-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, qVk/gTtCJOKmNqTr3BEtT1M00mMj62ra6cn4pc8tmzLRabaQOj2vrIcrYM2iWPyP K95g3npFs1vf+ke2zLQelw== 0000355948-95-000004.txt : 19950613 0000355948-95-000004.hdr.sgml : 19950613 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000355948-95-000004 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19950223 ITEM INFORMATION: Acquisition or disposition of assets FILED AS OF DATE: 19950308 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS LTD/DE CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000355948 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC [5065] IRS NUMBER: 362096643 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0531 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-12906 FILM NUMBER: 95519297 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 40W267 KESLINGER RD CITY: LAFOX STATE: IL ZIP: 60147 BUSINESS PHONE: 7082082200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 40W267 KESLINGER ROAD CITY: LAFOX STATE: IL ZIP: 60147 8-K 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington D.C. 20549 Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report(Date of earliest event reported)February 23, 1995 RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 0-12906 36-2096643 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification incorporation) No.) 40W267 Keslinger Road LaFox, IL 60147 (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code 708-208-2200 Not applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) Exhibit Index is located at page 3 This Current Report on Form 8-K contains a total of 22 pages. Item 2 Acquisition or Disposition of Assets On or about February 23, 1995 the registrant, Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (herein the "Company") together with its indirect wholly owned French subsidiary corporation, Richardson Electronique S.A. (herein "RESA"), entered into certain agreements with the City of Brive, France and Denis Dumont and Patrick Pertzborn, as representatives of a group of RESA employees (herein the "RESA Employees"). Consummation of the agreements is subject to completion of certain administrative matters and the payment by RESA to the City of Brive of approximately $1,510,000. Pursuant to such agreements, ownership of the land and factory building (herein the "Facility") at which RESA conducts electron tube manufacturing operations in Brive, France will be returned to the City of Brive and the Company and RESA will be released from all further liability for the remaining amount (approximately $10,485,000) due in connection with the original financing of the Facility. Also pursuant to such agreements RESA will contribute to a newly created, wholly owned French subsidiary of RESA (herein "Covelec"), the assets used in RESA's electron tube manufacturing operations at the Facility, including machinery and equipment, raw materials, and spare parts, having a net book value of approximately $5,121,000, as well as cash to fund severance, warranty, and certain other obligations which are being assumed by Covelec. The stock of Covelec will be transferred to the RESA Employees for no cash consideration. As part of the transaction the RESA Employees have agreed to enter into an agreement with the City of Brive which will permit Covelec to use that portion of the Facility required for continuing electron tube manufacturing operations and have agreed to maintain employment of 83 employees at the Facility for a three year period. In addition, Covelec and the Company have entered into an agreement to assure the Company's customers of an uninterrupted supply of products produced at the Facility. That agreement provides for an aggregate of approximately $30,714,000 of product to be purchased from and supplied by Covelec to the Company over a three-year period. These agreements and the amounts and considerations involved were determined by arms-length negotiations, and after the Company had exhausted all other economically superior alternatives to end the Company's involvement in the manufacture of electron tubes in Brive, France, which operations, notwithstanding the efforts of the Company, continued to experience underutilization and inefficiencies generating significant losses throughout fiscal 1993 and 1994. These transactions were part of the Company's plan announced last year to phase down its involvement in manufacturing and the financial effects are in line with management's projections included in the charge taken on its financial statements in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994. Item 7 Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits (c) Exhibits 10(a) Agreement among the City of Brive, Richardson Electronics, Ltd., Richardson Electronique S.A., Covelec S.A., and Messrs. Denis Dumont and Patrick Pertzborn delivered February 23, 1995. translation from French 10(b) Agreement among Richardson Electronics, Ltd., Richardson Electronique S.A., Covelec S.A., and Messrs. Denis Dumont and Patrick Pertzborn delivered February 23, 1995. translation from French SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD. By: /s/ William G. Seils William G. Seils Senior Vice President and Secretary Date: March 8, 1995 EX-10.A 2 The following document is a fair and accurate English translation of exhibit 10(a) which is the Agreement with the City of Brive. /s/ William G. Seils Senior Vice President and Secretary of Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (Registrant) AGREEMENT AMONG THE UNDERSIGNED: - - The City of Brive, having, by a resolution dated February 16, 1995, authorized its Mayor, Mr. Jean CHARBONNEL, to sign the present document, hereinafter referred to as "The City of Brive"; - - RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD., a Delaware company with its head office at 40W267 Keslinger Road, La Fox, Illinois 60147, USA, represented by Mr. Ad Ketelaars hereinafter referred to as "REL"; - - RICHARDSON ELECTRONIQUE S.A. (hereinafter "RESA"), with a capital of French Francs 108,600,000 and its registered office at the Z.I. de la Marquisie in Brive, represented by Mr. Denis Dumont hereinafter referred to as "RESA"; - - COVELEC S.A., a company with a capital of French Francs 250,000 with its registered office to be transferred to the Z.I. de la Marquisie in Brive represented by its President, Mr. Ad Ketelaars; hereinafter referred to as "Covelec"; and - - Messrs. Denis DUMONT and Patrick PERTZBORN hereinafter referred to as "the Managers". WHEREAS; During 1988, the Philips company and more specifically, RTC Compelec, made public its intention to interrupt "the manufacture and sale of professional emission tubes within a relatively short period". These products represented the totality of one of the branches of activity of a factory in Brive which branch employed 81 people. The proposed acquisition by Richardson Electronics of the total branch of activity of RTC Compelec led the City of Brive and REL to develop contacts in order that the manufacturing activity be maintained at the site and the employment saved. It was in this spirit that the City of Brive proposed to REL land located in an industrial zone and the installment sale of a turnkey factory built according to the specifications of the users, granting them the advantages authorized by the law in effect at the time. It was, thus, in 1989 that RESA, a subsidiary of REL, was created with the purpose of continuing the manufacturing of electric tubes and the marketing of such production, principally for export. REL had at the time a distribution company subsidiary principally for the marketing of the products manufactured by the REL group. Concomitantly, the City of Brive sold to RESA the land and the factory it had built thereon, pursuant to a notarized act signed before Me. Claude Peyronnie on December 12, 1990 (hereinafter "the Real Estate Complex"). Upon the initiative of the U. S. Justice Department, proceedings were commenced against REL in the United States for the alleged violation of the American antitrust laws and, in particular, Article 1 of the Sherman Act. Subsequent to these proceedings, REL had to negotiate a settlement agreement with the American Justice Department, the terms of which required, inter alia, REL to undertake no longer to pursue external growth, which growth would have brought about a maximum utilization of the production capacities at the Brive site. This state of facts having caused a substantial degradation of RESA's economic situation, REL had to envision the termination of production by RESA. In order to maintain the production facility and employment in the Brive area, numerous meetings have taken place among the parties with the objective of favoring the creation of a new company, the shareholders of which would be former employees of RESA, with the transfer of assets from RESA to Covelec, and the repossession of the Real Estate Complex by the City of Brive, the latter at the same time agreeing: to make available all or a part thereof for the Managers for a financial consideration and in exchange for the maintaining of the largest possible number of jobs. The City shall, if necessary, look for other users or lessees. The nature and the conditions of this availability shall be the subject of a negotiation and an agreement among the parties. REL wishes, as in the past, to purchase and assure the distribution of products manufactured by the Brive factory for a minimum of three years. The City of Brive acknowledges that REL, in its relations with the City of Brive and RESA, has always acted in good faith and used its best efforts, in conformity with the law, to insure the good development of RESA's affairs and maintain employment at the industrial site in Brive. REL on the other hand recognizes that the City's interest in maintaining the industrial plant and the employment at the site within the commune actually corresponds to economic prerogatives recognized by legislative and regulatory texts which govern the activity of local collectivities and in no way constitutes an interference with the responsibilities of the management of RESA and Covelec. NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: ARTICLE 1 REL undertakes to see that its subsidiary RESA shall pay the City of Brive the annual payment in the amount of French Francs 7,784,213.02 relating to the Real Estate Complex due on December 7, 1994. This amount shall be due and payable on February 17, 1995, after which date the competent state services will be required to recover late charges. ARTICLE 2 REL agrees, and hereby gives its joint and several guarantees to its subsidiary, RESA, that all of RESA's debts set forth in the financial statement, certified by RESA's statutory auditor and annexed hereto as Exhibit 1, shall be paid by the latter on their due dates. It is, however, specified that RESA's indebtedness with respect to the deferred payments for the Real Estate Complex are governed by the provisions of Article 5 below. In addition, subsequent to the payment of such debts, REL confirms its intention to see that its subsidiary, RESA, shall conclude its operations only by an amiable liquidation and guarantees that it shall not declare a legal bankruptcy before a period of 15 months following the occurrence of the last operation of the contribution of assets as described in Article 3 hereafter, and in any event, before a period of 6 months following the City's effective repossession of the Real Estate Complex. ARTICLE 3 RESA confirms that it has created prior to the date hereof, the commercial company - Covelec - with the corporate purpose as hereafter described. Covelec agrees to maintain at least 83 of the employees presently engaged by RESA with their seniority and acquired rights. The cost of the termination and the social plan which shall accompany the reduction of personnel from the present level of employment shall be borne, directly or indirectly, by REL or RESA. It is agreed between REL and the Managers that, within four months from the creation of Covelec, RESA shall transfer or contribute its industrial activity comprised of the assets listed in the contribution agreement annexed as Exhibit 2 hereto, it being noted that the capital of Covelec shall not be less than French Francs 25,750,000. It is agreed that these combined assets shall permit Covelec to insure a production capacity identical to that carried out by RESA. ARTICLE 4 REL guarantees the signing of a three-year contract with Covelec pursuant to which the Richardson Electronics group shall purchase finished products from the new company as follows: French Francs 44.753 million during the first year; French Francs 55.771 million during the second year; and French Francs 57.794 million during the third year. A draft of the agreement including this supply contract is set forth as Exhibit 3 hereto. ARTICLE 5 In consideration of REL's undertakings set forth in the preceding articles, the City of Brive agrees to take back the Real Estate Complex pursuant to an administrative agreement which shall be presented to the municipal council at the same time as this Agreement and which, after authorization, shall be signed on the same day as the latter. RESA accepts to transfer the Real Estate Complex pursuant to the conditions below and REL guarantees such transfer. The repurchase shall take place pursuant to the following conditions: the price shall be French Francs 1 - final price and full release. Taking into account the future change of ownership in favor of the City of Brive, it is expressly agreed that RESA is now released and discharged of the balance of the purchase price (in capital and interest) agreed to in the notarized act referred to in the whereas clauses above and, thus, it is required to make only the payment of the contractual amount initially due on December 7, 1994, as described in Article 1 above. ARTICLE 6 Simultaneously with its repossession of the Real Estate Complex, the City of Brive undertakes to make available to Covelec that manufacturing and office space at the industrial zone at La Marquisie necessary for its activity. Upon the signature of this Agreement and until December 7, 1995, the City of Brive shall grant the use of such space for free, given that the annual 7.8 million French Franc payment by RESA covers such period. During such period, Covelec and the City of Brive or any entity which the latter may substitute shall meet to determine the conditions of the availability of the space as of December 8, 1995. It is specified here that the undertaking thus given by the City of Brive is in consideration of the undertaking of the Managers to continue the employment contracts of at least 83 of RESA's employees and to maintain their employment in Brive. Thus, in the event that Covelec shall reduce the employment situation in a substantial manner at any time during the period the distribution contract with the Richardson group shall remain in force, the City of Brive shall have the right to request Covelec to renegotiate the conditions of the availability of the Real Estate Complex. Covelec, in signing this Agreement, hereby agrees to such a renegotiation. It is also agreed that Covelec and the Managers undertake during a period of three years, both vis-a-vis REL and the City of Brive: - - not to make modifications in the production apparatus in a manner that might be negative to the company's industrial development; - - not to transfer all or part of their shares in Covelec; and - - not to transfer the control of Covelec to a third party without having obtained from the transferee the undertaking to respect the obligations of Covelec set forth herein. ARTICLE 7 The City of Brive undertakes to use its best efforts with the General Tax Administration so that Covelec may benefit from the favorable tax treatment reserved for companies in difficulty, as concerns the Corporate Income Tax, the Professional Tax and the Land Tax. In the event that the General Tax Administration shall refuse this favorable regime for Covelec, the parties shall meet to attempt to find relief with respect to the additional costs which such company shall have to bear. ARTICLE 8 The parties agree to take all steps with respect to the provisions applicable to each of them to cause the various events and undertakings set forth in this Agreement and its annexes which constitute an integral part hereof to be realized. In particular, the parties agree that all acts, documents or any authorizations necessary for the carrying out hereof shall be taken or obtained no later than June 30, 1995. ARTICLE 9 At the signing of this Agreement, it is agreed that the parties shall also supply the following documents: - - an opinion letter from a public law lawyer indicating that no legal or regulatory provision applicable to local collectivities prohibits the City of Brive from signing the present Agreement; and - - an opinion letter from a lawyer indicating that the person signing for REL has all necessary corporate and legal authority to bind such company to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. ARTICLE 10 This Agreement and the documents relating thereto shall be governed by French law. SIGNED IN PARIS ON February 23, 1994 IN 5 ORIGINALS /s/ Jean Charbonnel /s/ Ad Ketelaars The City of Brive RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD. By Mr. Jean CHARBONNEL By Mr. Ad Ketelaars /s/D. Dumont /s/P. Pertzborn /s/ Denis Dumont MM. DUMONT and PERTZBORN RICHARDSON ELECTRONIQUE S.A. BY Mr. Denis Dumont /s/ Ad Ketelaars COVELEC S.A. By Mr. Ad Ketelaars EXHIBITS The Parties have furnished to the City of Brive, which acknowledges receipt thereof, drafts of the following documents: Exhibit 1: Financial Statement Exhibit 2: K bis of Covelec Exhibit 3: Contribution Agreement Exhibit 4: Supply Agreement They shall supply, as soon as available, these same documents in final form, once signed by the parties. EX-10.B 3 The following document is a fair and accurate English translation of exhibit 10(b) which is the Agreement among Richardson Electronics, Ltd., Richardson Electronique S.A., Covelec S.A., and Messrs. Denis Dumont and Patrick Pertzborn /s/ William G. Seils Senior Vice President and Secretary of Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (Registrant) AGREEMENT This agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this ___ day of February 1995, by and among: RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD., a Delaware corporation with its corporate headquarters at 40W267 Keslinger Road, Lafox, Illinois 60147, USA ("REL"); RICHARDSON ELECTRONIQUE S.A., a French corporation with its registered office at Avenue du 4 juillet 1776, Z.I. La Marquisie, B.P. 25, 19101 Brive-la-Gaillarde Cedex, France ("RESA"); COVELEC S.A., a French societe anonyme, with its registered office to be at Avenue du 4 juillet 1776, Z.I. La Marquisie, B.P. 25, 19101 Brive-la-Gaillarde Cedex, France ("Covelec"); and a group of RESA employees represented by Messrs. Denis Dumont and Patrick Pertzborn (the "Managers"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS the REL group was created in 1947 and has developed a business in the manufacture and distribution of electronic tubes; WHEREAS REL created RESA in 1989 to take over certain assets and personnel of a Philips electronic tube production company and the City of Brive (the "City") agreed to build and make available new manufacturing facilities at the Zone Industrielle de La Marquisie in Brive, to enable REL to continue and develop such production in France, principally for export; WHEREAS, on December 12, 1990, pursuant to an installment purchase contract, the City sold to RESA the commercial and industrial real estate complex at the Zone Industrielle de la Marquisie comprised of a 15,240 square meter building containing both office and industrial facilities as well as the underlying and surrounding land (the "Real Estate Complex" ); WHEREAS, in October 1991, the Antitrust Division of the United States Justice Department commenced antitrust proceedings charging REL and Varian Associates, Inc. with conspiring to monopolize trade and commerce in certain power grid tubes sold in the United States, and REL was obliged to sign a consent decree with the Justice Department which was transformed into a final judgment of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division) on April 1, 1992; WHEREAS, the above judgment, inter alia, prohibits REL, directly or indirectly, to "merge or consolidate with, or acquire securities or a significant amount of the power grid tube assets of, any other company that manufactures, rebuilds, or distributes power grid tubes, without first obtaining the written consent of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice"; WHEREAS, the result of such judgment is that REL was forced to abandon its strategic plan of buying up existing production companies in Europe and transferring such companies' production to Brive, thus, leaving RESA's new factory grossly underutilized; WHEREAS, REL has taken all possible steps to expand RESA's production and maintain and develop jobs at the Brive plant by attempting to develop new products, by providing REL's American production facilities to Brive and most recently by causing RESA to produce in advance enough stock to meet the REL group's purchase requirements for over a year; WHEREAS, REL has also explored all possible opportunities to sell RESA under conditions that would retain the maximum production and employment at Brive, the last potential buyer being Thomson, but all to no avail; WHEREAS, despite ReL's best efforts to develop business and minimize costs, RESA has suffered accumulated losses amounting to almost French Francs 80 million through the latest fiscal year ending May 31, 1994; WHEREAS, REL has made a decision to cause RESA to cease its activities and put RESA into amiable or judicial bankruptcy, if necessary, thus, rendering its total investment in RESA completely worthless; WHEREAS, RESA continues to generate substantial losses and cannot continue in business under the present circumstances and, in particular, cannot meet its annual payment to the City on December 7, 1994 in the amount of approximately French Francs 7.8 million with respect to the Real Estate Complex; WHEREAS, the Managers have made a proposal to take over RESA's manufacturing activities, provided the operating costs can be restructured and have presented a five-year plan to such effect; WHEREAS, there have been numerous meetings among the Managers and representatives of REL and more recently with advisors and counsel to the City in order to favor the creation of Covelec, the takeover of RESA's manufacturing activities by Covelec and the transfer of Covelec's shares to the Managers and other current RESA employees; WHEREAS, REL and RESA are willing to create Covelec and have RESA contribute to Covelec, those assets necessary to enable Covelec to continue RESA's manufacturing activities; WHEREAS, REL and the Managers plan to enter into a formal agreement with the City pursuant to which the latter shall agree to repossess the Real Estate Complex and put at Covelec's disposal for an appropriate reduced price that part of such Real Estate Complex which will enable Covelec to continue RESA's manufacturing activity at a level ultimately maintaining 83 employees of RESA; WHEREAS, in this context, REL and RESA are willing to transfer to the Managers, at no cost, 100% of the shares of Covelec provided, however, that in furtherance thereof and as required by the interests of both the City and the REL group of companies, the Managers are willing to agree, for a period of at least three years, to continue to participate in the management of Covelec, not to sell their shares of Covelec to a third party, not to modify Covelec's production facilities in any substantial adverse manner and to cause Covelec to agree to sell a specific amount of its production to REL; WHEREAS, REL wishes to maintain Richardson France SNC, its distribution company in Argenteuil, in order to facilitate the distribution of the products to be purchased from Covelec as well as other vendors' products; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the other mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 1. Purpose of Agreement The purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which: - REL has caused RESA to create Covelec and shall cause RESA to contribute assets of RESA to Covelec and transfer 100% of the shares of Covelec to the Managers; and - Covelec shall sell to REL a certain level of production for a minimum of three years. It is expressly understood that this Agreement is subject to the condition precedent that REL, RESA, Covelec and the Managers enter into a validly binding and fully enforceable agreement with the City with respect to the Real Estate Complex no later than February 20, 1994, which agreement shall be on terms and conditions mutually satisfactory to the parties hereto. 2. Creation of Covelec RESA has taken all necessary steps to have Covelec created and registered as a French societe anonyme. 3. Contribution of Assets RESA hereby agrees to contribute to Covelec those of its assets and certain rights necessary to enable Covelec to continue RESA's business of the manufacturing of electronic tubes at the factory in Brive. Such assets and rights are more fully described in Article 4 below. The contribution shall take the form of an apport partiel d'actif and shall be made pursuant to the traite d'apport between RESA and Covelec which shall be governed by the terms and conditions set forth herein. A copy of the traite d'apport is set forth in Exhibit A annexed hereto. 4. Description and Estimated Value of Assets RESA shall contribute to Covelec, as of the Effective Date described in Article 5 below, free and clear of any and all liabilities, liens, charges and encumbrances of any nature whatsoever, except as expressly set forth herein, the following categories of assets (the "Assets"), the currently estimated values of which are set forth below: Assets Estimated values (in millions of French Francs) Cash (re warranty liability, social plan, retirement and paid vacation reserves, loan 11.032 reimbursements, etc.) Machinery, equipment, furnishings (office furniture, computer system, transportation equipment, general installations and 7.000 improvements) Stocks of raw materials 14.694 Work in progress 2.600 Stocks of spare parts 1.600 Miscellaneous .502 Goodwill (fonds de commerce) 0 Use of land and factory ______ The Assets and their estimated values are described in greater detail in Exhibit A. In consideration of the contribution of the cash described above, Covelec shall assume the liabilities described in Exhibit A. In addition, REL shall cause to be licensed or otherwise made available to Covelec any intellectual property rights which it currently possesses and are now used by RESA which may be necessary to enable Covelec to continue its manufacturing processes and shall cause to be transferred to Covelec all other transferable rights under existing government or administrative authorizations or commercial contracts relating to the ongoing business. It is agreed by the parties that the above Assets and rights are sufficient to enable Covelec to insure a production capacity identical to that of RESA. 5. Evaluation of Assets - Effective Date For purposes of RESA's contribution to Covelec, RESA shall cause its statutory auditors, Ernst & Young, to prepare certified intermediary accounts for RESA as of December 31, 1994. RESA shall contribute Assets to Covelec as soon as possible during the first quarter of 1995, but the effective date of the transfer shall be as of January l, 1995 (the "Effective Date"). 6. Consideration for RESA's Contribution of Assets to Covelec In consideration of the contribution of the Assets from RESA to Covelec, RESA shall be entitled to receive any and all new shares of Covelec which may be issued in connection with the increase of capital of Covelec to reflect such contribution. 7. Contribution of Covelec Shares to the Managers 7.l Contribution of Covelec Shares Immediately following the contribution of assets to Covelec and Covelec's increase in capital, RESA shall transfer all the shares of Covelec to the Managers, such transfer to be effective as of the Effective Date (such transfer being hereafter referred to as the "Takeover" and the date thereof as the "Takeover Date"). 7.2 Managers' Undertakings The Managers agree that, for a period of at least three years from the Takeover Date, they shall continue to participate in the management of Covelec, shall not transfer any or all of their shares of Covelec to a third party, shall not cause Covelec to modify its production facilities in any substantial adverse manner and shall not transfer the control of Covelec to a third party without having obtained from the transferee the undertaking to respect the obligations of Covelec as set forth herein. 8. Employees - Social Plan 8.l Covelec shall, as required by law, continue to engage all the employees of RESA pursuant to their existing employment contracts, their seniority and all other rights they may have acquired as employees of RESA. 8.2 RESA, acting at all times in close cooperation with the Managers, shall commence forthwith and diligently pursue a new social plan intended to reduce RESA's employment from the current level to approximately 83 persons. It is understood that it may take until April or May of 1995 before Covelec will be in a position to terminate those employees envisioned to be laid-off by the social plan. RESA-REL shall bear the full cost of the social plan as well as all costs with respect to continuing to employ those persons to be laid-off which may be incurred by Covelec from the Effective Date to the date of the actual termination of such persons. An amount equal to the estimated cost of such social plan (French Francs 4,380,000) is included in the cash to be contributed by RESA to Covelec as set forth in Article 4 above. 9. RESA's Operations Prior to the Takeover 9.1 Normal Course of Business From and after the date hereof and until the Takeover Date, RESA shall, in close cooperation with the Managers, continue to manage and be responsible for its manufacturing activities in the normal course of business and shall maintain the Assets in good and merchantable condition. 9.2 Costs and Expenses During such period, all costs, expenses and charges of any nature with respect to the ordinary course of RESA's manufacturing activities shall be paid by RESA, subject to the allocation to Covelec of all such costs, expenses and charges with respect to the period between the Effective Date and the Takeover Date, as provided in Article 10.4 below. 9.3 Leasing, Maintenance, Insurance Contracts For example, RESA shall maintain in full force and effect all existing leasing, maintenance and insurance policies with respect to its existing business activities in Brive until the Takeover. 10. Terms and Conditions of the Takeover RESA's Contribution of the Assets to Covelec and the Takeover of Covelec by the Managers shall be governed by the following principals which are reiterated and set forth in further appropriate detail in the formal traite d'apport: 10.1 Condition of Assets The Assets shall be contributed to Covelec on an "as is" basis and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, neither Covelec nor the Managers shall have any recourse against RESA, REL, any of their affiliated companies, or any officers, directors, shareholders, employees or agents thereof for any reason whatsoever with respect to the Assets or the transfer hereof to Covelec. 10.2 Operation of Business by Covelec From and after the Takeover, the Managers shall appoint new directors and a president of Covelec and shall be solely in charge of the management of Covelec's ongoing business. 10.3 Profits and Losses Except as may be otherwise specified herein or in the traite d'apport, Covelec shall be entitled to all income and profits which may be earned, and shall be responsible for all losses, costs, taxes and charges which may be incurred, with respect to the business from and after the Effective Date. 10.4 Incurred Costs Any costs, expenses or charges which shall have been incurred by RESA prior to the Effective Date, but which may cover periods subsequent to the Effective Date, shall be borne by RESA alone and shall not be charged to Covelec. 10.5 Compliance with Law Immediately upon the Takeover, the Managers shall cause Covelec to comply with all laws, decrees, regulations and usages and with all obligations vis-a-vis the local police, the City, the Department, the Region and the Republic of France with respect to the carrying out of its manufacturing business (including, without limitation, all environmental obligations) so that there shall be no further recourse against RESA or REL with respect thereto after the Takeover Date. 11. Specific Liabilities Assumed or funded by RESA-REL Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the parties expressly agree that RESA and/or REL, as indicated, shall be responsible for the following liabilities: 11.1 Payment to City Provided that REL, Covelec and the Managers enter into the envisioned agreement with the City, REL shall, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, insure that RESA make the annual payment to the City in the amount of French Francs 7,784,213.02 which was due on December 7, 1994. However, such payment shall be made only upon the coming into force of the agreement with the City with respect to the Real Estate Complex. Thereafter, RESA shall be discharged and relieved of any further liability to the City with respect to the Real Estate Complex. 11.2 Professional Tax RESA shall be responsible for the professional tax for RESA for the year beginning January 1, 1995 and payable in the fall of 1995. Covelec shall be responsible for its own professional tax, if any, for such period. 11.3 Social Plan REL shall insure that RESA pay the full costs of the social plan as well as the costs of those persons covered by the social plan prior to their terminations as more fully described in Articles 8.2 and 11.7 hereof. 11.4 Reserves for Employee Benefits REL shall cause RESA to fund Covelec French Francs 2,667,272 for the full costs of the reserves as of the Effective Date for employee benefits for retirement payments, paid vacations, gratifications, etc. 11.5 Taxes, Social Charges, Etc. RESA shall be responsible for its own continuing taxes, social charges and any other charges, duties or costs with respect to its ongoing business subsequent to the Effective Date as well as the costs and expenses of any tax, social security, customs or other finally determined assessments with respect to any period prior to the Effective Date. RESA shall further bear all the costs and expenses, including legal and accounting fees, of the creation of Covelec, the apport partiel d'actif and the transfer of the shares of Covelec to the Managers. 11.6 Reimbursement - Agence Bassin Adour and Others Either RESA shall reimburse its current loans from the Agence Bassin Adour and others in the total amount of approximately French Francs 234,774 or shall pay Covelec a cash contribution to enable it to repay such loans. 11.7 Satisfaction of Obligations It is expressly agreed that RESA-REL's obligations set forth in sections 3, 4 and 6 of this Article 11, and in Article 18, shall be fully satisfied by its contribution of the French Francs 11.032 million in cash referred to in Article 4 to Covelec, except that RESA shall fund any actual costs incurred by Covelec with respect to the social Plan in excess of French Francs 4,380,000. 12. Supply and Purchase Commitments In consideration of the foregoing, the Managers shall cause Covelec to supply to REL or such other company of its group as REL may designate, and REL shall purchase or cause any such other company of its group to purchase, from Covelec, pursuant to REL's standard terms and conditions of purchase, except as otherwise provided herein, for a guaranteed three-year period, commencing as of the Effective Date, the following minimum level of products: French Francs 44.753 million of specified products at specific prices in year one, as set forth in Exhibit B hereto; French Francs 55.771 million of specified categories of products in year two; and French Francs 57.794 million of non-specified products in year three. For the first year, quantities will be identified by types. For the second year, REL shall purchase the specified total value which may be spread among tube type families proportionately with the first year (quantities being able to vary by type within each family). The third year commitment is simply to the total amount without any specification of quantities by type or family. 13. Further Period REL shall give Covelec first priority with respect to the purchase of electronic tube products for an additional period or periods beyond the three-year commitment to the extent REL may then have a market for such products, provided that Covelec's prices and other terms and conditions of sale are competitive with other suppliers of such products. 14. Prices The purchase prices of the specified products for year one are set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Such prices are ex-works - Brive, for delivery to two principal REL sites outside France, ex-VAT and ex-customs and shipping costs. These initial prices shall be increased by five percent during year two and again by five percent in year three. Such price increases are reflected in the minimum commitment figures set forth in Article 12 above. There shall be no other Price revisions during such three year period except by mutual consent. 15. Production Scheduling Representatives of REL and Covelec shall meet quarterly to review production scheduling at which time they shall agree upon a production schedule for the following twelve-month period. Thereafter, orders shall be confirmed in writing in accordance with such rolling twelve-month production schedule. In the event that, based upon a production schedule, Covelec is required to purchase the raw materials necessary to manufacture the products in question and REL cancels all or part of an order scheduled during the six-month period from such cancellation, REL shall determine with Covelec an appropriate compensation to take into account any additional costs which may be borne by Covelec either because of the cancellation of such order, the non-use of raw materials already purchased and delivered, etc. 16. Marking, Packaging and Shipment of Products REL shall provide Covelec with all necessary information with respect to the marking and packaging of products at the time such products are ordered. REL or companies it represents shall remain the owner of all the trademarks, trade names and identification markings with respect to the products. Costs for the marking and packaging of products have been included in the unit transfer prices. The minimum commitment figures include charges to reflect all such costs including any corresponding labor costs (wages and social charges). All costs with respect to transportation, insurance and customs duties shall be borne by REL. The parties shall confer whenever necessary to determine the best possible terms and conditions for the above. 17. Terms of Payment - Transfer of Ownership Covelec shall bill REL on a weekly basis and terms of payment shall be net 30 days from the date of billing. Transfer of ownership to products sold shall occur upon delivery thereof, ex-works - Brive. 18. Return of Products Covelec shall assume warranty responsibility for all products whether manufactured before or after the Effective Date. However in consideration of those products manufactured and sold by RESA and currently under warranty, and in view of RESA's experience as to the extent and cost of returned products, REL shall cause RESA to fund Covelec a global amount of French Francs 3,750,000 to cover all such liability and related costs. Covelec shall, however, bear all costs of analyzing any returned products to determine the cause of defects. REL shall bear the warranty costs of any defects or product problems caused by it. In the unlikely event that Covelec's liability shall substantially exceed the above amount, REL shall review with Covelec possible arrangements, including a working capital loan to enable Covelec to deal with such problem. Covelec alone shall bear all costs with respect to warranty responsibility for products manufactured after the Effective Date. 19. Markets - Customer Information - Product Modifications - Customer Assistance 19.1 Markets REL and Covelec representatives shall meet at least twice a year to review the global marketing strategy for Covelec's products. REL shall inform Covelec of such matters as potential new markets for existing products, market demand for new products, companies or product lines being sold, and market research, characteristics, technical details, costs, research and development, market competition and other relevant information with respect to Covelec's existing or potential new products. 19.2 Data Sheets - Customer Information - Product Modifications REL shall supply data sheets to its customers so that the latter may make comments about, or requests for modifications of, the products. REL shall furnish Covelec regularly with any data sheet or other pertinent customer information with respect to the quality of the products, the degree of customer satisfaction and other customer comments with respect to operating conditions, specific applications, product lifetime, difficulties with the products, etc. REL shall convey to Covelec any customer requests and any requests it may make on its own initiative, and the parties shall review how best to effect any necessary changes and whether and if so, how and to what extent, prices should be revised to reflect such changes. All data sheets, customer information, product literature, etc., whether from before or after the Effective Date, shall at all times remain the property of REL. 19.3 Customer Assistance At REL's request, the Managers shall cause members of Covelec's technical staff to be made available to provide technical help to REL's customers or potential customers. The parties shall agree in advance as to how the time and travelling and living expenses of such staff shall be paid. 20. New Products Covelec shall be free to sell any new products which it may develop. However, the Managers agree that any new electron tube manufactured by Covelec during the initial three-year term or any extension thereof shall be offered for sale to or through REL. 21. Waiver and Release Covelec and the Managers acknowledge that REL, its affiliated companies and their officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents have at all times dealt fairly, in a business-like manner and in good faith, and that REL has also made significant financial sacrifices and other efforts to maintain and develop RESA's business, maintain the maximum employment at the Brive site and insure the success of Covelec. In consideration thereof and of REL's undertakings set forth herein, Covelec and the Managers hereby waive and release any and all claims of any nature whatsoever which they may now or hereafter have or be entitled to assert against RESA, Richardson France SNC, REL, any companies of the REL group or any of the officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents thereof with respect to any event occurring before the Takeover. 22. Good Faith - Further Steps The parties expressly agree to fulfill their obligations hereunder in good faith. Each party agrees to take or cause to be taken any and all further steps and to execute or cause to be executed any and all further documents as may be reasonably necessary to effect and carry out fully all the transactions contemplated herein. 23. Choice of Law The applicable law shall be the express provisions of this Agreement and the intent of the parties relating thereto, as may be supplemented, if necessary, by principles of the law of the Republic of France IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD. By /s/ Ad Ketelaars RICHARDSON ELECTRONIQUE S.A. By /s/ Denis Dumont Covelec By /s/ Ad Ketelaars MANAGERS By /s/ Denis Dumont By /s/ Patrick Pertzborn -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----