TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALCAN INC. & NOVELIS INC.
Published on March 30, 2005
EXECUTION COPY
Exhibit 10.7
TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
between
ALCAN INC.
and
NOVELIS INC.
Dated January 3, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 - Form of Transition Service Schedule to Transitional Services
Agreement
TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT entered into in the City of Montreal, Province of Quebec, is
dated January 3, 2005.
BETWEEN: ALCAN INC., a corporation organized under the Canada Business
Corporations Act ("ALCAN");
AND: NOVELIS INC., a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business
Corporations Act ("NOVELIS").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS Alcan and Novelis have entered into a Separation Agreement pursuant to
which the Parties (as defined hereinafter) set out the terms and conditions
relating to the separation of the Separated Businesses from the Remaining Alcan
Businesses (each as defined therein) such that the Separated Businesses are to
be held, as at the Effective Time (as defined therein), directly or indirectly,
by Novelis (such agreement, as amended, restated or modified from time to time,
the "SEPARATION AGREEMENT").
WHEREAS in connection therewith, Novelis desires that Alcan and other members of
Alcan Group, as applicable, provide Novelis and other members of Novelis Group,
as applicable, with certain transitional services with respect to the operation
of Novelis Group following the Effective Date, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
WHEREAS in connection therewith, Alcan desires that Novelis and other members of
Novelis Group, as applicable, provide Alcan and other members of Alcan Group, as
applicable, with certain transitional services with respect to the operation of
Alcan Group following the Effective Date, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
WHEREAS the Parties have entered into this Agreement in order to set forth such
terms and conditions.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants and other
provisions set forth in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words and expressions and
variations thereof, unless a clearly inconsistent meaning is required under
the context, shall have the meanings specified or referred to in this
Section 1.1:
"AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
such first Person as of the
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date on which or at any time during the period for when such determination
is being made. For purposes of this definition, "CONTROL" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or
otherwise, and the terms "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Article 2.
"ALCAN" means Alcan Inc., a corporation organized under the Canada Business
Corporations Act.
"ALCAN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.2.
"ALCAN GROUP" means Alcan and its Subsidiaries from time to time after the
Effective Time.
"ALCAN GROUP COMPANY" means any Person forming part of the Alcan Group.
"ALCAN INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.
"ANCILLARY AGREEMENT" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Separation
Agreement.
"APPLICABLE LAW" means any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation of
any Governmental Authority or any outstanding order, judgment, injunction,
ruling or decree by any Governmental Authority.
"BUSINESS CONCERN" means any corporation, company, limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association or
any other form of association.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day excluding (i) Saturday, Sunday and any other
day which, in the City of Montreal (Canada) or in the City of New York
(United States), is a legal holiday or (ii) a day on which banks are
authorized by Applicable Law to close in the City of Montreal (Canada) or
in the City of New York (United States).
"CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(c).
"COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS" means the efforts that a reasonable and
prudent Person desirous of achieving a business result would use in similar
circumstances to ensure that such result is achieved as expeditiously as
possible in the context of commercial relations of the type envisaged by
this Agreement; provided, however, that an obligation to use Commercially
Reasonable Efforts under this Agreement does not require the Person subject
to that obligation to assume any material obligations or pay any material
amounts to a Third Party.
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"CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the
Separation Agreement.
"CONSENT" means any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other
authorization.
"CONTRACT" means any contract, agreement, lease, license, commitment,
consensual obligation, promise or undertaking (whether written or oral and
whether express or implied) that is legally binding on any Person or any
part of its property under Applicable Law.
"DOLLARS" or "$" means the lawful currency of the United States of America.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means the effective date of the Separation Agreement as
therein defined.
"EFFECTIVE TIME" means 12:01 a.m. Montreal time on the Effective Date.
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
"EXPIRATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Article 5.
"FORCE MAJEURE EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 17.7.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any court, arbitration panel, governmental
or regulatory authority, agency, stock exchange, commission or body.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION" means any Consent, license, certificate,
franchise, registration or permit issued, granted, given or otherwise made
available by, or under the authority of, any Governmental Authority or
pursuant to any Applicable Law.
"GROUP" means Alcan Group or Novelis Group, as the context requires.
"IMPRACTICABILITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT" means, individually or collectively, the
Intellectual Property Agreements by and between Alcan International Limited
and Novelis, as amended, restated or modified from time to time, and
constituting an Ancillary Agreement to the Separation Agreement.
"LIABILITIES" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Separation Agreement.
"NOVELIS" means Novelis Inc., a corporation incorporated under the Canada
Business Corporations Act.
"NOVELIS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" has the meaning set forth in Section
13.2.
"NOVELIS GROUP" means Novelis and its Subsidiaries from time to time after
the Effective Time.
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"NOVELIS INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.
"OPERATING COMMITTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"PARTY" means each of Alcan and Novelis as a party to this Agreement and
"PARTIES" means both of them.
"PERMITTED PURPOSE" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.3.
"PERSON" means any individual, Business Concern or Governmental Authority.
"PRIME RATE" means the floating rate of interest established from time to
time by the Royal Bank of Canada (the "BANK") as the reference rate of
interest the Bank will use to determine rates of interest payable by its
borrowers on US dollar commercial loans made by the Bank to such borrowers
in Canada and designated by the Bank as its "prime rate" and which shall
change from time to time as changed by the Bank.
"SALES TAXES" means any sales, use, consumption, goods and services, value
added or similar tax, duty or charge imposed pursuant to Applicable Law.
"SEPARATION AGREEMENT" has the meaning set out in the Preamble to this
Agreement.
"SERVICE(S)" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"SERVICE MANAGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.8(c).
"SERVICE PROVIDER" means Alcan or a member of Alcan Group when it is
providing a Service to Novelis or a member of Novelis Group hereunder in
accordance with a Transition Service Schedule, and Novelis or a member of
Novelis Group when it is providing a Service to Alcan or a member of Alcan
Group hereunder in accordance with a Transition Service Schedule.
"SERVICE RECIPIENT" means Novelis or a member of Novelis Group when it is
receiving a Service from Alcan or a member of Alcan Group hereunder in
accordance with a Transition Service Schedule, and Alcan or a member of
Alcan Group when it is receiving a Service from Novelis or a member of
Novelis Group hereunder in accordance with a Transition Service Schedule.
"SUBCONTRACTOR" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
"SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means any corporation, partnership, limited
liability entity, joint venture or other organization, whether incorporated
or unincorporated, of which of a majority of the total voting power of
capital stock or other interests entitled (without the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
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"TERM" has the meaning set forth in Article 5.
"THIRD PARTY" means a Person that is not a Party to this Agreement, other
than a member of Alcan Group or a member of Novelis Group and that is not
an Affiliate of such Group.
"THIRD PARTY CLAIM" has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
"TRANSITION SERVICE SCHEDULE" has the meaning set forth in Article 2.
1.2 CURRENCY
Except as otherwise specified in a Transition Service Schedule, all
references to currency herein are to lawful money of the United States of
America.
2. TRANSITION SERVICE SCHEDULES
This Agreement will govern individual transitional Services as requested by
Novelis or any other member of Novelis Group, and provided by Alcan or any other
member of Alcan Group, the details of which are set forth in the Transition
Service Schedules attached to and forming part of this Agreement. This Agreement
will also govern individual transitional Services as requested by Alcan or any
other member of Alcan Group, and provided by Novelis or any other member of
Novelis Group, the details of which are set forth in the Transition Service
Schedules attached to and forming part of this Agreement. Each Service shall be
covered by this Agreement upon execution of a transition service schedule in the
form attached hereto (each transition service schedule, a "TRANSITION SERVICE
SCHEDULE").
For each Service, the Parties shall set forth in a Transition Service Schedule
substantially in the form of SCHEDULE 1 hereto, among other things, (i) the time
period during which the Service will be provided if different from the Term of
this Agreement; (ii) a summary of the Service to be provided; and (iii) the
method for determining the charge, if any, for the Service and any other terms
applicable thereto. Obligations regarding a Transition Service Schedule shall be
effective upon the later of the Effective Date of this Agreement or the date of
execution of the applicable Transition Service Schedule. This Agreement and all
the Transition Service Schedules shall be defined as the "AGREEMENT" and
incorporated herein wherever reference to it is made.
3. SERVICES
3.1 SERVICES GENERALLY
Except as otherwise provided herein, for the Term hereof, (a) Alcan shall
provide to Novelis and the other members of Novelis Group, and shall cause
the other applicable members of Alcan Group to provide or cause to be
provided to Novelis and the other members of Novelis Group, and (b) Novelis
shall provide to Alcan and the other members of Alcan Group, and shall
cause the other applicable members of
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Novelis Group to provide or cause to be provided to Alcan and the other
members of Alcan Group, the Services described in the Transition Service
Schedule(s) attached hereto identified on such Schedules as Services to be
provided by members of Alcan Group or Novelis Group, as applicable. The
Service(s) described on a single Transition Service Schedule shall be
referred to herein as a "SERVICE". Collectively, the services described on
all the Transition Service Schedules shall be referred to herein as
"SERVICES". Alcan and Novelis shall cause the members of their respective
Groups to, if applicable, comply with the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement or in the Transition Services Schedules.
3.2 SERVICE LEVELS
Except as otherwise provided in a Transition Service Schedule for a
specific service: (i) a Service Provider shall provide the Services only to
the extent such Services are being provided by Alcan or any other member of
Alcan Group or by Arcustarget Inc. or any of its Subsidiaries immediately
prior to the Effective Date and at a level of service substantially similar
to that provided by Alcan or any other member of Alcan Group or by
Arcustarget Inc. or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the
Effective Date; and (ii) the Services will be available only for purposes
of conducting the business of the Service Recipient substantially in the
manner it was conducted prior to the Effective Time; provided, however,
that nothing in this Agreement will require a Party to favor the other
Party over its other business operations. Except as otherwise provided in a
Transition Service Schedule in respect of a specific Service, the Parties
will not be entitled to any new service.
3.3 IMPRACTICABILITY
A Service Provider shall not be required to provide any Service to the
extent the performance of such Service becomes impracticable as a result of
a cause or causes outside the reasonable control of the Service Provider,
including unfeasible technological requirements, or to the extent the
performance of such Services would require the Service Provider to violate
any Applicable Law, or would result in the breach of any license,
Governmental Authorization or Contract (an "IMPRACTICABILITY").
3.4 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
In accordance with Section 7.8 below and except as specifically provided in
a Transition Service Schedule for a specific Service, in providing the
Services, a Service Provider shall not be obligated to: (i) hire any
additional employees; (ii) maintain the employment of any specific
employee; (iii) purchase, lease or license any additional facilities,
equipment or software; or (iv) pay any costs related to the transfer or
conversion of the Service Recipient's data to the Service Provider or any
alternate supplier of Services.
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4. OPERATING COMMITTEE
4.1 ORGANIZATION
The Parties shall create an operating committee (the "OPERATING COMMITTEE")
and shall each appoint one (1) employee to the Operating Committee for the
Term. The Operating Committee will oversee the implementation and
application of this Agreement and shall attempt to resolve any dispute
between the Parties. Each of the Parties shall have the right to change its
Operating Committee member at any time with employees of comparable
knowledge, expertise and decision-making authority.
4.2 DECISION MAKING
All Operating Committee decisions shall be taken unanimously. If the
Operating Committee fails to make a decision, resolve a dispute, agree upon
any necessary action, or if a Party so requests, in the event of a material
breach of this Agreement, a senior officer of Alcan and a senior officer of
Novelis, neither of whom shall have any direct oversight or responsibility
for the subject matter in dispute, shall attempt within a period of
fourteen (14) days to conclusively resolve any such unresolved issue.
4.3 MEETINGS
During the Term, the Operating Committee members shall meet, in person or
via teleconference, at least once in each week. In addition, the Operating
Committee shall meet as often as necessary in order to promptly resolve any
disputes submitted to it by any representative of either Party.
5. TERM
The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on
December 31, 2005 (the "EXPIRATION DATE"), unless earlier terminated under
Article 8 or extended or earlier terminated as hereinafter provided, (the
"TERM"). The Parties shall be deemed to have extended this Agreement with
respect to a specific Service if the Transition Service Schedule for such
Service specifies a completion date beyond the Expiration Date. The Parties may
agree on an earlier expiration date respecting a specific Service by specifying
such date on the Transition Service Schedule for that Service. Services shall be
provided up to and including the date set forth in the applicable Transition
Service Schedule, subject to earlier termination as provided in Article 8. It
shall be the sole responsibility of the Service Recipient, upon and after
expiration or early termination of this Agreement with respect to a specific
Service, to perform, render and provide for itself (or to make arrangements with
one or more Third Party service providers to perform, render and provide) such
Service, and to do all necessary planning and make all necessary preparations in
connection therewith.
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6. COMPENSATION
6.1 CHARGES FOR SERVICES
The Service Recipient shall pay the Service Provider the charges, if any,
set forth on the Transition Service Schedules for each of the Services
listed therein as adjusted, from time to time, in accordance with the
processes and procedures established under Sections 7.1 and 7.2 hereof.
Unless specifically indicated otherwise on a Transition Service Schedule,
such fees shall be equal to the aggregate of all direct and indirect costs
and expenses incurred by the Service Provider in providing the Services
plus a margin equal to five percent (5%) of all such costs and expenses. No
margin shall be added to the cost of services supplied by external
suppliers or subcontractors required in order to render the Services. If
there is any inconsistency between the Transition Service Schedule and this
Section 6.1, the terms of the Transition Service Schedule shall govern. The
Parties also intend, having regard to the reciprocal and transitional
nature of this Agreement and other factors, for charges to be easy to
administer and justify; and, therefore, they hereby acknowledge that it may
be counterproductive to try to recover every cost, charge or expense,
particularly those that are insignificant or de minimus.
6.2 PAYMENT TERMS
Subject to Section 6.4 and except as otherwise specified in a Transition
Service Schedule, the Service Provider shall invoice the Service Recipient
monthly (or on such other basis as the Parties may mutually determine) for
all charges pursuant to this Agreement. Such invoices shall specify the
Services provided to the Service Recipient during the preceding month and
identifying the Service fee applicable to each Service so specified, and
shall be accompanied by reasonable documentation or other reasonable
explanations supporting such charges. Except as otherwise specified in a
Transition Service Schedule, the Service Recipient shall pay, net of
applicable withholding tax, if any, the Service Provider for all Services
provided hereunder within thirty (30) days after receipt of an invoice
therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account
designated by the Service Provider for this purpose. Late payments shall
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus 2%,
calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from and
excluding the date on which such payment was due up to and including the
date of payment.
For the purpose of the Interest Act (Canada) and disclosure thereunder,
whenever interest to be paid hereunder is to be calculated on the basis of
a year of 360 days or any other period of time that is less than a calendar
year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate determined pursuant to
such calculation is equivalent is the rate so determined multiplied by the
actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be
ascertained and divided by either 360 or such other period of time, as the
case may be.
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6.3 TAXES
The fees and charges payable by the Service Recipient under this Agreement
and set forth on the Transition Service Schedules shall be exclusive of any
Sales Taxes or excise taxes or any customs or import charges or duties or
any similar charges or duties which may be imposed by any Governmental
Authority in connection with the purchase or delivery of the Services or
materials to the Service Recipient. The Service Recipient shall remit to
the Service Provider any Sales Taxes properly payable to the Service
Provider pursuant to this Agreement. Applicable Sales Taxes shall be
indicated by the Service Provider separately on all of the Service
Provider's invoices. The Parties shall co-operate with each other to
minimize each other's applicable Sales Taxes and each shall provide the
other with any reasonable certificates or documents which are useful for
such purpose.
6.4 SET OFF
Unless otherwise agreed, neither Party shall be entitled to set off against
any amounts due to the other under this Agreement any amounts due to it
from such other Party under this Agreement.
The Parties may, by decision of the Operating Committee or otherwise, agree
to consolidate all or any of their respective monthly invoicing under
Section 6.2 and may further agree that the corresponding invoices will be
discharged by set off, with the debtor of the larger invoice making payment
of the net amount owing after deduction of the amount invoiced by such
debtor to the other Party. Such practice, if commenced, may be discontinued
at any time at the request of either Party. Notwithstanding any such set
off, any amount in respect of Sales Taxes required to be remitted by one
Party to the other Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be remitted in
full as if no set off had occurred.
6.5 PERFORMANCE UNDER ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Service
Recipient shall not be charged under this Agreement for any obligations
that are specifically required to be performed under the Separation
Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement; and any such other obligations
shall be performed and charged for (if applicable) in accordance with the
terms of the Separation Agreement or such other Ancillary Agreement.
6.6 ERROR CORRECTION; TRUE-UPS; ACCOUNTING
The Parties shall agree to develop, through the Operating Committee or
otherwise, mutually acceptable reasonable processes and procedures for
conducting internal audits and making adjustments to charges as a result of
the movement of employees and functions between the Parties, the discovery
of errors or omissions in charges, as well as a true-up of amounts owed. In
no event shall such processes and procedures extend beyond eighteen (18)
months after completion of a Service.
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7. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS; STANDARD OF CARE
7.1 PERFORMANCE METRICS: ALCAN GROUP
Subject to Sections 3.2 to 3.4 and any other terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Alcan shall maintain, and shall cause the relevant other members
of Alcan Group to maintain, sufficient resources to perform their
obligations hereunder. Specific performance metrics for Alcan for a
specific Service may be set forth in the corresponding Transition Service
Schedule. Where none is set forth, Alcan and the other relevant members of
Alcan Group shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide Services,
or to cause the Services to be provided, in accordance with Alcan's
policies, procedures, service levels and practices in effect before the
Effective Date and shall exercise the same care and skill as Alcan
exercises in performing similar services for itself or for the other
members of Alcan Group. In addition, to the extent within the possession
and control of Alcan and the other relevant members of Alcan Group, Alcan
shall provide, and shall cause the other relevant members of Alcan Group to
provide, Novelis and the other relevant members of Novelis Group with
information and documentation sufficient for Novelis and the other relevant
members of Novelis Group to perform the Services they are obligated to
perform hereunder as they were performed before the Effective Date and
shall make available, as reasonably requested by Novelis or the other
relevant members of Novelis Group, sufficient resources and timely
decisions, approvals and acceptances in order that Novelis and the other
relevant members of Novelis Group may perform their obligations hereunder
in a timely manner.
7.2 PERFORMANCE METRICS: NOVELIS GROUP
Subject to Sections 3.2 to 3.4 and any other terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Novelis shall maintain, and shall cause the other relevant
members of Novelis Group to maintain, sufficient resources to perform their
obligations hereunder. Specific performance metrics for Novelis for a
specific Service may be set forth in the corresponding Transition Service
Schedule. Where none is set forth, Novelis and the other relevant members
of Novelis Group shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide
Services, or to cause the Services to be provided, in accordance with
Alcan's policies, procedures, service levels and practices in effect before
the Effective Date and shall exercise the same care and skill as Novelis
exercises in performing similar services for itself or for the other
members of Novelis Group. In addition, to the extent within the possession
and control of Novelis and the other relevant members of Novelis Group,
Novelis shall provide, and shall cause the other relevant members of
Novelis Group to provide, Alcan and the other relevant members of Alcan
Group with information and documentation sufficient for Alcan and the other
relevant members of Alcan Group to perform the Services they are obligated
to perform hereunder as they were performed before the Effective Date and
shall make available, as reasonably requested by Alcan or the other
relevant members of Alcan Group, sufficient resources and timely decisions,
approvals and
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acceptances in order that Alcan and the other relevant members of Alcan
Group may perform their obligations hereunder in a timely manner.
7.3 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, neither Alcan nor Novelis
makes any warranties or conditions, express, implied, conventional or
statutory, including but not limited to, the implied warranties or
conditions of merchantability, of quality or fitness for a particular
purpose, with respect to the Services or other items or deliverables
provided by it or any other member of its Group hereunder or any
transactions contemplated herein.
7.4 TRANSITIONAL NATURE OF SERVICES; CHANGES
The Parties acknowledge the transitional nature of the Services and that a
Service Provider may make changes from time to time in the manner of
performing the Services if the Service Provider is making similar changes
in performing similar services for itself and if the Service Provider
furnishes to the Service Recipient with reasonable notice in the
circumstances regarding such changes.
7.5 RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS; DELAYS
Except in the case of Service Provider's gross negligence, bad faith or
wilful misconduct, a Service Provider's sole responsibility to a Service
Recipient:
(a) for errors or omissions in Services, shall be to furnish correct
information, payment and/or adjustment in the Services, at no
additional cost or expense to the Service Recipient; provided that the
Service Provider must promptly advise the Service Recipient of any
such error or omission of which it becomes aware after using
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to detect any such errors or omissions
in accordance with the standard of care set forth in Sections 7.1 and
7.2; and
(b) for failure to deliver any Service because of Impracticability, shall
be to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts, subject to Section 3.3, to
make the Services available or to resume performing the Services as
promptly as reasonably practicable.
7.6 COOPERATION; CONSENTS
The Parties shall, and shall cause the other relevant members of their
respective Groups to, cooperate with each other in all matters relating to
the provision and receipt of Services. Such cooperation shall include
exchanging information, performing true-ups and adjustments, and obtaining
all Third Party Consents, licenses or sublicenses necessary to permit each
Party to perform its obligations hereunder (including by way of example,
not by way of limitation, rights to use Third Party software needed for the
performance of Services). Pursuant to Section 11.4, the
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costs of obtaining such Third Party Consents, licenses or sublicenses shall
be borne by the Service Recipient. The Parties shall maintain, and shall
cause the other relevant members of their respective Groups to maintain, in
accordance with its standard document retention procedures, documentation
supporting the information relevant to cost calculations contained in the
Transition Service Schedules.
With respect to those Services that, in the reasonable opinion of the
Service Recipient, relate to matters of internal control over financial
reporting and with respect to which Alcan or Novelis, as the case may be,
reasonably believes a SAS 70 Type II Report is necessary in order to permit
its management to perform an adequate assessment of internal control over
financial reporting (and to permit its auditors to audit its internal
control over financial reporting and management's assessment thereof), upon
reasonable request by Alcan or Novelis, as the case may be, no later than
30 days before the end of the 2005 calendar year, the Service Provider
shall provide to Alcan or Novelis, as the case may be, a SAS 70 Type II
Report within 45 days of the end of such calendar year. Such SAS 70 Type II
Report must be prepared by the Service Provider's independent auditors in
accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70, Service
Organizations ("SAS 70"), and must include an opinion with respect to the
controls that are in effect at the Service Provider over the practices and
procedures relating to the Service Provider's performance of such Services
under this Agreement. The Service Provider will, and will use Commercially
Reasonable Efforts to cause its external auditors to, provide information
to Alcan or Novelis and Alcan's or Novelis' external auditors, as the case
may be, in order to allow Alcan or Novelis, as the case may be, and Alcan's
or Novelis' respective external auditors, as the case may be, to perform
procedures with respect to the SAS 70 Type II Report delivered hereunder
and the controls to which such report relates that are required by
generally accepted auditing standards, including, without limitation, PCAOB
Auditing Standard No. 2, and by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and
the rules promulgated thereunder. All expenditures incurred by a Service
Provider in performing its obligations under this paragraph shall be
payable by the Service Recipient.
7.7 ALTERNATIVES
If a Service Provider reasonably believes it is unable to provide any
Service because of a failure to obtain necessary Consents, licenses or
sublicenses pursuant to Section 7.6 or because of Impracticability, the
Parties shall cooperate to determine the best alternative approach. Until
such alternative approach is found or the problem otherwise resolved to the
satisfaction of the Parties, the Service Provider shall use Commercially
Reasonable Efforts subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, to continue
providing the Service. To the extent an agreed upon alternative approach
requires the occurrence of costs or expenditures above and beyond that
which is included in the Service Provider's charge for the Service in
question, such additional costs and expenditures shall, unless otherwise
agreed, be borne by the Service Recipient.
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7.8 PERSONNEL
(a) RIGHT TO DESIGNATE AND CHANGE PERSONNEL. The Service Provider will
make available such personnel as will reasonably be required to
provide the Services described in the Transition Service Schedules.
The Service Provider will have the right to designate which personnel
it will assign to perform the Services. The Service Provider also will
have the right to remove and replace any such personnel at any time or
designate any of its Affiliates or a Subcontractor at any time to
perform the Services, subject to the provisions of Article 10;
provided, however, that the Service Provider will use Commercially
Reasonable Efforts to limit the disruption to the Service Recipient in
the transition of the Services to different personnel or to a
Subcontractor. In the event that personnel with the designated level
of experience are not then employed by the Service Provider, the
Service Provider will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to provide
such personnel or Subcontractor personnel having an adequate level of
experience; provided, however, that the Service Provider will have no
obligation to retain any individual employee for the sole purpose of
providing the applicable Services.
(b) FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. The Service Provider will pay for all
personnel expenses, including wages, of its employees performing the
Services.
(c) SERVICE MANAGERS AND CHIEF REPRESENTATIVES. During the Term of this
Agreement, each Party will appoint (i) one of its employees (the
"SERVICE MANAGER") who will have overall responsibility for managing
and coordinating the delivery of the Services and who shall serve as
that Party's representative on the Operating Committee and (ii) one of
its employees for each service as indicated in each Transition Service
Schedule (the "CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE"). The Service Manager and the
Chief Representatives will coordinate and consult with the Service
Manager and the Chief Representatives of the other Party. Each Party
may, at its discretion, select other individuals to serve in these
capacities during the Term of this Agreement upon providing notice to
the other Party. For greater certainty, a Chief Representative may
serve as such in respect of one or more Transition Service Schedules.
7.9 INSURANCE
Each Party shall obtain and maintain at its own expense insurance of the
type generally maintained in the ordinary course of its business. Except as
otherwise specified in a Transition Service Schedule, neither Party shall
be required to obtain and maintain any particular insurance in relation to
providing or receiving any Service.
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8. TERMINATION
8.1 TERMINATION
A Service Recipient may terminate this Agreement, either with respect to
all or with respect to any one or more of the Services provided to the
Service Recipient hereunder, with or without cause, at any time upon at
least thirty (30) days prior notice to the Service Provider, unless the
specific Transition Service Schedule requires otherwise. To the extent
possible, the Service Recipient will give such notice of termination at the
beginning of a fiscal month to terminate the Service as of the beginning of
the next fiscal month to avoid the need to prorate any monthly payment
charges. As soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of any such
notice, the Service Provider shall advise the Service Recipient as to
whether termination of such Service will (a) require the termination or
partial termination of, or otherwise affect the provision of, certain other
Services, or (b) result in any early termination costs, including those
related to Subcontractors, which in any event, shall be borne by the
Service Recipient as set forth in Section 8.3. If either will be the case,
the Service Recipient may withdraw its termination notice within five (5)
Business Days. If the Service Recipient does not withdraw the termination
notice within such period, such termination will occur in accordance with
the original notice.
In addition, the Parties agree that (a) this Agreement may be terminated in
its entirety immediately at the option of the non-defaulting Party, in the
event that an Event of Default occurs in relation to the other Party, and
such termination shall take effect immediately upon the non-defaulting
Party providing notice to the other of the termination (except as otherwise
specified in clause (e) below), and that (b) either Party may terminate
this Agreement (and the corresponding Transition Service Schedule) with
respect to a specific Service upon providing notice to the other Party in
the event that an Event of Default occurs in relation to such other Party,
and such termination shall take effect immediately upon the non-defaulting
Party providing such notice to the other (except as otherwise specified in
clause (e) below).
For the purposes of this Agreement, each of the following shall
individually and collectively constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT":
(a) in relation to the Service Recipient, if the Service Recipient
defaults in payment to the Service Provider of any payments which are
due and payable by it to the Service Provider pursuant to this
Agreement, and such default is not cured within thirty (30) days
following receipt by the Service Recipient of notice of such default;
(b) in relation to the Service Provider, if the Service Provider defaults
in payment to the Service Recipient of any payments which are due and
payable by it to the Service Recipient pursuant to this Agreement (if
any), and such default is not cured within thirty (30) days following
receipt by the Service Provider of notice of such default;
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(c) either Party breaches any of its material obligations to the other
Party pursuant to this Agreement (other than as set out in paragraphs
(a) and (b) above), and fails to cure it within thirty (30) days after
receipt of notice from the non-defaulting Party specifying the default
in reasonable detail and demanding that it be rectified, provided that
if such breach is not capable of being cured within thirty (30) days
after receipt of such notice and the Party in default has diligently
pursued efforts to cure the default within the thirty (30) day period,
no Event of Default under this paragraph (c) shall occur;
(d) either Party breaches any representation or warranty, or fails to
perform or comply with any covenant, provision, undertaking or
obligation in or of the Separation Agreement;
(e) in relation to Novelis (1) upon the occurrence of a Non Compete Breach
(as defined in the Separation Agreement) and the giving of notice of
the termination of this Agreement by Alcan to Novelis pursuant to
Section 14.03(b) of the Separation Agreement, or (2) upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control Non Compete Breach (as defined in
the Separation Agreement) and the giving of notice of the termination
of this Agreement by Alcan to Novelis pursuant to Section 14.04(e) of
the Separation Agreement, in which event the termination of this
Agreement shall be effective immediately upon Alcan providing Novelis
notice pursuant to Section 14.03(b) or Section 14.04(e) of the
Separation Agreement; or
(f) either Party (i) is bankrupt or insolvent or takes the benefit of any
statute in force for bankrupt or insolvent debtors, or (ii) files a
proposal or takes any action or proceeding before any court of
competent jurisdiction for its dissolution, winding-up or liquidation,
or for the liquidation of its assets, or a receiver is appointed in
respect of its assets, which order, filing or appointment is not
rescinded within sixty (60) days.
8.2 SURVIVAL
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any termination or
expiration with respect to one or more Services, but less than all
Services, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect with
respect to any Services not terminated or expired.
8.3 PAYMENT
Immediately following the Expiration Date, the Service Provider shall
cease, or cause the other members of the Group to which it belongs, or its
Subcontractors to cease, providing the Services, and the Service Recipient
shall promptly pay or cause the other members of the Group to which it
belongs, to promptly pay all fees accrued pursuant to Article 6 but unpaid
to the Service Provider, provided, however, that in case of earlier
termination without cause, the Service Recipient, notwithstanding
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Article 2129 of the Civil Code of Quebec, shall reimburse the Service
Provider only to the extent of the reasonable termination costs actually
incurred by the Service Provider resulting from the Service Recipient's
early termination of such Services, including those owed to Subcontractors.
The Service Provider will use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to mitigate
such termination costs.
8.4 USER IDS, PASSWORDS
The Parties shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts upon the termination
or expiration of this Agreement or of any specific Service hereto to ensure
that access by one Party to the other Party's systems is cancelled.
9. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTIES
Each Party is and will remain at all times an independent contractor in the
performance of all Services hereunder. In all matters relating to this
Agreement, each Party will be solely responsible for the acts of its employees
and agents, and employees or agents of one Party shall not be considered
employees or agents of the other Party. Except as otherwise provided herein, no
Party will have any right, power or authority to create any obligation, express
or implied, on behalf of any other Party nor shall either Party act or represent
or hold itself out as having authority to act as an agent or partner of the
other Party, or in any way bind or commit the other Party to any obligations.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create or constitute a joint venture,
partnership, agency, trust or other association of any kind between the Parties
or Persons referred to herein, and each Party shall be responsible only for its
respective obligations as set forth in this Agreement. Neither Party nor its
employees shall be considered an employee or agent of the other Party for any
purpose, except as expressly agreed by the Parties. Each Party shall have sole
responsibility for the supervision, daily direction and control, payment of
salary (including withholding of income taxes and deductions at source),
worker's compensation, disability benefits and the like of its employees.
10. SUBCONTRACTORS
10.1 A Service Provider may, subject to Section 10.2, engage a "SUBCONTRACTOR"
to perform all or any portion of the Service Provider's duties under this
Agreement, provided that any such Subcontractor agrees in writing to be
bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as the terms of
Section 11.07 of the Separation Agreement regarding confidentiality and
non-use of information, and provided further that the Service Provider
remains responsible for the performance of such Subcontractor and for
paying the Subcontractor. As used in this Agreement, "SUBCONTRACTOR" will
mean any Person or entity engaged to perform hereunder.
10.2 In the event of a Service Provider wishes to engage a Subcontractor to
perform all or any portion of the Service Provider's duties under this
Agreement, as a condition precedent to any such subcontracting: (a) the
Service Provider shall provide the Service Recipient with a notice of its
intention to do so and such notice shall set forth
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with reasonable details the nature of the duties or Services the Service
Provider wishes a Subcontractor to perform, the identity of the proposed
Subcontractor as well as the specific terms and conditions of such proposed
subcontracting; and (ii) the Service Provider shall obtain the written
consent of the Service Recipient, which consent may be withheld by the
Service Recipient in its absolute discretion.
10.3 In the event of any subcontracting by a Service Provider to a non-Affiliate
of the Service Provider of all or any portion of the Service Provider's
duties under this Agreement, the Service Provider shall assign and transfer
to the Service Recipient the full benefit of all such non-Affiliate
subcontractor's performance covenants, guarantees, warranties or
indemnities (if any), to the extent same are transferable or assignable, in
respect of the portion of the Services provided to the Service Recipient
pursuant to such subcontracting; and if any such guarantees, warranties,
indemnities and benefits are not assignable, the Service Provider shall use
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to procure the benefit of same for the
Service Recipient through other legal permissible means.
11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
11.1 ALLOCATION OF RIGHTS BY ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS
This Agreement and the performance of this Agreement will not affect the
ownership of any patent, trademark or copyright or other intellectual
property rights allocated in the Separation Agreement or any of the
Ancillary Agreements.
11.2 EXISTING OWNERSHIP RIGHTS UNAFFECTED
Neither Party will gain, by virtue of this Agreement, any rights of
ownership of copyrights, patents, trade secrets, trademarks or any other
intellectual property rights owned by the other. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any ideas, concepts or any results arising out of the
performance of the Services (the "RESULTS") by the Service Provider
hereunder shall be the exclusive property of the Service Recipient. The
Service Provider shall execute all documents and perform all other acts
necessary or desirable to confirm title in the name of the Service
Recipient in the Results in any jurisdiction of the world including all
copyrights, trade secrets and industrial designs, and provide assistance,
if necessary, to protect or enforce the Service Recipient's rights under
said intellectual property rights. Such obligation to execute documents and
provide assistance shall survive the expiration or early termination of
this Agreement.
The Service Recipient agrees to reimburse the Service Provider for any
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising out of the obligations under this
Section 11.2. The Service Provider hereby waives and shall cause its
employees to waive, the whole of its and their moral rights to any
copyright material developed under this Agreement.
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11.3 CROSS LICENSE TO PRE-EXISTING WORKS
Alcan grants Novelis and the other members of Novelis Group during the Term
of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free,
non-transferable license to use, copy and make derivative works of,
distribute, display, perform and transmit Alcan's pre-existing copyrighted
works or other intellectual property rights solely to the extent necessary
to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such copyrighted works
or other intellectual property rights will remain the property of Alcan or
its Affiliates, as the case may be, and Novelis and the other members of
Novelis Group will have no rights or interests therein, including no
sublicensing right, except as may otherwise be set forth in the
Intellectual Property Agreement or in the Separation Agreement.
Novelis grants Alcan and the other members of Alcan Group during the Term
of this Agreement, a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free,
non-transferable license to use, copy and make derivative works of,
distribute, display, perform and transmit Novelis's pre-existing
copyrighted works or other intellectual property rights solely to the
extent necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement and such
copyrighted works or other intellectual property rights will remain the
property of Novelis or its Affiliates, as the case may be, and Alcan and
the other members of Alcan Group will have no rights or interests therein,
including no sublicensing right, except as may otherwise be set forth in
the Intellectual Property Agreement or in the Separation Agreement.
11.4 THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE
In addition to the consideration set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, the
Service Recipient shall also pay any amounts (and applicable Sales Taxes)
that are required to be paid to any licensors of software that is used by
the Service Provider in connection with the provision of any Service
hereunder, and any amounts (and applicable Sales Taxes) that are required
to be paid to any such licensors to obtain the Consent of such licensors to
allow the Service Provider to provide any of the Services hereunder.
Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and to the terms of the
Separation Agreement, the Service Provider will use Commercially Reasonable
Efforts to obtain any Consent that may be required from such licensors in
order to provide any of the transition Services hereunder.
11.5 TERMINATION OF LICENCES
Any license granted hereunder by a Party shall terminate ipso facto upon
the expiration or early termination of this Agreement.
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12. NO OBLIGATIONS
Neither Party assumes any responsibility or obligation whatsoever, other than
the responsibilities and obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement
(including the exhibits and schedules hereto), in the Separation Agreement or in
a separate written agreement between the Parties.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY
13.1 The terms of the Confidentiality provisions set forth in Sections 11.07 and
11.08 of the Separation Agreement shall apply to all Confidential
Information disclosed in the course of the Parties' interactions under this
Agreement. This Article 13 of the Agreement sets out additional
requirements regarding confidential information for the purposes of this
Agreement.
13.2 The terms "NOVELIS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" and "ALCAN CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION" shall mean all data, documents and information, whether or not
explicitly designated as being confidential, disclosed or to be disclosed
by Novelis or any other member of Novelis Group to Alcan or to any other
member of Alcan Group, or by Alcan or any other member of Alcan Group to
Novelis or to any other member of Novelis Group, concerning the business
operations, assets or affairs of Novelis Group or Alcan Group respectively
(including information transmitted in written, electronic, magnetic or
other form, information transmitted orally and information gathered by a
Party through visual inspections or observation or by any other means), and
any and all information which may be developed or created, in whole or in
part, directly or indirectly, from such information including all notes,
summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings, but does not include
information that: (a) at the time of delivery to the Service Provider has
been or subsequently becomes generally available to the public other than
as a result of disclosure by the Service Recipient; (b) is or subsequently
becomes available to the Service Provider on a non-confidential basis from
a source who is not bound by this Agreement and is not otherwise under a
legal obligation not to disclose such information; or (c) is required to be
disclosed by Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority.
13.3 The term "PERMITTED PURPOSE" means the provision of a "SERVICE" by a
Service Provider to a Service Recipient under this Agreement.
13.4 The Novelis Confidential Information to be shared with Alcan Group, and the
Alcan Confidential Information to be shared with Novelis Group, shall be
limited to that which would be shared with a Third Party service provider
that is providing the particular Service to the Service Recipient and shall
not be used by a Service Provider for any purpose other than a Permitted
Purpose or in any way that is detrimental to the Service Recipient. In
particular,
(a) the Service Provider shall not disclose any Novelis Confidential
Information or Alcan Confidential Information, as the case may be, to
any employee of the
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Service Provider who does not have a need to know such Novelis
Confidential Information or Alcan Confidential Information in order to
perform the Permitted Purpose;
(b) the Service Provider shall not disclose any Novelis Confidential
Information or Alcan Confidential Information, as the case may be, to
any employee of the Service Provider who has line management authority
related to a competing business of the Service Recipient with respect
to the Service in question;
(c) the Service Provider shall not use the Novelis Confidential
Information or the Alcan Confidential Information, as the case may be,
other than for such purposes as shall be expressly permitted under
this Agreement; and
(d) the Service Provider shall maintain a list of employees of the Service
Provider who need to have access to Novelis Confidential Information
or Alcan Confidential Information, as the case may be, for a Permitted
Purpose. The Chief Representative of the Service Provider for each
Transition Service shall be responsible for maintaining this list.
13.5 The Novelis Confidential Information and the Alcan Confidential
Information, including any derivative documents prepared by Alcan Group or
Novelis Group, respectively, will be held in safe custody and kept
confidential on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Each Alcan Group
employee who is authorized to have or be aware of Novelis Confidential
Information, or Novelis Group employee who is authorized to have or be
aware of Alcan Confidential Information, will store that information in his
possession in separate paper and electronic files.
13.6 The obligations of the Parties under this Article 13 shall survive the
expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.
14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
14.1 INDEMNIFICATION
Alcan shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Novelis, each other member
of Novelis Group and each of their respective directors, officers and
employees, and each of the heirs, executors, trustees, administrators,
successors and assignors of any of the foregoing (collectively, the
"NOVELIS INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"), from and against any and all Liabilities of
the Novelis Indemnified Parties incurred by, borne by or asserted against
any of them relating to, arising out of or resulting from any of the
following items (without duplication);
(a) the breach or the failure of performance by Alcan of any of the
covenants, promises, undertakings or agreements which it is obligated
to perform under this Agreement;
-21-
(b) death of or injury of any person whomsoever, including but not limited
to directors, officers, employees, servants or agents of Novelis, of
another member of Novelis Group, or contractors to the extent that
such Liabilities are not covered by worker's compensation;
(c) loss of, or damage to, or destruction of any property whatsoever,
including any loss of use thereof, including without limitation,
property of Novelis, of another member of Novelis Group, or their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries or
subcontractors; or
(d) any claim or assertion that the execution or performance by Novelis of
its obligations under this Agreement violates or interferes with any
contractual or other right or obligation or relationship of Alcan to
or with any other Person,
caused by, arising out of, or in any way related to this Agreement, the
provision of Services as contemplated in this Agreement by Novelis, or the
other members of Novelis Group, their respective directors, officers,
employees, servants, agents, subsidiaries or subcontractors, but subject
however to the limitations of liability provided in this Agreement.
Novelis shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Alcan, each other member
of Alcan Group and each of their respective directors, officers and
employees, and each of the heirs, executors, trustees, administrators,
successors and assignors of any of the foregoing (collectively, the "ALCAN
INDEMNIFIED PARTIES"), from and against any and all Liabilities of the
Alcan Indemnified Parties incurred by, borne by or asserted against any of
them relating to, arising out of or resulting from any of the following
items (without duplication);
(a) the breach or the failure of performance by Novelis of any of the
covenants, promises, undertakings or agreements which it is obligated
to perform under this Agreement;
(b) death of or injury of any person whomsoever, including but not limited
to directors, officers, employees, servants or agents of Alcan, of
another member of Alcan Group, or contractors to the extent that such
Liabilities are not covered by worker's compensation;
(c) loss of, or damage to, or destruction of any property whatsoever,
including any loss of use thereof, including without limitation,
property of Alcan, of another member of Alcan Group, or their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries or
subcontractors; or
(d) any claim or assertion that the execution or performance by Alcan of
its obligations under this Agreement violates or interferes with any
contractual or other right or obligation or relationship of Novelis to
or with any other Person,
-22-
caused by, arising out of, or in any way related to this Agreement,
the provision of Services as contemplated in this Agreement by Alcan,
or the other members of Alcan Group, their respective directors,
officers, employees, servants, agents, subsidiaries or subcontractors,
but subject however to the limitations of liability provided in this
Agreement.
14.2 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.1, the total aggregate
liability of Alcan to Novelis for all events, acts or omissions of Alcan
under or in connection with this Agreement or the Services provided by
Alcan hereunder, and the total aggregate liability of Novelis to Alcan for
all events, acts or omissions of Novelis under or in connection with this
Agreement or the Services provided by Novelis hereunder, in each case,
whether based on an action or claim in contract, warranty, equity,
negligence, tort or otherwise, shall not exceed (i) in the case of the
liability of Alcan to Novelis, an amount equal to the value of the Services
payable by Novelis to Alcan under this Agreement, or (ii) in the case of
the liability of Novelis to Alcan, an amount equal to the value of the
Services payable by Alcan to Novelis under this Agreement; provided that
the foregoing limit shall not apply (i) in the case of the liability of
Alcan to Novelis, with respect to any liability arising out of or relating
to Alcan's gross negligence or wilful misconduct or the gross negligence or
wilful misconduct of its personnel, mandataries or agents or other Persons
for which it is responsible under Applicable Law, or (ii) in the case of
the liability of Novelis to Alcan, with respect to any liability arising
out of or relating to Novelis's gross negligence or wilful misconduct or
the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of its personnel, mandataries or
agents or other Persons for which it is responsible under Applicable Law.
In no event shall any member of Alcan Group or Novelis Group be liable to
any member of the other Group for any special, consequential, indirect,
collateral, incidental or punitive damages, lost profits, or failure to
realize expected savings, or other commercial or economic loss of any kind,
however caused and on any theory of liability, (including negligence)
arising in any way out of this Agreement, whether or not such Person has
been advised for the possibility of any such damages; provided, however,
that the foregoing limitations shall not limit either Party's
indemnification obligations for liabilities to with respect to Third Party
Claims as set forth in Article IX of the Separation Agreement.
14.3 EXCLUSIONS
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the
foregoing limitations in this Article 14 shall not apply to Alcan's
obligation to indemnify Novelis in respect of an intellectual property
right infringement claim instituted or made by a Third Party in connection
with Alcan's Services or software or to Novelis's obligation to indemnify
Alcan in respect of an intellectual property right
-23-
infringement claim instituted or made by a Third Party in connection with
Novelis's Services or software.
14.4 PROVISIONS APPLICABLE WITH RESPECT TO INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS
Sections 9.04, 9.05, 9.06, 9.07 and 9.09 of the Separation Agreement shall
apply mutatis mutandis with respect to any Liability subject to
indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to Article 14 of this Agreement.
14.5 SURVIVAL
The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Article 14 shall
survive the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.
15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Master Agreement with Respect to Dispute Resolution, effective on the
Effective Date, among the Parties and other parties thereto shall govern
all disputes, controversies or claims (whether arising in contract, delict,
tort or otherwise) between the Parties that may arise out of, or relate to,
or arise under or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the
transactions contemplated hereby), or the commercial or economic
relationship of the Parties relating hereto or thereto.
16. ASSIGNMENT
16.1 PROHIBITION ON ASSIGNMENTS
Neither Party shall assign or transfer this Agreement, in whole or in part,
or any interest or obligation arising under this Agreement except as
permitted by Section 7.8(a), Article 10 and Section 16.2, without the prior
written consent of the other Party.
16.2 ASSIGNMENT TO ALCAN GROUP COMPANY
With the consent of Novelis, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed, Alcan may elect to have one or more of the Alcan Group
Companies assume the rights and obligations of Alcan under this Agreement.
17. MISCELLANEOUS
17.1 CONSTRUCTION
The rules of construction and interpretation set forth in Section 16.04 of
the Separation Agreement shall apply to this Agreement.
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17.2 NOTICES
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be given in the manner
set forth in Section 16.10 of the Separation Agreement.
17.3 GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the Province of Quebec and the laws of Canada
applicable therein, irrespective of conflict of laws principles under
Quebec law, as to all matters, including matters of validity, construction,
effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.
17.4 JUDGMENT CURRENCY
The obligations of a Party to make payments hereunder shall not be
discharged by an amount paid in any currency other than Dollars, whether
pursuant to a court order or judgment or arbitral award or otherwise, to
the extent that the amount so paid upon conversion to Dollars and
transferred to an account indicated by the Party to receive such funds
under normal banking procedures does not yield the amount of Dollars due;
and each Party hereby, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any
such judgment, agrees to indemnify each other Party against, and to pay to
such Party on demand, in Dollars, any difference between the sum originally
due in Dollars and the amount of Dollars received upon any such conversion
and transfer.
17.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement, the Separation Agreement and exhibits, schedules and
appendices hereto and thereto and the specific agreements contemplated
herein or thereby, contain the entire agreement between the Parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous
agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings,
commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter. No
agreements or understandings exist between the Parties other than those set
forth or referred to herein or therein.
17.6 CONFLICTS
In case of any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and the
Separation Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail. In case of any conflict
or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement
(excluding, for the purpose of this Section 17.6, any Transition Service
Schedule thereto) and the terms of any Transition Service Schedule, the
provisions of the Transition Service Schedule shall prevail.
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17.7 FORCE MAJEURE
No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement to the extent that
any delay or failure in the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement results from superior force ("force majeure") or any act,
occurrence or omission beyond its reasonable control and without its fault
or negligence, such as fires, explosions, accidents, strikes, lockouts or
labour disturbances, floods, droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, seizures of
cargo, wars (whether or not declared), civil commotion, acts of God or the
public enemy, action of any government, legislature, court or other
Governmental Authority, action by any authority, representative or
organisation exercising or claiming to exercise powers of a government or
Governmental Authority, compliance with Applicable Law, blockades, power
failures or curtailments, inadequacy or shortages or curtailments or
cessation of supplies of raw materials or other supplies, failure or
breakdown of equipment of facilities or, in the case of computer systems,
any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment (a "FORCE MAJEURE
EVENT"). If a Force Majeure Event has occurred and its effects are
continuing, then, upon notice by the Party who is delayed or prevented from
performing its obligations to the other Party, (i) the affected provisions
or other requirements of this Agreement shall be suspended to the extent
necessary during the period of such disability, (ii) the Party which is
delayed or prevented from performing its obligations by a Force Majeure
Event shall have the right to apportion its Services in an equitable manner
to all users and (iii) such Party shall have no liability to the other
Party or any other Person in connection therewith. The Party which is
delayed or prevented from performing its obligations by the Force Majeure
Event shall resume full performance of this Agreement as soon as reasonably
practicable following the cessation of the Force Majeure Event (or the
consequences thereof).
17.8 WAIVERS
No failure on the part of a Party to exercise and no delay in exercising,
and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege
under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under this
Agreement preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right, power or privilege. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by the Applicable
Laws.
17.9 FURTHER ASSURANCES
Each Party agrees to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to execute any and
all documents and to perform such other acts as may be necessary or
expedient to further the purposes of this Agreement and the relations
contemplated hereby. Without limiting the foregoing and the provisions of
the Separation Agreement (including Article XIV thereof) each Party shall
make available during normal business hours for inspection by the other
Party and such other Persons as the other
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Party shall designate in writing, all books and records in the possession
which relate to the Services and which are necessary to confirm the said
Party's compliance with its obligations under this Agreement.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Transitional Services
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
ALCAN INC.
By: /s/ David McAusland
------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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NOVELIS INC.
By: /s/ Brian W. Sturgell
------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------