply to the New Services SOW, or as the case may be the Joining Entity SOW, specified in the Disagreement Notice (Refused Services); and | ||
(ii) | the Minimum Commitment Level shall be reduced proportionately by the number of Billable FTEs that would have been required to perform the relevant Refused Services; |
(C) | the disapplication of the exclusivity provisions and the reduction in the Minimum Commitment Level in circumstances referred to in Clause 1.9(B), shall not apply to the extent Customer engages any person (an Alternative Supplier) to provide, and/or permits any Service Recipient to engage any Alternative Supplier to provide, such Refused Services on terms which are more favourable to such Alternative Supplier than the terms (including in respect of price, service levels and scope) declined by Supplier for those Refused Services (Better Terms). The parties agree that any terms regarding the location of the |
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provision of services shall be disregarded for the purposes of assessing whether terms of engagement are Better Terms. Customer shall notify Supplier promptly with respect to any such engagement of an Alternative Supplier; | |||
(D) | where there is any dispute as to whether the Customer has appointed an Alternative Supplier on Better Terms and such dispute cannot be resolved in a reasonable period by the Parties through internal escalation in accordance with Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management), either Party shall be entitled to appoint an objective, qualified and independent third party (Independent Assessor) to verify and report in writing on whether or not Customer (or any relevant Service Recipient) has engaged an Alternative Supplier to provide the Refused Services on Better Terms. The identity of the Independent Assessor shall be agreed between the Parties acting reasonably and, failing agreement, shall be decided at the request of either Party by the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; | ||
(E) | each Party shall provide the Independent Assessor with reasonable access to all premises, information, personnel, materials, invoices, contracts, agreements and other documentation that is reasonably necessary for the Independent Assessor to access in order perform its role under this Clause 1.9 (and Customer shall procure that any relevant Service Recipient and the relevant Alternative Supplier provides such access, subject to the Independent Assessor executing reasonable non-disclosure undertakings with the Alternative Supplier); | ||
(F) | where the Independent Assessor concludes that the Alternative Supplier has not been engaged on Better Terms, the costs of the Independent Assessor shall be borne by Supplier in full and where the Independent Assessor concludes that the Alternative Supplier has been engaged on Better Terms, the costs of the Independent Assessor shall be borne by Customer in full (and otherwise each Party shall bear its own costs in respect of the work of the Independent Assessor); | ||
(G) | the Independent Assessor shall be requested to complete its report within ten (10) Business Days of being appointed by a Party and obtaining the reasonable access it requires under this Clause 1.9. The decision of the Independent Assessor shall be final and binding on the Parties; and | ||
(H) | the disapplication of the exclusivity provisions and the reduction in the Minimum Commitment Level in circumstances referred to in Clause 1.9(B), shall not apply to the extent: |
(i) | Customer is requesting, in the case of Principal Services, different pricing principles and/or rates to those specified in this Agreement; or in the case of New Services different pricing principles and/or rates to those specified in this Agreement (if any) or if pricing principles and/or rates are not specified in this Agreement for the relevant New Service, |
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pricing principles and/or rates which do not reflect (in all material respects) the terms of Clause 18.2; and/or | |||
(ii) | Customer is requesting service levels which are not substantially similar to any equivalent Service Levels specified in this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | Customer is otherwise acting unreasonably in conducting the negotiations referred to in Clause 1.9; and/or | ||
(iv) | Supplier is entitled to refuse to provide any of the Refused Services in accordance with Clause 1.5. |
2. | STANDARD OF SERVICE PROVISION |
2.1 | Supplier shall provide each Service (or shall procure that each Service is provided) to Customer and any Service Recipients to and in accordance with this Agreement and to (as a minimum) the Service Level for that Service (where applicable). | |
2.2 | Without prejudice to Clause 2.1, Supplier shall, subject to Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) and Clause 39 (Force Majeure): |
(A) | at its own cost and expense, take all such additional reasonable steps and apply all such additional resources in order to remedy each Service Failure and delay, problem or other degradation in the Services as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event, shall take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of such Service Failure and delay, problem or other degradation, in each case in accordance with Good Professional Practice; | ||
(B) | at its own cost and expense, Notify Customer promptly of: |
(i) | the occurrence of each Service Failure (or, to the extent Supplier is reasonably able each anticipated Service Failure, prior to the occurrence thereof) of which Supplier is aware; | ||
(ii) | all delays, problems or degradations (or to the extent Supplier is reasonably able each anticipated delay, problem or degradation, prior to the occurrence thereof) from time to time in the supply of the Services (or any of them) of which Supplier becomes aware; and | ||
(iii) | all circumstances from time to time which or which are reasonably likely to prevent or hinder Supplier from supplying the Services (or any of them) of which Supplier is aware, |
together with: |
(iv) | details of the reasons for the occurrence (or reasonably likely anticipated occurrence) of any such Service Failure, delays, problems, |
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degradations or circumstances of which Supplier is aware or ought reasonably to be aware in accordance with Good Professional Practice; | |||
(v) | details of the impact (or reasonably likely anticipated impact) of any such Service Failure, delays, problems, degradations or circumstances on the Services of which Supplier is aware or ought reasonably to be aware in accordance with Good Professional Practice; | ||
(vi) | recommendations as to how any such actual Service Failure, delays, problems, degradations or circumstances (as the case may be) can be remedied; | ||
(vii) | recommendations as to how to avoid the recurrence of any such actual Service Failure, delays, problems, degradations or circumstances; and | ||
(viii) | in the case of sub-Clauses 2.2(B)(ii) and 2.2(B)(iii) above, recommendations as to how any anticipated delays, problems, degradations or circumstances (as the case may be) can be avoided, |
such recommendations to be provided as soon as is reasonably practicable. The Parties shall discuss these recommendations and, except as provided for in Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief), at its own cost and expense Supplier shall then take such action (including the use of additional resources) as is agreed by the Parties acting reasonably as being necessary to avoid, remedy and otherwise minimise the impact of the Service Failures, delays, degradations, problems, occurrences or circumstances referred to in this Clause 2.2(B) in accordance with Good Professional Practice; | |||
(C) | perform the Services and its obligations under this Agreement throughout the Term in compliance with all Applicable Laws, to the extent such Applicable Laws: (i) apply to Supplier Group; or (ii) apply to the supply of the Services in the jurisdictions from which the Services are being provided by Supplier; or (iii) relate to a Mandatory Change which the Parties have agreed to implement via the Change Control Procedure in accordance with Clause 20 (Changes in Applicable Law); | ||
(D) | obtain, maintain and comply with (or procure that each relevant Sub-Contractor obtains, maintains and complies fully with) all necessary consents, approvals, authorisations, licences and permissions which Supplier and each relevant Sub-Contractor is required to obtain in order to supply the Services and perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with Clause 2.2(C); | ||
(E) | discharge its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with Good Professional Practice; | ||
(F) | supply the Services throughout the Term in such a way as to enable insofar as it is reasonably practicable an orderly and efficient hand-over to a Successor Service Provider including in a manner which will insofar as it is reasonably |
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practicable minimise material disruption to Customer and each Service Recipients continuing business on termination or expiry of this Agreement or on the removal of any Services from this Agreement (as applicable); | |||
(G) | not (and shall procure that no Sub-Contractor shall), without the prior written consent of Customer, (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) use anything or become reliant on anything to provide the Services which Supplier knows, or should reasonably be expected to know, Customer would not be able to procure in the market place and use for itself or would require material expenditure to procure such a thing were a Successor Service Provider to supply the Services (or any of them); | ||
(H) | use good industry versions of anti-virus software to check for and delete any software virus, bomb or other contaminant or similar items introduced by Supplier which infects or causes damage to Customer Groups information technology systems or Suppliers information technology systems used to provide the Services or disrupts the provision of the Services (or any of them), and shall take all reasonable precautions in accordance with Good Professional Practice to ensure that neither it nor any Sub-Contractor in any other way destroys, damages or corrupts any software or data (including Customer Data) on Customer Groups information technology systems or Suppliers information technology systems used to supply the Services. For the purpose of this Clause 2.2(H), good industry versions of anti-virus software shall mean, as a minimum: (i) anti-virus software from a recognised and reputable software vendor; (ii) the latest current supported version of such anti-virus software compatible with Customer Groups information technology systems; and (iii) anti-virus software that is supported by the relevant software vendor; | ||
(I) | provide such assistance and cooperation as shall be reasonably requested to ensure that all services, Equipment and other resources utilised in connection with the performance of the Services are successfully integrated and interfaced with, and shall not have a material or continuing adverse impact on, or be materially or on a continuing basis adversely affected by, the services, systems and other resources that are being provided to, recommended to, or approved for use by, Customer by third parties at the date of this Agreement subject to the actual physical and technological limitations of Customer Groups information technology systems, provided that Supplier shall not be under an obligation to purchase equipment, services or software other than as is expressly required under any other express terms of the Agreement; | ||
(J) | without prejudice to the obligations of the Parties in Schedule 8 (Forecasting and Capacity Planning), Notify Customer in the event that the number of Billable FTEs engaged in the supply of the Services is such that there is an under-utilisation of such resource of more than ten per cent. (10%); | ||
(K) | except as otherwise provided in this Agreement (including in Appendix 4B (Financial Responsibility/Asset Ownership Matrix) to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)), be responsible for providing all Facilities and other |
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resources necessary for the supply by or on behalf of Supplier of the Services and meeting its obligations under this Agreement; and | |||
(L) | if requested by Customer, act as a purchasing agent for members of Customer Group to procure hardware, software or network equipment or other equipment or components whether or not the same are within the scope of the Services (for the purposes of this Clause 2.2(L), equipment). To the extent that Supplier is able, Supplier shall make available to each member of Customer Group the benefit of any volume purchasing discounts for the equipment it purchases and convey to Customer all other benefits offered to Supplier by third party suppliers. Where equipment is procured for or on behalf of any member of Customer Group (and not used or intended to be used by Supplier in the supply of Services) Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to procure that the benefit of all manufacturer guarantees and warranties it receives are transferred or procured for the benefit of the relevant member of Customer Group. Where despite the use of all such reasonable endeavours by Supplier the benefit of manufacturer guarantees and warranties cannot be transferred or procured for the benefit of the relevant member of Customer Group, then Supplier shall notify Customer of that fact and shall not procure such equipment without Customers prior written consent. |
2.3 | The Parties agree and acknowledge that the following principles shall form the basis of their relationship under this Agreement: |
(A) | to strive for quality and excellence in the design and delivery of the Services; | ||
(B) | to be responsive, responsible, flexible and innovative in order to comply with their respective obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(C) | to deal and communicate with each other in an honest open manner; and | ||
(D) | to work to build a productive and positive relationship with each other. |
2.4 | Subject to Clause 2.5, Supplier shall (and shall procure that all Supplier Personnel shall) at all times during the Term: |
(A) | at Customers reasonable request, co-operate with and assist all third party suppliers engaged by any member of Customer Group or any Service Recipient (each a Third Party Provider) in: |
(i) | the effective and efficient co-ordination of and integration with the supply of the Services and the services and products of such Third Party Providers; | ||
(ii) | the supply and receipt of the Services in the manner set out or referred to in this Agreement; and |
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(iii) | the due and proper performance by Customer or Supplier of its obligations under this Agreement, |
and Customer shall use its reasonable endeavours to procure that, following Suppliers reasonable request, each Third Party Provider co-operates with and assists Supplier in connection with this Clause 2.4(A); | |||
(B) | at Customers reasonable request, attend meetings with Third Party Providers; | ||
(C) | in the event that Supplier becomes aware that the Services (or any part thereof) are adversely affected as a result of the action or inaction of a Third Party Provider, promptly Notify Customer of the same; and | ||
(D) | at Customers reasonable request, manage the resolution of any issues Notified to Customer pursuant to Clause 2.4(C) by using all reasonable endeavours to: |
(i) | take corrective or preventive steps in relation to the Services; and/or | ||
(ii) | procure the taking of corrective or preventative steps by the relevant Third Party Provider. |
2.5 | Customer shall: |
(A) | use all reasonable endeavours to procure that each Third Party Provider performs its obligations under the relevant contract to enable Supplier to perform its obligations under Clause 2.4; and | ||
(B) | where a Third Party Provider is a BPO Supplier, shall procure that such Third Party Provider enters into a confidentiality agreement with Supplier on terms equivalent to those set out in Clause 31 (Confidentiality) (each such confidentiality agreement to provide for reciprocal obligations for preserving confidentiality), to the extent that such Third Party Provider shall have access or potential access to Suppliers Confidential Information from time to time. |
3. | SERVICE CREDITS |
3.1 | Subject to Clause 3.2, Customer shall have the right to receive, and Supplier shall pay to Customer, Service Credits in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits). | ||
3.2 | The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Service Credits received by Customer in respect of a failure by Supplier to meet the Service Levels shall be treated as part payment of any damages awarded to, or losses claimed by, Customer as a result of such a failure and Customer (and members of the Customer Group) shall not be entitled to claim twice for the same loss. For the avoidance of doubt such Service Credits will not be counted against the maximum aggregate liability by Supplier and its Affiliates as set out in Clause 34.4. |
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4. | SERVICE SPECIFIC REMEDIES |
4.1 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 7 (Service Improvements) and Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits), upon reasonable request by, and subject to reasonable advance Notice from, Customer to Supplier, Customer shall be entitled (subject to Clause 4.4) to perform, at Customers own cost and own risk, a diagnostic review (the Diagnostic Review) of the Services (or any part of them) with a view to: |
(A) | investigating, assessing and planning for Service and process improvement (including in connection with Customer Groups own internal processes and changes thereto); and | ||
(B) | identifying, investigating, assessing and managing Service Failures or other delays, problems or degradations in the Services. |
To the extent that any Diagnostic Review undertaken by Customer causes impediment in, or prevents, the provision of the Services by Supplier, Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply and such impediment and/or prevention shall be deemed to be a failure of an obligation by Customer under this Agreement for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). Supplier shall co-operate with, and provide all assistance reasonably requested by, Customer in relation to each Diagnostic Review including in accordance with Clause 4.11. The Parties shall discuss and agree all of Customers recommendations for implementing the findings of each Diagnostic Review through the Change Control Procedure. | ||
4.2 | Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 2 (Standard of Service Provision) and Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits) and to the other rights and remedies of Customer, in the event that Supplier has failed to remedy a Service Failure within a period that is reasonable in the context of that Service Failure, Customer shall (subject to Clause 4.4) have the right (at Customers own cost and expense and risk and upon reasonable advance notice): |
(A) | to take such action as Customer believes reasonably is necessary to remedy the applicable Service Failure; and/or | ||
(B) | to receive services similar to the affected Services (and Services related thereto) from a third party. |
Customer acknowledges that it shall exercise its rights at its own risk. To the extent that Customer exercising its rights under this Clause 4.2 causes Supplier not to be able to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or to be in breach of this Agreement, Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply and such exercise of Customers rights shall be deemed to be a failure of an obligation of Customer under this Agreement for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). Supplier shall co-operate with, and provide all assistance reasonably requested by, Customer in relation to this Clause 4.2 including in accordance with Clause 4.11. |
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4.3 | Without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of Customer under this Agreement (including pursuant to Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 above), but subject to Clause 4.4, where: |
(A) | Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to any of Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive) or 23.11; | ||
(B) | a Regulator has notified Customer that the exercise of Customers rights under this Clause 4.3 is necessary as a result of Suppliers breach of this Agreement (including a breach of Clause 2.2(E)) and Customer has provided sufficient evidence of such a notification; | ||
(C) | a Party is claiming an Event of Force Majeure in respect of receipt of (with respect to Customer as Claiming Party) or supply of (with respect to Supplier as Claiming Party) a Service (or part thereof) and such Event of Force Majeure continues for a period of ten (10) consecutive Business Days; | ||
(D) | Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.21(A) or Clause 23.21(B); | ||
(E) | Customer is entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.16 (Termination on Insolvency or Similar Event); or | ||
(F) | Supplier is in material breach of this Agreement and the breach gives rise to, or is reasonably likely to give rise to, the activation of the Business Continuity Plan, |
(each a Service Event), Customer may (on its behalf and/or on behalf of any Service Recipient) forthwith at its sole discretion and on written Notice containing the information set out in Clause 4.5 (a Step-In Notice) to Supplier elect to: |
(A) | receive services similar to the affected Services (and Services related thereto) from a third party or a member of Customer Group and to suspend the receipt of the same from Supplier; and/or | ||
(B) | appoint officers and/or employees of Customer Group and/or external consultants and advisers who are not a BPO Supplier or employed or engaged by any BPO Supplier (the Management Team) with a view to managing (subject to Clause 4.4) the supply of the Services to the standards set out in this Agreement and remedying the Service Event, |
(together, the Step-In Rights). |
4.4 | In the event that Customer exercises its right under this Clause 4, Customer will procure that: |
(A) | it and the Management Team shall comply with: |
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(i) | the relevant Customer obligations under this Agreement (including Clause 31); and | ||
(ii) | any applicable Site, or other location, specific written security requirements as are notified to Customer |
(B) | no BPO Supplier or employee, agent, contractor or representative of any BPO Supplier shall access any of the Sites under Customers direction pursuant to this Clause 4 without the prior consent of Supplier, which may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Supplier; and | ||
(C) | neither it nor the Management Team (without the prior written consent of Supplier, which may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Supplier) shall perform any of the Excluded Activities (as defined below in this Clause 4.4). For the purposes of this Clause 4, Excluded Activities means: |
(i) | the right to access or use the source code of any software comprised in the Equipment; | ||
(ii) | testing any software comprised in the Equipment; | ||
(iii) | coding any software comprised in the Equipment; | ||
(iv) | directing the development of any software and requiring Supplier and/or any Supplier Personnel to change the functionality of the Equipment solely for Customer; | ||
(v) | accessing any proprietary data or confidential information of any other customer of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor; and | ||
(vi) | requiring Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group to act or omit to act in a manner which causes or would cause Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group to contravene Applicable Law. |
4.5 | To the extent that Customer is reasonably able to provide the same at the time of the Step-In Notice, the Step-In Notice shall include the following: |
(A) | an indication of the action Customer wishes to take and the tasks comprised within the Services the subject of the Step-In Rights; | ||
(B) | the reason for and the objective of exercising Step-In Rights; | ||
(C) | the date it wishes to commence the Step-In Rights (which shall be no less than five (5) Business Days after the date of the Step-In Notice); | ||
(D) | the anticipated duration of the exercise of the Step-In Rights; | ||
(E) | whether Customer will require access to any Site and/or any other location; and |
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(F) | to the extent known, or ought reasonably to be known, the effect on Supplier and its obligations to perform the Services during the period the action is being taken. |
4.6 | To the extent that Customers exercise of its rights under this Clause 4 causes Supplier not to be able to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement and/or to be in breach of this Agreement, Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply and such exercise of Customers rights shall be deemed to be a failure of an obligation of Customer under this Agreement for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief). | |
4.7 | Following service of a Step-In Notice, Customer shall: |
(A) | exercise its Step-In Rights (including by reference to the actions provided for in the Step-In Notice) (the Required Action); | ||
(B) | keep records of the Required Action taken and provide information about the Required Action to Supplier; | ||
(C) | co-operate with Supplier in order to enable Supplier to continue to provide any part of the Services in relation to which Customer is not assuming management; and | ||
(D) | act reasonably to mitigate the costs that Supplier will incur as a result of the exercise of the Step-In Rights. |
4.8 | In the event that no relevant Step-Out Notice (as defined below) has been delivered by Customer to Supplier pursuant to Clause 4.9, on the day being ninety (90) days after the day the Step-In Rights were actually exercised by Customer (or if such day is not a Business Day then the next subsequent Business Day), or such other day as the Parties may agree, the Parties shall review the exercise of the Step-In Rights. Where: |
(A) | neither Party has been able to restore the supply of the Services the subject of the Step-In Rights to the standards set out in this Agreement; | ||
(B) | in Customers reasonable opinion, Supplier is not able to recommence supply of the Services the subject of the Step-In Rights to the standards set out in this Agreement; or | ||
(C) | the Service Event is ongoing, |
the Parties (each acting reasonably and in good faith) shall discuss whether or not to extend the duration of the exercise of the Step-In Rights for a further period determined by them or, in the absence of agreement by the Parties to extend the duration of the exercise of the Step-In Rights, Customer shall have the right to exercise the rights of termination as were available to Customer under this Agreement with respect to that Service Event at the commencement of that ninety (90) day period. If the Service Event is an Event of Force Majeure affecting Customers receipt of the Services (as opposed |
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to Suppliers ability to provide the Services) then Customers right to rely on Clause 39 (Force Majeure) with respect to that Service Event shall end at the end of that ninety (90) day period. Where an Event of Force Majeure is preventing the proper performance of the Services in accordance with this Agreement by or on behalf of the Supplier, the Customer shall, subject to Clause 39, have the right in its sole discretion to extend the period of its Step-In Rights beyond the ninety (90) day period referred to in this Clause 4.8 up to a maximum period of two (2) years. This Clause 4.8 shall apply to the end of that extended period as if it was the end of the 90 day period. |
4.9 | Before ceasing to exercise its Step-In Rights Customer shall deliver a written notice to Supplier (a Step-Out Notice) specifying: |
(A) | the Required Action it has actually taken; and | ||
(B) | the date on which Customer plans to end the Required Action. |
4.10 | Supplier shall, following receipt of the notice under Clause 4.9 develop a plan and devote sufficient resources to ensure that delivery of the affected tasks of the Services are restored to the Service Levels from the date as agreed in writing by the Parties. | |
4.11 | In the event that Customer issues a Customer Step-In Notice pursuant to this Clause 4 Supplier shall: |
(A) | reasonably co-operate with Customer to facilitate the steps taken and the Required Action; | ||
(B) | provide copies of all recent available and relevant root cause analyses or, if there are none, carry out a root cause analysis in relation to the matters or circumstances leading to the Service Event and report the results of the same as soon as is practicable; | ||
(C) | perform the Excluded Activities set out in Clauses 4.4(C)(ii), (iii) and (iv) upon Customers reasonable request, to the extent reasonably requested by Customer in connection with the exercise of the Step-In Rights; | ||
(D) | other than in the event of an ongoing Service Event of the type described in Clause 4.3(C), take all steps within its reasonable control in order to recommence, as soon as reasonably practicable, full and proper performance of all Services affected by the Service Event; | ||
(E) | in the event of an ongoing Service Event of the type described in Clause 4.3(C), comply with its obligations in Clause 39 (Force Majeure); | ||
(F) | grant, and use all reasonable efforts to procure that every third party grants, Customer such rights and licences as are reasonably required for Customer and/or any of the Management Team for the purposes of exercising Customers rights under this Clause 4; |
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(G) | procure the reasonable co-operation of and access to Supplier Personnel (including procuring insofar as it is within its reasonable control that Supplier Personnel follow the reasonable instructions of Customer and the Management Team); and | ||
(H) | procure that Customer and the Management Team have access to: |
(i) | the books, records, information and data under the control or possession of Supplier and all Sub-Contractors which and to the extent they relate to the Services and which are relevant to the activities covered by the Customer Step-In Notice; and | ||
(ii) | such of the Sites and other locations as are reasonably necessary in the circumstances. |
4.12 | In the event that Customer elects to exercise its Step-In Rights: |
(A) | Customer shall not be liable to pay the Charges for those elements of the Services to the extent such Services are the subject of the exercise of the Step-In Rights and are not being actually performed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement by Supplier. Subject to its other rights in this Agreement (including Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and Clause 39.4), Customer shall continue to pay the Charges in respect of those Services supplied by Supplier in accordance with the terms of this Agreement notwithstanding the exercise of the Step-In Rights; and | ||
(B) | if the costs directly and reasonably incurred by Customer as a result of the exercise of the Step-In Rights in accordance with this Agreement (the Step-In Costs) are greater than the Charges that Customer would have been liable to pay Supplier in respect of the relevant Services if it had not exercised the Step-In Rights (the Original Charges), Supplier shall be liable to pay Customer the difference between the Original Charges and the Step-In Costs provided that (i) Supplier shall not be required to pay such costs to the extent that they exceed fifty per cent. (50%) of the Original Charges relating to the relevant Services in respect of which Customer has exercised the Step-In Rights; and (ii) the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier under this Clause 4.12(B) for any and all Required Action actually taken shall not exceed the aggregate Charges that Customer would have been liable to pay Supplier in any three (3) month period for the relevant Services in respect of which customer has exercised the Step-In Rights. |
4.13 | At Customers sole discretion, Supplier shall either: |
(A) | reimburse the Step-In Costs to Customer by way of a credit against Charges in subsequent invoices issued by Supplier under this Agreement (provided that if Customer is not, within two (2) months of such costs having been notified to Supplier by Customer, reimbursed in full by way of a credit against Charges in |
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subsequent invoices, Supplier shall be liable to pay the balance owed to Customer promptly upon demand); or | |||
(B) | pay Customer the Step-In Costs within thirty (30) days of receipt of a valid invoice from Customer for such amounts. |
Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Clause 4.13 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
5. | TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION |
5.1 | Each Party shall have its respective rights and obligations set out in Schedule 7 (Transition and Transformation). | |
5.2 | Supplier shall ensure that all Transition Work and Transformation Work is carried out without causing to the extent reasonably practicable: |
(A) | any material or continuing deterioration or degradation in the availability, quality, scope or standard of any services being supplied to any Service Recipient (including the other Services, any internal supply by any member of Customer Group and any Third Party Provider) other than unavoidable and/or transitory disruption (which, in any event, shall to the extent reasonably practicable always be kept to a minimum level and, if possible, outside Working Hours); | ||
(B) | any material or continuing disruption to the business of any Service Recipient or any Third Party Provider other than unavoidable and/or transitory disruption (which, in any event, shall always be kept to a minimum level and, if possible, outside of Working Hours); and | ||
(C) | material or continuing degradation or impact upon the security and/or fidelity of any system (including information technology and telecommunications systems) of any Service Recipient or Third Party Provider. |
5.3 | The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Transition Plan and Transformation Plan are project management tools to be used by the Parties to co-ordinate and achieve Transition and Transformation. Each Party recognises that the requirements of Customer and any other Service Recipients and/or the obligations of Supplier may evolve over time and accordingly the Parties agree that the Transition Plan and Transformation Plan will be further developed and agreed jointly between the Parties from time to time in accordance with Schedule 7 (Transition and Transformation). |
6. | CUSTOMER AUTHORITY AND SUPPLIER AUTHORITY |
6.1 | Without prejudice to Suppliers rights and remedies and without relieving Customer of its obligations under any other term of this Agreement, Supplier acknowledges that Customer retains the sole right, authority and discretion to determine its business and operational strategies, brand and marketing strategies, product development and customer interaction strategies, business and operational processes and requirements |
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and its technology specifications and requirements (including Architecture), provided that the exercise of any such right, authority and/or discretion shall not create any additional obligations on Supplier, or increase any existing obligations of Supplier, under this Agreement, save as: (i) expressly provided in any other Clause of this Agreement, or (ii) expressly agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure. | ||
6.2 | Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, Customer acknowledges and agrees that Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group reserves the right, authority and discretion not to deliver any Services to and/or not to perform any of its obligations (including any obligations under Clauses 31.4(E), 31.4(G) and 31.4(H) and Clause 24.4) for the benefit of and/or not to disclose, nor authorise, any member of Customer Group to disclose any Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any member of Supplier Group or Supplier IPR to and/or not to allow or authorise the use of any Confidential Information or Supplier IPR by; |
(A) | subject to Clause 1.6, a BPO Supplier; and/or | ||
(B) | subject to Clause 6.2(A), any third party who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement, on terms equivalent to those set out in Clause 31, with Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group in respect of the Confidential Information of Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group and/or the Supplier IPR. |
7. | SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS |
7.1 | Supplier acknowledges and agrees that it is committed to the process of continuous improvement of the standard of Services and shall comply with its obligations in relation to Service Level improvement as set out in Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits). | |
7.2 | Supplier shall: |
(A) | proactively identify and Notify Customer of all opportunities for improving Service quality that come to its attention (including opportunities to implement and any likely costs of implementing Innovations that will be advantageous to Customer Group) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any obligation of confidentiality owed by Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group; | ||
(B) | provide a reasonably detailed analysis to Customer setting out: |
(i) | how the opportunities identified pursuant to Clause 7.2(A) are proposed to be implemented by Supplier and the costs associated with developing and/or implementing the same; and |
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(ii) | the potential or actual impact of such development and/or implementation on the Services, the Charges and on Customers ability to transfer the Services to a Successor Service Provider; |
(C) | supply the Services and operate, manage and maintain the Facilities in so far as it is reasonably practicable to facilitate, maintain and improve the availability and quality of the Services taking into account advancements in technology, the business operations of Customer Group and other Service Recipients and the additional costs incurred, or to be incurred, by the Parties as a result of facilitating, maintaining and/or improving the availability and quality of the Services; | ||
(D) | maintain a level of knowledge that provides Customer and the Service Recipients with an opportunity to take advantage of technological advances and assist Customer in assessing the implementation of leading-edge technology in connection with the Services; | ||
(E) | meet with Customer from time to time (at Customers reasonable request) to inform Customer of new technological processes, methodologies or trends that could be used in the provision of the Services of which Supplier is aware in order to impact beneficially the business of Customer and the Service Recipients, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any obligation of confidentiality owed by Supplier or any other member of Supplier Group; and | ||
(F) | comply, and procure that its Sub-Contractors comply, and provide (or procure the provision of) the Services in a manner which is consistent, with Customers: |
(i) | Architecture and technology plan; | ||
(ii) | requirements for long-range business, operational and technology planning; | ||
(iii) | brand and marketing standards and requirements; | ||
(iv) | product standards; and | ||
(v) | standard operating procedures, |
in each case as notified or made available by Customer to Supplier on or prior to the date of this Agreement. Where there are changes to the plans, standards, requirements and procedures referred to in this Clause 7.2(F) after the date of this Agreement, then Supplier shall comply and ensure that the Services are compliant with all such notified changes within a reasonable period of time after notification of such changes. Where compliance with such changes will reasonably result in increased costs for Supplier, then the Parties shall discuss and agree through the Change Control Procedure the reasonable incremental direct costs of the Supplier in complying with such changes. Such |
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costs shall be borne by the Customer, save in respect of: Supplier compliance with changes to brand and marketing standards and requirements: (1) in circumstances where the relevant brand and marketing use is requested by Supplier (as opposed to being required by the Customer); and (2) in connection with the change to the Aviva brand from the Norwich Union RAC and other current insurance brands of Customer Group, where (in the case of (1) and (2) only) such costs shall be borne by Supplier. |
7.3 | Supplier shall not implement any new technologies or other service improvements in connection with the Services identified pursuant to Clause 7.2 without Customers prior written consent. Any such proposals shall be addressed, and Supplier shall only be obliged to implement such technologies and/or improvements to the extent agreed by the Parties through, the Change Control Procedure. | |
7.4 | Customer acknowledges that the process of continuous improvement of the standard of Services including implementing the opportunities and new technologies referred to in this Clause 7 and the performance of any of its obligations under this Clause 7 may require the cooperation of Customer Group and other necessary Service Recipients and Third Party Providers in order that such improvements result in the intended effect. Without prejudice to paragraph 22.1 (Continuous Improvement) of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits), Customer acknowledges that to the extent that such co-operation is reasonably required by Supplier, Supplier had notified Customer of the requirement of that co-operation (with, where practicable, reasonable notice prior to that requirement arising), and such co-operation is not provided to Supplier, Supplier shall not be liable for failing to achieve continuous improvement of the relevant Services (if and to the extent that such cooperation is not forthcoming) and/or for failing to comply with this Clause 7, provided that it has given prior written notice to Customer. |
8. | PREFERRED CUSTOMER STATUS |
8.1 | Except as provided by Clauses 8.2 and 8.3 Customer acknowledges that Customer Group shall not have any preferred status over and above Suppliers other customers and/or customers of other members of the Supplier Group. | |
8.2 | Supplier shall take all steps to offer, through the Change Control Procedure, to provide the Services from any Special Economic Zone or other tax preferential location or scheme which is reasonably available to Supplier provided that the use of such area or location or scheme will not result in or will reasonably not result in the tax benefits for either Customer or Supplier being reduced or extinguished. | |
8.3 | Supplier agrees as follows: |
(A) | Supplier shall procure that all Supplier Personnel shall be within performance levels 2-4 as defined by Suppliers Performance Management Framework; | ||
(B) | subject to clause 8.3(C), Supplier shall give Customer the right of first look in respect of any Generic Innovation and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law will not market or commercially exploit the Generic Innovation until Customer |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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has had a reasonable time to determine if it wishes to use such Generic Innovation. Customer acknowledges that any right to use such Generic Innovation will be subject to such terms being agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure and that any such right of use shall be on a non-exclusive basis unless otherwise agreed. To the extent that any Supplier Background IPR or Third Party IPR is embedded in or is an integral part of or otherwise needed to use the Generic Innovation, such Supplier Background IPR or Third Party IPR will be licensed on the terms of Clauses 30.14, 30.15, 30.16 and 30.18; | |||
(C) | other than in respect of any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR, Supplier hereby agrees to assign and (in respect of copyright and database rights owned by Supplier arising in the future) hereby assigns, and (in relation to any IPR owned by a member of Supplier Group or Sub-Contractor) to procure the assignment of, the whole legal and beneficial interest in all the IPRs in any Bespoke Innovation to Customer, at no additional charge; and | ||
(D) | to the extent that any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR is embedded in or is an integral part of and needed to use any Bespoke Innovation, such Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR as relevant shall be licensed to Customer and any Service Recipient in accordance with and/or on the terms of Clauses 30.13 and 30.19. |
9. | IT SERVICES |
Customer shall provide the IT Services to Supplier from the Commencement Date in accordance with Schedule 9 (IT Services). |
10. | PRICING, PAYMENT AND INVOICING |
10.1 | XXXXX | |
10.2 | Supplier shall charge and Customer shall pay for the provision of the Services in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). In addition, each Party shall comply with its obligations, and subject to Clause 10.4 shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). | |
10.3 | Supplier shall not increase any of the Charges in respect of any part of any Service during the Term, save as expressly provided for in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed through the Change Control Procedure. |
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10.4 | If a Party defaults in the payment when due of any sum payable under this Agreement (including Service Credits), the liability of such person shall be increased to include interest on the outstanding balance of such sum from the date when such payment is due until the date of actual payment at a rate per annum (both before and after judgment) of three per cent. (3%) above the Bank of Englands base rate from time to time. Such interest will accrue on a daily basis. The Parties agree that interest payable at that rate is a substantial remedy for the purposes of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. |
11. | GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT |
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management). |
12. | CUSTOMER DEALINGS |
Supplier shall not, and shall procure that no other member of Supplier Group nor any Sub-Contractor shall directly or indirectly market, offer or provide any general or life insurance products or services to customers of any member of Customer Group. |
13. | SUPPLIER RELIEF AND CUSTOMER RELIEF |
13.1 | Supplier undertakes to Notify Customer as soon as reasonably practicable of every breach by a Service Recipient of its obligations under this Agreement of which Supplier or any of the Major Sub-Contractors becomes aware which has or is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the provision of the Services and/or on the ability of Supplier to perform its obligations under this Agreement. | |
13.2 | Supplier shall not be in breach of this Agreement and shall not be liable for any failure to deliver the, or as the case may be the part of the, Services to which the breach relates or any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such breach and/or failure is caused by Customers and/or any Service Recipients breach of any of Customers obligations under this Agreement, provided always that Supplier has Notified Customer in accordance with Clause 13.1 above of such breach. | |
13.3 | Customer undertakes to Notify Supplier as soon as reasonably practicable of every breach by Supplier or its Sub-Contractors of its obligations under this Agreement of which any Service Recipient becomes aware which has or is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the provision of the IT Services and/or on the ability of Customer to perform its obligations under this Agreement. | |
13.4 | Customer shall not be in breach of this Agreement and shall not be liable for any failure to deliver the, or as the case may be part of the, IT Services to which the breach relates or any failure to perform its obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such breach and/or failure is caused by Suppliers, any member of Supplier Groups or any Sub-Contractors breach of any of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement, provided always that Customer has Notified Supplier in accordance with Clause 13.3 above of such breach. |
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13.5 | Where Supplier has relief from its obligations to provide Services or perform its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Clause 13.2 or where Customer has relief from its obligations to provide the IT Services or perform its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Clause 13.4 (in each case, the Relief Obligations): |
(A) | the relieved Party (the Relieved Party) shall in any event use reasonable endeavours to continue to perform the Relief Obligations notwithstanding the relevant failure. Provided that the Relieved Party has Notified the other Party (the Other Party) in accordance with Clause 13.1 or Clause 13.3 (as applicable), the Other Party shall reimburse the Relieved Party for its reasonable costs incurred in performing the Relief Obligations to the extent such costs are incurred as a direct result of the relevant breach and/or failure, until such time as the Other Party requests the Relieved Party to cease using such reasonable endeavours (including as part of the Parties agreeing alternative actions and/or activities pursuant to sub-Clause 13.5(B)); and | ||
(B) | the Parties shall, at the Other Partys request, meet to discuss and agree (through the Change Control Procedure) any actions or activities which either Party should undertake on a permanent or temporary basis to mitigate the effect of the relevant breach and/or failure including (where relevant) to enable the Relieved Party to perform the relevant Relief Obligations. All reasonable and direct costs incurred by Relieved Party in connection with any such agreed actions or activities shall be borne by the Other Party unless agreed otherwise in writing by the Parties. |
14. | POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
Supplier shall comply in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement (and procure that its Sub-Contractors and the Supplier Personnel comply) with Customer Groups policies, standards and procedures set out or referred to in Schedule 17 (Policies and Procedures). Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Parties shall also comply in the performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement with the policies, standards and procedures developed pursuant to this Agreement (including the Operations Manual). |
15. | ASSET MANAGEMENT |
15.1 | Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that (i) each contract entered into by Supplier with a Sub-Contractor; and (ii) each contract entered into by Supplier with a third party (excluding any licence of Third Party IPR), in each case after the Commencement Date, and which relates to the provision or receipt of any of the Services includes: |
(A) | the right for Customer or a nominee of Customer within Customer Group to receive novation of that contract to the extent that it relates to the provision or receipt of the Services (without any transfer charge or other payment) in the |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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event that Customer removes any Services in accordance with this Agreement, this Agreement terminates (or the relevant part of this Agreement terminates) or this Agreement expires; and | |||
(B) | the right following any such novation for Customer or a nominee of Customer within Customer Group to terminate such contract to the extent it relates to the provision or receipt of the Services at will on six months Notice (or less) without the payment of termination fees or other charges for or relating to such termination. |
15.2 | Where Supplier is unsuccessful in ensuring that those things referred to in Clause 15.2 are contained in the contracts the subject of Clause 15.2, Supplier shall: |
(A) | Notify Customer of that fact and the Parties shall discuss the same; and | ||
(B) | not enter into any such contract without the prior written consent of Customer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), where such contract is with a Major Sub-Contractor and/or relates to a Key Process under the Services. |
15.3 | Supplier shall ensure that all Equipment shall be used and maintained throughout the Term in accordance with either the manufacturers technical specifications or operational practices and procedures that are in accordance with Good Professional Practice. | |
15.4 | Supplier shall undertake a refresh of hardware, peripherals and other information technology used to provide the Services in accordance with Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
15.5 | During the Transition Period: |
(A) | Supplier shall provide Customer with such assistance as is reasonably required by Customer to enable Customer to compile an inventory identifying the Transferable Assets; and | ||
(B) | Customer shall compile and provide a copy to Supplier of such inventory. |
15.6 | Supplier shall sell or procure the sale of, and Customer shall purchase, the Transferable Assets. | |
15.7 | The consideration for the sale of each Transferable Asset shall be XXXXX. Such consideration shall be paid by Customer to Supplier within thirty (30) Business Days of Customers receipt of a valid invoice from Supplier. |
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15.8 | The Parties shall discuss and agree and implement (once agreed) the most effective method of mitigating any costs in respect of Taxes which may be incurred as a result of Customers purchase of the Transferable Assets. | |
15.9 | Ownership for each Transferable Asset shall pass from Supplier to Customer on the date of full payment to Supplier of any amounts payable in accordance with Clause 15.7 in respect of such Transferable Asset. | |
15.10 | Risk and responsibility for each Transferable Asset shall pass from Supplier to Customer on the date of physical transfer in respect of such Transferable Asset. | |
15.11 | If any Transferable Asset is lost, damaged or stolen whilst in the ownership of Customer pursuant to Clause 15.9 but for which Supplier has risk or responsibility pursuant to Clause 15.10 then Supplier shall bear the cost (or reimburse such cost to Customer) of the repair or replacement of such Transferable Asset. |
15.12 | Supplier shall provide Customer with reasonable office space at a Site to be specified by Customer within thirty (30) days from the Effective Date sufficient to accommodate a maximum of thirty (30) Customer Personnel on a full-time basis at no cost to Customer (the Customer Office Space). | |
15.13 | The Customer Office Space shall: |
(A) | include such individual offices and Customer dedicated meeting rooms as may be reasonably required by Customer; | ||
(B) | be of at least the same standard (in terms of office environment, area and facilities) as the office space owned by Noida Customer Operations Private Limited and used by Customer Personnel in Pune prior to the Effective Date; and | ||
(C) | include at least one telepresence room for the dedicated use of Customer Personnel. |
15.14 | The Customer Personnel using the Customer Office Space shall have access to all common areas of the Site as are reasonably required in order for such Customer Personnel to perform their job functions, including reasonable use of normal incidental office facilities such as parking, dining and bathroom facilities. | |
15.15 | Management, maintenance, repair and upkeep of the Customer Office Space shall be the responsibility of Supplier. Without limitation to the foregoing, Supplier shall be responsible for the following in the Customer Office Space: |
(A) | provision and maintenance of all necessary furniture, fixtures and fittings; | ||
(B) | provision and maintenance of all wiring and cabling; and |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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(C) | installation and maintenance of all necessary utilities and services. |
15.16 | Supplier shall provide Customer with XXXXX. Supplier shall be entitled to XXXXX, provided that Customers requirements XXXXX shall take reasonable precedence over such other uses. |
15.17 | Supplier shall continue to provide Customer with XXXXX. Such use shall be provided until the earlier of: |
(A) | the date XXXXX from the date of this Agreement; and | ||
(B) | XXXXX |
For the avoidance of doubt, Supplier shall be under no obligation to provide XXXXX. |
16. | SECURITY MANAGEMENT |
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 14 (Security Management). |
17. | CHANGE MANAGEMENT |
17.1 | Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 10 (Change Management). | |
17.2 | Changes shall be progressed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure, and in connection with each Change, each Party shall comply with its obligations contained in Schedule 10 (Change Management). | |
17.3 | The costs of implementing Changes (other than a Mandatory Change) will be borne by the Parties in accordance with Schedule 10 (Change Management). The costs of implementing Mandatory Changes will, as between Customer and Supplier, be borne in accordance with Clause 20.5. |
18. | NEW SERVICES |
18.1 | The Parties may from time to time agree New Services, which shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall be agreed and documented in accordance with the Change Control Procedure. |
18.2 | Save where the Parties (each acting reasonably) agree otherwise, in creating the charges for New Services, Supplier shall: |
(A) | where the New Services are of the same nature and complexity as any of the Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or model (including the same Unit FTE Rates and/or transaction based unit rates) as for such Principal Services; | ||
(B) | where the Parties agree that the New Services are of a different and more complex nature to the Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or model as for the Principal Services, but the Parties acknowledge that the Unit FTE Rates and/or the transaction based unit rates may be higher; or | ||
(C) | where the Parties agree that the New Services are of a different and less complex nature to the Principal Services, adopt the same pricing principles and/or model as for the Principal Services, but the Parties acknowledge that the Unit FTE Rates and/or the transaction based unit rates may be lower. |
18.3 | Subject to Clause 18.2, in creating the charges for New Services, the Parties shall take account of: |
(A) | the existing resources and expenses that would no longer be required if a New Service were to be performed by Supplier; | ||
(B) | any additional resources and expenses required by either Party if a New Service were to be performed by Supplier; and | ||
(C) | the extent to which existing resources can reasonably be re-utilised or deployed in order to supply a New Service in accordance with Clause 18.1 above. |
18.4 | The supply of each New Service by Supplier must be agreed in advance by the Parties and no Service Recipient shall be obliged to pay any charges or fees in respect of any New Service in the event that its supply has not been authorised and accepted (in accordance with any applicable acceptance testing procedures agreed between the Parties from time to time) by Customer in writing. |
19. | GROWTH AND ACQUISITIONS |
19.1 | Supplier acknowledges that Customer Group may acquire new entities or businesses throughout the Term. Accordingly, at Customers written request from time to time, Supplier shall provide each member of Customer Group and each Joining Entity with reasonable acquisition support and assistance in respect of services similar or |
equivalent to the Services (including reasonable assessment and due diligence support and transition and migration planning, support and assistance). In the event that such support and assistance results in additional costs and expenses for Supplier (in excess of the Billable FTEs utilised by Supplier for the provision of the Services), then Customer shall bear such costs and expenses incurred by Supplier, provided that such costs and expenses are direct and reasonable and Supplier previously Notified Customer of the same. |
19.2 | Subject to Clause 1.5 and at Customers written request from time to time, Supplier shall supply the Services (in whole or in part) to, or in respect of, a Joining Entity specified in that written notice in accordance with the terms of this Clause 19. Subject to Clause 1.9, the impact (if any) on the terms of this Agreement as they relate to that Joining Entity and/or any other member of Customer Group resulting from the supply of Services to or, in respect of, that Joining Entity shall be agreed between the Parties pursuant to the Change Control Procedure. |
19.3 | If Customer requests and Supplier agrees to supply Services to, or in respect of, a Joining Entity and such Joining Entity has, or benefits from, rights under an existing contract with any member of Supplier Group to receive services substantially similar to the Services (or the relevant portion thereof), then the Parties shall agree through the Change Control Procedure under which terms and conditions the Services shall be supplied to that Joining Entity and whether or not the existing contract will be terminated and upon what terms. |
19.4 | For the avoidance of doubt, the rights granted to Customer pursuant to this Clause 19 shall be without prejudice to Customers right to vary the volumes of Services to be provided under this Agreement in accordance with Schedule 8 (Forecasting and Capacity Planning) provided that such variation does not reduce the amount of or relieve Customer in any way of its obligations to meet the Minimum Commitment Level. |
20. | CHANGES IN APPLICABLE LAW |
20.1 | Each Party shall Notify the other of any change in Applicable Law of which it becomes aware after the date of this Agreement to the extent that such change will affect the provision of the Services (or any part thereof) by Supplier or receipt of the Services by Customer (or any Service Recipients). |
20.2 | The scope of any changes to the Services (or any part thereof) as may be necessary from time to time to ensure that the supply of the Services and their receipt and use by Customer and the Service Recipients continues to comply, with Applicable Law (each a Mandatory Change), how such change shall be implemented shall be agreed though the Change Control Procedure, the impact of developing and implementing Mandatory Changes upon the Services and/or the Charges (if any) and the method and timeframe by which such Mandatory Changes shall be implemented, shall all be: |
(A) | investigated, assessed and Notified to Customer by Supplier; and | ||
(B) | considered and agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure. |
20.3 | Notwithstanding Clause 20.2 above, where the Mandatory Change arises as a result of Customer or Supplier having previously misinterpreted Applicable Law in relation to the Services and where Customer Notifies Supplier of such an event, then Supplier shall, following such notification by Customer, either develop and implement such Mandatory Change as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event by the date upon which such Mandatory Change is required for compliance with Applicable Law, or Notify Customer immediately that it will not be able to implement such Mandatory Change by such date. |
20.4 | In the event that: |
(A) | the Parties fail to reach an agreement for the implementation of a Mandatory Change through the Change Control Procedure; and/or | ||
(B) | Supplier refuses to implement a Mandatory Change; and/or | ||
(C) | Supplier is not able to implement the Mandatory Change, |
then Customer shall have the right to terminate the Service(s) to which such Mandatory Change relates by Notice to Supplier with immediate effect. |
20.5 | The cost of developing and implementing a Mandatory Change shall be borne as follows: |
(A) | by Customer, to the extent the relevant change in Applicable Law relates uniquely and specifically to Customer and/or any Service Recipients or the Mandatory Change has been developed for the benefit of Customer and/or any Service Recipient and in accordance with Customers and/or any Service Recipients express written specifications; | ||
(B) | by Customer and other customers of Supplier Group to the extent that the relevant change in Applicable Law does not fall within Clause 20.5(A), affects the Services and applies to the receipt of services the same or similar to the Services provided that Customer shall only be liable for such proportion of such costs as is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances (including the number of other customers of members of Supplier Group, the services offered to such other customers and the further use of any investment by the members of Supplier Group in retaining or attracting customers) and Supplier shall provide Customer with reasonable evidence of such circumstances to enable Customer to verify the allocation of such costs in accordance with this Clause 20.5(B). As between Customer and Supplier, Supplier shall be liable for the portion of such costs attributable to those other customers (excluding to the extent they receive Services under this Agreement, Service Recipients) and Supplier (and whether or not Supplier or Supplier Group is able to, or does in fact, recover such costs from other customers); and | ||
(C) | by Supplier, where the relevant change in Applicable Law does not fall within Clauses 20.5(A) or 20.5(B) above. |
21. | REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES |
21.1 | Each Party warrants and represents to the other that: |
(A) | it has full capacity and authority and all necessary licences, permits and consents to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(B) | this Agreement has been duly authorised by it and is executed by its duly authorised representative; | ||
(C) | there are no matters of which it is aware as at the date hereof which might adversely affect its ability to perform its contractual obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(D) | it is not unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) and 2 of the Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due and no order has been made or resolution passed for its winding up or for an administration order and no receiver, administrative receiver or manager has been appointed by any person of its business or all or a substantial part of its assets or any material part thereof nor has any equivalent event taken place in relation to it in any jurisdiction; and | ||
(E) | as at the date of this Agreement, it is not aware of anything likely to lead to any of the events referred to in Clause 21.1(D) above. |
21.2 | Supplier represents and warrants to Customer that: |
(A) | Supplier has the full capacity and authority to grant the licences referred to in Clause 30 (Intellectual Property); and | ||
(B) | the supply of the Services by or on behalf of Supplier, and neither Customers nor any Service Recipients receipt and use of the Services in accordance with and for the purposes contemplated in this Agreement, will not infringe any IPR of any third party. |
21.3 | Customer represents and warrants to Supplier that: |
(A) | each Service Recipient including Customer Group has obtained all necessary consents, approvals, authorisations, licences and permissions which Customer and/or each Service Recipient is required to obtain in order to receive the Services and perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with all Applicable Laws; | ||
(B) | each Service Recipient shall perform its obligations under this Agreement in compliance with Applicable Laws, to the extent such Applicable Laws: (i) apply to such Service Recipient; or (ii) apply to the receipt of the Services in the |
jurisdictions in which the Services are being received by Customer and/or such Service Recipient; or (iii) relate to a Mandatory Change which the Parties have agreed to implement through the Change Control Procedure in accordance with Clause 20 (Changes in Applicable Law); |
(C) | Customer has the full capacity and authority to grant the licences referred to in Clause 30 (Intellectual Property); and | ||
(D) | the use of the Customer IPR, including any material made available to any member of Supplier Group and each Sub-Contractor by any member of the Customer Group and/or any other Service Recipient, in accordance with and for the purposes contemplated in this Agreement will not infringe any IPR of any third party. |
21.4 | Save as expressly set out in this Agreement, neither Party gives any representation or warranty (express or implied) in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement, and all warranties and representations which may be implied (by statute or otherwise) are hereby excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law. |
22. | TERM |
22.1 | The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and, except to the extent that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, shall continue until the date being eight (8) years and four (4) months from the date of this Agreement together with any period in which Exit Services are provided (the Term). |
22.2 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and except as the Parties agree otherwise in writing, this Agreement is in all respects conditional upon the occurrence of Completion (as that term is defined in the SSPA). Upon Completion, this Agreement shall commence in full force and effect. |
23. | TERMINATION |
23.1 | Customer may exercise its rights of termination under any of Clauses 23.6 (Termination for Material Service Failure), 23.8(B), 23.9 (Termination for Persistent Service Failure), 23.11 (Termination for Service Credit Threshold Breach), 23.12 (Termination for Convenience), 23.16, (Termination on an Insolvency or a Similar Event), 23.19 (Termination arising from Tax), 23.20 (pursuant to paragraph 5.4(D) of Schedule 11 (Benchmarking), 23.21(A), 23.21(B), 23.21(C) 23.21(D), 23.21(E), 23.21(G), 23.21(H) and 23.21(J): |
(A) | in respect of the Agreement as a whole; | ||
(B) | in respect of one or more Service Recipients or in respect of the business (in whole or in part) of one or more Service Recipients; and/or |
(C) | in respect of one or more of the Services. |
23.2 | Subject to Clause 23.3, Customer may exercise it rights of termination under any of Clauses 23.5 (Termination for Material Service Failure), 23.7 (Termination for Persistent Service Failure), 23.8(A), 23.17 (Termination for Event of Force Majeure), 23.18 (Termination arising from Mandatory Change), 23.20 (pursuant to paragraph 5.4(C) of Schedule 11 (Benchmarking), 23.21(F) and 23.21(I) in relation to the provision of the Services that are directly affected by the relevant termination event, to the Service Recipient directly affected by the relevant termination event (the Terminated Services). |
23.3 | The Parties agree that where Customer exercises its right to terminate any Terminated Services, Customer shall also have the right to terminate any other Service(s) to the relevant Service Recipient within the same Performance Category for that Service Recipient (the Affected Services), where there are commercial, practical or technical reasons that would restrict or prevent the ongoing effective operation of either the Terminated Service or the Affected Service in the event of the Terminated Service and the Affected Service being provided by different persons. |
23.4 | The Parties agree that Customer shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement (in whole or in part) pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive), in respect of: |
(A) | any Critical Service Failure occurring within the period from the date of this Agreement until and including the date being ninety (90) days after the Commencement Date; or | ||
(B) | any Critical Service Failure occurring during the Term with respect to the Transaction Processing, Expenses and Reporting Critical Service Levels, which form part of the Aviva Group Centre Performance Category within the F&A Business Unit. |
23.5 | Subject to Clause 23.10, in the event that the same Critical Service Level falls twenty per cent. (20%) below the Minimum Service Level twice or more in any nine (9) month rolling period, Customer will have the right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses 23.2 and 23.3 forthwith on written notice to the Supplier. |
23.6 | Subject to Clause 23.10, in the event that in any six (6) month period there are two (2) or more months with twenty per cent. (20%) or more (by number) of all Critical Service Levels that fail to meet the relevant Minimum Service Levels, Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to the Supplier. |
23.7 | Subject to Clause 23.10, in respect of each Critical Service Level labelled with a monthly measurement period (and marked as PSF in Appendix 3A (Service Levels Matrix) of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits)) if there are four (4) Minimum Service Level Defaults, or three (3) sequential Minimum Service Level Defaults, (in each case) in respect of the same Critical Service Level within a twelve (12) month rolling period, the Customer shall have the right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses 23.2 and 23.3 forthwith on written notice to the Supplier. |
23.8 | Subject to Clause 23.10, in respect of each Critical Service Levels labelled with a quarterly measurement period (and marked as PSF in Appendix 3A (Service Levels Matrix) of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits)): |
(A) | if there are Minimum Service Level Defaults in respect of the same Critical Service Level in each of two consecutive measurement periods, the Customer shall have the right to partially terminate this Agreement pursuant to Clauses 23.2 and 23.3 forthwith on written notice to the Supplier; and | ||
(B) | if there are Minimum Service Level Defaults in respect of the same Critical Service Level in each of three consecutive measurement periods Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to Supplier. |
23.9 | If in any twelve (12) month rolling period Customer has two or more opportunities to exercise a right of partial termination pursuant to Clauses 23.7 or 23.8 then Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to Supplier. |
23.10 | The Parties agree that where the spread between Expected Service Level and the Minimum Service Level is two per cent. (2%) or less, the relevant Minimum Service Level shall be deemed to be reduced by three (3) basis points for the purposes of Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive). |
23.11 | Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement forthwith on written notice to the Supplier if twice or more in any twelve (12) month rolling period the amount of Service Credits (prior to any Earnback) to which the Customer is due under this Agreement is equal to twelve per cent. (12%) (or more) of the Monthly Charges. |
23.12 | Customer may, at any time after the date being twenty four (24) months from the Commencement Date, give six (6) months Notice to Supplier to terminate this Agreement in whole or (in its sole discretion) in part subject to Clauses 23.13, 23.14 and 23.15. |
23.13 | Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in whole pursuant to Clause 23.12, then Customer shall pay to Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
23.14 | Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in part pursuant to Clause 23.12 and as a result of such partial termination of the Agreement the Billable FTE does not fall below the Minimum Commitment Level, no Termination Fee will be due or payable by any member of Customer Group to Supplier. |
23.15 | Where Customer exercises its right to terminate this Agreement in part pursuant to Clause 23.12 and the Billable FTE falls below the Minimum Commitment Level, then Customer shall have the option to: |
(A) | pay to Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and the Minimum Commitment Level shall be reduced by a proportionate amount to the Terminated Services in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment); or | ||
(B) | elect not to pay to Supplier the Termination Fee in relation to such partial termination of the Agreement, but in such an event the Parties agree that the Minimum Commitment Level shall remain the same as prior to the partial termination of the Agreement in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
23.16 | Without prejudice to its other rights and remedies, either Supplier or Customer (the Terminating Party) may terminate this Agreement (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and 24) immediately by Notice to the other Party if: |
(A) | other than in respect of a Contested Claim, any procedure is commenced with a view to the winding-up or re-organisation (other than for the purpose of a solvent amalgamation or reconstruction to which the Terminating Party has consented) of the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor; | ||
(B) | other than in respect of a Contested Claim, any procedure is commenced with a view to the appointment of an administrator, receiver, administrative receiver or trustee in bankruptcy in relation to the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor or all or a substantial part of the assets of such other Party or the Guarantor (as applicable); | ||
(C) | an administrator, liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver or trustee in bankruptcy is appointed in relation to the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor or all or a substantial part of the assets of such other Party or the Guarantor (as applicable); |
(D) | in respect of a security interest over all or substantially all of the assets of the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor, any procedure (other than in respect of a Contested Claim), is commenced to enforce that security by the holder; | ||
(E) | all or substantially all of the assets of the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor are subject to attachment, sequestration, execution or any similar process; | ||
(F) | the other Party or, in the case of termination by Customer only, the Guarantor is or is deemed to be unable to pay its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) and (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due or enters into a composition or arrangement with its creditors generally or any class of them; | ||
(G) | the other Partys or the Guarantors directors take any steps to obtain a moratorium; or |
anything analogous to any of the events described in Clauses 23.16(A) to (G) (inclusive) occurs in any jurisdiction. |
23.17 | Customer shall have the right to terminate the provision of the Services that are directly affected by the Event of Force Majeure to the Service Recipient(s) directly affected by the Event of Force Majeure in accordance with Clause 39.5 or 39.6 (as applicable) (and any Affected Services in accordance with the principles described in Clause 23.3) |
23.18 | Customer shall have the right to terminate Services that are directly affected by the Mandatory Change to the Service Recipient(s) directly affected by the Mandatory Change in accordance with Clause 20.4 (and any Affected Services in accordance with the principles described in Clause 23.3). |
23.19 | Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Clause 35.3. |
23.20 | Customer shall have the rights of termination with respect to certain Services and/or the Agreement (as applicable) identified in Schedule 11 (Benchmarking). |
23.21 | Customer shall have the right to terminate this Agreement or partially terminate this Agreement in accordance with Clause 23.2 and 23.3 (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and 24) by Notice to Supplier with immediate effect if: |
(A) | Supplier is in material breach (excluding any breach giving rise to Customers termination rights pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.9 (inclusive)) in respect of this Agreement, which causes Customer or any member of the Customer Group to suffer material adverse consequences, and such material breach is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; | ||
(B) | Supplier is in persistent breach (excluding any breach giving rise to Customers termination rights pursuant to Clauses 23.5 to 23.11 (inclusive)) of this Agreement, which has a material adverse effect on Customer or any Service Recipient, and such persistent breach is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; | ||
(C) | without prejudice to Clause 23.21(A), Customers reputation has been materially damaged following a material breach of Supplier, any Sub-Contractor or any Supplier Personnel in respect of this Agreement, and such material breach is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; | ||
(D) | there is a change of Control of Guarantor, or Supplier or any other member of the Supplier Group providing the Services (each a Supplier Group Member), or the Guarantor sells all or a substantial part of its business or assets (whether or not including the Supplier or any other member of the Supplier Group providing the Services) providing the Services, or the Supplier or any other member of the Supplier Group sells all or a substantial part of the assets used to provide the Services (such assets being referred to in this Clause as the Supplier Assets) (each a Trigger Event), provided that Customer shall only be entitled to exercise its rights under this Clause 23.21(D) if it serves Supplier with a written notice (the Customer Notice) (to be provided no later than ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of a notice from the Guarantor or the Supplier which sets out (in reasonable detail) details of the relevant Trigger Event, and provided further that the Guarantor and/or the Supplier has not provided to the Customer, or procured for the Customer, assurances, evidence, guarantees or undertakings (to the Customers reasonable satisfaction) within a further period of sixty (60) days after the date of the Customer Notice that: |
(i) | a competitor of any then current Service Recipient that is also a member of the Customer Group has not assumed Control of the Guarantor, the Supplier, relevant Supplier Group Member(s) or Supplier Assets (as the case may be); |
(ii) | the senior management team responsible for the supply of the Services following the Trigger Event are appropriately skilled and qualified; | ||
(iii) | there will be, for the reasonably foreseeable future, material continuity of the material infrastructure which was used in the supply of the Services in the twelve (12) months prior to the Trigger Event; | ||
(iv) | Supplier and each person who has assumed control of the Guarantor, Supplier, relevant Supplier Group Member(s) and/or Suppliers Assets (as the case may be) is and (will remain for the Term) committed to comply with all obligations of Supplier under this Agreement for the remainder of the Term; | ||
(v) | the Trigger Event will not result in a material deterioration or material degradation in the standard of supply of Services, or the performance of the Suppliers obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(vi) | the Trigger Event will not result in any material damage to the reputation or goodwill of any member of the Customer Group, or any then current Service Recipient; | ||
(vii) | the Trigger Event will not result in any adverse action being taken by any Regulator (including any investigation), or any adverse ruling being given by any Regulator with respect to damage to any member of the Customer Group or any then current Service Recipient; | ||
(viii) | the Trigger Event will not result in the Customer Group or any then current Service Recipient being non-compliant with any Applicable Law or any part of such member of the Customer Group or Service Recipient; | ||
(x) | each person who has assumed Control of the Guarantor, Supplier, Supplier Group Member(s) and/or Supplier Assets (as the case may be) is not a person who is making any material legal claim or has commenced any material legal proceedings against a member of the Customer Group or is a person against whom a member of the Customer Group is making a material legal claim or has commenced any material proceedings; | ||
(ix) | the Trigger Event will not have any material adverse effect on the financial position or credit standing of the Guarantor or the Supplier Group; and | ||
(xii) | the Supplier Guarantee remains in full force and effect; |
provided that this right of termination shall not apply to a transfer of any Supplier Group Member and/or any Supplier Assets as part of a solvent group re-organisation from the Guarantor or a wholly owned subsidiary of Guarantor to |
the Guarantor or another such wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor (as applicable) in circumstances in which the Supplier Guarantee will continue in full force and effect. |
(E) | Supplier ceases wholly or substantially to carry on its business; | ||
(F) | the following occurs: |
(i) | the Travel Unit of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (or its successors) advises against all travel to the territory in which any site from where any of the Services or any project work (including projects relating to Transition and Transformation) are located and such advice remains in place for a consecutive period of ninety (90) days or more; | ||
(ii) | this results in Customer staff being prevented or restricted (including, due to Customer Group travel policies) from travelling to that territory; | ||
(iii) | this is having a material detrimental impact on the ability of Customer or any member of the Customer Group to operate its business or to receive the Services; and | ||
(iv) | the Supplier has had the opportunity to make a proposal to Customer for addressing the implications of such advice and Customer has given any such proposal its reasonable consideration. Customer shall only be required to accept such a proposal (and in such circumstance will not exercise its rights of termination) where in Customers reasonable opinion the adoption of such proposals will not materially prejudice Customer or any Service Recipient. |
(G) | following material breach in respect of this Agreement by the Supplier, Customer or any other Service Recipient is non-compliant or in breach of Applicable Law such non-compliance or breach having (in Customers reasonable opinion) material adverse effect on any member of the Customer Group (or any part of it) and such breach is not capable of remedy or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Supplier of Notice from Customer requiring such remedy; | ||
(H) | subject to Clause 23.28, Customer (or a member of Customer Group or any other Service Recipient) is required to do so by the lawful direction of a Regulator or a competent court or by Applicable Law; | ||
(I) | Supplier is not permitted under Applicable Law (other than where such non-permission has been or is caused by an Event of Force Majeure or a breach by any member of Customer Group or any Service Recipient) to deliver the Services (or any part thereof) and it has not within thirty (30) days of such Applicable Law taking effect, made its provision of the relevant services compliant with Applicable Law; and |
(J) | following a breach by Supplier, any Sub-Contractor or any Supplier Personnel in respect of this Agreement, an investigation is carried out, proceedings are brought or a sanction is imposed by a Regulator against any member of Supplier Group or any member of Customer Group, which has or is reasonably likely (in Customers reasonable opinion) to have a material adverse consequence on the relevant member of Supplier Group, or, as the case may be, Customer Group. |
23.22 | Supplier may terminate this Agreement (subject to Clauses 23.25, 23.26, 23.27 and 24) by Notice to Customer with immediate effect if: |
(A) | Customer has failed to pay any invoiced amounts where such invoiced amounts are: |
(i) | due and payable in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) (including where such sums have become due and payable because they are no longer the subject of any dispute by Customer in good faith but excluding any sums which are properly disputed in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)); and | ||
(ii) | overdue for a period of at least thirty (30) Business Days, |
provided that no such notice of termination shall take effect where Customer has remedied such non-payment within thirty (30) Business Days of such Notice being received by it; or |
(B) | Customer is in material breach in respect of this Agreement, which causes Supplier or any member of Supplier Group to suffer material adverse consequences, and such material breach is not capable of remedy, or (if it is) has not been remedied within thirty (30) days of receipt by Customer of Notice from Supplier requiring such remedy. |
23.23 | In the event of termination of the Agreement pursuant to Clause 23.22, Customer shall pay to Supplier the Termination Fee by way of compensation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). |
23.24 | Without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties pursuant to Clause 24 (Exit and Service Transfer), Schedule 8 (Forecasting and Capacity Planning) and Schedule 11 (Exit Management), in the event that: |
(A) | any Service Recipient is identified by Customer as no longer being a recipient of the Services (a Departing Entity); or |
(B) | any Service Recipient disposes of a business by way of (i) a transfer of assets of that business or (ii) the disposal of shares of a company carrying on that business (in each case, other than to another Service Recipient) (a Departing Business), |
then Customer shall have the option to: |
(C) | subject to Clause 23.15, terminate the Services supplied under this Agreement solely to the extent they are supplied to or are in respect of such Departing Entity or Departing Business; or | ||
(D) | without prejudice to Customers obligation to meet the Minimum Commitment Level and without prejudice to Suppliers rights under Clause 1.5, require that Supplier enters into a direct agreement with that Departing Entity, Departing Business, or in the case of a transfer of assets of the relevant business, the transferee of the Departing Business on terms that are substantially the same as the terms of this Agreement to the extent it relates to that Departing Entity or that Departing Business (as the case may be). Supplier shall execute at Customers expense all such documents and take all such other actions as Customer may reasonably request to procure such direct agreement. The effect of such agreement shall be that the Services the subject of the direct agreement shall continue to be supplied by Supplier to each Departing Entity or transferee of a Departing Business (as the case may be) for a period that is the lesser of twelve (12) months from the date of such direct agreement and the unexpired portion of the Term (unless otherwise agreed by the relevant parties) but the contract in respect of such Services shall be between Supplier and that Departing Entity, Departing Business, or in the case of a transfer of assets of the relevant business, the transferee of the Departing Business Departing Entity (as the case may be). Customer shall be responsible for procuring that all charges and expenses in respect of all Services that are the subject of the direct agreement are paid to Supplier. In the event that the provision of the Services to any Departing Entity and/or transferee of a Departing Business results in, will result in or is reasonably likely to result in additional costs to Supplier, such costs shall be borne by Customer, provided that such costs are agreed by the Parties through the Change Control Procedure in advance. |
23.25 | Termination or expiry of this Agreement or the removal of a Service shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Parties accrued prior to such termination, expiry or removal. |
23.26 | Termination or expiry of this Agreement shall be without prejudice to any provision which expressly or by implication is intended to survive termination or expiry, including the provisions of: |
(A) | Clauses: 4.13 (Step-in Costs); 6.2 (Customer Authority and Supplier Authority) 23.25 to 23.27 (inclusive) (Termination General); 24 (Exit and Service |
Transfer); 27.4 and 27.5 (Sub-Contractors); 29.2 and 29.3 (Human Resources) 30.10, 30.15 and 30.22 to 30.27 (inclusive) (Intellectual Property); 31 (Confidentiality); 32 (Records, Audit and Compliance); 33 (Data Protection); 34 (Limitation of Liability); 35 (Tax); 37 (Notices); 40 (Announcements and Publicity); 44 (Remedies and Waivers); 45 (Entire Agreement); 47 (Dispute Resolution); 48 (Liquidated Damages); 49 (Costs and Expenses); 51 (Third Party Rights and Rights of Service Recipients); 52 (Agent for Service); 53 (Interpretation); and 54 (Governing Law); and |
(B) | Schedule 1 (Definitions); paragraph 18.2 of Schedule 3 (Service Levels and Service Credits); paragraphs 4.3, 4.6, 4.7, 7.11, 7.15, 10.4, 10.5 and 11 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment); and paragraph 10.6 of Schedule 12 (Exit Management). |
23.27 | Termination Fees shall be payable by Customer by way of compensation in connection with the termination of this Agreement (in whole or in part) pursuant to Clauses 23.12 (Termination for Convenience), 23.19 (Termination arising from Tax), 23.21(H) (Further Customer Termination Rights Regulator, competent court or Applicable Law), 23.22 (Suppliers Termination Rights) and 39.5 (Force Majeure) in accordance with the applicable provisions of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment). Except as provided in Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment), no Termination Fee will be due or payable by any member of Customer Group to Supplier. |
23.28 | If Customer is required to exercise its rights of termination under Clause 23.21(H), to the extent permitted by Applicable Law the Parties will discuss in good faith the impact of the requirement or direction of the Regulator or competent court to see if the effect can be mitigated and the Services can be performed in any manner including from another jurisdiction which will be reasonably acceptable to the Regulator or the competent court which required Customer and/or the member of Customer Group to terminate this Agreement. |
24. | EXIT AND SERVICE TRANSFER |
24.1 | The term Exit Services means the services, matters and obligations to be provided, carried out or performed by Supplier described in Schedule 12 (Exit Management). |
24.2 | On: |
(A) | termination of this Agreement; | ||
(B) | the partial termination of this Agreement (including in respect of each Departing Entity pursuant to Clause 23.24(C)); | ||
(C) | the removal of a Service or Services from the scope of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including pursuant to Clause 23.24(D)); and | ||
(D) | expiry of this Agreement, |
(in each case, as applicable), Supplier shall continue to supply the Exit Services at Customers request for a maximum of twenty-four (24) months (the exact period being determined by Customer in its absolute discretion following consultation with Supplier) (the Exit Period), provided that the Exit Period in respect of expiry of this Agreement shall commence twelve (12) months prior to the expiry of the Agreement and shall last for a period of at least twelve (12) months and at Customers discretion may last for twelve (12) months after the expiry of the Agreement. Subject to Clause 24.3 each of such terminated or removed Services shall be supplied on the same terms as the equivalent Services (including as to Service Levels, Service Credits and Charges) and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for any Exit Period, and each of the Exit Services shall be deemed to be Services for that purpose. Without prejudice to any claim Supplier may have for damages or any other remedy under any Applicable Law or this Agreement and subject to Clause 24.3, each of the Exit Services shall be provided at no additional cost to Customer and the only payments required for such services shall be the Charges payable pursuant to this Agreement. |
24.3 | Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 12 (Exit Management). |
24.4 | Supplier shall, at Customers request, provide all reasonable assistance to Customer during the Exit Period, including in relation to any tenders released by Customer connected with or in relation to the Services and (subject to and conditional upon any such engaged third party at the request of Supplier first entering into a confidentiality agreement directly with Supplier (and any members of the Supplier Group identified by the Supplier) on terms equivalent to those set out in Clause 31) shall co-operate with all reasonable requests for information which are received from Customer or any third parties engaged by Customer in relation thereto, to the extent such requested information relates to the Services. Customer shall bear any reasonable and additional costs and expenses directly incurred by Supplier in relation to the provision of such assistance, provided that such costs and expenses arise as a result of additional resources engaged by Supplier in relation to such assistance. Customer acknowledges that Supplier shall not be obliged under this Clause 24.4 to provide any Confidential Information relating to the Charges and/or any financial information relating to the costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractors. |
25. | BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY |
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 15 (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Incident Management). |
26. | BENCHMARKING |
Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 11 (Benchmarking). |
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27. | SUB-CONTRACTORS |
27.1 | In performing its obligations under this Agreement, Supplier shall act as prime contractor at all times. | |
27.2 | Supplier may sub-contract the performance of its obligations in respect of any part (but not the whole) of the Services provided that: |
(A) | all Sub-Contractors (or proposed Sub-Contractors) and their employees shall be capable of performing and (where applicable) suitably qualified to perform the Services which Supplier proposes to sub-contract; and | ||
(B) | Customer has given its prior written consent to such sub-contracting and to the identity of the person to which Supplier wishes to sub-contract (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except where the Sub-Contractor is a member of Supplier Group or an Incumbent Service Provider, in which case Supplier shall not be required or obliged under this Agreement to have obtained Customers prior written consent. |
27.3 | In Notifying Customer of its desire to sub-contract any of the Services, Supplier shall provide all information reasonably requested by Customer (including details of the activities to be performed by the proposed Sub-Contractor and their identity (together with references)). |
27.4 | Supplier shall not be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement by entering into any sub-contract with any Sub-Contractor for the performance of any part of the Services and without prejudice to Customers obligation to pay the Charges or any other sum under the express terms of this Agreement all costs and expenses involved in the appointment, supervision and management of any Sub-Contractor shall be borne by Supplier. Supplier shall be liable to Customer and every other Service Recipient in respect of all acts or omissions of any Sub-Contractors for which, if such acts or omissions were of Supplier, Supplier would be liable to Customer and/or any other Service Recipient(s) whether for breach of this Agreement, in tort (including negligence), in breach of a statutory duty or otherwise. Without prejudice to the Customers obligation to pay the Charges or any other sums under the express terms of this Agreement, Supplier will be solely responsible for coordinating with any Sub-Contractors, at no additional cost to Customer or any other Service Recipient, and neither Customer nor any other Service Recipient shall have any obligation under the terms of any sub-contract or otherwise to any person in relation to any sub-contract to the extent such sub-contract is between the Sub-Contractor and any member of Supplier Group. |
27.5 | Supplier acknowledges and agrees that any default of any Sub-Contractor shall not constitute an Event of Force Majeure nor shall it excuse in any way Supplier from the performance of its obligations under this Agreement unless the Sub-Contractors default is itself caused by or arises from an Event of Force Majeure in which case the Supplier, |
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in accordance with Clause 39, may be excused from the performance of the relevant obligations under this Agreement. |
27.6 | Without prejudice to any other term of this Agreement, in the event that any Sub-Contractor (or any Affiliate of that Sub-Contractor), during the term of its sub-contract with Supplier: |
(A) | makes any material legal claim or commences any material legal proceedings against a member of Customer Group; | ||
(B) | becomes a person against whom a member of Customer Group makes any material legal claim or commences any material legal proceedings; | ||
(C) | causes or materially contributes to a material breach of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement; |
Customer shall, acting reasonably, have the right to Notify Supplier of the same and request that such Sub-Contractor ceases to be a Sub-Contractor. As soon as reasonably practicable after the receipt of any such notice, Supplier shall procure that such Sub-Contractor ceases to exercise any rights, or undertake any obligations, of Supplier under this Agreement (and shall Notify Customer of the same) provided that Customer, upon Suppliers request and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law and subject to any obligations of confidentiality owed by Customer or any Service Recipient, provides in writing details of the material legal claim or material breach giving rise to such reasonable action. |
27.7 | Subject to Clause 27.8, Supplier in its capacity as prime contractor shall sign an agreement with each Sub-Contractor for the provision and/or supply of services required for Suppliers provision of the Services hereunder to Customer, the terms of such agreement to include: (i) an undertaking by the Sub-Contractor to comply with confidentiality provisions substantially similar to the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement and (ii) provisions that procure the assignment of all IPR in Bespoke Innovations and Developed Materials (to the extent that such IPR is assigned to Customer under this Agreement) to Customer or a member of Supplier Group (at the discretion of Supplier). |
27.8 | No Major Sub-Contractor shall be permitted to sub-contract further the performance of the whole or any part of the Service sub-contracted to it without Supplier having obtained the prior written consent of Customer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and then shall only sub-contract in compliance with the terms of such consent (if any). In the event that a sub-contractor engaged by a Sub-Contractor is either a member of Supplier Group or an Incumbent Service Provider, then Supplier shall not be required or obliged under this Agreement to have obtained Customers prior written consent. |
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27.9 | Supplier shall, at Customers reasonable request, use all reasonable endeavours to try to use every appropriately experienced qualified and appropriately trained third party supplier identified by Customer and familiar with the requirements of Customer Group in connection with this Agreement and the provision of services similar to the Services for the purposes of enabling or assisting Supplier to perform its obligations under this Agreement as a Sub-Contractor, provided that Supplier shall be relieved from this obligation to the extent that (i) Supplier can demonstrate to Customers reasonable satisfaction grounds for refusing to use any such third party supplier and/or (ii) such third party supplier fails to comply with the terms of the sub-contract to which it is a party and/or causes or contributes to a material or persistent breach of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement. |
28.1 | Supplier shall ensure that all Supplier Personnel shall at all times uphold the good name and reputation of each Service Recipient and that of its products and services, and act in a manner commensurate with that good name and reputation. |
29.1 | Each Party shall comply with its obligations, and shall have the rights provided to it, as set out in Schedule 5 (Human Resources). |
29.2 | Supplier agrees that during the Term and for the period of twelve (12) months thereafter, it shall not and shall procure that other members of Supplier Group shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit for employment or engagement any Customer Personnel. |
29.3 | Subject to Schedule 12 (Exit Management), Customer agrees that during the Term and for the period of twelve (12) months thereafter, it shall not and shall procure that other members of Customer Group shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment or engagement any Supplier Personnel. |
30.1 | Save as otherwise expressly set out in this Agreement or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any Sub-Contractor shall receive any right, title or interest in respect of the IPR owned or controlled by the other Party or their respective Groups. Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to any agreement between the Parties to the contrary all IPR belonging to Supplier, any other member of Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractor prior to the date of this Agreement will remain vested in such Party. |
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30.2 | Other than in respect of any Supplier Background IPR and/or Third Party IPR, Supplier hereby agrees to assign and (in respect of copyright and database rights owned by Supplier arising in the future) hereby assigns, and (in relation to any IPR owned by a member of Supplier Group or Sub-Contractor) to procure the assignment of, the whole legal and beneficial interest in all the IPRs in any Developed Materials to Customer, at no additional charge. |
30.3 | Supplier shall, upon request by Customer from time to time, procure the delivery to Customer or its nominee of copies of all Developed Materials (including any enhancements or modifications thereto). |
30.4 | Supplier shall not be entitled to use and undertakes that it will not use Customer Data for any purpose other than to the extent necessary to provide the Services and/or to perform its other obligations under this Agreement. Supplier acknowledges that Customer Data (and any IPR subsisting therein) is proprietary to Customer Group (or the relevant Service Recipient, as the case may be) and constitutes Confidential Information of Customer Group (or the relevant Service Recipient, as the case may be). |
30.5 | Without prejudice to Clause 30.4 and save where expressly permitted otherwise by Customer and/or any Service Recipient in writing, Supplier undertakes to process and store, and procure the process and storage of, all Customer Data on the Equipment: |
(A) | in a manner which enables it to be readily identifiable as proprietary to Customer or any other relevant Service Recipient; and |
(B) | separately from data which is proprietary to Supplier and/or any other third party. |
30.6 | Supplier shall provide Customer with access to any Customer Data in the possession or control of Supplier (or any of its Sub-Contractors) as soon as reasonably practicable following Customers written request. |
30.7 | In the event that any Customer Data is either lost or sufficiently corrupted or degraded so as to be unusable as a result of any breach by Supplier of this Agreement, Supplier shall, without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of Customer Group, at its own expense, provide all services and assistance as Customer shall reasonably require to effect a reconstruction of the relevant data. In the event that any Customer Data is either lost or sufficiently corrupted or degraded so as to be unusable as a result of any other cause, Supplier shall provide the aforementioned assistance at Customers request, provided that Customer reimburses Supplier its reasonable and direct costs in providing such assistance. |
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30.8 | Customer hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) to Supplier, or any member of Supplier Group, or any Sub-Contractor providing Services under this Agreement a royalty-free, non-exclusive and non-transferable licence for the Term to use the Customer Trade Marks solely for the Permitted Use (and for no other purpose) and in accordance with the Use Guidelines. |
30.9 | Supplier undertakes that neither it nor any member of Supplier Group shall commit or omit to do any act or pursue any course of conduct or cause, authorise or assist any other person to do anything in breach of this Agreement which, without prejudice to its rights under Clause 30.23 or Clause 21.3(D): |
(A) | brings any Customer Trade Mark into disrepute; |
(B) | prejudices the validity or enforceability of, or Customers ownership of any rights in and to, the Customer Trade Marks; |
(C) | distorts or damages the goodwill, reputation or image attaching to or associated with the Customer Trade Marks; or |
(D) | causes any Customer Trade Mark to lose its distinctiveness or mislead the public. |
30.10 | Supplier undertakes that neither it nor any member of Supplier Group shall anywhere in the world during the Term and for a period of five (5) years thereafter file or authorise others to file any trade mark applications in relation to, or otherwise make any claim to or seek to (or authorise others to) acquire any rights in any of the Customer Trade Marks or any name or mark which includes any of the Customer Trade Marks or any name or mark which is similar or substantially similar to or so nearly resembling any of the Customer Trade Marks as might reasonably cause deception or confusion. The provisions of this Clause 30.10 shall survive any expiry or termination of this Agreement. |
30.11 | If any goodwill or proprietary right in relation to the Customer Trade Marks vests in any member of Supplier Group or its Sub-Contractors, immediately upon becoming aware of the vesting of such goodwill or right, Supplier shall assign, or shall procure the assignment of, such goodwill or right to the relevant member of Customer Group. |
30.12 | Customer hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) a royalty-free, non-transferable and non-exclusive licence for the Term of all Customer Materials owned by Customer or any member of Customer Group or any Service Recipient to Supplier, any member of Supplier Group and any Sub-Contractor to the extent necessary for the provision of the Services and the performance of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement. |
30.13 | In respect of any of the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations that incorporate, integrate or use Supplier Background IPR or where Supplier Background |
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IPR is needed to use the Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable (save as set out in Clause 30.16) transferable and non-exclusive licence (with the right to sub-license) to use, modify and copy such Supplier Background IPR (to include in respect of Developed Materials and Bespoke Innovations, the Source Code and in respect of Developed Materials, Bespoke Innovations and Supplier Software, the object code to such software and any improvements and modifications thereto) to Customer for itself and for the benefit of any Service Recipient and any Successor Service Provider. |
30.14 | Supplier hereby grants (and shall procure the grant of) a royalty-free, irrevocable (save as set out in Clause 23.22), non transferable and non-exclusive licence (with the right to sub-license) for the Term of all Supplier Background IPR: |
(A) | to Customer and all other Service Recipients, solely for the purpose of and to the extent necessary for the relevant person to receive and use the Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and | ||
(B) | to Customer and all other Service Recipients and any Successor Service Provider, solely for the purpose of and to the extent necessary for the transition to, and the provision, receipt and use of, services similar to and replacing the Services and services that are integrated, or are in the process of being integrated, with the Services and on the terms specified in Clause 30.15. |
30.15 | Where, in each case, Customer, any other Service Recipient or any Successor Service Provider requires a further licence of Supplier Background IPR after the Term, Supplier shall grant (or shall procure the grant of) a licence to Customer, each such Service Recipient and any Successor Service Provider on reasonable commercial terms to be agreed by the Parties. |
30.16 | Subject to Clause 30.15, the Parties agree as follows: |
(A) | each licence granted by Supplier pursuant to Clause 30 shall authorise Customer to sub-license the rights granted to it to any Service Recipient and any other third party (including for the avoidance of doubt any Successor Service Provider) provided that the sub-licence only authorises the Service Recipient and third party to use the Supplier Background IPR for the benefit and internal purposes of Customer and/or any other Service Recipient; | ||
(B) | the Customer may copy the Supplier Background IPR in order to create an archival copy and a back-up copy of it. When copying any software, Customer shall include the original machine readable copyright notice, and a label affixed to the media identifying the software and stating: This medium contains an authorised copy of copyrighted software which is the property of [name of owner]; | ||
(C) | at any time following termination or expiry of this Agreement, Supplier or the relevant third party licensor may terminate a licence granted under this Clause 30 within thirty (30) days notice in writing if the Supplier Background IPR is used |
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for any purpose not expressly permitted by this Clause 30, provided that Customer has not ceased such use within that 30 day notice period; |
(D) | when a licence granted under this Clause 30 ends for whatever reason, Customer shall: |
(i) | immediately cease all use of the Supplier Background IPR; | ||
(ii) | return or destroy the Supplier Background IPR; | ||
(iii) | provide Supplier or the third party licensor with a written notice signed and otherwise completed by an authorised signatory, to certify compliance with the provisions of this Clause 30.16(D). |
30.17 | On a six (6) monthly basis during the Term and at such other times as is reasonably requested by Customer, Supplier shall review with Customer the Supplier Software used by or on behalf of Supplier in providing the Services. |
30.18 | To the extent that Third Party IPR is used in the provision of the Services (excluding any IPR in Customer Materials licensed to Supplier pursuant to Clause 30.12), Supplier shall procure the grant of a licence on terms agreed by Customer pursuant to Clause 30.20(B) or where such terms are not agreed on a royalty- free, non-transferable, non-exclusive basis for the Term and to the extent necessary of all such Third Party IPR solely for the purpose of and to the extent necessary for: |
(A) | in respect of Customer and Service Recipients, the receipt and use of the Services; and | ||
(B) | in respect of Customer, any Service Recipients and any Successor Service Provider, the transition to, and the provision of, receipt and use of, services replacing the Services and services that are integrated, or are in the process of being integrated, with the Services. |
30.19 | Subject to Clause 30.20, where Third Party IPR is integrated or used in the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations or where Third Party IPR is needed to use the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier shall procure a perpetual, non-exclusive and on such other terms as agreed by Customer, acting reasonably, licence of all Third Party IPR to the extent necessary for Customer, any Service Recipient and any Successor Service Provider to be able to use the Developed Materials and/or Bespoke Innovations. |
30.20 | If the Supplier proposes at any time after the date of this Agreement that Supplier Background IPR and Third Party IPR is to be incorporated, integrated or used within or |
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in connection with any of the Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations, Supplier shall prior to it first using, integrating or implementing such IPR: |
(A) | notify Customer of that fact and provide all details reasonably necessary for Customer to ascertain the importance and/or relevance of such IPR, together with details of any alternatives available to it (if any); and | ||
(B) | obtain Customers consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, prior to implementing, integrating or utilising any Supplier Background IPR or Third Party IPR in the Developed Materials or Bespoke Innovations. |
30.21 | Upon request by Customer, at Customers cost: |
(A) | the Parties shall enter into an Escrow Agreement with the National Computer Centre Limited (the Escrow Agent) in respect of the Source Code relating to any item of Supplier Software owned by Supplier or any member of Supplier Group and used in relation to the Services; and | ||
(B) | Supplier shall procure that a copy of the Source Code relating to that Supplier Software (together with all upgrades, enhancements and modifications thereto) requested from time to time by Customer is deposited with the Escrow Agent in accordance with such Escrow Agreement. |
30.22 | Subject to Clauses 30.24, 30.25 and 30.26, Supplier shall indemnify and keep Customer and all other Service Recipients fully and effectively indemnified in connection with any claim of alleged or actual infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with Customers and/or every other Service Recipients receipt and/or use of the Services in accordance with this Agreement. | |
30.23 | Subject to Clauses 30.24 and 30.27, Customer shall indemnify and keep Supplier and all other members of Supplier Group fully and effectively indemnified in connection with any claim of alleged or actual infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with Suppliers use, and/or use by every other member of the Supplier Group, of any Customer IPR in accordance with this Agreement. | |
30.24 | The indemnified Party shall give to the indemnifying Party prompt Notice of any claim the subject of an indemnity set out Clause 30.22 or 30.23 of which it becomes aware and the indemnifying Party shall at its own cost take all reasonable steps to defend such claim, and have conduct of any litigation which may ensue and all negotiations for a settlement of such claim (provided that the indemnifying Party will consult in good faith with the indemnified Party on an ongoing basis in respect of such claim, and shall take into account the reasonable commercial interests of the indemnified Party in connection therewith). The indemnified Party shall give the indemnifying Party all reasonable assistance, at the indemnifying Partys request and expense, in connection with any |
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such claim. The indemnified Party agrees not to make any admission or take any other action, which might be prejudicial thereto without the prior consent of indemnifying Party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). |
30.25 | If any claim the subject of the indemnity at Clause 30.22 prevents or may prevent Customer or any Service Recipient or any Successor Service Provider from receiving the benefit of any of the Services or making use of any IPR as envisaged in this Clause 30, or if the receipt or use (or reasonably envisaged receipt or use) of the Services or any part thereof is likely to constitute an infringement, Supplier shall, without prejudice to Customers other rights and remedies, promptly at its own cost and expense either: |
(A) | use all reasonable efforts to procure for Customer, and any other Service Recipient the right to continue to use the relevant part or parts of the Services; or |
(B) | to the extent reasonably practicable replace or modify the relevant part or parts of the Services so that it becomes non-infringing, provided that any replacement or modification will be carried out promptly with minimal disruption to the provision and receipt of the Services and to Customers reasonable satisfaction, and provided further Supplier shall remain bound by its obligations under this Agreement in respect of that Service, including in respect of the description and specification of that Service and the relevant Service Levels. |
30.26 | The indemnity in Clause 30.22 shall not apply to the extent that the claim or infringement has arisen from and Supplier will have no liability for any breach of Clause 21.2(B) to the extent that the breach of such Clause has arisen from: |
(A) | any modification or enhancement to the Services and/or the Supplier Background IPR and/or any Third Party IPR made by any member of Customer Group and/or any other Service Recipient and/or any other third party other than any Sub-Contractor engaged by Supplier; or | ||
(B) | the use of the Services and/or any Supplier Background IPR and/or any Third Party IPR with any other materials, services, IPR, equipment, data, or systems not supplied by any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor, or in any manner inconsistent with the Operations Manual; or | ||
(C) | any breach of this Agreement by Customer and/or any Service Recipient. |
30.27 | The indemnity in Clause 30.23 shall not apply to the extent that the claim or infringement has arisen from and Customer will have no liability for any breach of Clause 21.3(D) to the extent that the breach of such Clause has arisen from or in respect of: |
(A) | any modification or enhancement to Customer IPR made by any member of Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractor; or |
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(B) | the use of any Customer IPR with any other materials, services, IPR, equipment, data or systems not supplied by any member of Customer Group or Service Provider; | ||
(C) | Developed IPR or Bespoke Innovations; or | ||
(D) | any breach of this Agreement by Supplier and/or any member of Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractor. |
31. | CONFIDENTIALITY |
31.1 | Each Party shall treat as confidential all Confidential Information and shall not disclose such Confidential Information to any person other than in accordance with this Agreement. |
31.2 | Neither Party shall use any Confidential Information other than in connection with, and only to the extent necessary for, the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. |
31.3 | Each Party shall procure that any person to whom Confidential Information is disclosed by it (including pursuant to Clause 31.4 other than 31.4(A) and 31.4(B) where that is not reasonably practicable) is on terms that they keep it confidential in compliance with the restrictions set out in this Clause 31 and as if such person were a party to this Agreement. |
31.4 | Either Party may subject to the provisions of this Clause 31.4 disclose anothers Confidential Information: |
(A) | if and to the extent required by Applicable Law or for the purpose of any judicial proceedings; |
(B) | if and to the extent required by any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body to which that Party is subject (including a Regulator or tax authority) wherever situated, whether or not the requirement for information has the force of law; | ||
(C) | if and to the extent required in referring a dispute for resolution pursuant to Clause 47 (Dispute Resolution); | ||
(D) | to its Affiliates and to its and their professional advisers, auditors and bankers; | ||
(E) | to potential acquirers (and their advisers) of that Party or any Affiliates of that Party, or of the businesses of that Party or its Affiliates (to the extent, in each case, such businesses supply or benefit from a Service), provided that before any such disclosure is made each such potential acquirer has entered into a confidentiality undertaking with respect thereto with the Party whose Confidential Information is to be disclosed. Customer acknowledges that Supplier shall not be obliged under this Clause to provide any Confidential |
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Information relating to Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any information relating to the costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor; |
(F) | if and to the extent the information has come into the public domain through no fault of that Party; | ||
(G) | (in the case of Customer only) to any Service Recipient, to any Customer Personnel or to any third party supplier (including any Successor Service Provider) engaged by Customer or any other Service Recipient in connection with the performance of Customers obligations or exercise of Customers rights under this Agreement and/or in connection with the receipt of the Services (excluding, in the case of third party suppliers, Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any information relating to the costings margins or other internal financial data of any members of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor) provided that in the case of any person referred to in this Clause other than Customer Groups officers and employees before any such disclosure is made Customer shall identify the person to whom it wishes to disclose the Confidential Information, and if requested by Supplier shall ensure such third party has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Supplier on terms equivalent to those set out in this Clause 31, each such confidentiality agreement to provide for reciprocal obligations for preserving confidentiality; | ||
(H) | (in the case of Customer only) to a Successor Service Provider or potential Successor Service Provider as is reasonably necessary to procure replacement services the same as or similar to the services or to provide or receive Exit Services (excluding Confidential Information relating to Supplier and/or any other member of Supplier Group including in respect of the Charges and any information relating to the costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group or Sub-Contractor) provided that such Successor Service Provider or potential Successor Service Provider has first entered into a confidentiality agreement with respect thereto with Supplier on terms equivalent to those set out in this Clause 31, each such confidentiality agreement to provide for reciprocal obligations for presenting confidentiality before any such disclosure is made; and | ||
(I) | (in the case of Supplier only) to any Sub-Contractor or any Supplier Personnel as is reasonably necessary in connection with the performance of Suppliers obligations under this Agreement including in connection with the supply of the Services, |
provided that, in the case of Clauses 31.4(A), (B) and (C) above, the disclosing Party shall promptly Notify the other Party of such requirement (to the extent it is permitted to do so). |
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31.5 | The provisions of this Clause 31 shall take priority over the provisions of any agreements entered into by the Parties prior to the date of this Agreement solely to the extent that any such agreements relate to the non-disclosure by either Party of Confidential Information. |
31.6 | Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Clause 31 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
32. | RECORDS, AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE |
32.1 | Supplier acknowledges that Customer shall have such audit rights as required for Customer to be compliant with the Customer Group Audit Policy. Where there are changes to the Customer Group Audit Policy after the date of this Agreement, then Supplier shall comply with all such notified changes within a reasonable period of time after notification of such changes. Where compliance with such changes will reasonably result in increased costs for Supplier, then the parties shall discuss and agree through the Change Control Procedure the reasonable incremental costs of the Supplier in complying with such changes. Such agreed costs shall be borne by the Customer. |
32.2 | Supplier shall: |
(A) | keep or cause to be kept, and shall procure that each Material Sub-Contractor shall keep or cause to be kept, accurate records relating to the supply of the Services (including records relating to: (i) performance against the Service Levels, the Critical Deliverables and other Deliverables; (ii) information technology and network system validation; (iii) Supplier Personnel; (iv) the Charges; (v) security incidents; (vi) Incident Management; and (vii) any reports in relation to the implementation and performance of the Services required to be produced under this Agreement, including reports prepared pursuant to Schedule 13 (Reports) (Records); and | ||
(B) | retain and procure the retention of all Records (in whatever form held, including paper and electronic form) for the longer of: (i) the period of time required by Applicable Law; (ii) the period of time required by any data retention notice issued by any member of Customer Group from time to time subject to the Parties reaching agreement on charges for retention when this exceeds the later of the periods referred to in (i) and (iii); and (iii) seven years following the termination or expiry of this Agreement. |
32.3 | Supplier shall, to the extent such compliance does not or would not breach any duty of confidentiality owed by Supplier to any customer of any member of the Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor: |
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(A) | within the first twenty (20) Business Days of the beginning of each calendar year during the Term, inform Customer of all of their proposed internal and external review, audit and testing programmes that in whole or to the extent that they apply to the Services including all audits and reviews: |
(i) | relating to International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) compliance; | ||
(ii) | by a regulatory, administrative, supervisory or governmental agency, body or authority; and | ||
(iii) | all reviews and audits that relate to the design and operational effectiveness of controls applicable to the Services, |
(a Regular Review) and provide details of the proposed scope of the same. Customer shall be permitted to make observations about the proposed Regular Reviews (including as to timing and scope) and Supplier shall take all of Customers reasonable observations into account when finalising and carrying out such Regular Reviews; |
(B) | inform Customer of all proposed material amendments to a Regular Review (including as to timing and scope) required to be notified to Customer pursuant to Clause 32.3(A). Supplier shall permit Customer the opportunity to make observations about the proposed amendments in advance of them being implemented (and Supplier shall take all of Customers reasonable observations into account when implementing any such amendments); |
(C) | at Suppliers own cost and expense, provide to Customer the scope and results (including all reports and conclusions whether or not in writing) of all Regular Reviews; and | ||
(D) | carry out such reviews, audits and tests at Customers cost as Customer may reasonably request (including as a follow-up to, or an extension of, a Regular Review) (each a Customer-instigated Review). Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable costs and expenses directly related and properly incurred in carrying out a Customer-instigated Review. |
32.4 | Subject to the other terms of this Clause 32, at Customers request, Supplier shall grant (or shall procure the grant of) access during Working Hours or at such other times as the Parties shall agree for Customer (or, at Customers request, any statutory, regulatory or internal auditors of or engaged by Customer Group or any Regulator (the Auditors)) to the Records, the Facilities and Supplier Personnel as Customer may reasonably require solely for the purpose of: |
(A) | verifying the accuracy of all invoices supplied to Customer under this Agreement, including the accuracy of the Charges; |
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(B) | verifying Suppliers compliance with its obligations under this Agreement (including the accuracy of its reporting, the supply of the Services and the achievement of Critical Deliverables); | ||
(C) | enabling any member of Customer Group to confirm its compliance with Applicable Law (including compliance with its accounting, tax and filing obligations); | ||
(D) | dealing fully with enquiries raised by any Regulator or in relation to any investigation by, or order or direction of a Regulator; | ||
(E) | verifying the design and operational effectiveness of controls applicable to the Services; | ||
(F) | verifying the integrity, confidentiality and security of Customer Data and Confidential Information; and | ||
(G) | verifying the effective management of risks relating to the supply of the Services. |
32.5 | Pursuant to Clause 32.4, Customer shall have the right to carry out: |
(A) | scheduled audits in accordance with the audit plan in accordance with the Customer Group Audit Policy; and | ||
(B) | additional ad hoc audits in relation to the processes relating to the Services, |
provided that if Supplier reasonably anticipates that it will incur additional costs and expenses due to an increased number of ad hoc audits by Customer (including a need for Supplier to increase the members of its audit team), then Supplier shall Notify Customer of the same and Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable additional costs and expenses directly related to and properly incurred in relation to the carrying out of such ad hoc audits. |
32.6 | Notwithstanding Clause 32.5, each Party will bear its own internal costs and the costs of any third party advisors or auditors utilised by that Party in relation to any audit undertaken in accordance with this Clause 32, but Supplier shall be responsible for the costs of any remedial actions agreed by the Parties to be performed by Supplier. | |
32.7 | Subject to any requirements specified by the Regulator, any audit, investigation or monitoring undertaken in accordance with this Clause 32 will be subject to Customer providing at least twenty (20) Business Days notice of any audit it intends to carry out pursuant to these provisions unless such audit is required by Customer for reasons of: |
(A) | suspected fraud or other illegal activity by Supplier or its Sub-Contractors or Supplier Personnel; |
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(B) | non-compliance with the Customer Groups policies, standards and procedures set out or referred to in Schedule 17 (Policies and Procedures); | ||
(C) | Customer or any Regulator having reasonable grounds to suspect that Supplier is in material breach of its obligations under this Agreement; |
in which case Customer shall not be obliged to give any such advance notice. |
32.8 | Supplier shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to Customers conduct of an audit on the date(s) proposed by Customer but reserves the right to withhold its consent as to the date(s) on which: |
(A) | the relevant Supplier Personnel are not reasonably available due to their other work-related duties; or | ||
(B) | other audits or regulatory examinations are being conducted. |
32.9 | Audits shall be conducted in such a manner as to minimise (so far as is practicable) any interference with business activities of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor including the performance by Supplier of its obligations under this Agreement. |
32.10 | Customer shall procure that any Auditor or other authorised representative of Customer or any Service Recipient shall keep confidential the information relating to the Supplier Group and/or any Sub-Contractor (provided that such information may be disclosed in circumstances referred to in Clause 31.4) which comes to its knowledge as a consequence of the audit and, if requested by Supplier, shall ensure that such Auditor or authorised representative enters into a confidentiality undertaking including terms which are substantially similar to Clause 31 prior to undertaking the audit. | |
32.11 | Customer acknowledges that any audits performed pursuant to and/or the exercise of Customers rights under this Clause 32 shall not entitle Customer or the Auditors to inspect any data, information or records to the extent that such materials relate to any other customer of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor nor to inspect the employment contracts, costings, margins or other internal financial data of any member of Supplier Group or any Sub-Contractor. In addition, Customer shall procure that the Auditors comply with Suppliers security, safety and other site specific regulations and procedures whilst on the Sites notified to the Auditors. The Auditors shall be escorted at all times by a member of the Supplier Personnel while on the Sites. | |
32.12 | At Customers request Supplier shall obtain and deliver to Customer a Type II report and examination prepared in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards 70 (as amended from time to time) as promulgated by the American Institute of Public Certified Accountants (the SAS-70 Report) from a reputable and independent global accounting firm. Subject to the foregoing, the SAS-70 Report shall: |
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(A) | cover, as a minimum, six months of each year with the start date of each such audit period being (subject to the Parties agreeing otherwise) no sooner than 1 April in each year; and | ||
(B) | be based on an examination of all (i) operating environments, (ii) technology, telecommunications and infrastructure networks and systems (and, in each case, related processes), (iii) applications and (iv) data centres of Supplier and each Sub-Contractor that relate to the supply of the Services or the performance of Suppliers obligations under or in connection with this Agreement. |
Customer shall bear the costs of the independent accountant in relation to the SAS-70 Report, provided that such costs are pre-notified by Supplier and agreed by Customers. Supplier will not be obliged to commission such work until Customers agreement on costs has been obtained. |
32.13 | Supplier shall, at its own cost and expense: |
(A) | as soon as reasonably practicable following Supplier being aware of the same remedy any control weakness or deficiency in the design or operational effectiveness of controls that resulted in or is likely to result in a qualification of the independent auditors opinion of the SAS-70 Report; and | ||
(B) | as soon as reasonably practicable provide Customer with evidence that the control weaknesses and deficiencies referred to in Clause 32.12(A) have been remedied and have been the subject of a successful re-test by Supplier to ensure proper design and operational effectiveness. |
32.14 | Supplier shall and shall procure that all Major Sub-Contractors shall, co-operate and provide all reasonable assistance to Customer and the Auditors in the exercise of their rights pursuant to this Clause 32 and will provide Customer and the Auditors with such copies of relevant documents and information as they may reasonably request. |
32.15 | Without prejudice to any other provision of this Clause 32, promptly upon Customers request Supplier shall, and shall procure that all Major Sub-Contractors shall, provide to Customer all information in their possession or under their control necessary to assist Customer Group to satisfy Customer Groups internal and external risk management, compliance, corporate governance and regulatory reporting requirements in accordance with the Customer Group Audit Policy. | |
32.16 | Supplier shall promptly provide Customer with details of all material breaches of, or material non-compliance, with Applicable Law by it or its Sub-Contractors of which it becomes aware and relate to the provision of the Services. |
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32.17 | Where an audit (including any Regular Review or Customer-instigated Review) carried out pursuant to this clause 32 reveals any fraud or breach of this Agreement by Supplier, any fraud by a Sub-Contractor in connection with this Agreement and/or identifies an audit issue according to the Customer Group Audit Policy (each an Audit Issue), then, without prejudice to the other rights and remedies of Customer under this Agreement, the Parties shall discuss the Audit Issue(s) and, if appropriate, and to the extent agreed, the Parties shall agree and prepare a plan to address the Audit Issue (the Audit Remediation Plan). | |
32.18 | The Audit Remediation Plan shall outline the actions agreed by the Parties that Supplier shall take in order to comply with its obligations under this Agreement and/or required for resolution of the Audit Issue, including an agreed timetable for implementing such actions. Supplier shall be responsible for the costs and expenses of implementing any remedial actions agreed by the Parties in accordance with the Audit Remediation Plan to be performed by the Supplier. | |
32.19 | In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on an Audit Remediation Plan within fifteen (15) Business Days following the relevant audit, either Party shall have the right to escalate the matter in accordance with the procedures specified in Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management) of this Agreement. |
33. | DATA PROTECTION |
33.1 | Each Party undertakes that in performing its obligations hereunder it shall (and in respect of Supplier, shall procure that the Sub-Contractors shall) comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and all other Applicable Law relating to the processing of personal data only to the extent that the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and all other Applicable Law are applicable to the role of each Party when processing personal data in performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement. Capitalised terms continued in this Clause 33 and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning given to them in the Data Protection Act 1998. |
33.2 | Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, with respect to the processing of personal data of any Service Recipient (including personal data of any of their respective customers) or any Customer Personnel, the Supplier: |
(A) | understands and acknowledges that, to the extent that performance of its obligations hereunder involves or necessitates the processing of such personal data, it shall act only on instructions and directions from the Customer and/or any Service Recipient as set out in this Agreement; |
(B) | shall take and implement appropriate technical and organisational security procedures and measures to protect any such personal data processed by it against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage; and |
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(C) | has and will continue to take all reasonable steps to ensure the reliability of any of Supplier Personnel which will have access to personal data processed as part of any provisions of this Agreement. |
33.3 | Supplier shall, and procure that the Sub-Contractors shall, process any personal data of any Service Recipient (including personal data of any of their respective customers) or any Customer Personnel in accordance with Clause 33.2. |
33.4 | Any request for Supplier to adhere to any obligations of each Service Recipient under the Data Protection Act 1998 associated with any duties they may have as a Data Controller of personal data shall be as expressly set out in the Agreement. Supplier shall comply with any further reasonable requests by Customer, provided that where such requests are not set out in the Agreement, Customer shall bear Suppliers reasonable and direct costs incurred as a result of complying with such request of Customer and such costs shall be agreed by the Parties in accordance with the Change Control Procedure, and Supplier shall have a reasonable period within which to comply with such requests. | |
33.5 | If: |
(A) | any member of Customer Group located in the European Economic Area (EEA) will in the course of receiving the Services have cause to transfer personal data referred to in Clause 33.3 to Supplier or a Sub-Contractor located outside the EEA; or |
(B) | Supplier or any Sub-Contractor located in the EEA will, in relation to the supply of the Services by Supplier, have cause to transfer any personal data referred to in Clause 33.3 to any Sub-Contractor located outside of the EEA, |
then: |
(C) | prior to any transfer referred to in Clause 33.5(B), Supplier shall give Customer reasonable prior written notice of such proposed transfer; and | ||
(D) | subject to Clause 33.6 below, upon Customers request, Supplier agrees to enter into, and procure that each relevant Sub-Contractor enters into, an agreement with the relevant member of Customer Group on the then current standard contractual clauses for the transfer of personal data from a Data Controller in the EEA to a data processor outside the EEA as approved by the European Commission (or such other relevant authority of the European Union or its constituent member states). |
33.6 | The Parties agree that where an alternative solution may be available to provide adequacy under Article 25 of Directive 95/46/EC in relation to the country (or a sector thereof) to which the personal data is transferred including Directive 95/46/EC becomes directly applicable in such country then the Supplier may choose to adopt such an alternative solution instead of entering into an agreement as set out in Clause 33.5(D) above. |
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34. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
34.1 | Nothing in this Agreement shall exclude or limit the liability of any Party for: |
(A) | death and/or personal injury resulting from the negligence of that Party or its directors, officers, employees, contractors or agents; or | ||
(B) | fraud and/or fraudulent misrepresentation. |
34.2 | Subject to Clause 34.1, Clause 34.3, Clause 34.6 and Clause 34.7, neither Party shall be liable to the other Party in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation or for breach of any duty (including strict liability) for (A) any indirect or consequential loss or damage; and/or (B) any loss of profits, business, revenue, goodwill or anticipated savings, provided that this Clause 34.2 shall be without prejudice to Customers obligation to pay and Suppliers rights to be paid the Charges, the Customers obligation to meet the Minimum Commitment Level and to pay the Termination Fee and Customers obligation to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses (where applicable) and the obligation of Supplier to pay Service Credits and to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses (where applicable). | |
34.3 | Subject to Clause 34.5 and Clause 34.8, the provisions of Clause 34.2 shall not prevent Customer from recovering any of the following, to the extent such losses arise directly from any breach of the obligations of Supplier under this Agreement, or any tort (including negligence), misrepresentation or breach of duty (including strict liability) of Supplier in relation to the subject matter of this Agreement (together a Default) and in respect of which Supplier is liable to Customer: |
(A) | loss of profit directly incurred as a result of any customer of any Service Recipient ceasing (partially or wholly) to do business with such Service Recipient where such cessation resulted directly from that Default, but excluding ex gratia payments or other benefits paid to such customers; | ||
(B) | the additional costs and expenses directly and reasonably incurred by Customer and/or any Service Recipient in procuring and implementing alternative or replacement services; | ||
(C) | the costs, to the extent reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any other Service Recipient, of reconstituting or reloading lost or corrupted data (including Customer Data); | ||
(D) | the cost, to the extent reasonably and directly incurred, of implementing and performing reasonable workarounds following a Service Failure; | ||
(E) | losses (including fines paid to a Regulator) reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any other Service Recipient where the relevant Default has |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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directly resulted in Customer and/or the other Service Recipient being in breach of any Applicable Law; |
(F) | additional costs reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any other Service Recipient to correct and re-perform Services; and | ||
(G) | losses reasonably and directly incurred by Customer and/or any other Service Recipient resulting from a contractual claim (excluding any vexatious, frivolous or invalid claim) made against Customer and/or any other Service Recipient by one or more of its customers under the express terms of a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by the relevant Service Recipient and that customer where such claim resulted directly from that Default, but excluding ex gratia payments or other benefits. |
34.4 | Except in relation to the liabilities described in Clause 34.1 and/or Clause 34.6 and subject always to Clause 34.8, the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise, in respect of each Contract Year, shall be limited to: |
(A) | for the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and | ||
(B) | for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year, |
and for the avoidance of doubt, Service Credits will not be counted against the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates as set out in this Clause 34.4. |
34.5 | Except in relation to the liabilities described in Clause 34.1 and Clause 34.6, the maximum aggregate liability of Customer and its Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise in respect of each Contract Year, shall be limited to: |
(A) | for the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and | ||
(B) | for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
34.6 | The exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this Clause 34 (including those set out in Clauses 34.2, 34.4 and 34.5 shall not apply: |
(A) | in respect of Supplier to: |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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(i) | the indemnities given by Supplier pursuant to Clause 30.22(Intellectual Property Indemnities); | ||
(ii) | Suppliers obligations to pay the Incentive Payment, to pay Service Credits and to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses in accordance with this Agreement; and | ||
(iii) | any damages or loss incurred by Customer or any other Service Recipient due to the wilful or deliberate act or omission or dishonesty of Supplier, any of its Sub-contractors or any Supplier Personnel; |
(B) | in respect of Customer to: |
(i) | the indemnity given by Customer pursuant to Clause 30.23 (Intellectual Property Indemnities); and | ||
(ii) | Customers obligations to pay the Charges including the Termination Fee and meet the Minimum Commitment Level to pay any sum pursuant to Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) and any other sum in the nature of charges, costs or expenses in accordance with this Agreement; and | ||
(iii) | any damages or losses incurred by any member of Supplier Group due to the wilful or deliberate act or omission or dishonesty of Customer or any Customer Personnel. |
(C) | in respect of Supplier and Customer, any breach by the other Party of Clause 31 (Confidentiality), including a failure by such other Party to ensure that a recipient of Confidential Information from such other Party complies with the provisions of Clause 31 (Confidentiality). |
34.7 | Without prejudice to the remainder of this Clause 34, the exclusion of Customers liability for loss of profit set out in Clause 34.2(B) shall not apply in respect of loss of profit directly incurred by Supplier as a result of a breach by Customer of Clause 1.4, provided that, notwithstanding Clause 34.4, the maximum aggregate liability of Customer and its Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise, in respect of each Contract Year, in the case of liability of the type specified in this Clause 34.7 shall be limited to: |
(A) | for the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and | ||
(B) | for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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34.8 | Notwithstanding Clause 34.4, the maximum aggregate liability of Supplier and its Affiliates under this Agreement in contract (including under any indemnity), tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, for breach of duty (including strict liability) or otherwise, in respect of each Contract Year, shall be limited to: |
(A) | In the case of liability of the type specified in Clause 34.3(A): |
(i) | for the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and | ||
(ii) | for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year; and |
(B) | In the case of liability of the type specified in Clause 34.3(G): |
(i) | for the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the projected aggregate Charges payable by Customer for the first Contract Year; and | ||
(ii) | for each Contract Year other than the first Contract Year, XXXXX of the aggregate Charges under this Agreement paid or invoiced by Customer in the immediately preceding Contract Year. |
34.9 | Customer shall ensure that any each Service Recipient complies with the obligations of Customer under this Agreement to the extent that such obligations relate to the receipt of the Services by that Service Recipient. |
35. | TAX |
35.1 | All sums payable under this Agreement shall be paid free and clear of all deductions and withholdings whatsoever, save only as may be required by law. If any deductions or withholdings are required by law to be made from any such sums, the Party liable to make the payment shall pay to the recipient such sums as will, after the deduction or withholding is made, leave the recipient with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of any such requirement to make a deduction or withholding. | |
35.2 | Subject to clause 35.3, all sums payable under this Agreement are exclusive of any Specified Sales Taxes and are inclusive of any amounts in respect of any Other Sales Tax properly chargeable in respect of them. | |
35.3 | Notwithstanding clause 35.2, |
(A) | if any Indian Service Tax (other than Tax chargeable in respect of the One-off Charge as defined in paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) or the Incentive Payment) is chargeable in respect of the Services provided pursuant to this Agreement and a Party (or a member of its Group) is liable to account for such Tax to the relevant tax authority, Customer and |
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Supplier shall each bear 50% of such Tax PROVIDED THAT if the total Indian Service Tax (other than Tax chargeable in respect of the One-off Charge as defined in paragraph 5 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment)or the Incentive Payment) chargeable in respect of the Services exceeds or could exceed GBP £2,000,000 in any twelve (12) month period (which amounts shall be determined by reference to the spot rate(s) published in the Financial Times on any date on which such a determination is made as the case may be), Supplier and Customer shall use reasonable endeavours to mitigate such cost. If the Parties cannot agree an effective method to mitigate such cost within three (3) months from the time such taxes first become payable, Customer may terminate this Agreement by Notice to Supplier with immediate effect; and | |||
(B) | if any Services are held by a UK Tax authority to be a taxable supply in respect of which Customer or a member of Customer Group is liable to account for VAT to the UK Tax authority, Supplier shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Customer, and Customer shall not be entitled to withhold or deduct any amount from any sums payable under this Agreement, in respect of such VAT. |
For the avoidance of doubt this Clause 35.3 is not an Agreement to Agree for the purposes of Clause 36. |
36. | AGREEMENTS TO AGREE |
36.1 | Where any provision contained in this Agreement relates to a document, procedure, process or any other matter which is to be determined or otherwise agreed by the Parties following the execution of this Agreement (an Agreement to Agree), the Parties agree that they shall act reasonably and in good faith in seeking to conclude each Agreement to Agree: |
(A) | as soon as reasonably practicable or, where timescales are stipulated in the relevant Clause, Schedule or Appendices, within those timescales; and | ||
(B) | in such manner and form as required by the relevant Clause, Schedule or Appendix (as applicable). |
36.2 | Where an Agreement to Agree is not concluded by the relevant date referred to in Clause 36.1(A) above and the Parties have failed to reach an agreement on the matter having acted reasonably and in good faith and used all reasonable efforts to reach an agreement within thirty (30) Business Days after such relevant date, then Supplier shall implement from such date all reasonable written requests of Customer in connection with the subject matter of such Agreement to Agree, provided that: |
(A) | it is technically and operationally feasible for Supplier to implement any such request of Customer; and | ||
(B) | Supplier shall not be obliged to implement any such request of Customer until Suppliers costs have been agreed in accordance with Clause 36.3. |
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36.3 | To the extent that Supplier incurs costs in addition to those provided for in the Charges as a result of complying with Customers request pursuant to Clause 36.2, Customer shall (except where such request is the result of Suppliers breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement) reimburse Supplier its reasonable and direct costs, such costs to be determined through the Change Control Procedure. | |
36.4 | The Parties agree that in the event that the implementation of any request of Customer, pursuant to Clause 36.2, causes Supplier to be in breach of this Agreement, such a request shall be deemed to be a breach by Customer of its obligations under this Agreement solely for the purposes of Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) and in such an event Clause 13 (Supplier Relief and Customer Relief) shall apply. | |
36.5 | For the avoidance of doubt, Clause 36.2 shall not apply: |
(A) | where the document, procedure, process or other matter which is to be determined or otherwise agreed by the Parties following the execution of this Agreement is stated in this Agreement to be for the discretion of one Party (including where it is subject to a Partys discretion or consent whether or not there are limitations on the exercise of that discretion or the giving of that consent, including Clause 40.1 (Announcements and Publicity) and Clause 41 (Assignment)); | ||
(B) | where this Agreement (other than in this Clause 36) expressly sets out a process for settling any document, procedure, process or other matter not agreed (including the appointment of an independent adjudicator); | ||
(C) | to any discussions between the Parties as referred to in paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 (Pricing, Invoicing and Payment) in relation to changing the charging mechanism under this Agreement from a Billable FTE basis to a unit transaction pricing basis for some or all of the Services; or | ||
(D) | to the agreement of terms pursuant to Clauses 8.3(B) or 30.15. |
37. | NOTICES |
37.1 | A Notice shall only be effective if it is in writing and in the English language. Faxes (but not any other form of electronic communication) shall be permitted for the giving of a Notice. | |
37.2 | All Notices shall be sent to a Party at its address or number and for the attention of the individual set out below: | |
For Customer: | ||
Address: 6 Temasek Boulevard, #22-01 Suntec Tower 4, Singapore 038986 | ||
For the attention of: Simon Machell |
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Fax No: +65 6829 1890 | ||
With a copy to each of the following: | ||
Address: Aviva plc, St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ | ||
For the attention of: Deputy Group Company Secretary (Kirsty Cooper) | ||
Fax No: +44 20 7662 7700 | ||
Address: Tower 1 Cyber City, Magarpatta City, Hadapsar, Pune 411013, Maharashtra, India | ||
For the attention of: Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Global Services (Teresa Copping) | ||
Fax No: +91 20 26824960 | ||
For Supplier: | ||
Address: Multiconsult Limited, 10 Frere Felix de Valios Street, Port Louis, Mauritius | ||
For the attention of: Manager, Company Administration (Sonia Lutchmiah) | ||
Fax No: +230 212 5265 | ||
With a copy to: | ||
Address: Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex, Pirojshahnager, Vikholi (W), Mumbai 400079, India | ||
For the attention of: General Counsel, WNS Group (Vikas Gupta) | ||
Fax No: +91 22 2518 8350 | ||
provided that either Party may change its Notice details on giving Notice of the change in accordance with this Clause 37 to the other Party. That Notice shall only be effective on the date falling five (5) Business Days after the notification has been received or such later date as may be specified in the Notice. | ||
37.3 | Any Notice shall, in the absence of earlier receipt, be deemed to have been duly given as follows: |
(A) | if delivered personally, on delivery; |
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(B) | if sent by registered post, two (2) Business Days after the date of posting; and | ||
(C) | if sent by fax, when correctly despatched. |
37.4 | Any Notice given outside normal Working Hours in the place to which it is addressed shall be deemed not to have been given until the start of the next period of Working Hours in such place. |
38. | INSURANCE |
38.1 | Subject to Clause 38.2, Supplier shall, at its own cost and by reference to Good Professional Practice, effect insurance with a reputable insurer in relation to all risks typically insured and which are associated with or arise in the connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement (including in respect of the professional indemnity risks (including errors and omissions), employers liability, public and products liability, property damage and employee dishonesty and fraud. | |
38.2 | Supplier shall not obtain the insurance referred to in Clause 38.1 through or from any member of Customer Group notified in advance to the Supplier in writing. | |
38.3 | Supplier shall maintain the insurance cover referred to in Clause 38.1 throughout the Term and Supplier shall on request from Customer produce satisfactory evidence to Customer that such insurance cover is in place. | |
38.4 | Supplier shall not do or omit to do anything which would vitiate any of the policies of insurance which it is required to effect and maintain pursuant to this Clause 38. |
39. | FORCE MAJEURE |
39.1 | Neither Party (the Claiming Party) shall be liable to the other for any delay or failure to perform any of its obligations hereunder to the extent such delay or failure is due to an Event of Force Majeure provided that: |
(A) | the Claiming Party could not have avoided such circumstances by taking reasonable precautions which he ought reasonably to have taken, including compliance with Schedule 15 (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Incident Management) save to the extent the Claiming Party is unable to comply with Schedule 14 (Security Management) due to an event of Force Majeure; and | ||
(B) | the Claiming Party has used, and continues to use, its reasonable endeavours to (i) mitigate the effect of such circumstance and (ii) perform its affected obligations. |
39.2 | The Claiming Party shall not be excused performance of its obligations unaffected by an Event of Force Majeure. |
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39.3 | The Claiming Party shall Notify the other upon becoming aware of an Event of Force Majeure, which notice shall contain details of the matters or circumstances of which it is aware giving rise to the Event of Force Majeure and its anticipated duration. | |
39.4 | On every cessation of a Service (or part thereof) pursuant to this Clause 39 where Supplier is the Claiming Party: |
(A) | Customer shall have no liability to Supplier in respect of any Charge for such Service (or part thereof) to the extent such Service or part thereof are not provided in accordance with this Agreement; | ||
(B) | Supplier shall prepare a plan for the remediation of the Event of Force Majeure as soon as reasonably practicable after Notice was given to Customer pursuant to Clause 39.3. The Parties shall discuss these recommendations and Supplier, at its own cost and expense, shall then take such action (including the use of additional resources) as is reasonably necessary and as has been agreed in writing by the Parties to avoid, remedy and otherwise minimise the impact of the Event of Force Majeure in accordance with Good Professional Practice. |
39.5 | If an Event of Force Majeure prevents the proper receipt of the Services by a Service Recipient in accordance with this Agreement for more than sixty (60) days Customer shall be entitled to terminate certain Services identified in accordance with Clauses 23.2 and 23.3, by written notice to Supplier with immediate effect. | |
39.6 | If an Event of Force Majeure prevents the proper supply of the Services in accordance with this Agreement by or on behalf of the Supplier for more than sixty (60) days Customer shall be entitled to terminate certain Services identified in accordance with Clauses 23.2 and 23.3, by written notice to Supplier with immediate effect. |
40. | ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PUBLICITY |
40.1 | Neither Party shall make any: |
(A) | public announcement concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any ancillary matter; or | ||
(B) | reference to the other in any of its advertising or promotional material, |
without the prior written approval of the other Party such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. This Clause 40.1 does not apply in the circumstances described in Clause 40.2. | ||
40.2 | Notwithstanding Clause 40.1, either Party may make an announcement concerning this Agreement or any ancillary matter if: |
(A) | required by Applicable Law; or | ||
(B) | required by any Regulator, whether or not the requirement has the force of law, |
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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 other Party before making such announcement. | ||
40.3 | Each Party shall be responsible for the observance of the provisions of this Clause 40 by each of its respective employees, contractors and agents (and in the case of Supplier, each Supplier Personnel). | |
40.4 | Notwithstanding the expiry or early termination of this Agreement, the provisions of this Clause 40 shall continue to apply to each Party without limit in time. |
41. | ASSIGNMENT AND PLACE OF BUSINESS |
41.1 | Without limitation to Clause 23.24 but subject at all times to Clauses 41.3, this Agreement and all rights and obligations of Customer hereunder may not be novated, assigned, transferred or otherwise dealt with in whole or in part (including by way of making a declaration of trust in respect of, or entering into any arrangement whereby Customer agrees to hold on trust for any other person all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, this Agreement) by Customer without the prior written consent of Supplier, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no consent shall be required in the case of an assignment to a member of Customer Group (a Customer Intra-Group Assignment), provided that such assignment has no material adverse tax consequences for Supplier. | |
41.2 | Subject at all times to Clauses 41.3, this Agreement and all rights and obligations of Supplier hereunder are personal to Supplier and may not be novated, assigned, transferred or otherwise dealt with in whole or in part (including by way of making a declaration of trust in respect of, or enter into any arrangement whereby Supplier agrees to hold on trust for any other person all or any part of the benefit of, or its rights or benefits under, this Agreement) by Supplier without the prior written consent of Customer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that no consent shall be required in the case of a transfer of all (but not part) of the benefit of this Agreement (subject to the burden) to a Mauritian company that is wholly owned by Supplier (a Supplier Intra-Group Assignment). | |
41.3 | Each Permitted Intra-Group Assignment shall be null and void ab initio if the execution and/or completion of such Permitted Intra-Group Assignment has an adverse impact directly or indirectly on any rights or other benefits of the beneficiaries under the terms of the Customer Guarantee and the Supplier Guarantee (as applicable). | |
41.4 | Subject to Clause 41.5, Supplier undertakes that it will not have a place of business outside Mauritius. | |
41.5 | Notwithstanding Clause 41.4, Supplier may change its place of business or open a new place of business with the consent of the Customer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. |
42. | SEVERABILITY |
If any term or provision or any part thereof (in this Clause 42 called the offending provision) contained in this Agreement is or shall be declared or become unenforceable, invalid or illegal for any reason whatsoever (including in respect of the laws of any jurisdiction), the other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as if the same had been executed without the offending provision appearing therein and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to agree a replacement provision or part in place of such offending provision, such provision or part to have an equivalent economic and commercial effect to the offending provision or part. |
43. | NO PARTNERSHIP |
Nothing in this Agreement and no action taken by Customer or Supplier under this Agreement shall constitute a partnership, association, joint venture or other co-operative entity between Customer and Supplier. |
44. | REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
44.1 | No delay or omission by either Party in exercising any right, power or remedy provided by law or under this Agreement or any other documents referred to in it shall: |
(A) | affect that right, power or remedy; or | ||
(B) | operate as a waiver thereof. |
44.2 | 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. |
44.3 | Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the rights, powers and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, powers and remedies provided by law. |
45. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
45.1 | This Agreement (together with any agreement concluded by the Parties pursuant to Clause 46 (Variation)) constitutes the whole and only agreement between the Parties relating to its subject matter. |
45.2 | Each Party acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement it is not relying upon any pre-contractual statement which is not set out in this Agreement. |
45.3 | Except in the case of fraud, neither Party shall have any right of action against the other Party to this Agreement arising out of or in connection with any pre-contractual statement except to the extent that it is repeated in this Agreement. |
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45.4 | For the purposes of this Clause 45, pre-contractual statement means any draft, agreement, undertaking, representation, warranty, promise, assurance or arrangement of any nature whatsoever, whether or not in writing, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement made or given by any person at any time prior to the date of this Agreement. |
46. | VARIATION |
46.1 | Save as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement may not be varied except in writing and signed by an authorised representative of Customer and Supplier. |
46.2 | Without prejudice to Clause 46.1, this Agreement (including any part thereof) may not be rescinded or varied except by Customer in any way or at any time by any member of Customer Group. |
47. | DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
47.1 | In the event that a dispute or difference arises between the Parties, out of or in relation to this Agreement (a Dispute), such Dispute shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management). |
47.2 | If any Dispute is not resolved pursuant to Clause 48, then either Party may by notice to the other refer such Dispute to mediation in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 47.3 to 47.5 (inclusive). |
47.3 | If the Parties are unable to agree a mediation procedure or any aspect of such procedure they will seek assistance from the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution at International Dispute Resolution Centre, 70 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1EU. |
47.4 | Unless otherwise agreed, the Parties will share equally the costs of mediation and the use of mediation shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Parties in all respects if the mediation does not achieve an agreed resolution of the Dispute within 25 Business Days (or such longer period as the Parties may agree) of the matter being first referred for mediation. |
47.5 | If the Parties agree to accept the recommendations of the mediator, or otherwise reach an agreement on the Dispute, such agreement shall be set out in writing. Once it is signed by authorised representatives of the Parties such agreement shall be final and binding and shall be implemented by the Parties in accordance with its terms. |
47.6 | The Parties irrevocably agree that if the Dispute cannot be resolved by the Parties in accordance with Clauses 47.1 to 47.5 (or a Party is unwilling to participate in mediation), the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle that Dispute and that accordingly any proceeding, suit or action arising out of or in connection with this |
Agreement (Proceedings) shall be brought in the English courts. This clause is not concluded for the benefit of any particular Party or Parties to this Agreement |
47.7 | Each Party waives (and agrees not to raise) any objection, on the ground of forum non conveniens or on any other ground, to the taking of Proceedings in the English courts. Each Party also agrees that a judgment against it in Proceedings brought in England shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in that and in any other jurisdiction. |
47.8 | Each Party irrevocably submits and agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of the English courts. |
47.9 | All negotiations connected with any Dispute shall be conducted in confidence and without prejudice to the rights of the Parties in any future proceedings. |
47.10 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Clause 47 and Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management) and the good faith intention of the Parties to fully utilise the relevant dispute resolution procedures set out in this Clause 47 and Schedule 6 (Governance and Service Management), nothing herein shall prevent either Party from taking steps to preserve or enforce its rights including by way of interlocutory or other interim or immediate relief through the English courts. |
48. | LIQUIDATED DAMAGES |
Where a sum is expressed to be payable or due under this Agreement as and by way of liquidated damages (including as a Service Credit) Supplier agrees that each such sum is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances and represents a genuine pre-estimate of the loss that will be suffered by Customer Group in respect of the breach of this Agreement or other circumstances which give rise to its payment. |
49. | COSTS AND EXPENSES |
49.1 | Except as stated in this Agreement or otherwise agreed between the Parties, each Party shall pay its own costs and expenses in relation to the negotiation, preparation, execution and carrying into effect of this Agreement. |
50. | COUNTERPARTS |
50.1 | This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the Parties on separate counterparts, but shall not be effective until each of the Parties has executed at least one counterpart. |
50.2 | Each counterpart shall constitute an original of this Agreement, but all the counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. |
51. | THIRD PARTY RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF SERVICE RECIPIENTS |
51.1 | Subject to any Clause stating that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (the 1999 Act) will apply to liability provisions in relation to the Affiliates of any Party; |
(A) | the 1999 Act will not apply to this Agreement; and | ||
(B) | no term of this Agreement shall be enforceable by a Partys Affiliate (or by any person who is not a Party to this Agreement) against the other Party. |
51.2 | The Parties acknowledge that Customer enters this Agreement in order to receive Services for Customer Group and other Service Recipients. |
51.3 | Supplier undertakes that it shall not oppose in any way or seek to rule out any attempt by Customer to bring any claim against Supplier in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable relief claimed by an Affiliate of Customer. |
51.4 | For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 51 shall prevent Customer from making any claim against Supplier in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable relief on behalf of an Affiliate and nothing in this Clause 51 shall prevent Supplier from making any claim against Customer in respect of Losses incurred by or equitable relief on behalf of an Affiliate. |
51.5 | Clause 51.1 shall not apply, and the 1999 Act shall apply subject to the other provisions of this Clause 51, so that a Partys Affiliates shall be entitled to make a claim against the other Party, if and only if, to the extent that a court rules that a Party is not entitled to claim for the Losses of its Affiliate or for equitable relief due to those Losses not having been incurred by that Party or due to an inability for such equitable relief to be awarded to that Party subject to the following: |
(A) | in the course of bringing such claim or action, such Partys Affiliate will not have greater rights under this Agreement than does the Party and the rights or benefits conferred on the Party of the Affiliate bringing such claim or action will be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; | ||
(B) | if any such Partys Affiliate brings a claim or action against the other Party, the Party of such Affiliates will not also bring a claim or action against the other Party on such Affiliates behalf with regard to the same subject matter; and | ||
(C) | the Party and its Affiliates will reasonably cooperate with the other Party to consolidate any such claims or actions. |
51.6 | Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 51.5 this Agreement may be rescinded or varied in any way and at any time by the Parties without the consent of any Affiliate. |
51.7 | For the avoidance of doubt, any claim brought by any Affiliate in exercise of its rights or benefits under this Clause 51 shall be subject to the limitation and exclusions of liability set out in this Agreement. |
51.8 | Subject to Clause 51.3, the Parties do not intend that any term of this Agreement, should be enforceable, by virtue of the 1999 Act, by any person who is not a Party to this Agreement. |
51.9 | The Parties acknowledge and agree that for the purposes of this Clause 51 the term Affiliate with respect to Customer shall include Service Recipient. |
52. | AGENT FOR SERVICE |
52.1 | Supplier irrevocably appoints WNS Global Services (UK) Limited of Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London NW1 3ER to be its agent for the receipt of service of process in England. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent. |
52.2 | Any Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served if marked for the attention of WNS Global Services (UK) Limited at Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London NW1 3ER or such other address within England and Wales as may be notified to the Party wishing to serve the Service Document and: |
(A) | left at the specified address; or | ||
(B) | sent to the specified address by first class post. |
In the case of Clause 52.2(A), the Service Document will be deemed to have been duly served when it is left. In the case of Clause 52.2.2(B), the Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
52.3 | Customer irrevocably appoints Aviva International Holdings Limited (Company No. 02180206) of St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ to be its agent for the receipt of service of process in England. It agrees that any Service Document may be effectively served on it in connection with Proceedings in England and Wales by service on its agent. |
52.4 | Any Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served if marked for the attention of Aviva International Holdings Limited (Company No. 02180206) at St Helens, 1 Undershaft, London EC3P 3DQ or such other address within England and Wales as may be notified to the Party wishing to serve the Service Document and: |
(A) | left at the specified address; or | ||
(B) | sent to the specified address by first class post. |
In the case of Clause 52.4(A), the Service Document will be deemed to have been duly served when it is left. In the case of Clause 52.4(B), the Service Document shall be deemed to have been duly served two clear Business Days after the date of posting. |
52.5 | If an agent at any time ceases for any reason to act as such, Supplier or Customer (as relevant) shall appoint its replacement agent having an address for service in England |
or Wales and shall notify the other Party of the name and address of the replacement agent. Failing such appointment and notification, either Party shall be entitled by notice to the other Party to appoint a replacement agent to act on behalf of the relevant Party. The provisions of this Clause 52.5 applying to service on an agent apply equally to service on a replacement agent. |
52.6 | A copy of any Service Document served on an agent shall be sent by post to the relevant Party. Failure or delay in so doing shall not prejudice the effectiveness of service of the Service Document. |
53. | INTERPRETATION |
53.1 | In construing this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly specified: |
(A) | references to Clauses, paragraphs, Schedules and Appendices are to clauses and paragraphs of, and schedules, appendices to, this Agreement; | ||
(B) | use of either gender includes the other gender, and use of the singular includes the plural and vice versa; | ||
(C) | references to a person shall be construed so as to include any individual, firm, company or other body corporate, government, state or agency of a state, local or municipal authority or government body or any joint venture, association, partnership or limited partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality); | ||
(D) | a reference to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as a reference to the same as it may, from time to time, be amended, modified or re-enacted; | ||
(E) | any reference to a day (including within the phrase Business Day) shall mean a period of 24 hours running from midnight to midnight; | ||
(F) | references to a month are to a calendar month and year are to a calendar year; | ||
(G) | references to a quarter are to the periods of January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December, in any calendar year, and quarterly shall be interpreted accordingly; | ||
(H) | references to times are to London times, except where expressly stated to the contrary; | ||
(I) | references to indemnifying any person against or with respect to any circumstance shall include indemnifying and keeping it (and each member of its Group) harmless, on an after Tax basis, from all actions, claims and proceedings from time to time made against it and each member of its Group and all losses, damages, liabilities, payments, costs and expenses suffered |
made or incurred by it and each member of its Group as a consequence of or in connection with that circumstance; |
(J) | references to costs and/or expenses incurred by a person shall include any amount in respect of VAT comprised in such costs or expenses for which neither that person nor, if relevant, the representative member of the VAT group to which that persons belongs is entitled to credit as VAT input tax; | ||
(K) | a reference to any other document in this Agreement is a reference to that other document as amended, varied, novated or supplemented (other than in breach of the provisions of this Agreement) from time to time; | ||
(L) | a reference to any part of this Agreement is a reference to that part as amended, varied, novated or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; | ||
(M) | headings and titles are for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of this Agreement; | ||
(N) | any words following the words include or including shall be interpreted without limitation to the generality of the preceding words; | ||
(O) | general words shall not be given a restrictive meaning by reason of the fact that they are followed by particular examples intended to be embraced by the general words; | ||
(P) | a reference to 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 England be treated as a reference to any analogous term in that jurisdiction; and |
53.2 | The Schedules and Appendices form part of this Agreement and shall have the same force and effect as if expressly set out in the body of this Agreement, and any reference to this Agreement shall include the Schedules and the Appendices. |
53.3 | In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Agreement (excluding the Schedules and the Appendices) and the Schedules and the Appendices, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. |
54. | GOVERNING LAW |
Signed by |
) | |||||||
) | ||||||||
for and on behalf of |
) | |||||||
AVIVA GLOBAL SERVICES |
) | /s/ Steven Turpie | ||||||
(MANAGEMENT SERVICES) |
) | |||||||
PRIVATE LIMITED |
) | |||||||
Signed by |
) | |||||||
Johnson J. Selvadurai |
) | |||||||
for and on behalf of |
) | |||||||
WNS CAPITAL INVESTMENT |
) | /s/ Johnson J. Selvadurai | ||||||
LIMITED |
) |
(i)
SCHEDULE 1 |
The Original Parties | 97 | ||||
SCHEDULE 2 |
Conditions precedent | 98 | ||||
SCHEDULE 3 |
Requests | 105 | ||||
SCHEDULE 4 |
Form of Transfer Certificate | 107 | ||||
SCHEDULE 5 |
Form of Compliance Certificate | 109 | ||||
SCHEDULE 6 |
Timetables | 110 | ||||
SCHEDULE 7 |
Security trust provisions | 111 | ||||
SCHEDULE 8 |
Material Subsidiaries | 114 | ||||
SCHEDULE 9 |
Form of Accession Letter | 115 | ||||
SCHEDULE 10 |
Key terms of the Master Service Agreement | 116 | ||||
SCHEDULE 11 |
Existing Financial Indebtedness | 117 | ||||
SCHEDULE 12 |
Existing tax litigation | 118 |
(ii)
(1) | WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of Jersey with registration number 82262 whose registered office is at Capita Trustees Limited, PO Box 532, Channel House, 7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE4 5UW, Channel Islands as company (the Company); | |
(2) | WNS (MAURITIUS) LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of Mauritius whose registered office is at 10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius, as borrower (the Borrower); | |
(3) | THE COMPANIES listed in Part I of Schedule 1 (The Original Guarantors) as original guarantors (together with the Company, the Original Guarantors); | |
(4) | ICICI BANK UK PLC and ICICI BANK CANADA as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together, the Arranger); | |
(5) | THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part II of Schedule 1 (The Original Lenders) as original lenders (the Original Lenders); | |
(6) | ICICI BANK UK PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Agent); | |
(7) | MORGAN WALKER SOLICITORS LLP as security trustee for the Finance Parties (the Security Trustee); and | |
(8) | ICICI BANK UK PLC as account bank (the Account Bank). |
1. | Definitions and interpretation | |
1.1 | Definitions | |
In this Agreement: | ||
Accession Letter means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 (Form of Accession Letter). | ||
Account Mandate means: |
(a) | the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the DSRA entered into on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the Account Bank; | ||
(b) | the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the Master Service Agreement Account to be entered into after the date of this Agreement between the Purchaser and the Account Bank; | ||
(c) | the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the WNS Mauritius Designated Account entered into on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the Account Bank; and |
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(d) | the account mandate relating to the establishment and maintenance of the Target Designated Account entered into after the date of this Agreement between the Target and the Account Bank. |
Accounts means the DSRA, the Master Service Agreement Account, the WNS Mauritius Designated Account and the Target Designated Account. | ||
Acquisition means the acquisition by the Purchaser of the entire issued share capital of the Target pursuant to the Acquisition Documents. | ||
Acquisition Agreement means the agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Vendor and the Purchaser (or one of its Affiliates) relating to the sale and purchase of the Target. | ||
Acquisition Closing Date means the date on which the Acquisition is completed. | ||
Acquisition Costs means all costs, fees and expenses (and Taxes on them) and all stamp duty, registration duties and other Taxes incurred by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Purchaser in connection with the Acquisition, the Transaction Documents or the financing of the Acquisition. | ||
Acquisition Documents means the Acquisition Agreement, the Master Service Agreement, the Disclosure Letter and any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. | ||
Additional Guarantor means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 25 (Changes to the Obligors). | ||
Affiliate means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company. | ||
Agency Agreement means the agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower, the Lenders NDU Agent and the Agent. | ||
Anti-Terrorism Laws means the Executive Order, the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 5311 et seq.), the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 et seq.), the USA Patriot Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.), the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), any other law or regulation administered by OFAC, and any similar law enacted in the United States after the date of this Agreement. | ||
APLMA means the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association Limited. | ||
Assignment of Put Option Agreement means the security assignment of the Put Option Agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement governed by the laws of England and Wales between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. | ||
Authorisation means: |
(a) | an authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation, lodgement or registration; or | ||
(b) | in relation to anything which will be fully or partly prohibited or restricted by law or regulation if a Governmental Agency intervenes or acts in any way within a specified period after lodgement, filing, registration or notification, the expiry of that period without intervention or action. |
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Available Commitment means a Lenders Commitment minus: |
(a) | the amount of its participation in any outstanding Utilisations; and | ||
(b) | in relation to any proposed Utilisation, the amount of its participation in any Utilisations that are due to be made on or before the proposed Utilisation Date. |
Available Facility means the lower of: |
(a) | the aggregate for the time being of each Lenders Available Commitment; and | ||
(b) | 90 per cent. of the total purchase price payable by the Purchaser under the Acquisition Documents. |
Availability Period means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including 30 September 2008. | ||
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor thereto). | ||
Borrower Account Charge means the charge document governed by the laws of England in respect of the WNS Mauritius Designated Account and the DSRA dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. | ||
Break Costs means the amount (if any) by which: |
(a) | the interest which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or an Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or an Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount of that Loan or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period; |
exceeds: |
(b) | the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount of that Loan or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank in the Relevant Interbank Market for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period. |
Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) which is a London Business Day and on which banks are open for general business in New York City and Toronto. | ||
Business Plan means the business plan in respect of the Target and its Subsidiaries in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company. | ||
Charged Assets means the assets charged or purported to be charged or otherwise made the subject of Security pursuant to the Security Documents. | ||
Clean-Up Date means the date falling two months following the Acquisition Closing Date. |
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Clean-Up Default means the events or circumstances set out in Clause 23.3 (Other obligations) and Clause 23.4 (Misrepresentation) to the extent they relate to the failure to comply with a Clean-Up Undertaking or an incorrect or misleading Clean-Up Representation. | ||
Clean-Up Representation means the representations and warranties set out in Clause 18.2 (Bindings obligations), Clause 18.5 (Validity and admissibility in evidence), Clause 18.9 (No Default), Clause 18.10 (No misleading information), Clause 18.11 (Financial statements), Clause 18.13 (No proceedings pending or threatened), Clause 18.14 (Environmental laws and licences), Clause 18.15 (Environmental releases), Clause 18.16 (Title), Clause 18.21 (No breach of law) and Clause 18.32 (Information undertakings). | ||
Clean-Up Undertaking means the undertakings set out in Clause 21.2 (Compliance with laws), Clause 21.7 (Insurance), Clause 21.8 (Environmental undertakings), Clause 21.9 (Environmental claims), Clause 21.10 (Financial Indebtedness), Clause 21.13 (Loans and guarantees), Clause 21.14 (Arms length dealings), Clause 21.17 (Taxes), Clause 21.20 (Maintenance of books and records) and Clause 21.21 (Assets). | ||
COBO means the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958, as amended. | ||
Commitment means: |
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, the amount in US Dollars set opposite its name under the heading Commitment in Part II (The Original Lenders) of Schedule 1 (The Original Parties) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement; and | ||
(b) | in relation to any other Lender, the amount in US Dollars of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement, |
to the extent not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement. | ||
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 5 (Form of Compliance Certificate) which is required to be delivered to the Agent from time to time pursuant to Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). | ||
Confidentiality Undertaking means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the APLMA or in any other form agreed between the Company and the Agent. | ||
Controlled Group means an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with an Obligor within the meaning of section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that includes an Obligor and that is treated as a single employer under section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code. When any provision of this Agreement relates to a past event, the term member of the Controlled Group includes any person that was a member of the Controlled Group at the time of that past event. | ||
Default means an Event of Default or: any event or circumstance specified in Clause 23 (Events of Default) which would (With the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default. |
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Designated Account Charge means: |
(a) | the Target Designated Account Charge; | ||
(b) | the Borrower Account Charge; and | ||
(c) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
Designated Person means a person or entity: |
(a) | listed in the annex to, or otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order; | ||
(b) | named as a Specially Designated National and Blocked Person on the most current list published by OFAC at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list; or | ||
(c) | with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
Disclosure Letter means the disclosure letter issued by the Vendor to the Purchaser or one of its Affiliates on or about the date of this Agreement in connection with the Acquisition Agreement. | ||
Disruption Event means either or both of: |
(a) | a material disruption to those payment or communication systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties; or | ||
(b) | the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury, or payment operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party: |
(i) | from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents; or | ||
(ii) | from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents, |
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted. |
DSRA means the US Dollar denominated debt service reserve account in the name of the Borrower with account number 75886176 held with the Account Bank in London (or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve). | ||
DSRA Amount means on any date, an amount equal to the then aggregate amount of interest payable (or reasonably anticipated on any date by the Agent to be payable) by the Borrower in respect of the outstanding Loans during the three Month period commencing from that date and including the date falling three Months after that date. | ||
DSRA Balance means, at any time, the credit balance (if any) of the DSRA at that time. |
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Environment means living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media: |
(a) | air (including air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground); | ||
(b) | water (including territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers); and | ||
(c) | land (including land under water). |
Environmental Law means all laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction which: |
(a) | have as a purpose or effect the protection of, and/or prevention of harm or damage to, the Environment; | ||
(b) | provide remedies or compensation for harm or damage to the Environment; or | ||
(c) | relate to Hazardous Substances or health and safety matters. |
Environmental Licence means any Authorisation required at any time under Environmental Law. | ||
ERISA means the US Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (or any successor legislation thereto) and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. | ||
ERISA Affiliate means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that is a member of a Controlled Group of any Obligor. | ||
Event of Default means any event or circumstance specified as such in Clause 23 (Events of Default). | ||
Excess Cash has the meaning given to that term in Clause 20.3 (Definitions). | ||
Executive Order means the US Executive Order No. 13224 on Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who, Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism, which came into effect on 24 September 2001, as amended. | ||
Facility means the term loan facility made available under this Agreement as described in Clause 2 (The Facility). | ||
Facility Office means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement. | ||
Fee Letter means any letter or letters dated on or after the date of this Agreement between, as the case may be, the Arranger and the Borrower, the Agent and the Borrower, or the Security Trustee and the Borrower setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 11 (Fees). | ||
Finance Document means: |
(a) | this Agreement; | ||
(b) | any Security Document; |
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(c) | any Non Disposal Document; | ||
(d) | any Fee Letter; | ||
(e) | the Syndication Side Letter; and | ||
(f) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
Finance Party means the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger, the Lenders NDU Agent, the Account Bank or a Lender. | ||
Financial Indebtedness means any indebtedness for or in respect of: |
(a) | moneys borrowed; | ||
(b) | any amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit, bill acceptance or bill endorsement facility or dematerialised equivalent; | ||
(c) | any amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument; | ||
(d) | the amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or capital lease; | ||
(e) | receivables sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold on a non-recourse basis); | ||
(f) | any amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing; | ||
(g) | any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price (and, when calculating the value of any derivative transaction, only the marked to market value shall be taken into account); | ||
(h) | shares which are expressed to be redeemable or any shares or instruments convertible into shares which are otherwise the subject of a put option or guarantee; | ||
(i) | any counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond, standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by a bank or financial institution; and | ||
(j) | the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i) above. |
Financial Report means the financial report in respect of the Acquisition, prepared by Grant Thornton, in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or capable of being relied upon by the Agent and the other Finance Parties. | ||
Fraudulent Transfer Law means any applicable US Bankruptcy Law or any applicable US state fraudulent transfer or conveyance law. | ||
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the United States of America or, if the Company elects to change its accounting principles, standards and practices in accordance with paragraph (c) of Clause 19.4 (Requirements as to financial statements) generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices under IFRS. |
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Governmental Agency means any government or any governmental agency, semi-governmental or judicial or quasi-judicial or administrative entity or authority (including, without limitation, any stock exchange or any self-regulatory organisation established under any law or regulation). | ||
Group means the Company and its Subsidiaries for the time being. | ||
Guarantor means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor. | ||
Hazardous Substance means any waste, pollutant, contaminant or other substance (including any liquid, solid, gas, ion, living organism or noise) that may be harmful to human health or other life or the Environment or a nuisance to any person or that may make the use or ownership of any affected land or property more costly. | ||
Holding Company means, in relation to a company or corporation, any other company or corporation in respect of which it is a Subsidiary. | ||
IFRS means the international accounting standards within the meaning of the lAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements. | ||
Increased Costs has the meaning given to that term in Clause 13 (Increased Costs). | ||
India means the Republic of India and its constituent states from time to time and includes where the context so requires, the Government of the Republic of India, the Government of any constituent state thereof and any regulatory agency or authority thereof. | ||
Indirect Tax means any goods and services tax, consumption tax, value added tax or any Tax of a similar nature. | ||
Information Memorandum means the document in the form to be approved by the Company and the Arranger concerning the Group which, at the Companys request and on its behalf, will be prepared in relation to this transaction and distributed by the Arranger to selected financial institutions after the date of this Agreement. | ||
Initial Valuation means the valuation of the Target by the Valuer dated on or about the date of this Agreement. | ||
Interest Period means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 8.3 (Default interest). | ||
Legal Due Diligence Report means the legal due diligence report in respect of the Acquisition, prepared by Eversheds, legal advisers to the Company, in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or capable of being relied upon by the Agent and the other Finance Parties. | ||
Lender means: |
(a) | any Original Lender; and | ||
(b) | any bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity which has become a Party in accordance with Clause 24 (Changes to the Lenders), |
which in each case has not ceased to be a Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
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Lenders NDU Agent means IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 of India, and having its registered office at Asian Building, round Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Lenders appointed under the Agency Agreement. | ||
Liabilities means all present and future moneys, debts and liabilities due, owing or incurred by any Obligor to any Finance Party under or in connection with any Finance Document (in each case whether alone or jointly, or jointly and severally, with any other person, whether actually or contingently and whether as principal, surety or otherwise). | ||
LIBOR means, in relation to any Loan: |
(a) | the applicable Screen Rate; or | ||
(b) | (if no Screen Rate is available for US Dollars for the Interest Period of that Loan) the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request quoted by the Reference Banks to leading banks in the London interbank market, |
as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the offering of deposits in US Dollars for a period comparable to the Interest Period for that Loan. | ||
Loan means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan. | ||
London Business Day means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which deposits may be dealt in on the Relevant Interbank Market and banks are open for general business in London. | ||
Majority Lenders means: |
(a) | if there are no Loans then outstanding, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 662/3 per cent. of the Total Commitments immediately prior to the reduction); or | ||
(b) | at any other time, a Lender or Lenders whose participations in the Loans then outstanding aggregate more than 662/3 per cent. of all the Loans then outstanding. |
Margin means: |
(a) | subject to paragraph (b) below, three per cent. per annum; and | ||
(b) | whilst an Event of Default or a Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) is continuing, five per cent. per annum. |
Margin Stock means margin stock or margin security within the meaning of Regulation U or Regulation X. | ||
Master Service Agreement means the master service agreement to be entered into after the date of this Agreement between the Purchaser and Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and containing the key terms set out in Schedule 10 (Key terms of the Master Service Agreement). |
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Master Service Agreement Account means the US$ denominated master service agreement account to be held in the name of the Purchaser and approved by the Agent or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve. | ||
Master Service Agreement Account Charge means the charge document in respect of the Master Service Agreement Account dated after the date of this Agreement between the Purchaser and the Security Trustee. | ||
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on or material adverse change in: |
(a) | the consolidated condition (financial or otherwise), operations, prospects, properties, performance or business of the Group taken as a whole; | ||
(b) | the ability of any Obligor to perform and comply with its material obligations under any Finance Document; | ||
(c) | the validity, legality or enforceability of, or the rights or remedies of any Finance Party under, any Finance Document; or | ||
(d) | the validity, legality or enforceability of any Security expressed to be created pursuant to any Security Document or on the priority and ranking of any of that Security or the validity, legality or enforceability of any non disposal arrangement expressed to be created pursuant to any Non Disposal Document. |
Material Subsidiary means: |
(a) | a Subsidiary of the Company in respect of which the total EBITDA or total assets (being the aggregate of net fixed assets (including goodwill and investments) and net current assets (including cash)) as at the date which its latest audited unconsolidated financial statements were prepared or, as the case may be, for the financial period to which those financial statements relate account for five per cent. or more of the consolidated total EBITDA or total assets (being the aggregate of net fixed assets (including goodwill and investments) and net current assets (including cash)) of the Group (all as calculated by reference to the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company); or | ||
(b) | a Subsidiary of the Company to which has been transferred (whether in a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not)) the whole or substantially the whole of the assets of a Subsidiary which immediately prior to such transaction(s) was a Material Subsidiary. |
For the purposes of this definition: |
(i) | if a Subsidiary becomes a Material Subsidiary under paragraph (b) above, the Material Subsidiary by which the relevant transfer was made shall, subject to paragraph (a) above, cease to be a Material Subsidiary; and | ||
(ii) | if a Subsidiary is acquired by the Company after the end of the financial period to which the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company relate, those financial statements shall be adjusted as if that Subsidiary had been shown in them by reference to its then latest audited financial statements (consolidated if appropriate) until audited unconsolidated financial statements of the Company for the financial period in which the acquisition is made have been prepared. |
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Mauritian Account means the account in the name of the Borrower with account number 080 070311 020 held with HSBC Bank Mauritius or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve. | ||
Mauritian Account Charge means the assignment of a bank account document governed by the laws of Mauritius in respect of the Mauritian Account entered into on or about the date of this Agreement between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. | ||
Month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that: |
(a) | (subject to paragraph (c) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day; | ||
(b) | if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month; and | ||
(c) | if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month and, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, that Interest Period is to be of a duration equal to a whole number of Months, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end. |
The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period. | ||
Multiemployer Plan means, at any time, a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) then or at any time during the previous five years maintained for, or contributed to (or to which there is or was an obligation to contribute) on behalf of, employees of any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate. | ||
NDU Providers Agent means IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 of India and having its registered office at Asian Building, Ground Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Borrower. | ||
Net Equity Proceeds means the cash and cash equivalent proceeds received by a member of the Group in respect of any issuance of shares or other equity instruments by a member of the Group (other than any issuance of shares or other equity instruments by one member of the Group to another member of the Group) after deducting fees and transaction costs properly incurred in connection with that issuance of shares or equity instruments after deducting: |
(a) | any fees, transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with that issuance of shares or equity instruments; and | ||
(b) | Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that issuance of shares or equity instruments. |
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Net Insurance Proceeds means any proceeds (other than proceeds in relation to third party liabilities that are actually applied to meet such liabilities or proceeds in relation to consequential loss policies that are actually applied to cover operating losses, loss of profits or business interruption) exceeding US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies) in respect of any single claim received by any member of the Group under or pursuant to any insurance policy (or equivalent) after the date of this Agreement after deducting: |
(a) | any amounts payable to persons holding Security over such proceeds that ranks in priority to the interests of the Finance Parties; | ||
(b) | any fees, transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with that claim; and | ||
(c) | Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that claim. |
Net Sale Proceeds means the cash or cash equivalent proceeds (including, when received, the cash or cash equivalent proceeds of any deferred consideration, whether by way of adjustment to the purchase price or otherwise, and any amount received in repayment of any intercompany debt) received by a member of the Group in connection with the sale, transfer or other disposal by any member of the Group of an asset exceeding US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies) in respect of any single disposal after deducting: |
(a) | fees and transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with that sale, transfer or disposal; | ||
(b) | Taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Company to be payable (as certified by the Company to the Agent) as a result of that sale, transfer or disposal; and | ||
(c) | amounts payable to persons holding Security over such asset that ranks in priority to the interests of the Finance Parties. |
Net Termination Compensation Proceeds means any amount received or recovered by a member of the Group pursuant to or in respect of the termination of in whole or in part, the Master Service Agreement or any related breach of contract, warranty claim, reliance letter or legal action or proceedings (whether by way of judgment on or settlement of any such claim), in each case net of related fees, Taxes, transaction costs and expenses properly incurred in achieving any such recoveries (and excluding any amounts that constitute severance pay in respect of no more than four Months salary for any employee payable upon termination of the Master Service Agreement). | ||
Non Disposal Document means: |
(a) | any Non Disposal Undertaking; | ||
(b) | any Non Disposal POA; | ||
(c) | any Designated Account Charge; | ||
(d) | the Agency Agreement; and | ||
(e) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
Non Disposal POA means: |
(a) | each WNS Non Disposal POA; |
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(b) | the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA; and | ||
(c) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
Non Disposal Undertaking means: |
(a) | each WNS Non Disposal Undertaking; | ||
(b) | the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking; and | ||
(c) | any other document designated as such by the Agent and the Company. |
Non Disposal Undertaking Provider means: |
(a) | the Borrower; and | ||
(b) | the Target. |
Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney to be granted after the date of this Agreement by the Borrower to the NDU Providers Agent in respect of the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking. | ||
Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking to be entered into after the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in Ntrance Customer Services Private Limited and in Marketics Technologies Private Limited between, among others, the Borrower and the Lenders NDU Agent. | ||
Obligor means a Borrower or a Guarantor. | ||
OFAC means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury. | ||
Original Financial Statements means: |
(a) | in relation to the Company, the audited consolidated financial statements for the Group for the financial year ended 31 March 2008; and | ||
(b) | in relation to each Original Obligor other than the Company, its audited financial statements for its financial year ended 31 March 2008. |
Original Obligor means the Borrower or an Original Guarantor. | ||
Party means a party to this Agreement. | ||
Permitted Treasury Transaction means any Treasury Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business (and not for investment or speculative purposes) to hedge currency, commodity price or interest rate exposure of a member of the Group. | ||
Purchaser means WNS Capital Investment Limited. | ||
Purchaser Mauritian Account means the general account in the name of the Purchaser with account number 080-121874-020 held with HSBC Bank in Mauritius or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve. | ||
Purchaser Share Charge means the share pledge document governed by the laws of Mauritius in respect of the shares in the Purchaser between the Borrower and the Security Trustee. |
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Put Option Agreement means the put option agreement dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Put Providers and the Borrower. | ||
Put Provider means WNS Global Services Private Limited, Marketics Technologies Private Limited and any other person who becomes a Put Obligor (as defined in the Put Option Agreement) under the Put Option Agreement. | ||
Put Providers Share Sale Proceeds has the meaning given to Share Sale Proceeds in the WNS Non Disposal Undertakings. | ||
Quotation Day means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined, two London Business Days before the first day of that period unless market practice differs in the Relevant Interbank Market, in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Interbank Market (and if quotations for that currency for that period would normally be given by leading banks in the Relevant Interbank Market on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days). | ||
Reference Banks means the principal London offices of Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Barclays Bank PLC and Standard Chartered Bank or such other banks as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Company. | ||
Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X means Regulation T, U or X, as the case may be, of the Board, as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof. | ||
Relevant Interbank Market means the London interbank market. | ||
Relevant Period has the meaning given to that term in Clause 20.3 (Definitions). | ||
Repeating Representations means each of the representations set out in Clause 18 (Representations) other than those set out in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Clause 18.11 (Financial statements), Clause 18.20 (Material Subsidiaries), Clause 18.22 (Acquisition Documents), Clause 18.26 (Shareholders), Clause 18.27(Master Services Agreement), Clause 18.28 (Anti-Terrorism Laws), Clause 18.29 (US Regulation), Clause 18.30 (Margin Regulations) and Clause 18.31 (Employee Benefit Plans). | ||
Screen Rate means the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for US Dollars for the relevant period displayed on the appropriate page of the Reuters screen. If the agreed page is replaced or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the appropriate rate after consultation with the Company and the Lenders. | ||
Security means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect. | ||
Security Document means: |
(a) | the Assignment of Put Option Agreement; | ||
(b) | the Purchaser Share Charge; | ||
(c) | the Mauritian Account Charge; | ||
(d) | the Master Service Agreement Account Charge; |
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(e) | the Sri Lankan Share Charge; | ||
(f) | the Target Share Charge; | ||
(g) | the Target Designated Account Charge; | ||
(h) | the Borrower Account Charge; | ||
(i) | the WNS Mauritius Share Charge; | ||
(j) | the WNS North America Share Charge; | ||
(k) | the WNS UK Fixed and Floating Charge; | ||
(I) | the WNS UK Share Charge; and | ||
(m) | any other security document that may at any time be given as security for any of the Liabilities. |
Security Property has the meaning given to it in Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions). | ||
Selection Notice means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part II (Selection Notice) of Schedule 3 (Requests) given in accordance with Clause 9 (Interest Periods). | ||
Share or Business Acquisition means: |
(a) | any investment in or acquisition of, whether by incorporation or otherwise, any share in or any security issued by any person, or any interest therein or in the capital of any person, or the making of any capital contribution to any person; | ||
(b) | any investment in or acquisition of any business or going concern, or the whole or substantially the whole business of the assets, property or business of any person or any assets that constitute a division or operating unit of the business of any person; or | ||
(c) | the entry into any joint venture, consortium, partnership or similar arrangement with any person. |
Specified Time means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 6 (Timetables). | ||
Sri Lankan Share Charge means the fixed charge document governed by the laws of Sri Lanka in respect of the shares in Aviva Global Services Lanka (Private) Limited to be entered into between the Target and the Security Trustee. | ||
Standing Payment Instruction means: |
(a) | in relation to an Original Lender, payment instructions delivered to the Agent in writing on or prior to the date of this Agreement; | ||
(b) | in relation to any other Lender, payment instructions set out in the Transfer Certificate to which that Lender is signatory, |
or such other payment instructions as the Lender may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days notice. | ||
Subsidiary means in relation to any person (the First Person) at any particular time, any other person which is then either controlled, or more than 50 per cent. of whose issued ordinary or common equity share capital (or the like) is then beneficially owned, directly or |
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indirectly, by the First Person (and without limitation, includes a subsidiary within the meaning of Articles 2 and 2A of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, as amended). | ||
Syndication Date means the earlier to occur of: |
(a) | 31 March 2009; and | ||
(b) | the date (as determined by the Arranger and notified to the Company) on which the sub-underwriting (if any) and syndication of the Facility has been completed and all associated novations and transfers have been effected pursuant to Clause 24 (Changes to the Lenders). |
Syndication Side Letter means the syndication side letter dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Company and the Arranger. | ||
Target means Aviva Global Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore whose registered office is at 3 Anson Road, #07-01, Springleaf Tower, Singapore 079909. | ||
Targets NDU Agent means RDBI Trusteeship Services Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 of India, and having its registered office at Asian Building, Ground Floor, 17, R. Kamani Marg., Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001 as agent of the Lenders appointed under the Agency Agreement. | ||
Target Designated Account means the US Dollar denominated designated account in the name of the Target to be held with the Account Bank in London (or any other account being a renewal, redesignation, or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve). | ||
Target Designated Account Charge means the charge document governed by the laws of England in respect of the Target Designated Account dated after the date of this Agreement between the Target and the Security Trustee. | ||
Target Share Charge means the share charge document governed by the laws of Singapore in respect of the shares in the Target to be entered into between the Purchaser and the Security Trustee. | ||
Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney to be granted after the date of this Agreement by the Target to the Targets NDU Agent in respect of the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking. | ||
Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking to be entered into after the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited, Noida Customer Operations Private Limited, Customer Operations Services Chennai Private Limited and Aviva Global Shared Services Private Limited between, among others, the Target and the Lenders NDU Agent. | ||
Target Subsidiaries Share Sale Proceeds has, the meaning given to Share Sale Proceeds in the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertakings. | ||
Tax means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same). |
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Tax Report means the tax report in respect of the Acquisition, prepared by Ernst & Young, in the form agreed between the Agent and the Company and addressed to or capable of being relied upon by the Agent and the other Finance Parties. | ||
Termination Date means the date which is 54 Months after the Weighted Average Utilisation Date. | ||
Third Parties Act means the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. | ||
Total Commitments means the aggregate of the Commitments, being US$200,000,000 at the date of this Agreement. | ||
Transaction Documents means the Finance Documents and the Acquisition Documents. | ||
Transfer Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 4 (Form of Transfer Certificate), in a recommended form of the APLMA from time to time or in any other form agreed between the Agent and the Company. | ||
Transfer Date means, in relation to a transfer, the later of: |
(a) | the proposed Transfer Date specified in the Transfer Certificate; and | ||
(b) | the date on which the Agent executes the Transfer Certificate. |
Treasury Transaction means any currency, commodity or interest rate purchase, cap or collar agreement, forward rate agreement, future or option contract, swap or other similar agreement. | ||
Unpaid Sum means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Obligors under the Finance Documents. | ||
US and United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions. | ||
USA Patriot Act means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 of the United States, as amended. | ||
US Bankruptcy Law means the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978 (Title 11 of the United States Code) or any other United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law. | ||
US Guarantor means a Guarantor that is a US Person. | ||
US Person means a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code and includes the sole owner of any entity that is disregarded as being an entity separate from such owner for US federal income tax purposes. | ||
US$ or US Dollars means the lawful currency of the United States of America. | ||
Utilisation means a utilisation of the Facility. | ||
Utilisation Date means the date on which a Utilisation is, or is to be, made. | ||
Utilisation Request means a notice substantially in the form set out in Part I (Utilisation Request) of Schedule 3 (Requests). |
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Valuation means the Initial Valuation and each other valuation of the Target by the Valuer supplied under this Agreement, in each case showing the then market value of the Target and addressed to, or capable of being relied upon by the Finance Parties. | ||
Valuer means Grant Thornton or any other valuer appointed by the Agent. | ||
Vendor means Aviva International Holdings Limited. | ||
Weighted Average Utilisation Date means the date determined by the Agent on the last day of the Availability Period in accordance with: the following formula: |
Weighted Average Utilisation Date = date of this Agreement + N | |||
Where: |
N (in days)
|
= | WAL | |||||
Total Loans | |||||||
(rounded down to the nearest whole multiple number); | |||||||
Total Loans
|
= | the aggregate original principal amount of each Loan; and | |||||
WAL (in US Dollars)
|
= | the aggregate, for each Loan, of the number of days elapsed from the date of this Agreement to (and including) the Utilisation Date for that Loan, multiplied by the original principal amount of that Loan. |
WNS Global Services Non Disposal POA means the irrevocable power of attorney dated on or about the date of this agreement granted by the Borrower to the NDU Providers Agent in respect of the WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking. | ||
WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking means the non disposal undertaking dated on or about the date of this Agreement in respect of the shares in WNS Global Services Private Limited between, among others, the Borrower and the Lenders NDU Agent. | ||
WNS Mauritius Designated Account means the US Dollar denominated designated account in the name of the Borrower with account number 75886177 held with the Account Bank in London (or any other account being a renewal, redesignation or replacement of that account as the Majority Lenders may approve). | ||
WNS Mauritius Share Charge means the share pledge document dated on or about the date of this agreement governed by the laws of Mauritius in respect of the shares in the Borrower between the Company and the Security Trustee. | ||
WNS Non Disposal POA means: |
(a) | the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal POA; and | ||
(b) | the WNS Global Services Non Disposal POA. |
WNS Non Disposal Undertaking means: |
(a) | the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking; and |
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(b) | the WNS Global Services Non Disposal Undertaking. |
WNS North America Share Charge means the pledge agreement governed by the laws of New York in respect of the shares in WNS North America Inc. between the Company and the Security Trustee. | ||
WNS UK Fixed and Floating Charge means the fixed and floating charge document governed by the laws of England between WNS Global Services (UK) Limited and the Security Trustee. | ||
WNS UK Share Charge means the fixed charge document governed by the laws of England in respect of the shares in WNS Global Services (UK) Limited between the Company and the Security Trustee. |
1.2 | Construction | |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears, any reference in this Agreement to: |
(i) | The Account Bank, the Agent, the Arranger, the Borrower, any Finance Party, any Guarantor, any Lender, any NDU Provider, any Obligor, the Company, any Party or the Security Trustee shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees; | ||
(ii) | assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description; | ||
(iii) | an authorised signatory means a person that has been duly authorised by another person (the other person) to execute or sign any Finance Document (or other document or notice to be executed or signed by the other person under or in connection with any Finance Document) on behalf of that other person; | ||
(iv) | control has the meaning given to it in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations 1997 and shall include the right to appoint a majority of the directors or to control the management or policy decisions exercisable by a person or persons acting individually or in concert, directly or indirectly, including by virtue of their shareholding or management rights or shareholders agreements or voting agreements or in any other manner; | ||
(v) | a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, restated or replaced and includes any increase in, extension of, or change to any facility made available under that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument and including any waiver or consent granted in respect of any term of any Finance Document; | ||
(vi) | a guarantee also includes an indemnity and any other obligation (whatever called) of any person to pay, purchase, provide funds (whether by the advance of money, the purchase of or subscription for shares or other securities, the purchase of assets or services or otherwise) for the payment of, indemnify against the consequences of default in the payment of, or otherwise be responsible for, any indebtedness of any other person (and guaranteed and guarantor shall be construed accordingly); |
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(vii) | indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent; | ||
(viii) | a person includes any person, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust or partnership (whether or not having separate legal personality) or two or more of the foregoing; | ||
(ix) | a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation; | ||
(x) | shares or share capital includes equivalent ownership interests (and shareholder and similar expressions shall be construed accordingly); | ||
(xi) | a law or a provision of law is a reference to that law or, as applicable, that provision as amended or re-enacted; and | ||
(xii) | a time of day is a reference to London time. |
(b) | Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only. | |
(c) | Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice or certificate given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document, notice or certificate as in this Agreement. | |
(d) | A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived or remedied. | |
(e) | Unless a contrary indication appears, one person is acting in concert with another person in relation to their holding of shares in a company if, whether pursuant to any agreement or understanding, formal or informal or otherwise, they actively cooperate to obtain, maintain, consolidate or exercise control over that company. | |
1.3 | Third Party Rights | |
(a) | Except as provided in a Finance Document, the terms of a Finance Document may be enforced and enjoyed only by a Party to it and the operation of the Third Parties Act is excluded. | |
(b) | Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a party to a Finance Document is not required to vary, rescind or terminate that Finance Document. |
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2. | The Facility |
2.1 | The Facility |
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available to the Borrower a term loan facility in US Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Commitments. |
2.2 | Finance Parties rights and obligations |
(a) | The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents. | |
(b) | The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt. | |
(c) | A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents. |
2.3 | Obligors agent |
(a) | Each Obligor (other than the Company) irrevocably appoints the Company to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises: |
(i) | the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give and receive all notices, consents and instructions (including Utilisation Requests), to agree, accept and execute on its behalf all documents in connection with the Finance Documents (including amendments and variations of and consents under any Finance Document), to execute any new Finance Document and to take such other action as may be necessary or desirable under or in connection with the Finance Documents, and to execute on its behalf any documents required hereunder and to make such agreements capable of being given or made by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect such Obligor without further reference to or consent of such Obligor; and | ||
(ii) | each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company. |
(b) | Each Obligor (other than the Company) confirms that: |
(i) | it will be bound by any action taken by the Company under or in connection with the Finance Documents; and | ||
(ii) | each Finance Party may rely on any action purported to be taken by the Company on behalf of that Obligor. |
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2.4 | Acts of the Company |
(a) | The respective liabilities of each of the Obligors under the Finance Documents shall not be affected by: |
(i) | any actual or purported irregularity in any act done, or failure to act, by the Company; | ||
(ii) | the Company acting (or purporting to act) in any respect outside any authority conferred upon it by any Obligor; or | ||
(iii) | any actual or purported failure by, or inability of, the Company to inform any Obligor of receipt by it of any notification under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Company and any other Obligor, those of the Company shall prevail. |
3. | Purpose |
3.1 | Purpose |
(a) | The Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility towards financing: |
(i) | the acquisition of shares in the Purchaser, the proceeds of such acquisition to be employed by the Purchaser for the Acquisition pursuant to the Acquisition Documents; | ||
(ii) | the Incentive Payment (as defined in the Master Service Agreement) upon the signing of the Master Service Agreement; and | ||
(iii) | Acquisition Costs. |
(b) | No amount borrowed under the Facility shall be applied in any manner that may be illegal or contravene any applicable law or regulation in any relevant jurisdiction concerning financial assistance by a company for the acquisition of or subscription for shares or concerning the protection of shareholders capital. |
3.2 | Monitoring |
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement. |
4. | Conditions of Utilisation |
4.1 | Initial conditions precedent |
The Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may not deliver the first Utilisation Request unless the Agent has received (or is satisfied that prior to or at the same time as the first Utilisation it will receive) all of the documents and other evidence listed in and appearing to comply with the requirements of Part I (Conditions precedent to first Utilisation) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) (except to the extent that the Agent has waived the same on the instructions of the Majority Lenders). The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents and other evidence and notify the Lenders at such time of any waivers granted by it in connection therewith. |
The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents and other evidence. |
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4.2 | Further conditions precedent |
The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 5.4 (Lenders participation) if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date: |
(a) | no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan; and | ||
(b) | the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all material respects. |
4.3 | Maximum number of Utilisations |
There shall be no more than two Utilisations. |
4.4 | Confirmation |
The Borrower shall confirm to the Agent no later than 15 July 2008 its intention to utilise the balance of the Available Facility on or prior to 30 September 2008. |
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5. | Utilisation Loans |
5.1 | Delivery of a Utilisation Request |
The Borrower may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time or such earlier time as all the Lenders may agree. |
5.2 | Completion of a Utilisation Request |
(a) | Each Utilisation Request is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless: |
(i) | the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period; | ||
(ii) | the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 5.3 (Currency and amount); | ||
(iii) | the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 9 (Interest Periods); and | ||
(iv) | it specifies the account and bank (which must be acceptable to the Agent) to which the proceeds of the Utilisation are to be credited. |
(b) | Only one Loan may be requested in each Utilisation Request. |
5.3 | Currency and amount |
The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be US Dollars. |
5.4 | Lenders participation |
(a) | If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, each Lender shall make its participation in a Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office. | |
(b) | The amount of each Lenders participation in a Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making that Loan. | |
(c) | The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of a Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan by the Specified Time. |
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6. | Repayment |
6.1 | Repayment of Loans |
The Borrower shall repay the Loans on the following dates in the following percentages: |
Repayment Date | Repayment Instalment | |||
(months after Weighted Average Utilisation Date) | (percentage of amount of Loans) | |||
12 |
10 | |||
18 |
10 | |||
24 |
10 | |||
30 |
10 | |||
36 |
10 | |||
42 |
15 | |||
48 |
20 | |||
Termination Date |
15 |
6.2 | Reborrowing |
The Borrower may not reborrow any part of the Facility which is repaid or prepaid. |
7. | Prepayment and cancellation |
7.1 | Illegality |
If, at any time, it becomes or will become unlawful or contrary to any regulation in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund or maintain its participation in any Utilisation: |
(a) | that Lender shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event; | ||
(b) | upon the Agent notifying the Company, the Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and | ||
(c) | the Borrower shall repay that Lenders participation in the Utilisations on the last day of the Interest Period for each Utilisation occurring after the Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law or regulation, as the case may be). |
7.2 | Mandatory prepayment Net Equity Proceeds |
Unless and to the extent that the Majority Lenders agree otherwise, the Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Equity Proceeds is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the Group. |
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7.3 | Mandatory prepayment Net Sale Proceeds |
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Sale Proceeds is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the Group provided that if no Default is continuing, such amount need not be applied in prepayment of the Loans to the extent that a director of the Company has certified to the Agent that such amount will be re-invested in fixed assets of the Group and such amount is: |
(a) | re-invested in fixed assets of the Group within six Months of receipt by a member of the Group; or | ||
(b) | committed to be applied in re-investment in fixed assets of the Group within six Months of receipt by a member of the Group and actually applied in such re-investment within 12 Months of such receipt, |
failing which, it shall be so applied in prepayment of the Loans. |
7.4 | Mandatory prepayment Net Insurance Proceeds |
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Insurance Proceeds is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the Group provided that if no Default is continuing, such amount need not be applied in prepayment of the Loans to the extent that such amount relates to Net Insurance Proceeds and a director of the Company has certified to the Agent that such amount will be used to replace the assets to which those Net Insurance Proceeds relate with substantially similar assets or to repair such assets within six Months of receipt by a member of the Group. |
7.5 | Mandatory prepayment Net Termination Compensation Proceeds |
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to all Net Termination Compensation Proceeds is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which such funds are received by a member of the Group. |
7.6 | Mandatory prepayment Excess Cash |
The Company shall ensure that an amount equal to 90 per cent. of the Excess Cash for each Relevant Period is paid to the Agent in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the last day of the Interest Period during which that Excess Cash figure is calculated. |
7.7 | Cancellation |
(a) | The Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than 10 days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount of US$10,000,000 (or less if the Available Commitment is less than US$10,000,000) or in higher integral multiples of US$5,000,000) of the Available Facility. Any cancellation under this Clause 7.7 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably. |
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(b) | The Available Commitments shall automatically be cancelled and reduced to zero at the close of business in London on the earlier of (i) 30 September 2008 and (ii) the second Utilisation Date. |
7.8 | Voluntary prepayment of Utilisations |
(a) | The Company may, subject to paragraph (c) below, if it gives the Agent not less than 10 days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of any Utilisation (but, if in part, being an amount that reduces that Loan by a minimum amount of US$10,000,000 (or less if the aggregate amount of all Loans then is less than US$10,000,000) or in higher integral multiples of US$5,000,000). | |
(b) | A Utilisation may only be prepaid after the last day of the Availability Period (or, if earlier, the day on which the Available Facility is zero). | |
(c) | Any notice of prepayment given by the Company under paragraph (a) above shall only be valid if accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably) that all Authorisations necessary or desirable in connection with the proposed prepayment have been obtained and are in full force and effect. |
7.9 | Right of repayment and cancellation in relation to a single Lender |
(a) | If: |
(i) | by reason of the introduction after the date of this Agreement of or any change after the date of this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation, any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under paragraph (a) of Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) to a greater extent than would have been required had that payment been made on the date of this Agreement; or | ||
(ii) | any Lender claims indemnification from the Company under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) or Clause 13 (Increased Costs), |
the Company may, subject to paragraph (c) below, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lenders participation in the Utilisations. |
(b) | On receipt of a notice referred to in paragraph (a) above, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero. | |
(c) | Any notice of prepayment given by the Company under paragraph (a) above shall only be valid if accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Agent that all Authorisations necessary or desirable in connection with the proposed prepayment have been obtained and are in full force and effect. | |
(d) | On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given notice under paragraph (a) above (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in that notice), the Company shall repay that Lenders participation in that Utilisation. |
7.10 | Restrictions |
(a) | Any notice of cancellation or prepayment given by any Party under this Clause 7 shall be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment. |
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(b) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty. | |
(c) | Any prepayment under this Agreement shall satisfy the obligations under Clause 6.1 (Repayment of Loans) in inverse chronological order. | |
(d) | The Borrower shall not repay or prepay all or any part of the Utilisations or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement. | |
(e) | No amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated. | |
(f) | If the Agent receives a notice under this Clause 7 it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice to either the Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate. |
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8. | Interest | |
8.1 | Calculation of interest | |
The rate of interest on a Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable: |
(a) | Margin; and | ||
(b) | LIBOR. |
8.2 | Payment of interest | |
The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan on the last day of each Interest Period for that Loan (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the dates falling at six Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period). | ||
8.3 | Default interest | |
(a) | If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which is the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably) and assuming that the margin component of the interest payable on such Loan is the Margin applicable whilst an Event of Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) is continuing or a Default under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) is continuing. Any interest accruing under this Clause 8.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent. | |
(b) | If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan, the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan. | |
8.4 | Notification of rates of interest | |
The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement. |
9. | Interest Periods | |
9.1 | Selection of Interest Periods | |
(a) | The Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the Borrower) may select an Interest Period for each Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan or (if the Loan has already been borrowed) in a Selection Notice. | |
(b) | Each Selection Notice for a Loan is irrevocable and must be delivered to the Agent by the Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the Borrower) not later than the Specified Time. | |
(c) | If the Borrower (or the Company) fails to deliver a Selection Notice to the Agent in accordance with paragraph (b) above, the relevant Interest Period will be three Months. |
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(d) | Subject to this Clause 9, the Borrower (or the Company) shall select an Interest Period of three Months. | |
(e) | An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date. | |
(f) | Each Interest Period for a Loan shall start on the Utilisation Date or (if already made) on the last day of the preceding Interest Period for that Loan. | |
9.2 | Non-Business Days | |
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). | ||
9.3 | Changes to Interest Periods | |
If two Interest Periods relating to different Loans end on the same date, those Loans will be consolidated into, and treated as, a single Loan on the last day of the Interest Period. |
10. | Changes to the calculation of interest | |
10.1 | Absence of quotations | |
Subject to Clause 10.2 (Market disruption), if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Reference Banks but a Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Reference Banks. | ||
10.2 | Market disruption | |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the rate per annum which is the sum of: |
(i) | the Margin; and | ||
(ii) | the higher of (x) the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event before interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period, to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select and (y) in relation to a Market Disruption Event under paragraph (b)(ii) below, LIBOR. |
(b) | In this Agreement Market Disruption Event means: |
(i) | at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period the Screen Rate is not available or the Screen Rate is zero or negative and none or only one of the Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for US Dollars for the relevant Interest Period; or | ||
(ii) | before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in that Loan exceed 35 per cent. of the Loan) that the cost to it or them of obtaining matching deposits in the Relevant Interbank Market would be in excess of LIBOR. |
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10.3 | Alternative basis of interest or funding | |
(a) | If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Company so requires, the Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than 30 days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest. | |
(b) | Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties. | |
(c) | For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that no substitute basis for determining the rate of interest is agreed, the rate of interest shall continue to be determined in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. | |
10.4 | Break Costs | |
(a) | The Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by the Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum. | |
(b) | Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue. |
11. | Fees | |
11.1 | Commitment fee | |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in US Dollars computed at the rate of 0.50 per cent. per annum on that Lenders Available Commitment for the Availability Period. | |
(b) | The accrued commitment fee is payable on, the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lenders Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective. | |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, no commitment fee shall be payable in respect of the 30-day period commencing on the date of this Agreement. | |
11.2 | Arrangement fee | |
The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter. | ||
11.3 | Agency | |
The Borrower shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter. | ||
11.4 | Security fee | |
The Borrower shall pay to the Security Trustee (for its own account) a fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter. |
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12. | Tax gross-up and indemnities | |
12.1 | Definitions | |
(a) | In this Agreement: | |
Tax Credit means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Tax. | ||
Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document. | ||
Tax Payment means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up) or a payment under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity). | ||
(b) | Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 12 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the reasonable discretion of the person making the determination. | |
12.2 | Tax gross-up | |
(a) | All payments to be made by an Obligor to any Finance Party under or in connection with a Finance Document shall be made free and clear of and without any Tax Deduction, unless the Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction in which case the sum payable by the Obligor shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that the Finance Party concerned receives a sum, net of any Tax Deduction, equal to the sum which it would have received if no Tax Deduction had been required. | |
(b) | Each Obligor shall promptly upon becoming aware that it must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Company. | |
(c) | If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, it shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law. | |
(d) | Within 30 days of the end of each of its financial years (or by any such earlier date as may be required by law), each Obligor shall deliver to the Agent details of all Tax Deductions and payments required in connection with such Tax Deductions made during that financial year and, for the Finance Party entitled to any such payment, an original receipt (or certified copy thereof) evidencing to the reasonable satisfaction of that Finance Party that each relevant Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) each appropriate payment has been paid to the relevant taxing authority. | |
(e) | Any reference to a person being required by applicable law to make a deduction or withholding for or on account of tax from any payment under any Finance Document shall be construed as including any circumstances in which a person is authorised under the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961 (as amended) to make such a deduction where a failure to allow such deduction would result in a fine being payable under Jersey law and the agreement under which the payment is made being void. |
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12.3 | Tax indemnity | |
(a) | Without prejudice to Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up), if any Finance Party is required to make any payment of or on account of Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable under or in connection with the Finance Documents (including any sum deemed for purposes of Tax to be received or receivable by such Finance Party, whether or not actually received or receivable) or if any liability in respect of any such payment is asserted, imposed, levied or assessed against any Finance Party, the Company shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) indemnify the Finance Party which determines it has suffered a loss or liability as a result against such payment or liability together with any interest, penalties, costs and expenses payable or incurred in connection therewith. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply: |
(i) | with respect to any Tax imposed: |
(A) | by the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated; or | ||
(B) | by the jurisdiction in which its Facility Office is located, |
which is calculated by reference to the net income actually received or receivable (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any sum deemed for purposes of Tax to be received or receivable by that Finance Party but not actually received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or | |||
(ii) | to the extent a loss, liability or cost is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 12.2 (Tax gross-up). |
(c) | A Finance Party making, or intending to make, a claim under paragraph (a) above shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, whereupon the Agent shall notify the Company. | |
(d) | A Finance Party shall, on receiving a payment from the Company under this Clause 12.3, notify the Agent. | |
12.4 | Tax Credit | |
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that: |
(a) | a Tax Credit is attributable either to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part or to that Tax Payment; and | ||
(b) | that Finance Party has obtained, utilised and fully retained that Tax Credit on an affiliated group basis, |
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to that Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by that Obligor. |
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12.5 | Stamp taxes | |
The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability that the Finance Party incurs, in relation to, all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document (except in relation to any assignment or transfer by a Lender in accordance with Clause 24.1 (Assignments and transfers by the Lenders)). | ||
12.6 | Indirect Tax | |
(a) | All consideration expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party shall be deemed to be exclusive of any Indirect Tax. If any Indirect Tax is chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party in connection with a Finance Document, that Party shall pay (unless that Party is the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger, in which case the Company shall pay) to the Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying the consideration) an amount equal to the amount of the Indirect Tax. | |
(b) | Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse a Finance Party for any costs or expenses, that Party shall also at the same time pay and indemnify the Finance Party against all Indirect Tax incurred by the Finance Party in respect of the costs or expenses to the extent that the Finance Party determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of the Indirect Tax. |
13. | Increased Costs | |
13.1 | Increased Costs | |
(a) | Subject to Clause 13.3 (Exceptions) the Company shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement. The terms law and regulation in this paragraph (a) shall include, without limitation, any law or regulation concerning capital adequacy, prudential limits, liquidity reserve assets or Tax. | |
(b) | In this Agreement Increased Costs means: |
(i) | a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Partys (or its Affiliates) overall capital (including, without limitation, as a result of any reduction in the rate of return on capital brought about by more capital being required to be allocated by that Finance Party or one of its Affiliates); | ||
(ii) | an additional or increased cost; or | ||
(iii) | a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document, |
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document. |
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13.2 | Increased cost claims | |
(a) | A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 13.1 (Increased Costs) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Company. | |
(b) | Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs. | |
13.3 | Exceptions | |
(a) | Clause 13 (Increased Costs) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is: |
(i) | attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor; | ||
(ii) | compensated for by Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in paragraph (b) of Clause 12.3 (Tax indemnity) applied); or | ||
(iii) | attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation. |
(b) | In this Clause 13.3, a reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 12.1 (Definitions). |
14. | Other indemnities | |
14.1 | Currency indemnity | |
(a) | If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency) for the purpose of: |
(i) | making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or | ||
(ii) | obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings, |
that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum. |
(b) | Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable. | |
14.2 | Other indemnities | |
The Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Finance Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by that Finance Party as a result of: |
(a) | the occurrence of any Event of Default; |
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(b) | the Information Memorandum or any other information produced or approved by or on behalf of a member of the Group in connection with the Facility being or being alleged to be misleading and/or deceptive in any respect; | ||
(c) | any enquiry, investigation, subpoena (or similar order) or litigation with respect to a member of the Group or with respect to the transactions contemplated or financed under the Finance Documents; | ||
(d) | a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties); | ||
(e) | funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Utilisation requested by the Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of anyone or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or | ||
(f) | a Loan (or part of a Loan) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by the Company. |
14.3 | Indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee | |
The Company shall promptly indemnify the Agent and the Security Trustee against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it (acting reasonably) as a result of: |
(a) | investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default; or | ||
(b) | acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised. |
15. | Mitigation by the Lenders | |
15.1 | Mitigation | |
(a) | Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 7.1 (Illegality), Clause 2 (Tax gross-up and indemnities) (other than Clause 12.6 (Indirect Tax) or Clause 13 (Increased Costs) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents. | |
15.2 | Limitation of liability | |
(a) | The Company shall indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation). | |
(b) | A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 15.1 (Mitigation) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it. |
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16. | Costs and expenses | |
16.1 | Transaction expenses | |
The Borrower shall within five Business Days of demand pay the Security Trustee, the Agent and the Arranger the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution and syndication of: |
(a) | this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement; and | ||
(b) | any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement. |
16.2 | Amendment costs | |
If the Borrower requests an amendment, waiver or consent, the Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, reimburse the Agent and the Security Trustee for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent or the Security Trustee in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement. | ||
16.3 | Enforcement costs | |
The Borrower shall, within five Business Days of demand, pay to each Finance Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by that Finance Party in connection with the enforcement of, or the preservation of any rights under, any Finance Document. | ||
16.4 | Security Trustee expenses | |
The Borrower shall promptly on demand pay the Security Trustee the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by it in connection with the administration or release of any Security created pursuant to any Security Document. |
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17. | Guarantee and indemnity |
17.1 | Guarantee and indemnity | |
Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally: |
(a) | guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each Obligor of all the Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; | ||
(b) | undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever an Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and | ||
(c) | indemnifies each Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability suffered by that Finance Party if any obligation guaranteed by it (or anything which would have been an obligation if not unenforceable, invalid or illegal) is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal. The amount of the cost, loss or liability shall be equal to the amount which that Finance Party would otherwise have been entitled to recover. |
17.2 | Continuing guarantee | |
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part. | ||
17.3 | Reinstatement | |
If any payment to or any discharge given by a Finance Party (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is avoided or reduced for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of insolvency, breach of fiduciary or statutory duties or any similar, event): |
(a) | the liability of each Obligor shall continue as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred; and | ||
(b) | each Finance Party shall be entitled to recover that value or amount of that security or payment from each Obligor, as if the payment, discharge, avoidance or reduction had not occurred. |
17.4 | Waiver of defences | |
The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 17 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing Which, but for this Clause 17 would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 17 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including: |
(a) | any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person; | ||
(b) | the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group; |
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(c) | the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, execute, take up or enforce any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security; | ||
(d) | any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person; | ||
(e) | any amendment (however fundamental) or replacement of a Finance Document or any other document or security; | ||
(f) | any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; | ||
(g) | any insolvency or similar proceedings; or | ||
(h) | this Agreement or any other Finance Document not being executed by or binding against any other Guarantor or any other party. |
17.5 | Immediate recourse | |
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 17. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary. | ||
17.6 | Appropriations | |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may: |
(a) | refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and | ||
(b) | hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantors liability under this Clause 17. |
17.7 | Deferral of Guarantors rights | |
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents: |
(a) | to be indemnified by an Obligor; | ||
(b) | to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of or provider of security for any Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents; and/or |
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(c) | to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party. |
17.8 | Additional security | |
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party. | ||
17.9 | Waiver of droit de division/droit de discussion | |
Each Obligor irrevocably waives and abandons any right which such Obligor has or may at any time have under the existing or future laws of Jersey, pursuant to the principle of droit de discussion or otherwise, to require that recourse be had to the assets of another person before any action is taken under any Finance Document against such Obligor, and each Obligor further irrevocably waives and abandons any right such Obligor has or may at any time have under the existing or future laws of Jersey, pursuant to the principle of droit de division or otherwise, to require that any other person be made a party to the proceedings or that the Obligors liability be divided or apportioned with any other person. | ||
17.10 | US guarantee limitations | |
(a) | Each US Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive valuable direct or indirect benefits as a result of the transactions financed by the Finance Documents. | |
(b) | Each US Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that as of the date of this Agreement: |
(i) | the aggregate amount of its debts and liabilities, Subordinated, contingent or otherwise (including its obligations under the Finance Documents as limited by paragraph (c) below), is not greater than the aggregate value (being the lesser of fair valuation and present fair saleable value) of its assets (the amount of contingent and unliquidated liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represent the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability); | ||
(ii) | its capital is not unreasonably small to carry on its business as it is being conducted; | ||
(iii) | it has not incurred and does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay as they mature; and | ||
(iv) | it has not made a transfer or incurred any obligation under any Finance Document with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud any of its present or future creditors. |
(c) | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Finance Document, each Finance Party agrees that the maximum liability of each US Guarantor under this Clause 17 shall in no event exceed an amount equal to the greatest amount that would not render such US Guarantors obligations hereunder and under the other Finance Documents subject to avoidance under US Bankruptcy Law or to being set aside, avoided or annulled under any Fraudulent Transfer Law, in each case after giving effect (i) to all other liabilities of such US Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under such Fraudulent Transfer Law and (ii) to the value as assets of such US Guarantor (as determined under the applicable provisions of such Fraudulent Transfer Law) of any rights to subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights held by such US Guarantor pursuant to (A) applicable law or (B) any other agreement providing for an equitable allocation among such US Guarantor and the Borrower and other Guarantors of obligations arising under this Agreement or other guarantees of such obligations by such parties. |
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17.11 | Other Waivers | |
Each Guarantor incorporated under the laws of Mauritius hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted under any applicable laws, any and all of the rights, protection, privileges and defences provided by law to a guarantor, including without limitation: |
(a) | the provisions of articles 2021 and 2026 of the Mauritius Civil Code; and | ||
(b) | all benefits of division and discussion, |
in each case, to the extent applicable. |
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18. | Representations |
Subject to Clause 23.25 (Clean-up period), each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 18 to each Finance Party on the date of this Agreement. | ||
18.1 | Status | |
(a) | It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider is a corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation. | |
(b) | It, each Put Provider, each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted. | |
18.2 | Binding obligations | |
The obligations expressed to be assumed by it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider in each Finance Document are legal, valid and binding subject to any general principles of law limiting its or their obligations which are specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors). | ||
18.3 | Non-conflict with other obligations | |
The entry into and performance by it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents do not and will not conflict with: |
(a) | any law or regulation applicable to it (or them); | ||
(b) | its (or their) constitutional documents (including without limitation its COBO consent); or | ||
(c) | any agreement or instrument binding upon it (or them) or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its (or their) or any of its Subsidiaries assets, |
nor (except as provided in any Security Document) result in the existence of, or oblige it (or them) or any of its Subsidiaries to create, any Security over any of its or their respective assets. |
18.4 | Power and authority | |
It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its (and their) entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it (or they) are a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents. | ||
18.5 | Validity and admissibility in evidence | |
All Authorisations required or desirable: |
(a) | to enable it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider lawfully to enter into, exercise its (and their) rights and comply with its (and their) obligations in the Finance Documents to which it (or they) is a party; |
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(b) | to make the Finance Documents to which it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider is a party admissible in evidence in its (and their) jurisdiction of incorporation; | ||
(c) | to enable it, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider to create the Security expressed to be created pursuant to any Security Document and to ensure that such Security has the priority and ranking it is expressed to have; and | ||
(d) | for it, each Put Provider, each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider and each of its Subsidiaries to carry on its and their business, |
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect, subject to any registrations specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors). |
18.6 | Governing law and enforcement | |
(a) | Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors), the choice of English law as the governing law of the Finance Documents (other than the Security Documents and the Non Disposal Documents) will be recognised and enforced in its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation. | |
(b) | The choice of law specified in each Security Document and each Non Disposal Document as the governing law of that Security Document or that Non Disposal Document will be recognised and enforced in its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation. | |
(c) | Any judgment obtained in England in relation to a Finance Document (or in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document) will be recognised and enforced in its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation (and, in relation to a Finance Document governed by a law other than English law, in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document). | |
18.7 | Deduction of Tax | |
Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors), it is not required (and nor is any Put Provider or any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider required) to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it or they may make under any Finance Document. | ||
18.8 | No filing or stamp taxes | |
Subject to any qualifications specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors), under the law of its, any Put Providers or any Non Disposal Undertaking Providers jurisdiction of incorporation it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration or similar tax be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents. |
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18.9 | No Default | |
(a) | No Default is continuing or might reasonably be expected to result from the making of any Utilisation. | |
(b) | No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes a default under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it, any Put Provider, any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider or any of its Subsidiaries or to which its, any Put Providers, any Non Disposal Undertaking Providers or any of its Subsidiaries assets are subject which might have a Material Adverse Effect. | |
18.10 | No misleading information | |
(a) | Any factual information provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group (whether for the purposes of the Information Memorandum or otherwise in connection with the Facility) was true and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided or as at the date (if any) at which it is stated. | |
(b) | Any financial projections provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group (whether or not contained in the Information Memorandum) were prepared on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of reasonable assumptions. | |
(c) | Nothing has occurred or been omitted from the information so provided and no information has been given or withheld that results in the Information Memorandum or any other information provided by or on behalf of any member of the Group being untrue or misleading in any material respect. | |
18.11 | Financial statements | |
(a) | Its Original Financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied. | |
(b) | Its Original Financial statements give a true and fair view of its financial condition and operations (consolidated in the case of the Company) as at the end of and for the relevant financial year. | |
(c) | There has been no material adverse change in its condition (financial or otherwise), assets, operations, prospects, properties, performance or business or the consolidated condition (financial or otherwise), assets, operations, prospects, properties, performance or business of the Group since 31 March 2008. | |
(d) | As at the date of its most recent financial statements (if any), it had no indebtedness (whether arising under contract or otherwise and regardless of whether or not contingent) which was not disclosed by those financial statements (or by the notes thereto) or reserved against therein, nor any unrealised or anticipated losses which were not so disclosed or reserved against. | |
18.12 | Pari passu ranking | |
(a) | Subject to any matters specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation), each Security Document creates (or, once entered into, will create) in favour of the Security Trustee for the benefit of the Finance Parties the Security which it is expressed to create with the ranking and priority it is expressed to have. | |
(b) | Without limiting paragraph (a) above, its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers payment obligations under the Finance Documents rank at least pari passu with the claims of all their other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for |
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obligations mandatorily preferred by law in their place of incorporation applying to companies generally. |
18.13 | No proceedings pending or threatened | |
(a) | No litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceedings of or before any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, might have a Material Adverse Effect have been started or threatened against it, any Put Provider or any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider or any of its Subsidiaries. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not apply to litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceedings in respect of: |
(i) | Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited being added as a respondent to a dispute in relation to the property at #8A, RMZ Centennial, Kundalahalli Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore, 560048, details of which are set out in the Disclosure Letter; | ||
(ii) | The following facts, matters or circumstances disclosed in Ernst & Youngs Tax Due Diligence Report dated 20 June 2008 (the E/Y DDR) and the Disclosure Letter: |
(A) | risk of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore seeking to deem a service income on payments made by Aviva Global Shared Services Private Limited (AGSS) to its subsidiaries as detailed on page 50 and 51 of the E/Y DDR and at paragraph 18 on of the Disclosure Letter; | ||
(B) | the transfer pricing assessment of international transactions for the financial year 2003-2004 carried out by the Indian tax authorities in respect of Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited (AGSB) as detailed on pages 20 to 23 of the E/Y DDR and paragraph 18 of the Disclosure Letter; | ||
(C) | the risk of the relevant tax authorities mounting transfer pricing challenges against AGSB, AGSS, Noida Customer Operations Pvt Limited (NCOP) and Customer Operations Services (Chennai) Private Limited; | ||
(D) | the risk of the Indian tax authorities claiming further service tax from AGSS as detailed in paragraph 18 of the Disclosure Letter; | ||
(E) | the risk of the Indian tax authorities seeking to recover tax from AGSS where tax benefits have been incorrectly received by NCOP in relation to the use of shared office space, as detailed in paragraph 18 of the Disclosure Letter; and | ||
(F) | the risk of the Sri Lankan tax authorities challenging the zero-rate treatment of Aviva Global Services Lank Pvt Limiteds rechargeable income as detailed on pages 60 to 62 of the E/Y DDR; and |
(iii) | the tax disputes detailed in Schedule 12 (Existing tax litigation). |
18.14 | Environmental laws and licences | |
It and each of its Subsidiaries has: |
(a) | complied with all Environmental Laws to which it may be subject; |
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(b) | obtained all Environmental Licences required or desirable in connection with its business; and | ||
(c) | complied with the terms of those Environmental Licences, |
in each case where failure to do so might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
18.15 | Environmental releases | |
No: |
(a) | property currently or previously owned, leased, occupied or controlled by it or any of its Subsidiaries (including any offsite waste management or disposal location utilised by it or any of its Subsidiaries) is contaminated with any Hazardous Substance; and | ||
(b) | discharge, release, leaching, migration or escape of any Hazardous Substance into the Environment has occurred or is occurring on, under or from that property, |
in each case in circumstances where this might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
18.16 | Title | |
(a) | It (and each other member of the Group) has good and marketable title to, or valid leases and licences of or is otherwise entitled to use, all material assets necessary or desirable for it to carry on its business as it is being or is proposed to be conducted. | |
(b) | It has good, clear and marketable title to the assets expressed to be subject to the Security created by it pursuant to any Security Document, free from all Security except the Security created pursuant to, or permitted by, the Finance Documents. | |
18.17 | No immunity | |
Neither it nor any Put Provider nor any Non Disposal Undertaking Provider nor any of its or their assets are entitled to immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process. Its, each Put Providers and each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers entry into the Finance Documents constitutes, and the exercise of its (and their) rights and performance of and compliance with its and their obligations under the Finance Documents will constitute, private and commercial acts done and performed for private and commercial purposes. | ||
18.18 | Solvency | |
(a) | It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider is able to, and has not admitted its or their inability to, pay its or their debts as they mature and has not suspended making payment on any of its or their debts. | |
(b) | It, each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, has not commenced, and does not intend to commence, negotiations with one or more of its or their creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its (or their) indebtedness. | |
(c) | The value of its assets is more than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities) and it has sufficient capital to carry on its business. | |
(d) | The value of each Put Providers assets is more than that Put Providers liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities) and each Put Provider has sufficient capital to carry on its business. |
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(e) | The value of each Non Disposal Undertaking Providers assets is more than that Non Disposal Undertaking Providers liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities) and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider has sufficient capital to carry on its business. | |
(f) | No moratorium has been, or may, in the reasonably foreseeable future be, declared in respect of any of its, any Put Providers or any Non Disposal Undertaking Providers indebtedness. | |
18.19 | Authorised signatories | |
Each person specified as its authorised signatory in any document accepted by the Agent pursuant to paragraph 1(c) of Part I (Conditions precedent to first Utilisation) or paragraph 4 of Part II (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Guarantor) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) or delivered to the Agent pursuant to paragraph (d) of Clause 19.5 (Information: miscellaneous) is, subject to any notice to the contrary delivered to the Agent pursuant to Clause 19.5 (Information: miscellaneous), authorised to sign all Utilisation Requests and other notices on its behalf under or in connection with the Finance Documents. | ||
18.20 | Material Subsidiaries | |
(a) | Each member of the Group which, as at the date of this Agreement, is a Material Subsidiary is listed in Schedule 8 (Material Subsidiaries). | |
(b) | The percentage of the EBITDA and total assets of the Group attributable to each Material Subsidiary in accordance with the definition of Material Subsidiary is accurately described in Schedule 8 (Material Subsidiaries). | |
18.21 | No breach of law | |
It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation a breach of which might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
18.22 | Acquisition Documents | |
(a) | The Acquisition Documents (when signed in the case of the Acquisition Agreement): |
(i) | contain or refer to all the terms of the agreement and arrangements between the Vendor (and/or any of its Affiliates) and the Purchaser (and/or any of its Affiliates) in relation to the Acquisition; | ||
(ii) | are in full force and effect; and | ||
(iii) | have not been amended or waived (in whole or in part) and no consent has been given thereunder, save for any which are minor or technical or have been approved in writing by the Agent. |
(b) | Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is in or is aware of any breach of or default under any Acquisition Document. | |
18.23 | No employees | |
The Borrower does not have any employees. | ||
18.24 | Restricted business activities | |
No member of the Group provides financial services or is in the real estate business. |
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18.25 | Restricted places of business | |
No Obligor has any place of business in India. | ||
18.26 | Shareholders | |
As at 31 March 2008, only one shareholder of the Company held more than 26 per cent. of the equity share capital of the Company. | ||
18.27 | Master Service Agreement | |
(a) | When signed, the Master Service Agreement: |
(i) | contains or refers to all the terms of the agreement and arrangements between the Purchaser (and/or any of its Affiliates) and Aviva Global Services (Management Services) Private Limited (and any of its Affiliates) in relation to the outsourcing of back office functions to the members of the Group; and | ||
(ii) | is in full force and effect. |
(b) | It is not in and is not aware of any breach of or default under the Master Service Agreement. | |
18.28 | Anti-Terrorism Laws | |
Neither it nor, to its knowledge, any of its Subsidiaries: |
(a) | is in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; | ||
(b) | is a Designated Person; or | ||
(c) | deals in any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to any Anti-Terrorism Law. |
18.29 | US regulation | |
(a) | It is not a public utility within the meaning of, or subject to regulation under, the United States Federal Power Act of 1920 (16 USC §§791 et seq.). | |
(b) | It is not an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 USC. §§ 80a-1 et seq.) or subject to regulation under any United States federal or state law or regulation that limits its ability to incur or guarantee indebtedness. | |
(c) | It has not made an unlawful payment within the meaning of, and is not in any other way in violation of, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 USC. §§ 78dd-1 et seq.) or any similar laws. | |
18.30 | Margin regulations | |
Neither the making of any Utilisation or Loan nor the use of proceeds of any Utilisation or Loan will violate the provisions of Regulations T, U or X. | ||
18.31 | Employee benefit plans | |
No Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to any defined benefit pension plan or Multiemployer Plan during the past five years or has any present intention to do so. |
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18.32 | Share purchase agreement | |
The share purchase agreement in relation to the acquisition of: |
(a) | Noida Customer Operations Private Limited has been executed by the parties to it, is in escrow in the form supplied to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement and the only condition of the release of such escrow is the completion of the Acquisition; and | ||
(b) | Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited has been executed by the parties to it in the form supplied to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement and the executed versions have been released from escrow by those parties to each other. |
18.33 | Repetition | |
(a) | The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of each Utilisation Request and the first day of each Interest Period. | |
(b) | The representations and warranties set out in Clauses 18.1 (Status) to 18.5 (Validity and admissibility in evidence), Clause 18.8 (No filing or stamp taxes), Clause 18.12 (Pari passu ranking) and Clause 18.16 (Title) shall, in addition to paragraph (a) above, be deemed to be made by each Obligor, by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing on the date of execution of each Security Document. | |
(c) | The representations and warranties set out in Clause 18.10 (No misleading information) shall, in addition, be deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of issue of the Information Memorandum and on the date of each Transfer Certificate signed on or prior to the Syndication Date by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing. |
19. | Information undertakings |
The undertakings in this Clause 19 remain in force, from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. | ||
19.1 | Financial statements | |
The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders: |
(a) | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within six Months after the end of each of its financial years: |
(i) | its audited consolidated financial statements for that financial year; and | ||
(ii) | the audited financial statements of each Obligor and each Put Provider for that financial year; and |
(b) | as soon as the same become available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarter of each of its financial years, its unaudited consolidated financial statements for that financial quarter. |
19.2 | Compliance Certificate | |
(a) | The Company shall supply to the Agent, within 45 days after the end of each of its financial quarters, a Compliance Certificate setting out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 20 (Financial covenants) as at the end of that financial quarter. |
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(b) | Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by a director of the Borrower or the Company and, in the case of the Compliance Certificate delivered in respect of the last financial quarter of each of its financial years shall be signed by the Borrowers statutory auditors in the form specified in Schedule 5 (Form of Compliance Certificate). | |
19.3 | Material Subsidiaries | |
With each set of financial statements delivered by it under paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) (and within 14 days after any request made by the Agent), the Company shall supply to the Agent, in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, a certificate: |
(a) | listing the Material Subsidiaries as at the end of the relevant financial year or financial quarter; and | ||
(b) | setting out in reasonable detail and in a form satisfactory to the Agent the computations necessary to justify the inclusions in, and exclusions from, that list. |
19.4 | Requirements as to financial statements | |
(a) | Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) shall be certified by a director of the relevant company as giving a true and fair view of its (or, as the case may be, the Groups consolidated) financial condition and operations as at the end of and for the period in relation to which those financial statements were drawn up. | |
(b) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Company shall procure that each set of financial statements of an Obligor delivered pursuant to Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) is prepared using GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, it notifies the Agent that there has been a change in GAAP, the accounting practices or financial reference periods and its auditors deliver to the Agent: |
(i) | a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the GAAP, accounting practices and financial reference periods upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared; and | ||
(ii) | sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 20 (Financial covenants) has been complied with and make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and the Original Financial Statements. |
Any reference in this Agreement to those financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the basis upon which the Original Financial Statements were prepared. | ||
(c) | The Parties agree that although the Original Financial Statements were prepared using generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices in the United States of America, the Company may elect to prepare future financial statements using generally accepted accounting principles, standards and practices under IFRS provided that it supplies the Agent with the information referred to in paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above. | |
19.5 | Information: miscellaneous | |
The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests): |
(a) | all documents dispatched by an Obligor to its shareholders (or any class of them) or its creditors generally at the same time as they are dispatched; |
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(b) | promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group, and which might, if adversely determined, have a Material Adverse Effect; | ||
(c) | promptly, such further information regarding the financial condition, business and operations of any member of the Group as any Finance Party (through the Agent) may reasonably request; and | ||
(d) | promptly, notice of any change in the authorised signatories of an Obligor, signed by a Director or the secretary of that Obligor, whose specimen signature has previously been provided to the Agent, accompanied (where relevant) by a specimen signature of each new signatory. |
19.6 | Notification of Default | |
(a) | Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence. | |
(b) | Promptly upon a request by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it). | |
19.7 | Access books and records | |
If an Event of Default is continuing, upon the request of the Agent (on the instructions of any Finance Party), the Company shall provide the Agent and any of its representatives, professional advisers and contractors with access to and permit inspection by them of the assets, premises, books and records of any member of the Group in each case at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice. | ||
19.8 | Valuation | |
(a) | The cost and expense of each Valuation shall be borne by the Company. | |
(b) | The Company shall supply to the Agent with each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to paragraph (a) of Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests) a Valuation. | |
(c) | If requested by the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests) a Valuation at such time as the Agent may reasonably request. | |
(d) | The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests) any valuation prepared by or on behalf of, or received by, it. | |
19.9 | Know your customer checks |
(a) | If: | ||
(i) | the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | any change in the status of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or |
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REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(iii) | a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer, |
obliges any Finance Party (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of any Finance Party supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Security Trustee, the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Finance Party) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for such Finance Party or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
(b) | Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or the Security Trustee supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent or the Security Trustee (in each case, for itself) in order for the Agent or the Security Trustee to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents. |
20. | Financial covenants | |
20.1 | Financial condition | |
The Company shall ensure that: |
(a) | the ratio of Borrowings to Tangible Net Worth will not at any time exceed XXXXX; | ||
(b) | the ratio of Borrowings to EBITDA for the then most recently ended Relevant Period will not at any time exceed XXXXX; | ||
(c) | the ratio of EBITDA to Debt Service for any Relevant Period will not at any time be less than XXXXX; and | ||
(d) | the Loan to Value will not at any time be more than XXXXX. |
20.2 | Financial covenant calculations | |
Borrowings, Capital Expenditure, Debt Service, EBITDA, Excess Cash, Interest Expense, Paid-up Capital and Tangible Net Worth shall be calculated and interpreted on a consolidated basis in accordance with the GAAP applicable to the Original Financial Statements of the Company and shall be expressed in US$ on the basis of the exchange rates used in the latest consolidated quarterly financial statements of the Company. | ||
20.3 | Definitions | |
In this Clause 20: | ||
Borrowings means, as at any particular time, the aggregate outstanding principal, capital or nominal amount (and any fixed or minimum premium payable on prepayment or redemption) of the Financial Indebtedness of members of the Group but: |
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(a) | excluding any indebtedness referred to in paragraph (g) of the definition of Financial Indebtedness and any guarantee or indemnity in respect of that indebtedness; | ||
(b) | excluding any Financial Indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to another member of the Group; and | ||
(c) | including, in the case of finance or capital leases only, the capital element value thereto, |
and so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once. | ||
Capital Expenditure means any expenditure which, in accordance with GAAP, should be treated as capital expenditure in the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group. | ||
Debt Service means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the sum of: |
(a) | Interest Expense for that Relevant Period; | ||
(b) | that part of all Borrowings outstanding at the commencement of that Relevant Period originally scheduled for repayment in that Relevant Period (whether or not paid or repaid when due). |
EBITDA means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the total consolidated operating profit of the Group for that Relevant Period: |
(a) | before taking into account: |
(i) | Interest Expense; | ||
(ii) | Tax; | ||
(iii) | any share of the profit of any associated company or undertaking, except for dividends received in cash by any member of the Group; | ||
(iv) | extraordinary and exceptional items; | ||
(v) | any realised or unrealised exchange losses including those arising on translation of currency debt; | ||
(vi) | any loss against book value arising on a disposal or revaluation of any asset in the ordinary course of trading; | ||
(vii) | to the extent included, any fair value adjustments and amounts written off the value of investments; | ||
(viii) | any restructuring costs in respect of restructurings approved by the Majority Lenders; | ||
(ix) | any amount charged to the profit and loss account for transaction costs and expenses relating to the Acquisition; | ||
(x) | any amortisation of stock based compensation expenses and any fringe benefits and taxes associated therewith to the extent recoverable from employees; and |
(b) | after adding back all amounts provided for depreciation and amortisation for that Relevant Period, |
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as determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 20) from the consolidated financial statements of the Company and Compliance Certificates delivered under Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) and Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). | ||
Excess Cash means, in relation to any Relevant Period, EBITDA for that Relevant Period adjusted: |
(a) | by deducting amounts paid during the Relevant Period by members of the Group in cash in respect of Tax; | ||
(b) | by deducting: |
(i) | all Debt Service in respect of the Target and its Subsidiaries; and | ||
(ii) | Debt Service in respect of each other member of the Group to the extent that it relates to the Facility; |
(c) | by deducting any increase or adding any decrease in working capital during the Relevant Period; | ||
(d) | by deducting amounts paid in cash during the Relevant Period by members of the Group in respect of Capital Expenditure (to the extent permitted by the Finance Documents); | ||
(e) | by adding any insurance proceeds in respect of loss of profit and business interruption policies received by members of the Group in cash during the Relevant Period; | ||
(f) | by adding any increase in cash or cash equivalents held by members of the Group during the Relevant Period; and | ||
(g) | by deducting all amounts paid by members of the Group by way of voluntary prepayment pursuant to Clause 7.8 (Voluntary prepayment of Utilisations). |
Interest Expense means, in relation to any Relevant Period, the aggregate amount of interest and any other finance charges (whether or not paid, payable or capitalised) accrued by the Group in that Relevant Period in respect of Borrowings: |
(a) | including the interest element of leasing and hire purchase payments; | ||
(b) | including commitment fees, commissions, arrangement fees and guarantee fees; | ||
(c) | including amounts in the nature of interest payable in respect of any shares other than equity share capital (including but not limited to the share premium account and the capital redemption reserve); | ||
(d) | excluding any such obligations to any member of the Group; | ||
(e) | excluding any amount charged to the profit and loss account in respect of the Relevant Period for transaction costs and expenses relating to the Acquisition (other than interest payable in respect of the Facility); and | ||
(f) | excluding any amount in the nature of accrued interest, fees or periodic payments or premia owing to any member of the Group on any deposit or bank account, |
adjusted (but without double counting) by adding back the net amount payable (or deducting the net amount receivable) by members of the Group in respect of that Relevant Period under any interest or (so far as they relate to interest) currency hedging arrangements, all as |
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determined (except as needed to reflect the terms of this Clause 20) from the consolidated financial statements of the Company and Compliance Certificates delivered under Clause 19.1 (Financial statements) and Clause 19.2 (Compliance Certificate). |
Loan to Value means the aggregate of the outstanding Utilisations as a percentage of the value of the Target as quantified in the most recent Valuation. | ||
Paid-up Capital means, as at any particular time, the aggregate of: |
(a) | the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the Company (other than any shares which are expressed to be redeemable); | ||
(b) | the amount standing to the credit of the consolidated reserves of the Group; | ||
(c) | any additional paid-in capital (APIC); and | ||
(d) | all amounts relating to other comprehensive income (OCI), including translation adjustments. |
Quarter Date means 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December in any year. | ||
Relevant Period means each period of 12 months ending on a Quarter Date. | ||
Tangible Net Worth means, as at any particular time, Paid-up Capital less (but without double counting) any amount included in Paid-up Capital which is attributable to: |
(a) | goodwill or other intangible assets; | ||
(b) | amounts set aside for Tax; | ||
(c) | minority interests; | ||
(d) | the amount by which the net book value of any asset has been written up after 31 March 2008 (or, in the case of a person becoming a member of the Group after that date, the date on which that person became or becomes a member of the Group) by way of revaluation or on its transfer from one member of the Group to another; and | ||
(e) | any dividend or other distribution declared, recommended or made by any member of the Group, |
but ignoring any variation in the credit or debit balance on the Group consolidated profit and loss account since the date of the then latest audited consolidated balance sheet of the Group except to the extent reflected in any later Group consolidated profit and loss statement delivered to the Agent under Clause 19 (Information undertakings). |
21. | General undertakings |
The undertakings in this Clause 21 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
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21.1 | Authorisations | |
(a) | Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider will) promptly: |
(i) | obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect; and | ||
(ii) | supply to the Agent certified copies of, |
any Authorisation required under any law or regulation to enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence in its jurisdiction of incorporation of any Finance Document. | ||
(b) | Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider will) promptly make the registrations, obtain all Authorisations and otherwise comply with other requirements specifically referred to in any legal opinion accepted pursuant to Clause 4 (Conditions of Utilisation) or Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors). | |
21.2 | Compliance with laws | |
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each Put Provider and each Non Disposal Undertaking Provider will) comply in all respects with all laws and regulations to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents. | ||
21.3 | Negative pledge | |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) create or permit to subsist any Security or non disposal undertaking over any of its assets. | |
(b) | No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
(i) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by any member of the Group; | ||
(ii) | sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms; | ||
(iii) | enter into or permit to subsist any title retention arrangement; | ||
(iv) | enter into or permit to subsist any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or | ||
(v) | enter into or permit to subsist any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect, |
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset. |
(c) | Paragraphs (a) and (b) above do not apply to: |
(i) | any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading so long as the debt which it secures is paid when due or contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and properly provisioned; |
(ii) | title retention arrangements arising pursuant to a suppliers usual terms of supply provided that there is no default in payment for any goods so supplied (and no other |
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event is subsisting) which might entitle the supplier to reclaim possession of the relevant goods; and |
(iii) | any Security or non disposal undertaking created pursuant to any Finance Document. |
21.4 | Disposals | |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not and whether voluntary or involuntary) to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal of an asset (other than a Charged Asset): |
(i) | which is made with the prior written consent of the Majority Lenders and where the higher of the market value or consideration receivable (when aggregated with the higher of the market value or consideration receivable for any other sale, lease, transfer or other disposal under this paragraph (i)) does not exceed US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies) in any financial year; | ||
(ii) | arising as a result of any Security permitted under paragraph (c) of Clause 21.3 (Negative pledge); or | ||
(iii) | of cash pursuant to the Transaction Documents. |
21.5 | Merger | |
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction (other than share buybacks or capital reductions) nor change its jurisdiction of incorporation without the consent of the Majority Lenders, provided that an Obligor may enter into an amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction on a solvent basis (not involving the Purchaser or any Holding Company of the Purchaser) where: |
(a) | all of the business and assets of that Obligor are retained by one or more other Obligors; | ||
(b) | the surviving entity of that amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction is liable for the obligations of the Obligor it has merged with and is incorporated in the same jurisdiction as that Obligor; and | ||
(c) | the Agent and the Security Agent are given 30 Business Days notice by the Company of that proposed amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction and the Security Agent, acting reasonably, is satisfied that the Finance Parties will enjoy the same or equivalent Security over the same assets and over that Obligor and the shares in it (or the shares of the surviving entity). |
21.6 | Change of business | |
Each Obligor shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of its business (and the Company shall procure that no substantial change is made to the general nature of the business of the Group taken as a whole) from that carried on at the date of this Agreement. |
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21.7 | Insurance | |
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets with reputable underwriters or insurance companies against those risks, and to the extent, usually insured against by prudent companies located in the same or a similar location and carrying on a similar business. | ||
21.8 | Environmental undertakings | |
Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will): |
(a) | comply with all Environmental Laws to which it may be subject; | ||
(b) | obtain all Environmental Licences required or desirable in connection with its business; and | ||
(c) | comply with the terms of all those Environmental Licences, |
in each case where failure to do so might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
21.9 | Environmental claims | |
Each Obligor shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) promptly notify the Agent of any claim, notice or other communication received by it in respect of any actual or alleged breach of or liability under Environmental Law which, if substantiated, might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
21.10 | Financial Indebtedness | |
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) incur or permit to subsist any Financial Indebtedness other than: |
(a) | any Financial Indebtedness listed in Schedule 11 (Existing Financial Indebtedness); | ||
(b) | Financial Indebtedness arising under the Finance Documents; | ||
(c) | Financial Indebtedness permitted pursuant to the terms of sub-paragraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (b) of Clause 21.13 (Loans and guarantees); | ||
(d) | Financial Indebtedness under a single facility provided to an Obligor (but no refinancings or replacements thereof) in a principal amount not exceeding US$75,000,000 provided that such Financial Indebtedness ranks no higher than pari passu with the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents; or | ||
(e) | Financial Indebtedness constituting unsecured working capital borrowings provided to an Obligor (in addition to that permitted under paragraphs (a) to (c) above) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding US$10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) provided that such Financial Indebtedness ranks no higher than pari passu with the obligations of the Obligors under the Finance Documents. |
21.11 | Acquisitions and investments | |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall) make any Share or Business Acquisition. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
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(i) | the Acquisition; | ||
(ii) | the acquisition of Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited and Noida Customer Operations Private Limited by the Target; and | ||
(iii) | any Share or Business Acquisition which complies with the following conditions: |
(A) | the target entity: |
(I) | is not a negative net worth entity. | ||
(II) | has not been loss-making for the three previous financial years. | ||
(III) | is in the same business as the Borrower Group; and |
(B) | prior to completion of the proposed Share or Business Acquisition the Company submits to the Agent pro forma financial statements and projections of the Group and the proposed target (on a consolidated basis) demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders (acting reasonably) the Companys ability to comply with the financial covenants set out in Clause 20 (Financial covenants) over the remaining life of the Facility. |
21.12 | Financial year | |
The Borrower shall not alter (and shall ensure that no member of the Group alters) its financial year so that such financial year ends on any date other than on 31 March of each year. | ||
21.13 | Loans and guarantees | |
(a) | No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will): |
(i) | make any loan, or provide any form of credit or financial accommodation, to any other person; or | ||
(ii) | give or issue any guarantee. indemnity, bond or letter of credit to or for the benefit of any person; or | ||
(iii) | permit to subsist any guarantee of any Financial Indebtedness of any of its Subsidiaries. |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not apply to: |
(i) | any loan made by an Obligor to another Obligor; | ||
(ii) | any loan made by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to another member of the Group which is not an Obligor; | ||
(iii) | any loan made by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor to a member of the Group which is an Obligor. provided that the aggregate amount outstanding under all such loans shall not at any time exceed US$10.000,000; | ||
(iv) | any trade credit granted on customary commercial terms to any customer of a member of the Group; |
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(v) | any loan made by a member of the Group to an employee of a member of the Group provided that the aggregate principal value of all loans falling within this paragraph (v) at any time does not exceed US$2,000,000; | ||
(vi) | any guarantee granted by the Company in respect of a Permitted Treasury Transaction entered into to hedge currency or interest rate exposure of a member of the Group; | ||
(vii) | any performance or payment guarantees given by the Company in respect of payment obligations that do not constitute Financial Indebtedness of WNS North America Inc. pursuant to outsourcing agreements with WNS North America Inc.s customers entered into, in each case, in the ordinary course of its business; and | ||
(viii) | any loan where all the proceeds of such loan are used to satisfy a payment obligation of an Obligor under the Finance Documents. | ||
(ix) | by reference to clause 30.22 of the Master Service Agreement and the defined terms in the Master Service Agreement, the indemnity given by the Supplier to the Customer and all Service Recipients in connection with any claim of alleged or actual infringement of any Third Party IPR arising out of or in connection with Customers and/or every Service Recipients receipt and/or use of the Services to be provided by the Supplier in accordance with the Master Service Agreement; | ||
(x) | by reference to paragraph 10.6 of Schedule 12 to the Master Service Agreement and the defined terms in the Master Service Agreement, the indemnity to be given by the Supplier to the Customer (or the relevant Customer Group or replacement service provider) if the Supplier Personnel (other than the Relevant Employees who accept an offer of employment under paragraph 10.3 of Schedule 12 to the Master Services Agreement) are found, by operation of law, to be employees of Customer, or a member of Customers Group, or any replacement service provider, against all employee costs associated with that person and all costs of terminating that persons employment after the expiry of the Term or as a result of any termination or partial termination of the Services, provided that any such employment is terminated within six months after the expiry of the Term or the relevant termination or partial termination of the provision of Services; | ||
(xi) | any guarantee granted by the Company to the Vendor or a member of the Vendors Group in respect of the obligations under the Acquisition Documents. |
21.14 | Arms length dealings | |
No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into any arrangement, agreement or commitment with any person or pay any fees, commissions or other sums on any account whatsoever to any persons other than: |
(a) | in the ordinary course of trading, at arms length and on normal commercial terms; or | ||
(b) | as required by the Finance Documents. |
21.15 | Restricted payments | |
(a) | No Obligor shall: |
(i) | pay, repay or prepay any principal, interest or other amount on or in respect of, or redeem, purchase or defease any Financial Indebtedness owed actually or contingently, to any shareholder of any Obligor or to any Affiliate of any shareholder of any Obligor; |
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(ii) | declare, pay or make any dividend or other payment or distribution of any kind on or in respect of any class of its shares; or | ||
(iii) | reduce, return, purchase, repay, cancel or redeem any of its share capital. |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above does not apply: |
(i) | when no Default is continuing; or | ||
(ii) | to any payment where all the proceeds of such payment are used to satisfy a payment obligation of an Obligor under the Finance Documents. |
21.16 | Hedging | |
The Borrower shall not enter into any Treasury Transaction which is not a Permitted Treasury Transaction. | ||
21.17 | Taxes | |
(a) | Each Obligor shall pay and discharge all Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges upon it and its assets before penalties become attached thereto and shall establish adequate reserves for the payment of any Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges becoming due unless such Taxes, rates, rents and governmental charges are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. | |
(b) | Each Obligor shall make all filings required under applicable laws and regulations. | |
21.18 | Acquisition Documents | |
No Obligor shall amend, terminate, give any waiver or consent under, or agree or decide not to enforce, in whole or in part, any term or condition of any Acquisition Document, save for amendments, waivers or consents which are minor or technical or have been approved in writing by the Agent. | ||
21.19 | The Acquisition | |
(a) | Each Obligor shall: |
(i) | procure that legal and beneficial title to 100% of the shares in the Target are transferred to the Purchaser no later than one Business Day following the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility. | ||
(ii) | perform and comply with its obligations under or in connection with the Acquisition Documents; | ||
(iii) | notify the Agent (promptly upon becoming aware of the same) of any breach by any party of its obligations or default under the Acquisition Documents; | ||
(iv) | procure that the Purchaser applies an amount equal to funds received by it pursuant to the equity subscription described in paragraph (a)(i) of Clause 3.1 (Purpose) in settlement of its obligation to pay the purchase price for the shares in the Target pursuant to the Acquisition Documents; | ||
(v) | take all reasonable steps to preserve and enforce any claim or right it has under or in connection with any Acquisition Document; | ||
(vi) | notify the Agent promptly of any claim made or to be made under an Acquisition Document and any dispute in respect of an Acquisition Document; |
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REDACTED | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED The portions of this document marked by XXXXX have been omitted and are filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
(vii) | provide the Agent with reasonable details of that claim or dispute and its progress and notify the Agent as soon as practicable upon that claim or dispute being resolved; | ||
(viii) | notify the Agent promptly of any notice of, or other act of revocation, suspension, withdrawal, cancellation or termination of any provision of any Acquisition Document; and | ||
(ix) | comply with all applicable laws in all respects material in the context of the Acquisition. |
(b) | The Company shall keep the Agent informed as to the status and progress of the Acquisition. | |
21.20 | Maintenance of books and records | |
Each Obligor shall keep books and records which accurately reflect in all material respects all of its business, affairs and transactions. | ||
21.21 | Assets | |
Each Obligor shall maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its assets necessary for the conduct of its business as conducted from time to time. | ||
21.22 | No employees | |
The Borrower shall not have any employees. | ||
21.23 | Pari passu | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that its obligations under the Finance Documents rank at all times at least pari passu in right of priority and payment with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors, except for obligations mandatorily preferred by law applying to companies generally. | ||
21.24 | Capital Expenditure | |
The Company shall ensure that the aggregate of the Capital Expenditure of the Group in any financial year of the Company shall not exceed XXXXX of the EBITDA of the Group for the previous financial year. | ||
21.25 | Statutory auditors | |
No Obligor shall change (and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group changes) its statutory auditors to any person other than Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte or PwC or firms associated with or affiliated to those firms in jurisdictions where those firms do not themselves have a presence. | ||
21.26 | Assignment of contracts | |
(a) | No Obligor shall assign or transfer (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group shall assign or transfer) any agreement or contract to any person who is not a member of the Group. | |
(b) | Paragraph (a) above shall not apply to: |
(i) | any assignment or transfer made pursuant to a Transaction Document; or |
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(ii) | by reference to clause 15.2 of the Master Service Agreement and the defined terms in the Master Service Agreement, any novation of any contract, relating to the provision or receipt of the Services, that is entered into by the Supplier, the Customer and a Sub-contractor or third party after the Commencement Date, in the event that the Customer removes any Services in accordance with the Master Service Agreement, the Master Service Agreement terminates (or any part thereof), or the Master Service Agreement expires. |
21.27 | Auditors Certificate | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that an auditors certificate in respect of the investment being made by the Put Providers pursuant to the Put Option Agreement is supplied to the Security Trustee within the time limit specified by the Reserve Bank of India regulations. | ||
21.28 | Cash movements | |
(a) | The Obligors shall ensure that at all times: |
(i) | the Put Providers or the Subsidiaries of the Target make sufficient cash available to the Borrower, by way of dividend, share buyback or subordinated shareholder loans in order to enable the Borrower to service the Financial Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower under the Finance Documents; and | ||
(ii) | the Put Providers and the Subsidiaries of the Target have in place all necessary Authorisations to effect any dividend, share buyback or subordinated shareholder loan referred to in paragraph (i) above. |
(b) | The Obligors shall ensure that at all times: |
(i) | any Excess Cash is made available by way of dividend, share buyback or subordinated shareholder loans in order to enable the Borrower to make any mandatory prepayments required to be made pursuant to Clause 7.6 (Mandatory prepayment Excess Cash); and | ||
(ii) | the relevant members of the Group have in place all necessary Authorisations to effect any dividend, share buyback or subordinated shareholder loan referred to in paragraph (i) above. |
21.29 | Accession of Additional Guarantors and additional Put Providers | |
(a) | Each Obligor shall ensure that the Target and each Subsidiary of the Target which is a Material Subsidiary (excluding any such Subsidiaries incorporated in India) becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Clause 25.2 (Additional Guarantors) by no later than the date which is 30 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). | |
(b) | Each Obligor shall ensure that any person (other than any persons referred to in paragraph (a) above and any persons incorporated in India) that becomes a Material Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement becomes a Guarantor by no later than the date which is 45 days after the date on which it became a Material .Subsidiary (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). | |
(c) | Each Obligor shall ensure that any member of the Group that is incorporated in India and that becomes a Material Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement becomes a Put Provider by no later than the date which is 45 days after the date on which it became a Material Subsidiary (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
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(d) | Each Obligor shall ensure that Ntrance Customer Services Private Limited becomes a Put Provider by no later than the date which is 60 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period as may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). | |
21.30 | Transfer of Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that: |
(a) | Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited becomes a direct wholly owned Subsidiary of the Target by no later than 45 days after the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); and | ||
(b) | Noida Customer Operations Private Limited becomes a direct, wholly owned Subsidiary of the Target by no later than 45 days after the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
21.31 | Additional Security Documents and additional Non Disposal Documents | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that: |
(a) | a copy of the Target Share Charge duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 30 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); | ||
(b) | a copy of the Sri Lankan Share Charge duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 30 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); | ||
(c) | a copy of the Target Designated Account Charge duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 60 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); | ||
(d) | a copy of the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal Undertaking and the Ntrance and Marketics Non Disposal POA duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 7 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); | ||
(e) | a copy of the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal Undertaking and the Target Subsidiaries Non Disposal POA duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 60 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent); and |
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(f) | a copy of the Master Service Agreement Account Charge duly executed by the parties to it (along with any Authorisations, legal opinions and perfection documents that the Agent requests), in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, is delivered to the Agent by no later than the date which is 7 days after the Acquisition Closing Date (or such other period which may be mutually agreed between the Company and the Agent). |
21.32 | Master Service Agreement and Put Option Agreement | |
Each Obligor shall (and each Obligor shall ensure that each Put Provider or Non Disposal Undertaking Provider will): |
(a) | not at any time amend any term of, or waive or grant any time or indulgence in respect of any term of, or exercise any discretion under, the Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement except on the instructions of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders or where such amendment, waiver, grant of time or indulgence or exercise of discretion does not have and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect); | ||
(b) | comply in all material respects with the terms of the Master Service Agreement and the Put Option Agreement (where failure to do so could have a Material Adverse Effect); | ||
(c) | promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of: |
(i) | any breach of or default in any material respect under the Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement by any party; | ||
(ii) | the occurrence of any Put Option Event or Potential Put Option Event (in each case as defined in the Put Option Agreement); | ||
(iii) | any material dispute between the parties to the Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement; and | ||
(iv) | any notice of, or other act of, revocation, suspension, withdrawal, cancellation or termination of any material provision of the Master Service Agreement or the Put Option Agreement or other pending proceedings or proceedings threatened in writing, |
which could have a Material Adverse Effect. |
21.33 | Statutory auditors certificate | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that the Borrower submits a statutory auditors certificate as to end use of funds to the Agent by no later than the date that is three Months after the date of each Utilisation. | ||
21.34 | Additional documents | |
(a) | The Borrower shall procure that a certified copy of the register of pledges of (x) the Purchaser (noting the Purchaser Share Charge) and (y,) the Borrower (noting the WNS Mauritius Share Charge) are provided to the Agent within three Business Days of the date of first Utilisation of the Facility. |
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(b) | The Borrower shall provide to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) within 15 days of the date of the first Utilisation of the Facility a copy of the Information Memorandum. | |
(c) | The Borrower shall provide to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) within one Business Day of the Acquisition Closing Date: |
(i) | a copy of the Master Service Agreement, duly executed by the parties to it; and | ||
(ii) | a copy of the Acquisition Agreement, duly executed by the parties to it. |
(d) | The Borrower shall procure that a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Borrower in Singapore in respect of the entry into and performance of the Acquisition Agreement not breaching Singapore law is provided to the Agent (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) by no later than the date which is 15 days after the Acquisition Closing Date. | |
(e) | The Borrower shall provide to the Arranger (in form and substance satisfactory to the Arranger) within 14 days of the date of this Agreement a copy of a Fee Letter in respect of the arrangement fee for the Facility duly executed by the parties to it. | |
21.35 | Singapore financial assistance | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that each member of the Group incorporated in Singapore which becomes an Obligor or grants any Security pursuant to or in connection with a Finance Document complies in all respects with section 76 of the Companies Act Chapter 50 of Singapore. | ||
21.36 | Anti-Terrorism Laws | |
(a) | No Obligor shall engage in any transaction that violates any of the applicable prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law. | |
(b) | None of the funds or assets of any Obligor that are used to repay the Facility shall constitute property of, or shall be beneficially owned directly or indirectly by, any Designated Person and no Designated Person shall have any direct or indirect interest in any Obligor that would constitute a violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law. | |
(c) | No Obligor shall, and each Obligor shall procure that none of its Subsidiaries will, fund all or part of any payment under this Agreement out of proceeds derived from transactions that violate the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law. | |
21.37 | US regulation | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that it will not, by act or omission, become subject to regulation under to any of the laws or regulations described in Clause 18.29 (US regulation). | ||
21.38 | Margin Regulations | |
(a) | No Obligor may use any Utilisation, directly or indirectly, to buy or carry Margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin stock. | |
(b) | If requested by the Agent, each Obligor shall furnish to the Agent a statement in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U. |
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21.39 | ERISA | |
No Obligor or any ERISA Affiliate shall establish, or agree to contribute to, any defined benefit pension plan or Multiemployer Plan without the consent of Majority Lenders. | ||
21.40 | Transfer pricing | |
Each Obligor shall (and shall ensure that each other member of the Group will) comply with all laws relating to transfer pricing. |
22. | Accounts |
22.1 | Maintenance of Accounts | |
(a) | The Borrower, the Purchaser and, following the Acquisition Closing Date, the Target shall maintain the Accounts with the Account Bank in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. | |
(b) | Neither the Borrower nor the Purchaser shall open any current, deposit or other account with any bank or financial institution other than the Accounts, the Mauritian Account and the Purchaser Mauritian Account. | |
(c) | The terms and conditions relating to the establishment and maintenance of the Accounts and the Borrowers, the Purchasers and the Targets ability to deal with the Accounts shall be as set out in this Clause 22 supplemented, to the extent the same are not inconsistent with this Clause 22, by the relevant Account Mandate. | |
(d) | Subject to paragraph (e) below, the Borrower shall maintain, at all times on and following the first Utilisation, in the DSRA, a DSRA Balance equal to or greater than the then DSRA Amount. | |
(e) | In calculating the DSRA Amount, the Agent shall use the highest LIBOR applicable to the outstanding Loans at the time of calculation. | |
(f) | Subject to paragraph (g) below, if any amount is withdrawn from the DSRA in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and as a result the then DSRA Balance falls to below the DSRA Amount, the Borrower shall procure that the DSRA Balance is increased to an amount which is greater than or equal to the then DSRA Amount no later than the Business Day immediately following such withdrawal. | |
(g) | Notwithstanding to paragraph (j) below, the Purchaser shall ensure that any payments that it receives under or in connection with the Master Service Agreement are paid directly into the Master Service Agreement Account as soon as practicable. | |
(h) | The Borrower shall ensure that, notwithstanding paragraph (i) below: |
(i) | any Put Providers Share Sale Proceeds that it receives are paid into the WNS Mauritius Designated Account; and | ||
(ii) | (following the Acquisition Closing Date) any Target Subsidiaries Share Sale Proceeds that the Target receives are paid into the Target Designated Account. |
(i) | Subject to paragraphs (g) and (h) above, the Borrower shall ensure that any payments it receives are paid into the Mauritian Account as soon as practicable and in any event prior to being transferred to any other Account into which such payments are required to be paid under the terms of this Agreement. |
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(j) | Subject to paragraph (g) above, the Purchaser shall ensure that any payments it receives are paid into the Purchaser Mauritian Account as soon as practicable and in any event prior to being transferred to any other Account into which such payments are required to be paid under the terms of this Agreement. | |
22.2 | Interest | |
(a) | Each amount from time to time standing to the credit of the Accounts shall bear interest at such rate (if any) as may from time to time be determined by the Account Bank consistent with the relevant Account Mandate relating to the Accounts and shall be credited to the relevant Account in accordance with the relevant Account Mandate. | |
(b) | Interest shall accrue in accordance with the Account Mandate. Any interest which has accrued shall be for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) and the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) may instruct the Agent or the Security Trustee to withdraw an amount representing such interest for application in any manner which is not prohibited by the Finance Documents in accordance with the Account Mandate relating to the relevant Account, provided that no such transfer shall be made: |
(i) | while a Default has occurred and is continuing; or | ||
(ii) | in relation to the DSRA, if the DSRA Balance is (or would, following such withdrawal, be) less than the DSRA Amount at the time of that withdrawal. |
22.3 | Withdrawals | |
(a) | Unless instructed to do so by the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Account Bank shall not effect any withdrawal or transfer from any Account (and shall not be liable to the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target for failing to effect the same) if it has been notified by the Agent or the Security Trustee that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time that the relevant withdrawal or transfer would otherwise be made. | |
(b) | No withdrawal or transfer from an Account may be made if to do so would cause that Account to be overdrawn. | |
(c) | On the date of each withdrawal made from an Account where the proceeds of such withdrawal are to be applied in payment to or for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target, the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be) will be deemed to represent and warrant that no Event of Default has occurred which is continuing and no Default will occur as a result of the withdrawal. | |
(d) | None of the restrictions contained in this Clause 22 or in any Security Document on the withdrawal of sums standing to the credit of the Accounts shall affect the obligations of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target to make any payment or repayment required to be made under the Finance Documents on the date the same is so required to be made. | |
(e) | No sum may be transferred or withdrawn from the DSRA by the Borrower except through the Agent or the Security Trustee as expressly permitted by this Clause 22. | |
(f) | No sum may be transferred or withdrawn from the WNS Mauritius Designated Account or the Target Designated Account except with the prior written consent of the Agent or the Security Trustee or as expressly permitted by this Clause 22. |
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(g) | The Agent and the Security Trustee each have sole signing rights in relation to the DSRA, the WNS Mauritius Designated Account and the Target Designated Account. | |
(h) | If no Event of Default is continuing, the Purchaser may withdraw amounts standing to the credit of the Master Service Agreement Account and apply them towards payments made in the ordinary course of business of the Purchaser. For the purposes of this paragraph (h), payments made in the ordinary course of business of the Purchaser means routine payments made by the Purchaser for the purposes of its day to day business, including (but not limited to): |
(i) | payments made by the Purchaser in respect of any salaries, bonuses or reimbursement for expenses due and payable to any employees of the Purchaser; | ||
(ii) | payment of invoices payable by the Purchaser in respect of its day to day business; or | ||
(iii) | payments made by the Purchaser for the purposes of servicing any Financial Indebtedness (including payment of principal or interest in relation to such Financial Indebtedness) of the Purchaser incurred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, |
but shall not include: |
(a) | any payments made in respect of any costs pursuant to the acquisition of any shares or investments by the Purchaser; | ||
(b) | any payments made in respect of any lease and/or buy-back arrangements; | ||
(c) | payments of any dividends by the Purchaser; and | ||
(d) | payments of any extraordinary costs or expenses. |
(i) | Subject to paragraph (j) below, the Purchaser has sole signing rights in respect of the Master Service Agreement Account. | |
(j) | If an Event of Default is continuing: |
(i) | Neither the Borrower, the Purchaser nor the Target shall withdraw any amount from any Account; and | ||
(ii) | the Agent or the Security Trustee may debit any amounts standing to the credit of any Account and apply them in the order of priority set out in Clause 29.5 (Partial payments). |
22.4 | Instructions | |
(a) | Subject to Clause 22.3 (Withdrawals), the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorises and instructs the Agent and the Security Trustee to debit, at any time, amounts standing to the credit of the DSRA and apply them in the order of priority set out in Clause 29.5 (Partial payments). | |
(b) | Upon request by the Agent or the Security Trustee, the Account Bank shall promptly notify the Agent or the Security Trustee of the balance of the DSRA. | |
22.5 | Access to Accounts |
(a) | Each of the Borrower, the Purchaser and the Target irrevocably consents to the Agent and the Security Trustee or any of their respective appointed representatives (in the case of the |
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Target on the Acquisition Closing Date) having access to review the books and records of the Account Bank relating to any Account and consents (in the case of the Target on the Acquisition Closing Date) to the Agent and the Security Trustee or any of their respective appointed representatives passing on any information so obtained to any Finance Party in accordance with the provisions of the Finance Documents and, for these purposes only, irrevocably waives any right of confidentiality that may exist in respect of such books and records. The Account Bank shall give to the Borrower, the Purchaser, the Target, the Agent and the Security Trustee unrestricted access on reasonable prior notice to review such books and records of any Account held by the Account Bank, in each case, whilst an Event of Default is continuing. |
(b) | Nothing in this Clause 22 will require the Account Bank to disclose to any person any books, records or other information which the Account Bank would not be required to disclose to the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target (as the case may be). | |
22.6 | Administration | |
(a) | Without prejudice to the Account Banks obligations under this Clause 22, the Account Bank will not be obliged to make available to or for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser, the Target or any other person any sum which it is expecting to receive for the account of the Borrower, the Purchaser or the Target until it has been able to establish that that sum has been credited to the relevant Account held with the Account Bank. | |
(b) | The Account Bank will provide statements for the Accounts held with it to the Agent and the Security Trustee and to the Company within five Business Days after the last day of: |
(i) | each Interest Period; and | ||
(ii) | each Month. |
22.7 | No assignment | |
No Account nor the Borrowers, the Purchasers or the Targets right, title and interest to or in any Account shall be capable of being assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (whether in whole or in part) other than pursuant to the Security Documents. | ||
22.8 | Notice of Security | |
The Borrower and the Security Trustee hereby give notice to the Account Bank (and the Account Bank hereby acknowledges and accepts this Agreement as notice) of the Security created over the Accounts pursuant to the Borrower Account Charge and the Account Bank agrees: |
(a) | not to claim or exercise any security in, set-off and/or counterclaim Security created by the other rights in respect of the Accounts save as expressly contemplated in this Clause 22; and | ||
(b) | that it will pay all moneys standing to the credit of the DSRA or the WNS Mauritius Designated Account as directed by the Security Trustee upon being notified by the Security Trustee that the Security created by the Borrower Account Charge has become enforceable. |
22.9 | Opening of Accounts | |
Each Obligor shall ensure that the Target Designated Account is opened with the Account Bank no later than the date which is seven days after the Acquisition Closing Date. |
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23. | Events of Default |
Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 23 (other than Clause 23.24 (Acceleration) and Clause 23.25 (Clean-up Period) is an Event of Default. | ||
23.1 | Non-payment | |
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable. | ||
23.2 | Financial covenants | |
Any requirement of Clause 20 (Financial covenants) is not satisfied. | ||
23.3 | Other obligations | |
(a) | An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 23.1 (Non-payment) or Clause 23.2 (Financial covenants)). | |
(b) | No Event of Default under paragraph (a) above in relation to Clause 21.1 (Authorisations) will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 15 days of the Agent giving notice to the Company or the Company becoming aware of the failure to comply. | |
23.4 | Misrepresentation | |
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of an Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. | ||
23.5 | Cross default | |
(a) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period. | |
(b) | Any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of any default or event of default (however described). | |
(c) | Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of any member of the Group as a result of default or event of default (however described). | |
(d) | Any creditor of any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of any member of the Group due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of any default or event of default (however described). | |
(e) | No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 23.5 if the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (d) above is less than US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies). | |
23.6 | Insolvency | |
(a) | A member of the Group is unable to, is presumed or deemed to be unable to or admits its inability to, pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness. |
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(b) | The value of the assets of any member of the Group is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities). | |
(c) | A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of any member of the Group. | |
23.7 | Insolvency proceedings | |
(a) | Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to: |
(i) | the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, judicial management, administration, provisional supervision or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of any member of the Group; | ||
(ii) | a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group; | ||
(iii) | the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, receiver and manager, administrator, compulsory manager, provisional supervisor or other similar officer in respect of any member of the Group or any of its assets; | ||
(iv) | enforcement of any Security over any assets of any member of the Group, judicial manager; or | ||
(v) | any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction, |
provided that no Event of Default will occur under this paragraph (a) in respect of proceedings relating to a petition to wind-up a member of the Group which the Majority Lenders determine are frivolous or vexatious and which are discharged or dismissed within 15 Business Days of presentation. |
(b) | Any US Guarantor: |
(i) | applies for, or consents to, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property; | ||
(ii) | makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; | ||
(iii) | commences a voluntary case under US Bankruptcy Law; | ||
(iv) | files a petition with respect to itself seeking to take advantage of any other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation, liquidation, dissolution, arrangement or winding-up, or composition or readjustment of debts; | ||
(v) | takes any corporate action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing with respect to itself; | ||
(vi) | is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, suspends making payments on any of its debts or by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties; or | ||
(vii) | is the subject of involuntary proceedings under US Bankruptcy Law. |
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23.8 | Judgments, creditors process | |
(a) | A member of the Group fails to comply with or pay any sum due from it under any final judgment or any final order made or given by a court of competent jurisdiction. | |
(b) | Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution affects any asset or assets of a member of the Group. | |
(c) | No event of Default will occur under this Clause 23.8 if the aggregate amount of indebtedness unpaid under paragraph (a) and the value of the relevant assets under paragraph (b) is less than US$5,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies.) | |
23.9 | Moratorium | |
The Government of India or any relevant Governmental Agency declares a general moratorium or standstill (or makes or passes any order or regulation having a similar effect) in respect of the payment or repayment of any Financial Indebtedness (whether in the nature of principal, interest or otherwise) (or any indebtedness which includes Financial Indebtedness) owed by Indian companies or other entities (and whether such declaration, order or regulation is of general application, applies to a class of persons which includes an Obligor or a Put Provider or to an Obligor or a Put Provider alone). | ||
23.10 | Unlawfulness | |
It is or becomes unlawful for any party (other than a Finance Party) to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents. | ||
23.11 | Repudiation | |
Any party (other than a Finance Party) repudiates a Finance Document or evidences an intention to repudiate a Finance Document. | ||
23.12 | Security | |
The Majority Lenders determine that any Security Document is not (once entered into) in full force and effect or does not (once entered into) create in favour of the Security Trustee for the benefit of the Finance Parties the Security which it is expressed to create with the ranking and priority it is expressed to have. | ||
23.13 | Expropriation | |
Any governmental or other authority (whether de jure or de facto) nationalises, compulsorily acquires, expropriates or seizes all or a substantial part of the business or assets of any member of the Group and the Majority Lenders determine that such action has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
23.14 | Material adverse change | |
The Majority Lenders determine that a Material Adverse Effect exists, has occurred or might occur. | ||
23.15 | Material litigation | |
Any litigation, arbitration, investigative or administrative proceeding is current, pending or threatened which the Majority Lenders determine has (or might, if adversely determined, have) a Material Adverse Effect. |
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23.16 | Ownership | |
(a) | An Obligor (other than the Company) or a Put Provider (in the case of the Target at any time after the Acquisition Closing Date) is not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company. | |
(b) | A Put Provider or the Purchaser is not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower. | |
(c) | At any time after the Acquisition Closing Date, the Target or any Subsidiary of the Target is not or ceases to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower. | |
23.17 | Put Option Agreement | |
(a) | Any party (other than a Finance Party) fails to comply with its obligations under the Put Option Agreement in any manner which could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders have a Material Adverse Effect. | |
(b) | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by any party (other than a Finance Party) in the Put Option Agreement or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any such party under or in connection with the Put Option Agreement is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. | |
23.18 | Non Disposal Document | |
(a) | Any party (other than a Finance Party) fails to comply with its obligations under a Non Disposal Document in any manner which could in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders have a Material Adverse Effect. | |
(b) | Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by any party (other than a Finance Party) in the Non Disposal Document or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any such party under or in connection with the Non Disposal Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed to be made. | |
23.19 | Authorisations | |
Any Authorisation: |
(a) | as may be necessary for any member of the Group to carry on its business as it is being conducted; or | ||
(b) | required by any party (other than a Finance Party) to a Finance Document in connection with the entry into, performance, validity and enforceability of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents, |
is revoked or otherwise cancelled or not renewed or renewed with any onerous condition in each case which might have a Material Adverse Effect. | ||
23.20 | Change in Largest Shareholder | |
Any person (other than the person that was the largest shareholder in the Company on 31 March 2008) is or becomes the largest shareholder in the Company (a Change in Largest Shareholder) and: |
(a) | the Group loses more than 10 per cent. of its clients by revenue (calculated by reference to the financial quarter of the Company immediately prior to the financial quarter in which the Change in Largest Shareholder occurs) by the end of the |
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financial quarter of the Company following the financial quarter in which the Change in Largest Shareholder occurs (unless the Company demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Majority Lenders that such loss of clients is not as a result of the Change in Largest Shareholder); or |
(b) | the Company does not approach a rating agency satisfactory to the Majority Lenders for a rating review within one month of a Change in Largest Shareholder or the Company does approach a rating agency satisfactory to the Majority Lenders within such timeframe and the rating of the Company is downgraded from that obtained by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Syndication Side Letter within six months of the Change in Largest Shareholder. |
23.21 | Master Service Agreement | |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (c) below, the Master Service Agreement is not in full force and effect at any time on or after the Acquisition Closing Date. | |
(b) | It is or becomes unlawful for any party to perform its material obligations under the Master Service Agreement. | |
(c) | The Master Service Agreement expires, terminates or is terminated for any reason whatsoever, provided that if the Master Service Agreement is partially terminated in accordance with its terms, an Event of Default shall only occur if such partial termination (or any series of partial terminations) results in a reduction in the number of full time employees of the Purchaser invoiced for by the Purchaser pursuant to the terms of the Master Service Agreement falling below 3,000 full time employees in any three consecutive monthly invoices presented pursuant to the Master Service Agreement. | |
23.22 | Change in law | |
There is or could reasonably be expected to be a material reduction in the rate of return from the Put Option Agreement as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application, of) any law or regulation or (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement. | ||
23.23 | Declared company | |
An Obligor is declared by the Minister of Finance in Singapore to be a declared company under the provisions of Part IX of the Companies Act, Chapter 50 of Singapore. | ||
23.24 | Acceleration | |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (b) below, on and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower: |
(i) | cancel the Total Commitments whereupon they shall immediately be cancelled; | ||
(ii) | declare that all or part of the Utilisations, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall become immediately due and payable; and/or | ||
(iii) | declare that all or part of the Utilisations be payable on demand, whereupon they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders. |
(b) | If an Event of Default occurs under Clause 23.7 (Insolvency proceedings) in relation to any US Guarantor, each amount expressed by Clause 17 (Guarantee and indemnity) to be payable by that US Guarantor on demand shall, after that Event of Default has occurred, be |
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immediately due and payable by that US Guarantor without the need for any demand or other claim on that US Guarantor or any other Obligor. |
23.25 | Clean-up period | |
(a) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document: |
(i) | any breach of a Clean-Up Representation or a Clean-Up Undertaking; or | ||
(ii) | any Event of Default constituting a Clean-Up Default, |
existing on the Acquisition Closing Date and/or during the period from the Acquisition Closing Date up to the date falling two Months after the Acquisition Closing Date will be deemed not to be breach of representation, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default (as the case may be) if: |
(A) | it would have been (if it were not for this provision) a breach of representation, a breach of covenant or an Event of Default only by reason of circumstances relating exclusively to any member of the Target Group (or any obligation to procure or ensure in relation to a member of the Target Group); | ||
(B) | it was not procured or approved by any member of the Group; | ||
(C) | it is capable of remedy and all reasonable steps are being taken to remedy it; and | ||
(D) | it is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
(b) | If the relevant circumstances are continuing on or after the Clean-Up Date, there shall be a breach of representation or warranty, breach of covenant or Event of Default, as the case may be notwithstanding the above (and without prejudice to the rights and remedies of the Finance Parties). | |
(c) | For the avoidance of doubt, this Clause 23.25 (Clean-up period) shall not restrict the Agents right to give any notice under Clause 23.24 (Acceleration) or any other Finance Partys right to take any action with respect to any Default which is not a Clean-Up Default. |
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24. | Changes to the Lenders |
24.1 | Assignments and transfers by the Lenders |
Subject to this Clause 24, a Lender (the Existing Lender) may: |
(a) | assign any of its rights; or | ||
(b) | transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations, |
to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender) without the prior consent of, or notice to, any Obligor. |
24.2 | Conditions of assignment or transfer |
(a) | An assignment will only be effective on: |
(i) | receipt by the Agent of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender; and | ||
(ii) | performance by the Agent and the Security Trustee of all know your customer or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in relation to such assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Security Trustee shall promptly notify to the Agent and the Agent shall promptly notify the Existing Lender and the New Lender (as the case may be). |
(b) | A transfer will only be effective if the procedure set out in Clause 24.5 (Procedure for transfer) is complied with. |
24.3 | Assignment or transfer fee |
The New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect or the Transfer Certificate is delivered to the Agent in accordance with Clause 24.5 (Procedure for transfer), pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of US$2,000. |
24.4 | Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders |
(a) | Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for: |
(i) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents or any other documents; | ||
(ii) | the financial condition of any Obligor; | ||
(iii) | the performance and observance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or | ||
(iv) | the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document, |
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and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded. |
(b) | Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender and the other Finance Parties that it: |
(i) | has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender in connection with any Finance Document; and | ||
(ii) | will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force. |
(c) | Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to: |
(i) | accept a re-transfer from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 24; or | ||
(ii) | support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Finance Documents or otherwise. |
24.5 | Procedure for transfer |
(a) | Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 24.2 (Conditions of assignment or transfer), a transfer is effected in accordance with paragraph (b) below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate. | |
(b) | The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it and the Security Trustee have complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender. | |
(c) | On the Transfer Date: |
(i) | to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents, each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations); | ||
(ii) | each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that Obligor and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender; |
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(iii) | the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger, the New Lender and other Lenders shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Security Trustee, the Arranger and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and | ||
(iv) | the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender. |
24.6 | Copy of Transfer Certificate to the Company |
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate. |
24.7 | Disclosure of information |
Any Lender may disclose to: |
(a) | any of its Affiliates; | ||
(b) | its head office and any other branch; | ||
(c) | any other Finance Parties; and | ||
(d) | and any other person: |
(i) | to (or through) whom that Lender assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; | ||
(ii) | with (or through) whom that Lender enters into (or may potentially enter into) any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to, this Agreement or any Obligor; or | ||
(iii) | to whom, and to the extent that, information is required to be disclosed by any applicable law or regulation, |
any information about any Obligor, the Group and the Finance Documents as that Lender shall consider appropriate if, in relation to paragraphs (d)(i) and (d)(ii) above, the person to whom the information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking. This Clause 24.7 supersedes any previous agreement relating to the confidentiality of this information. |
25. | Changes to the Obligors |
25.1 | Transfer by Obligors |
No Obligor may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents. |
25.2 | Additional Guarantors |
(a) | The Company may request that any of its Subsidiaries become an Additional Guarantor. That Subsidiary shall become an Additional Guarantor if: |
(i) | the Company delivers to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Letter; and |
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(ii) | the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in and appearing to comply with the requirements of Part II (Conditions precedent required to be delivered by an Additional Guarantor) of Schedule 2 (Conditions precedent) in relation to that Additional Guarantor. |
(b) | The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon receiving such documents and other evidence. |
25.3 | Repetition of representations |
Delivery of an Accession Letter constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the Repeating Representations are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing. |
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26. | Role of the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger |
26.1 | Appointment of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Arranger and each Lender appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents. | |
(b) | Each other Finance Party appoints the Security Trustee to act as security trustee under and in connection with the Finance Documents. | |
(c) | The Arranger and each Lender authorises the Agent to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions. |
26.2 | Duties of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party. | |
(b) | Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party. | |
(c) | If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the Lenders. | |
(d) | If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Security Trustee, the Agent or the Arranger) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties. | |
(e) | The Agent shall promptly send to the Security Trustee such certification as the Security Trustee may require pursuant to paragraph 7 (Basis of distribution) of Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions). | |
(f) | The duties of the Agent and the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature. Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee shall have any other duties save as expressly provided in the Finance Documents to which it is party. |
26.3 | Role of the Arranger |
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
26.4 | Role of the Security Trustee |
The Security Trustee shall not be an agent of any Finance Party or any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
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26.5 | No fiduciary duties |
(a) | Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Agent, the Security Trustee (except as expressly provided in Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions)) or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person. | |
(b) | Neither the Agent, the Security Trustee (except as expressly provided in Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions) or in any Security Document) nor the Arranger shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account. |
26.6 | Business with the Group |
The Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group. |
26.7 | Rights and discretions of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Agent and the Security Trustee may rely on: |
(i) | any representation, notice or document believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised and shall have no duty to verify any signature on any document; and | ||
(ii) | any statement purportedly made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify. |
(b) | The Agent and the Security Trustee may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders or, as the case may be, as security trustee for the Finance Parties) that: |
(i) | no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 23.1 (Non-payment)); and | ||
(ii) | any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or the Majority Lenders has not been exercised. |
(c) | Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee. may engage, pay for and rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, surveyors or other experts. | |
(d) | Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its personnel and agents. | |
(e) | The Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement. | |
(f) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality. |
26.8 | Majority Lenders instructions |
(a) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, the Agent and the Security Trustee shall (i) exercise any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent or Security Trustee, as the case may be, in accordance with any instructions given to it by the Majority Lenders (or, if so instructed by the Majority Lenders, refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent or Security Trustee. as the case may be) |
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and (ii) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from taking any action) in accordance with an instruction of the Majority Lenders. | ||
(b) | Unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given by the Majority Lenders will be binding on all the Finance Parties. | |
(c) | Each of the Agent and the Security Trustee may refrain from acting in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders) or under paragraph (d) below until it has received such security as it may require for any cost, loss or liability (together with any associated Indirect Tax) which it may incur in complying with the instructions. | |
(d) | In the absence of instructions from the Majority Lenders (or, if appropriate, the Lenders), the Agent and the Security Trustee may act (or refrain from taking action) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders. | |
(e) | Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee is authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lenders consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. |
26.9 | Responsibility for documentation |
Neither the Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger: |
(a) | is responsible for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Trustee, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the Information Memorandum; or | ||
(b) | is responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of or in connection with any Finance Document. |
26.10 | Exclusion of liability |
(a) | Without limiting paragraph (b) below (and without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph (c) of Clause 30 (Disruption to payment systems, etc.), neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee will be liable for any action taken by it, or for omitting to take action under or in connection with any Finance Document, unless directly caused by Its gross negligence or wilful misconduct. | |
(b) | No Party (other than the Agent or the Security Trustee) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or the Security Trustee in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or the Security Trustee or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document. Any officer, employee or agent referred to In this paragraph (b) may enjoy the benefit of or enforce the terms of this paragraph in accordance with the provisions of the Third Parties Act and any such officer, employee or agent may rely on this Clause 26.10. | |
(c) | Neither the Agent nor the Security Trustee will be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by It if it has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by it for that purpose. | |
(d) | Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger to carry out any know your customer or other checks in relation to any person on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger that it |
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is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger. |
26.11 | Lenders indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee |
(a) | Subject to paragraph (b) below, each Lender shall (in proportion to its Available Commitment and participations in the Utilisations then outstanding to the Available Facility and all the Utilisations then outstanding) indemnify the Agent and the Security Trustee, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent or the Security Trustee (otherwise than by reason of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct) or in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 30 (Disruption to payment systems, etc.) notwithstanding the Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent in acting as Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent or, as applicable, the Security Trustee has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document). | |
(b) | If the Available Facility is then zero each Lenders indemnity under paragraph (a) above shall be in proportion to its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to its reduction to zero, unless there are then any Utilisations outstanding in which case it shall be in proportion to its participations in the Utilisations then outstanding to all the Utilisations then outstanding. |
26.12 | Resignation of the Agent or the Security Trustee |
(a) | The Agent or the Security Trustee may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates as successor by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Company. | |
(b) | Alternatively the Agent or the Security Trustee may resign by giving notice to the other Finance Parties and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee. | |
(c) | If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee in accordance with paragraph (b) above within 30 days after notice of resignation was given, the Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent or, as the case may be, Security Trustee. | |
(d) | The retiring Agent or Security Trustee shall, at its own cost, make available to its successor such documents and records and provide such assistance as its successor may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent or Security Trustee under the Finance Documents. | |
(e) | The resignation notice of the Agent or the Security Trustee shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor. | |
(f) | Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent or Security Trustee shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents but shall remain entitled to the benefit of this Clause 26. Its successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party. |
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(g) | After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee, require it to resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. In this event, the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee shall resign in accordance with paragraph (b) above. |
26.13 | Confidentiality |
(a) | The Agent (in acting as agent for the Lenders) and the Security Trustee (in acting as security trustee for the Finance Parties) shall be regarded as acting through their respective agency or security trustee division which in each case shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments. | |
(b) | If information is received by another division or department of the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of it. | |
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of any: Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent, the Security Trustee nor the Arranger is obliged to disclose to any person (i) any confidential information or (ii) any other information if the disclosure would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of any contractual or fiduciary duty. |
26.14 | Relationship with the Lenders |
The Agent may treat each Lender as a Lender, entitled to payments under this Agreement and acting through its Facility Office unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
26.15 | Credit appraisal by the Lenders |
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender confirms to the Agent, the Security Trustee and the Arranger that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to: |
(a) | the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group; | ||
(b) | the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and any other agreement, Security, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; | ||
(c) | whether that Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, Security, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and | ||
(d) | the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of the Information Memorandum and any other information provided by the Agent, the Security Trustee, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, Security, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document. |
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26.16 | Reference Banks |
If a Reference Bank ceases generally to offer quotations for LIBOR, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Company) appoint another bank or financial institution approved by the Majority Lenders to replace that Reference Bank. |
26.17 | Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent |
If any Party owes an amount to the Agent or the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent or the Security Trustee (as the case may be) would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted. |
26.18 | Management time of the Agent and the Security Trustee |
Any amount payable to the Agent or the Security Trustee under Clause 14.3 (Indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee), Clause 16 (Costs and expenses) and Clause 26.11 (Lenders indemnity to the Agent and the Security Trustee) shall include the cost of utilising its management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as it may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to it under Clause 11 (Fees). |
26.19 | Security trust provisions |
The provisions of Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions) shall bind each Party. |
26.20 | USA Patriot Act |
Each Lender hereby notifies each Obligor that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, such Lender is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Obligor, which information includes the name and address of such Obligor and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Obligor in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. |
27. | Conduct of business by the Finance Parties |
No provision of this Agreement will: |
(a) | interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit; | ||
(b) | oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or | ||
(c) | oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax. |
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28. | Sharing among the Finance Parties |
28.1 | Payments to Finance Parties |
If a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 29 (Payment mechanics) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then: |
(a) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery to the Agent; | ||
(b) | the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 29 (Payment mechanics), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and | ||
(c) | the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 29.5 (Partial payments). |
28.2 | Redistribution of payments |
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) in accordance with Clause 29.5 (Partial payments). |
28.3 | Recovering Finance Partys rights |
(a) | On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 28.2 (Redistribution of payments), the Recovering Finance Party will be subrogated to the rights of the Finance Parties which have shared in the redistribution. | |
(b) | If and to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party is not able to rely on its rights under paragraph (a) above, the relevant Obligor shall be liable to the Recovering Finance Party for a debt equal to the Sharing Payment which is immediately due and payable. |
28.4 | Reversal of redistribution |
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then: |
(a) | each Finance Party which has received a share of the relevant Sharing Payment pursuant to Clause 28.2 (Redistribution of payments) shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay); and | ||
(b) | that Recovering Finance Partys rights of subrogation in respect of any reimbursement shall be cancelled and the Borrower will be liable to the reimbursing Finance Party for the amount so reimbursed. |
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28.5 | Exceptions |
(a) | This Clause 28 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor. | |
(b) | A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if: |
(i) | it notified that other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and | ||
(ii) | that other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings. |
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29. | Payment mechanics |
29.1 | Payments to the Agent |
(a) | On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document, that Obligor (subject to Clause 29.9 (Payments to the Security Trustee)) or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment. | |
(b) | Payment shall be made to such account with such bank as the Agent specifies. |
29.2 | Distributions by the Agent |
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 29.3 (Distributions to an Obligor), Clause 29.4 (Clawback) and Clause 29.9 (Payments to the Security Trustee), be made available by the Agent by payment as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days prior notice, with a bank in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency. Any notice given to the Agent by a Party under this Clause 29.2 is only effective when the original notice is received by the Agent signed by an authorised officer of that Party. |
29.3 | Distributions to an Obligor |
The Agent and the Security Trustee may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with Clause 31 (Set-off) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied. | ||
29.4 | Clawback | |
(a) | Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent or the Security Trustee under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum. | |
(b) | If the Agent or the Security Trustee pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that it had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee shall on demand refund the same to the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee, together with interest on ;that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent or, as the case may be, the Security Trustee, calculated by it to reflect its cost of funds. |
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29.5 | Partial payments | |
(a) | If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under the Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under the Finance Documents in the following order: |
(i) | first, in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid fees, costs and expenses of the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger under the Finance Documents; | ||
(ii) | secondly, in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest or commission or other fee due but unpaid under this Agreement; | ||
(iii) | thirdly, in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under this Agreement; and | ||
(iv) | fourthly, in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents. |
(b) | The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in paragraphs (a)(ii) to (iv) above. | |
(c) | Paragraphs (a) and (b) above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor. | |
29.6 | No set-off by Obligors | |
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim. | ||
29.7 | Business Days | |
(a) | Any payment which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not). | |
(b) | During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date. | |
29.8 | Currency of account | |
(a) | Subject to paragraphs (b) to (e) below, US Dollars is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document. | |
(b) | A repayment of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Utilisation or Unpaid Sum is denominated on its due date. | |
(c) | Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated when that interest accrued. | |
(d) | Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred. | |
(e) | Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than US Dollars shall be paid in that other currency. |
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29.9 | Payments to the Security Trustee | |
Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document, at any time after any Security created by or pursuant to any Security Document becomes enforceable, the Security Trustee may require: |
(a) | any Obligor to pay all sums due under any Finance Document; or | ||
(b) | the Agent to pay all sums received or recovered from an Obligor under any Finance Document, |
in each case as the Security Trustee may direct for application in accordance with the terms of the Security Documents or Schedule 7 (Security trust provisions). |
30. | Disruption to payment systems, etc. |
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred: |
(a) | the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Company, consult with the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances; | ||
(b) | the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes; | ||
(c) | the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in paragraph (a) above but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances; | ||
(d) | any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Company shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 36 (Amendments and waivers); | ||
(e) | the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever (including, without limitation, for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 30; and | ||
(f) | the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to paragraph (d) above. |
31. | Set-off |
Without prior notice to the Obligor, a Finance Party may but is not obliged to, set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor (whether or not matured), regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off. |
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32. | Notices |
32.1 | Communications in writing | |
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter. | ||
32.2 | Addresses | |
The address, fax number and (if applicable) email address (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is: |
(a) | in the case of each Original Obligor: that identified with its name below; | ||
(b) | in the case of each Lender, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and | ||
(c) | in the case of the Agent and the Security Trustee, that identified with its name below, |
or any substitute address, fax number, email address or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days notice. |
32.3 | Delivery | |
(a) | Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective: |
(i) | if sent by fax before 5:00 p.m. (local time in the place to which it is sent) on a working day in that place, when sent or, if sent by fax at any other time, at 9:00 a.m. (local time in the place to which it is sent) on the next working day in that place, provided, in each case, that the person sending the fax shall have received a transmission receipt; or | ||
(ii) | if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address, |
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 32.2 (Addresses), if addressed to that department or officer. For this purpose, working days are days other than Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. |
(b) | Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the Security Trustee will be effective only when actually received by it and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with its signature below (or any substitute department or officer as it shall specify for this purpose). | |
(c) | All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent. |
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32.4 | Notification of address, fax number and email address | |
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address, fax number or email address or change of address, fax number or email address pursuant to Clause 32.2 (Addresses) or changing its own address, fax number or email address, the Agent shall notify the other Parties. | ||
32.5 | Reliance | |
(a) | Any notice sent under this Clause 32 can be relied on by the recipient if the recipient reasonably believes the notice to be genuine and if it bears what appears to be the signature (original or facsimile) of an authorised signatory of the sender without the need for further enquiry or confirmation. | |
(b) | Each Party must take reasonable care to ensure that no forged, false or unauthorised notices are sent to another Party. | |
32.6 | English language | |
(a) | Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English. | |
(b) | All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be: |
(i) | in English; or | ||
(ii) | if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document. |
33. | Calculations and certificates |
33.1 | Accounts | |
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate. | ||
33.2 | Certificates and determinations | |
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates. | ||
33.3 | Day count convention | |
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 360 days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Interbank Market differs, in accordance with that market practice. |
34. | Partial invalidity |
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents 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 nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired. |
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35. | Remedies and waivers |
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. |
36. | Amendments and waivers |
36.1 | Required consents | |
(a) | Subject to Clause 36.2 (Exceptions), any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Obligors and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties. | |
(b) | The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 36. | |
36.2 | Exceptions | |
(a) | An amendment or waiver that has the effect of changing or which relates to: |
(i) | the definition of Majority Lenders in Clause 1.1 (Definitions); | ||
(ii) | an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents; | ||
(iii) | a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable; | ||
(iv) | an increase in or an extension of any Commitment; | ||
(v) | a change to the Borrower or the Guarantors other than in accordance with Clause 25 (Changes to the Obligors); | ||
(vi) | any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders; | ||
(vii) | Clause 2.2 (Finance Parties rights and obligations), Clause 24 (Changes to the Lenders), Clause 28 (Sharing among the Finance Parties) or this Clause 36; or | ||
(viii) | the release of any Security created pursuant to any Security Document or of any Charged Assets (except as provided in any Security Document), |
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders. |
(b) | An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Security Trustee or the Arranger may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Security Trustee or, as the case may be, the Arranger. |
37. | Counterparts |
Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this shall have the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document. |
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38. | Governing law |
This Agreement is governed by English law. |
39. | Enforcement |
39.1 | Jurisdiction | |
(a) | The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute regarding the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement) (a Dispute). | |
(b) | The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary. | |
(c) | This Clause 39.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions. | |
39.2 | Service of process | |
Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales): |
(a) | irrevocably appoints WNS Global Services (UK) Limited as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document; and | ||
(b) | agrees that failure by a process agent to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned. |
39.3 | Consent to enforcement etc. | |
Each Obligor irrevocably and generally consents in respect of any proceedings anywhere in connection with any Finance Document to the giving of any relief or the issue of any process in connection with those proceedings including, without limitation, the making, enforcement or execution against any assets whatsoever (irrespective of their use or intended use) of any order or judgment which may be made or given in those proceedings. | ||
39.4 | Waiver of immunity | |
Each Obligor irrevocably agrees that, should any Party take any proceedings anywhere (whether for an injunction, specific performance, damages or otherwise in connection with any Finance Document), no immunity (to the extent that it may at any time exist, whether on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from those proceedings, from attachment (whether in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) of its assets or from execution of judgment shall be claimed by it or with respect to its assets, any such immunity being irrevocably waived. Each Obligor irrevocably agrees that it and its assets are, and shall be, subject to such proceedings, attachment or execution in respect of its obligations under the Finance Documents. |
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Address: | Channel House, 7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands | |||
Fax No.:
|
+44 (1534) 847001 | |||
Attention: | Ramesh Shah / Neeraj Bhargava | |||
By: |
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Address: | 10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius | |||
Fax No.:
|
230 (212) 5265 | |||
Attention: | Louis Cheong Tin, Yuraj Kumar Juwaheer, Vikas Gupta | |||
By: |
/s/ Vikas Gupta | |||
Address: | Channel House, 7 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands | |||
Fax No.:
|
+44 (1534) 847001 | |||
Attention: | Ramesh Shah / Neeraj Bhargava | |||
By: |
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava | |||
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Address: | The Lodge, Harmondsworth Lane, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 0AB | |||
Fax No.:
|
+44 208 754 8570 | |||
Attention: | Suzanne Westserhoff / J J Selvadurai | |||
By: |
/s/ J. J. Selvadurai | |||
Address: | 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2515, New York, NY 10170, USA | |||
Fax No.:
|
+1 212 599-6962 | |||
Attention: | Lydia Chua / Ramesh Shah | |||
By:
|
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Address: | 10, Frere Felix, de Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius | |||
Fax No.:
|
230 (212) 5265 | |||
Attention: | Louis Cheong Tin, Yuraj Kumar Juwaheer, Vikas Gupta | |||
By:
|
/s/ Vikas Gupta | |||
By: |
/s/ Aarti Sharma | |||
By: |
/s/ Sri Ram H. Iyer /s/ Rajesh Ramakrishnan | |||
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By:
|
/s/ Aarti Sharma | |||
By: |
/s/ Sri Ram H. Iyer /s/ Rajesh Ramakrishnan | |||
Address: | 5th Floor, Alperton House Bridgewater Road Wembley HA0 1EH United Kingdom |
|||
Fax No.:
|
+44 208 795 5468 | |||
Attention:
|
Mr Haresh Wadhwa | |||
By:
|
/s/ Aarti Sharma | |||
Address: | 115 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PR United Kingdom |
|||
Fax No.:
|
+44 207 831 9638 | |||
Attention:
|
Mr Ashok Sancheti | |||
By: |
/s/ (signed) | |||
By: |
/s/ Aarti Sharma | |||
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S/No. | Name of Subsidiary | Place of Incorporation | ||
1.
|
WNS Global Services Netherlands Cooperative U.A. | The Netherlands | ||
2.
|
WNS North America Inc. | Delaware, USA | ||
3.
|
WNS Global Services (UK) Limited | United Kingdom | ||
4.
|
WNS (Mauritius) Limited | Mauritius | ||
5.
|
Town & Country Assistance Limited | United Kingdom | ||
6.
|
WNS Global Services (Romania) S.R.L. | Romania | ||
7.
|
WNS Philippines Inc. | The Philippines | ||
8.
|
WNS Mortgage Services Private Limited | India | ||
9.
|
WNS Workflow Technologies Limited | United Kingdom | ||
10.
|
WNS Workflow Technologies (India) Private Limited | India | ||
11.
|
Chang Limited | United Kingdom | ||
12.
|
Call 24x7 Limited | United Kingdom | ||
13.
|
WNS Global Services Private Limited | India | ||
14.
|
NTrance Customer Services Private Limited | India | ||
15.
|
WNS Global Services (Private) Limited | Sri Lanka | ||
16.
|
First Offshoring Technologies Private Limited | India | ||
17.
|
Marketics (Technologies) India Private Limited | India | ||
18.
|
Marketics, Inc. | Delaware, USA | ||
19.
|
WNS Capital Investment Limited | Mauritius | ||
20.
|
Aviva Global Services Singapore Private Limited | Singapore | ||
21.
|
Aviva Global Services Lanka (Private) Limited | Sri Lanka | ||
22.
|
Aviva Global Shared Services Private Limited | India | ||
23.
|
Aviva Global Services (Bangalore) Private Limited | India | ||
24.
|
Customer Operational Services (Chennai) Private Limited | India | ||
25.
|
Business Applications Associates Limited | United Kingdom | ||
26.
|
Business Associates Application, Inc. | Delaware, USA | ||
27.
|
Baizan International Software Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. | China |
1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of WNS (Holdings) Limited; | |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; | |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; | |
4. | The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the company and have: |
a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; | ||
b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; | ||
c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | ||
d) | disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | ||
b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
By: | /s/ Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Name: Neeraj Bhargava | ||||
Title: Group Chief Executive Officer |
1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of WNS (Holdings) Limited; | |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; | |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; | |
4. | The companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the company and have: |
a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; | ||
b) | designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; | ||
c) | evaluated the effectiveness of the companys disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | ||
d) | disclosed in this report any change in the companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the companys internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the companys auditors and the audit committee of the companys board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
a) | all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | ||
b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the companys internal control over financial reporting. |
By: | /s/ Alok Misra | |||
Name: Alok Misra | ||||
Title: Group Chief Financial Officer | ||||
(i) | the accompanying annual report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2008 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and | ||
(ii) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ Neeraj Bhargava | ||||
Name: | Neeraj Bhargava | |||
Title: | Group Chief Executive Officer | |||
(i) | the accompanying annual report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2008 (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and | ||
(ii) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ Alok Misra | ||||
Name: | Alok Misra | |||
Title: | Group Chief Financial Officer | |||