-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Ct9cDoH8z48MGDMUMvn/IdzNF2QKzF/zE9CL/JamQuWb4GhprcvMB5TrtzgUPz9C R1Mt1jxqq97gKX2Onh9bCg== 0001157523-10-002708.txt : 20100504 0001157523-10-002708.hdr.sgml : 20100504 20100504113507 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001157523-10-002708 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20100331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100504 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100504 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ROGERS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000084748 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821] IRS NUMBER: 060513860 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-04347 FILM NUMBER: 10795664 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 188 STREET 2: ONE TECHNOLOGY DRIVE CITY: ROGERS STATE: CT ZIP: 06263-0188 BUSINESS PHONE: 860-779-5756 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE TECHNOLOGY DRIVE CITY: ROGERS STATE: CT ZIP: 06263 10-Q 1 a6274778.htm ROGERS CORPORATION 10-Q a6274778.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________
FORM 10-Q
_______________________________

x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
or

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ________________ to _______________________

Commission file number 1-4347
_______________________________

ROGERS CORPORATION
 (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________
 
Massachusetts 06-0513860
(State or other jurisdiction of (I. R. S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)  
   
P.O. Box 188, One Technology Drive, Rogers, Connecticut  06263-0188
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (860) 774-9605
_______________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yesx  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yeso  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer  o
Accelerated filer  x
   
Non-accelerated filer  o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes o   No x
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of April 23, 2010 was 15,779,099.



 
 
 
 
ROGERS CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2010
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Exhibit 10.1
SK Utis Co., Ltd Acquisition Agreement
 
Exhibit 10.4
Amended and Restated Officer Special Severance Agreement for Robert D. Wachob
 
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of National Economic Research Associates, Inc.
 
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Marsh U.S.A., Inc.
 
Exhibit 31(a)
Certification of President and CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Exhibit 31(b)
Certification of Vice President, Finance and CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Exhibit 32
Certification of President and CEO and Vice President, Finance and CFO pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
     
     

 
2

 
 


ROGERS CORPORATION
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
             
Net sales
  $ 83,936     $ 65,475  
Cost of sales
    53,677       51,546  
Gross margin
    30,259       13,929  
                 
Selling and administrative expenses
    20,974       16,742  
Research and development expenses
    3,543       5,470  
Restructuring and impairment charges
    -       2,795  
Operating income (loss)
    5,742       (11,078 )
                 
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures
    2,218       (372 )
Other income (expense), net
    795       (75 )
Realized investment loss, net:
               
   Other-than-temporary impairments
    950       -  
   Less: Portion of gains in other comprehensive income
    988       -  
   Net impairment loss
    (38 )     -  
Interest income, net
    107       176  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    8,824       (11,349 )
                 
Income tax expense (benefit)
    1,970       (2,631 )
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 6,854     $ (8,718 )
                 
Net income (loss) per share:
               
      Basic
  $ 0.43     $ (0.56 )
      Diluted
    0.43       (0.56 )
                 
Shares used in computing:
               
      Basic
    15,768,697       15,638,045  
      Diluted
    15,896,518       15,638,045  
                 

 
3

 

ROGERS CORPORATION
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Assets
           
  Current assets
           
       Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 42,761     $ 57,738  
       Short-term investments
    167       399  
       Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,876 and $4,867
    56,500       46,179  
       Accounts receivable from joint ventures
    1,539       2,654  
       Accounts receivable, other
    1,409       909  
       Taxes receivable
    2,677       2,677  
       Inventories
    39,379       33,826  
       Prepaid income taxes
    2,502       1,949  
       Deferred income taxes
    724       484  
       Asbestos-related insurance receivables
    6,944       6,944  
   Assets held for sale
    5,841       5,841  
       Other current assets
    5,363       4,615  
  Total current assets
    165,806       164,215  
                 
      Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $173,290 and$173,033
    120,902       123,140  
      Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
    27,419       33,968  
      Deferred income taxes
    7,599       8,227  
      Goodwill and other intangibles
    33,780       10,340  
      Asbestos-related insurance receivables
    20,466       20,466  
      Long-term marketable securities
    38,490       37,908  
      Investments, other
    5,000       5,000  
      Other long-term assets
    4,256       4,214  
  Total assets
  $ 423,718     $ 407,478  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
  Current liabilities
               
      Accounts payable
  $ 14,430     $ 9,308  
      Accrued employee benefits and compensation
    18,107       16,081  
      Accrued income taxes payable
    2,731       1,349  
      Asbestos-related liabilities
    6,944       6,944  
      Other current liabilities
    8,473       9,163  
  Total current liabilities
    50,685       42,845  
                 
      Pension liability
    28,641       28,641  
      Retiree health care and life insurance benefits
    8,053       8,053  
      Asbestos-related liabilities
    20,587       20,587  
      Non-current income tax
    8,140       8,299  
      Deferred income taxes
    5,684       5,406  
      Other long-term liabilities
    3,133       697  
                 
  Shareholders’ Equity
               
      Capital Stock - $1 par value; 50,000,000 authorized shares; 15,777,098 and
          15,743,491 shares issued and outstanding
    15,777       15,743  
      Additional paid-in capital
    28,094       25,160  
      Retained earnings
    267,327       260,473  
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (12,403 )     (8,426 )
  Total shareholders' equity
    298,795       292,950  
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 423,718     $ 407,478  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
4

 
ROGERS CORPORATION
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Operating Activities:
           
  Net income (loss)
  $ 6,854     $ (8,718 )
      Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
               
        Depreciation and amortization
    3,796       4,394  
        Stock-based compensation expense
    2,588       674  
        Deferred income taxes
    544       (484 )
        Equity in undistributed (income) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures, net
    (2,218 )     372  
        Dividends received from unconsolidated joint ventures
    8,103       2,545  
        Pension and postretirement benefits
    1,673       2,201  
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities excluding effects of
      acquisition and disposition of businesses:
               
        Accounts receivable
    (7,046 )     1,833  
        Accounts receivable, joint ventures
    (737 )     2,380  
        Inventories
    (2,477 )     5,363  
        Pension contribution
    (1,478 )     (8,155 )
        Other current assets
    (1,034 )     (1,015 )
        Accounts payable and other accrued expenses
    4,687       (23,597 )
        Other, net
    (665 )     (351 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    12,590       (22,558 )
                 
Investing Activities:
               
  Capital expenditures
    (1,314 )     (2,867 )
  Acquisition of business
    (25,908 )     -  
  Proceeds from short-term investments
    600       600  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (26,622 )     (2,267 )
                 
Financing Activities:
               
  Proceeds from sale of capital stock, net
    -       (35 )
  Proceeds from issuance of shares to employee stock purchase plan
    380       -  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    380       (35 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
    (1,325 )     (754 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (14,977 )     (25,614 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    57,738       70,170  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of quarter
  $ 42,761     $ 44,556  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:
               
Contribution of shares to fund employee stock purchase plan
  $ 380     $ -  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
5

 

ROGERS CORPORATION

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. Accordingly, these statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.  In our opinion, the accompanying statements of financial position and related interim statements of operations and cash flows include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for their fair presentation in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.  For further information regarding our accounting policies, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Note 2 –Fair Value Measurements

The accounting guidance for fair value measurements establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.
 
·
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
·
Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
 
·
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the period, categorized by the level of inputs used in the valuation, include:

 (Dollars in thousands)
 
Carrying amount
as of
March 31, 2010
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Auction rate securities
  $ 38,657     $ -     $ -     $ 38,657  
Foreign currency option contracts
  $ 325     $ -     $ 325     $ -  

Additional guidance issued in April 2009 indicates that an other-than-temporary impairment must be recognized in earnings for a security in an unrealized loss position when an entity either (a) has the intent to sell the security or (b) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery.  Prior to the adoption of this guidance, we were required to record an other-than-temporary impairment for a security in an unrealized loss position unless we could assert that we had both the intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery of its cost basis.
 
When an other-than-temporary impairment of a security has occurred, the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment recognized in earnings depends on whether we intend to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. If we do not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before the recovery of its cost basis, the other-than-temporary loss should be separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors.  The amount representing the credit loss is recognized in earnings, and as long as the factors above are not met, the remaining amount is recorded in other comprehensive income.

 
6

 
Auction Rate Securities

At year-end 2007, we classified our auction rate securities as available-for-sale and recorded them at fair value as determined in the active market at the time.  However, due to events in the credit markets, the auctions failed during the first quarter of 2008 for the auction rate securities that we held at the end of the first quarter, and all of our auction rate securities have been in a loss position since that time.  Accordingly, the securities changed from a Level 1 valuation to a Level 3 valuation.

Through the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately $11.6 million of auction rate securities in total have been redeemed at par value, including approximately $0.6 million in the first three months of 2010.  As of March 31, 2010, the par value of our remaining auction rate securities was $42.8 million, which was comprised 97% of student loan-backed auction rate securities and 3% of municipality-backed auction rate securities.  We performed a fair value assessment of these securities based on a discounted cash flow model, utilizing various assumptions that included estimated interest rates, probabilities of successful auctions, the timing of cash flows, and the quality and level of collateral of the securities.  These inputs were chosen based on our current understanding of the expectations of the m arket and are consistent with the assumptions utilized during our assessment of these securities at year-end 2009.  This analysis resulted in an insignificant change in the fair value of our auction rate securities in the first quarter of 2010 and a total impairment of $4.1 million overall on our current portfolio.

We have concluded that the impairment on the auction rate securities is other-than-temporary and should be separated into two amounts, one amount representing a credit loss and one amount representing an impairment due to all other factors.  The credit loss is primarily based on the underlying ratings of the securities.  As described above, we have determined that the amount representing the credit loss on our auction rate securities should be recorded in earnings, while the remaining impairment amount should be recorded in other comprehensive loss in the equity section of our condensed consolidated statements of financial position, as we do not have the intent to sell the impaired investments, nor do we believe that it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell these investments before the recovery of their cost basis.

Additionally, due to our belief that it may take over twelve months for the auction rate securities market to recover, we have classified the auction rate securities as long-term assets, with the exception of securities that have been redeemed subsequent to March 31, 2010 at par value, which we classify as short-term investments.  The securities that we hold have maturities ranging from 7 to 35 years.

The reconciliation of our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Auction Rate Securities
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 38,307  
Redeemed at par
    (600 )
Reported in other comprehensive loss
    988  
Reported in earnings
    (38 )
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 38,657  

A roll-forward of credit losses recognized in earnings from the date of the first other-than-temporary impairment, pertaining to the auction rate securities held by us, is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Credit Losses
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 364  
Additional credit losses
    52  
Reduction in credit losses due to redemptions
    (14 )
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 402  

These securities currently earn interest at rates ranging from 1% to 2%.  Upon the failure of these securities at auction, a penalty interest rate is triggered.  Since the securities we hold are investment-grade securities, the penalty rates are market-based, and therefore the aggregate interest rate that we earned has declined to 1% to 2% from a historical rate of 3% to 7% due to reductions in the referenced interest rates by the Federal government.

Foreign Currency Option Derivatives

As further explained below in Note 3 “Hedging Transactions and Derivative Financial Instruments”, we are exposed to certain risks relating to our ongoing business operations, and the primary risk managed using derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange rate risk.  The fair value of these foreign currency option derivatives is based upon valuation models applied to current market information such as strike price, spot rate, maturity date and volatility, and by reference to market values resulting from an over-the-counter market or obtaining market data for similar instruments with similar characteristics.

 
7

 
 
Note 3 – Hedging Transactions and Derivative Financial Instruments

The guidance for the accounting and disclosure of derivatives and hedging transactions requires companies to recognize all of their derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship, and further on the type of hedging relationship.  For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, a company must designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.

We are exposed to certain risks relating to our ongoing business operations.  The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is foreign currency exchange rate risk.  Option contracts on various foreign currencies are entered into to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk on forecasted revenue denominated in foreign currencies.

We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculation purposes.

We designate certain foreign currency option contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted revenues.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.   The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of the future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, are recognized in the statement of operations during the current period.  The ineffective portion of a derivative instrument’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in income.

As of the close of the first quarter of 2010, we have entered into nine hedge programs.  Five of these programs are foreign currency cash flow hedges to protect against the reduction in value of forecasted cash flows resulting from U.S. dollar denominated sales in 2010 by our Belgian subsidiary, which uses the Euro as its functional currency. Our Belgian subsidiary hedges portions of its forecasted revenues denominated in U.S. dollars with option contracts.  If the dollar weakens against the Euro, the decrease in the present value of future foreign currency cash flows is offset by gains in the fair value of the options contracts.   We also entered into programs to hedge the foreign currency exposure on our condensed consolidated statements of financial position.  The remaining four programs, which do not qualify as cashflow hedges, are intended to minimize foreign currency exposures on our condensed consolidated statements of financial position.  The net impact to the financial statements for contracts exercised or expired during the three month period ended March 31, 2010 was a $0.1 million loss, and is located in Other Income, net.

Notional Values of Derivative Instruments
Euro
€     4,800
U.S. Dollar
$     19,100

 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the
Financial Statements for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2010
Fair Values of Derivative
Instruments for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2010
Foreign Exchange Option Contracts
Location of loss
Amount of loss
Other Assets
       
Contracts designated as hedging instruments
Other comprehensive income
         $   (351)
    $      75
Contracts not designated as hedging instruments
Other income, net
              (599)
          250

Concentration of Credit Risk

By using derivative instruments, we are subject to credit and market risk.  If a counterparty fails to fulfill its performance obligations under a derivative contract, our credit risk will equal the fair value of the derivative instrument. Generally, when the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes the Company, thus creating a receivable risk for the Company. We minimize counterparty credit (or repayment) risk by entering into derivative transactions with major financial institutions of investment grade credit rating.

 
8

 

Note 4 – Acquisition of Business

SK Utis Co., Ltd.

On March 23, 2010, we entered into an acquisition agreement with SK Utis Co., Ltd. (SK Utis) and its parent, SK Chemical Co., Ltd. (SK Chemical), both Korean companies, to purchase the common stock of SK Utis and certain intellectual property owned by SK Chemical related to the SK Utis business, for an aggregate purchase price of $29.1 million.  The agreement called for an initial payment of $26.0 million, which was made on March 31, 2010, when the transaction closed, which gave us a 90% interest in the outstanding stock of SK Utis and full ownership of the intellectual property.  SK Chemical will retain a 10% interest in SK Utis for a two year period, at which point we will purchase the remaining 10% share for a fixed price of $3.1 million.

SK Utis, established in 2005, is a high-quality supplier of polyurethane foam solutions for portable communications, entertainment, and industrial applications to leading Korean-based original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).  We believe that this acquisition will expand our presence as a solutions provider in several key markets that we have targeted for continued growth, including mobile internet devices, high definition television, and other markets requiring high reliability, high performance materials.  We also believe this acquisition will strengthen our relationships with some of the fastest growing makers of these products and extend our worldwide presence into the Korean marketplace.  We plan to integrate this business into our High Performance Foams reportable segment.

The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with applicable purchase accounting guidance.  The following table represents the preliminary fair market value assigned to the acquired assets and liabilities in the transaction.  As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-Q, we are still in the process of valuing the net assets of the business, including inventory, fixed assets, and intangible assets.  As such, the following table represents our preliminary estimates of the net assets of the business, which are subject to change based on the finalization of our valuation procedures.  Also, in accordance with the acquisition agreement, we are currently in discussions with SK Chemical regarding certain post-closing balance sheet adjustments that could occur and potentially result in additiona l adjustments to certain accounts.

Assets:
     
     Accounts receivable
  $ 2,700  
     Inventory
    1,900  
     Other current assets
    700  
     Property, plant & equipment
    2,000  
     Intangible assets
    23,635  
     Total assets
    30,935  
         
Liabilities
       
     Accounts payable
    1,300  
     Other current liabilities
    500  
     Total liabilities
    1,800  
         
Fair value of net assets acquired
  $ 29,135  

Total costs incurred related to the acquisition were approximately $0.9 million and are included in the Selling and Administrative Expense line on the condensed consolidated statement of operations

As of the date of the acquisition, we acquired 90% of the equity of SK Utis and SK Chemical retained a 10% interest.  However, SK Chemical, as part of the acquisition agreement, effectively waived all future economic rights to the activities of the business (i.e. dividends, share of profits and losses).  SK Chemical only has the right to the $3.1 million deferred purchase price that will be paid by us to acquire the remaining 10% of SK Utis in two years.  Therefore, we will consolidate 100% of the activities of SK Utis in accordance with applicable accounting guidance.  First quarter 2010 results contain only preliminary opening balance sheet amounts, as we acquired SK Utis as of the close of business on March 31, 2010.  Operational results will be included beginning in the second quart er of 2010.  The deferred purchase price is recorded at its present value (approximately $2.9 million) and is classified as a long-term liability on our condensed consolidated statement of financial position.

 
9

 

MTI Global Inc.

On April 30, 2009, we completed the acquisition of certain assets of MTI Global Inc.’s (MTI Global) silicones business for $7.4 million.  These assets include product lines, technology and manufacturing equipment of MTI Global’s Bremen, Germany and Richmond, Virginia plant locations.

The acquisition-date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled $7.4 million in cash.  The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:

(Dollars in thousands)
   
April 30,
2009
 
Net accounts receivable
  $ 343  
Inventory
    2,039  
Intangibles
    720  
Property, plant and equipment
    7,206  
    $ 10,308  

The fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed exceeded the fair value of the consideration transferred.  As a result, we recognized a gain of $2.9 million, which is shown in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Note 5 - Inventories

Inventories were as follows:

 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
             
Raw materials
  $ 9,871     $ 8,992  
Work-in-process
    4,713       3,842  
Finished goods
    24,795       20,992  
    $ 39,379     $ 33,826  

 
10

 

Note 6 - Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive income (loss) for the periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 was as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
             
Net income (loss)
  $ 6,854     $ (8,718 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (4,586 )     (4,079 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax
    960       (338 )
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments
    (351 )     (718 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 2,877     $ (13,853 )

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
             
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  $ 12,510     $ 17,096  
Funded status of pension plans and other postretirement benefits, net of tax
    (22,710 )     (22,710 )
Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax
    (1,710 )     (2,670 )
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments
    (493 )     (142 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (12,403 )   $ (8,426 )

Note 7 - Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share, for the periods indicated:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Numerator:
           
     Net income (loss)
  $ 6,854     $ (8,718 )
                 
Denominator:
               
     Denominator for basic earnings per share -
     Weighted-average shares
    15,769       15,638  
     Effect of dilutive stock options
    127       -  
     Denominator for diluted earnings per share - Adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions
    15,896       15,638  
                 
Basic income (loss) per share
  $ 0.43     $ (0.56 )
Diluted income (loss) per share
    0.43       (0.56 )

Note 8 – Stock-Based Compensation

Equity Compensation Awards

Stock Options

We currently grant stock options under various equity compensation plans.  While we may grant options to employees that become exercisable at different times or within different periods, we have generally granted options to employees that vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th anniversaries of the grant dates.  The maximum contractual term for all options is generally ten years.

 
11

 
We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant-date fair value of an option.  The fair value of options granted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009 were calculated using the following weighted- average assumptions:

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Options granted
    339,650       --  
Weighted average exercise price
  $ 24.25       --  
Weighted-average grant date fair value
    11.41       --  
Assumptions:
               
    Expected volatility
    45.41 %     --  
    Expected term (in years)
    5.86       --  
    Risk-free interest rate
    3.12 %     --  
    Expected dividend yield
    --       --  

Expected volatility – In determining expected volatility, we have considered a number of factors, including historical volatility and implied volatility.

Expected term – We use historical employee exercise data to estimate the expected term assumption for the Black-Scholes valuation.

Risk-free interest rate – We use the yield on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities for a period commensurate with the expected term assumption as its risk-free interest rate.

Expected dividend yield – We do not issue dividends on our common stock; therefore, a dividend yield of 0% was used in the Black-Scholes model.

We recognize expense using the straight-line attribution method for stock option grants.  The amount of stock-based compensation recognized during a period is based on the value of the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest.  Forfeitures are required to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.  The term “forfeitures” is distinct from “cancellations” or “expirations” and represents only the unvested portion of the surrendered option.  We currently expect, based on an analysis of our historical forfeitures, a forfeiture rate of approximately 3% and applied that rate to grants issued.  This assumption will be reviewed periodically and the rate will be adjusted as necessary based on these reviews.  Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those shares that vest.  During the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, we recognized approximately $2.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options.

 
12

 
 
A summary of the activity under our stock option plans as of March 31, 2010 and changes during the three month period then ended, is presented below:
 
   
 
 
Options
Outstanding
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
   
Weighted-Average Remaining
Contractual
Life in Years
   
 
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Options outstanding at December 31, 2009
    2,401,318     $ 38.40       5.8     $ 3,353,683  
    Options granted
    339,650       24.25                  
    Options exercised
    -       -                  
    Options cancelled
    (8,196 )     37.90                  
Options outstanding at March 31, 2010
    2,732,772       36.64       6.1       4,214,503  
Options exercisable at March 31, 2010
    1,772,248       41.68       4.5       667,236  
Options vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2010 *
    2,703,956       36.74       6.0       4,108,085  
                                 
* In addition to the vested options, we expect a portion of the unvested options to vest at some point in the future.  Options expected to vest are calculated by applying an estimated forfeiture rate to the unvested options.

During the three month period ended March 31, 2010, there were no options exercised.

Restricted Stock

In 2006, we began granting restricted stock to certain key executives.  This restricted stock program is a performance based plan that awards shares of common stock of the Company at the end of a three-year measurement period.  Awards associated with this program granted in 2008 cliff vest at the end of the three-year period and eligible participants can be awarded shares ranging from 0% to 200% of the original award amount, based on defined performance measures associated with earnings per share.  The 2009 and 2010 grants cliff vest at the end of the three-year period and eligible participants can be awarded shares ranging from 0% to 200% of the original award amount, based on defined performance measures associated with a combined measure using earnings per share, net sales and free cashflow.

We recognize compensation expense on these awards ratably over the vesting period.  The fair value of the award will be determined based on the market value of the underlying stock price at the grant date.  The amount of compensation expense recognized over the vesting period will be based on our projections of the performance measure over the requisite service period and, ultimately, how that performance compares to the defined performance measure.  If, at any point during the vesting period, we conclude that the ultimate result of this measure will change from that originally projected, we will adjust the compensation expense accordingly and recognize the difference ratably over the remaining vesting period.

   
Restricted
Shares Outstanding
 
Non-vested awards outstanding at December 31, 2009
    100,900  
    Awards granted
    37,350  
    Awards issued
    -  
    Awards expired
    (20,500 )
Non-vested shares outstanding at March 31, 2010
    117,750  

As of the first quarter of 2010, the restricted stock granted in 2007 has been forfeited, due to the performance not being reached that was required for vesting of this grant.

For the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, we recognized $0.4 million and $0.1 million of expense related to restricted stock, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) that allows eligible employees to purchase, through payroll deductions, shares of our common stock at 85% of the fair market value.  The ESPP has two six month offering periods per year, the first beginning in January and ending in June and the second beginning in July and ending in December.  The ESPP contains a look-back feature that allows the employee to acquire stock at a 15% discount from the underlying market price at the beginning or end of the respective period, whichever is lower.  We recognize compensation expense on this plan ratably over the offering period based on the fair value of the anticipated number of shares that will be issued at the end of each respective period.  Compensation expense is adjusted at the end of each offering per iod for the actual number of shares issued.  Fair value is determined based on two factors: (i) the 15% discount amount on the underlying stock’s market value on the first day of the respective plan period, and (ii) the fair value of the look-back feature determined by using the Black-Scholes model.  We recognized approximately $0.1 million of compensation expense associated with the plan in each of the first quarters of 2010 and 2009.

 
13

 

Note 9 – Pension Benefit and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the periods indicated are:

   
Pension Benefits
   
Retirement Health and Life Insurance Benefits
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
Change in benefit obligation:
 
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
                         
Service cost
  $ 897     $ 1,127     $ 169     $ 168  
Interest cost
    2,099       2,082       101       129  
Expected return on plan assets
    (2,361 )     (2,042 )     --       --  
Amortization of prior service cost
    149       132       (156 )     (174 )
Amortization of net loss
    461       695       89       84  
Special benefits acceleration
    225       --       --       --  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 1,470     $ 1,994     $ 203     $ 207  

Employer Contributions

We made no contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plans in the first quarter of 2010.  For the three months ended March 31, 2009, our contributions were $8.0 million.

We made $1.5 million in contributions (benefit payments) to our non-qualified defined benefit pension plans in the first three months of 2010.  We made approximately $0.2 million in contributions to our non-qualified defined benefit pension plan during the first three months of 2009.

Note 10 – Segment Information

The following table sets forth the information about our reportable segments for the periods indicated:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
High Performance Foams
           
Net sales
  $ 31,780     $ 17,158  
Operating income (loss)
    2,323       (4,728 )
                 
Printed Circuit Materials
               
Net sales
  $ 34,572     $ 30,041  
Operating income (loss)
    4,565       (851 )
                 
Custom Electrical Components
               
Net sales
  $ 11,308     $ 13,155  
Operating loss
    (960 )     (3,139 )
                 
Other Polymer Products
               
Net sales
  $ 6,276     $ 5,121  
Operating loss
    (186 )     (2,360 )
 
Inter-segment sales have been eliminated from the sales data in the previous table.

 
14

 
Note 11 – Joint Ventures

As of March 31, 2010, we had three joint ventures, each 50% owned, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Joint Venture
Location
Reportable Segment
Fiscal Year-End
       
Rogers INOAC Corporation (RIC)
Japan
High Performance Foams
October 31
Rogers INOAC Suzhou Corporation (RIS)
China
High Performance Foams
December 31
Rogers Chang Chun Technology Co., Ltd. (RCCT)
Taiwan
Printed Circuit Materials
December 31
       

Equity income of $2.2 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and equity losses of $0.4 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, respectively, is included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

On March 31, 2010, Rogers and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., the 50% owners of the Polyimide Laminate Systems, LLC (PLS) joint venture, entered into an agreement to dissolve the joint venture and to have Rogers assume on that date any outstanding assets and liabilities of PLS, which resulted in a $0.1 million charge recorded as of March 31, 2010.  The parties also agreed that, going forward, all the distribution activity that PLS previously engaged in would be conducted through Rogers Corporation.  Therefore, beginning in the second quarter of 2010, these activities will be reported on a gross basis as part of our consolidated results.  PLS will become an operating segment and be reported in the “Other Polymer Products” reportable segment.

Commission income from our PLS joint venture of $0.6 million and losses of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, respectively, is included in “Other income (expense), net” on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The summarized financial information for the four joint ventures for the periods indicated is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 30,495     $ 10,594  
Gross profit
    6,246       172  
Net income (loss)
    4,436       (744 )

The effect of transactions between us and our unconsolidated joint ventures was accounted for on a consolidated basis.  Receivables from and payables to joint ventures arise during the normal course of business from transactions between us and the joint ventures, typically from the joint venture purchasing raw materials from us to produce end products, which are sold to third parties, or from us purchasing finished goods from our joint ventures, which are then sold to third parties.

Note 12 – Commitments and Contingencies

We are currently engaged in the following environmental and legal proceedings:

Superfund Sites

We are currently involved as a potentially responsible party (PRP) in one active case involving a waste disposal site.  Currently, this proceeding is at a stage where it is still not possible to estimate the ultimate cost of remediation, the timing and extent of remedial action that may be required by governmental authorities, and the amount of our liability, if any, alone or in relation to that of any other PRPs.  The costs incurred since inception for this claim have been immaterial and have been primarily covered by insurance policies, for both legal and remediation costs.  We have been assessed a cost sharing percentage of approximately 2% in relation to the range for estimated total cleanup costs of $17 million to $24 million.  We believe we have sufficient insurance coverage to fully cover this liability and have recorded a liability and related insurance receivable of approximately $0.4 million as of March 31, 2010, which approximates our share of the low end of the range.

In relation to the current superfund case, we believe we are a de minimis participant and have only been allocated an insignificant percentage of the total PRP cost sharing responsibility.  Based on facts presently known to us, we believe that the potential for the final results of this case having a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows is remote.  This case has been ongoing for many years and we believe that it will continue on for the indefinite future.  No time frame for completion can be estimated at the present time.

 
15

 
PCB Contamination

We have been working with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region I in connection with certain polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the soil beneath a section of cement flooring at our Woodstock, Connecticut facility.  We completed clean-up efforts in 2000 in accordance with a previously agreed upon remediation plan.  To address the small amount of residual contamination at the site, we proposed a plan of Monitored Natural Attenuation, which was subsequently rejected by the CT DEP.  The CT DEP has additionally rejected two revised plans that were submitted.  During the second quarter of 2009, the CT DEP required us to install additional wells on site to better determine the amount and location of the residual contamination.  As of the third quarter of 2009, one of the additional wells had tested positive for PCBs, and we were therefore required to install additional wells to continue to try and determine the extent of the contamination.  We have accrued a liability of $0.2 million as of the first quarter of 2010, which approximates our best estimate for additional remediation costs at this site.

Also, we recently discovered additional contamination related to PCBs in the facility that contained the equipment that was the source of the original PCB contamination.  During the third quarter of 2009, it was concluded that remediation of the contamination within the facility will cost between $0.2 million and $0.4 million; therefore, we recorded a liability of $0.2 million related to this issue at that time, which represents the low end of the estimated range.  There have been no significant changes in the circumstances related to the exposure or to the liability that we have recorded.

Since inception, we have spent approximately $2.5 million in remediation and monitoring costs related to PCB’s at the site.  We believe that this situation will continue for several more years and no time frame for completion can be estimated at the present time.

Asbestos Litigation

A significant number of asbestos-related product liability claims have been brought against numerous United States industrial companies where the third-party plaintiffs allege personal injury from exposure to asbestos-containing products. We have been named, along with hundreds of other companies, as a defendant in some of these claims. In virtually all of these claims filed against us, the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages, or, if an amount is specified, such amount merely represents jurisdictional amounts.  Even in those situations where specific damages are alleged, the claims frequently seek the same amount of damages, irrespective of the disease or injury.  Plaintiffs’ lawyers often sue dozens or even hundreds of defendants in individual lawsuits on behalf of hundreds or even thousands of claiman ts.  As a result, even when specific damages are alleged with respect to a specific disease or injury, those damages are not expressly identified as to us.

We did not mine, mill, manufacture or market asbestos; rather, we made some limited products, which contained encapsulated asbestos.  Such products were provided to industrial users.  We stopped manufacturing these products in the late 1980s.

·
Claims

We have been named in asbestos litigation primarily in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Mississippi.  As of March 31, 2010, there were approximately 168 pending claims compared to approximately 167 pending claims at December 31, 2009.  The number of open claims during a particular time can fluctuate significantly from period to period depending on how successful we have been in getting these cases dismissed or settled.  Some jurisdictions prohibit specifying alleged damages in personal injury tort cases such as these, other than a minimum jurisdictional amount which may be required for such reasons as allowing the case to be litigated in a jury trial (which the plaintiffs believe will be more favorable to them than if heard only before a j udge) or allowing the case to be litigated in federal court.  This is in contrast to commercial litigation, in which specific alleged damage claims are often permitted.  The prohibition on specifying alleged damage sometimes applies not only to the suit when filed but also during the trial – in some jurisdictions the plaintiff is not actually permitted to specify to the jury during the course of the trial the amount of alleged damages the plaintiff is claiming.  Further, in those jurisdictions in which plaintiffs are permitted to claim specific alleged damages, many plaintiffs nonetheless still choose not to do so. In those cases in which plaintiffs are permitted to and do choose to assert specific dollar amounts in their complaints, we believe the amounts claimed are typically not meaningful as an indicator of a company’s potential liability. This is because (1) the amounts claimed may bear no relation to the level of the plaintiff’s injury and are often used as part of the plaintiff’s litigation strategy, (2) the complaints typically assert claims against numerous defendants, and often the alleged damages are not allocated against specific defendants, but rather the broad claim is made against all of the defendants as a group, making it impossible for a particular defendant to quantify the alleged damages that are being specifically claimed against it and therefore its potential liability, and (3) many cases are brought on behalf of plaintiffs who have not suffered any medical injury, and ultimately are resolved without any payment or payment of a small fraction of the damages initially claimed.  Of the approximately 168 claims pending as of March 31, 2010, 54 claims do not specify the amount of damages sought, 110 claims cite jurisdictional amounts, and only four (4) claims (or approximately 2.4% of the pending claims) specify the amount of damages sought not based on jurisdictional requirements.  Of these four (4) claim s, three (3) claims each allege compensatory and punitive damages of $20,000,000 each; and one (1) claim alleges compensatory and punitive damages of $1,000,000, and an unspecified amount of exemplary damages, interest and costs.  These four (4) claims name between nine (9) and seventy-six (76) defendants. However, for the reasons cited above, we do not believe that this data allows for an accurate assessment of the relation that the amount of alleged damages claimed might bear to the ultimate disposition of these cases.

 
16

 
The rate at which plaintiffs filed asbestos-related suits against us increased in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 because of increased activity on the part of plaintiffs to identify those companies that sold asbestos containing products, but which did not directly mine, mill or market asbestos.  A significant increase in the volume of asbestos-related bodily injury cases arose in Mississippi in 2002.  This increase in the volume of claims in Mississippi was apparently due to the passage of tort reform legislation (applicable to asbestos-related injuries), which became effective on September 1, 2003 and which resulted in a higher than average number of claims being filed in Mississippi by plaintiffs seeking to ensure their claims would be governed by the law in effect prior to the passage of tort reform.  The num ber of asbestos-related suits filed against us declined in 2008 but increased again in 2009.  As of the end of the first quarter, the number of such suits filed against us in 2010 is somewhat less than the number filed in 2009 at that time.

·
Defenses

In many cases, plaintiffs are unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any compensable loss as a result of exposure to our asbestos-containing products.  We continue to believe that a majority of the claimants in pending cases will not be able to demonstrate exposure or loss.  This belief is based in large part on two factors: the limited number of asbestos-related products manufactured and sold by us and the fact that the asbestos was encapsulated in such products.  In addition, even at sites where the presence of an alleged injured party can be verified during the same period those products were used, our liability cannot be presumed because even if an individual contracted an asbestos-related disease, not everyone who was employed at a site was exposed to the asbestos-containing products that we ma nufactured.  Based on these and other factors, we have and will continue to vigorously defend ourselves in asbestos-related matters.

·
Dismissals and Settlements

Cases involving us typically name 50-300 defendants, although some cases have had as few as one and as many as 833 defendants.  We have obtained dismissals of many of these claims.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we were able to have 14 claims dismissed and settled 6 claims.  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, 96 claims were dismissed and 22 were settled.  The majority of costs have been paid by our insurance carriers, including the costs associated with the small number of cases that have been settled.  Such settlements totaled approximately $1.1 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2010, compared to $1.7 million during the first quarter of 2009 and approximately $7.6 million for the full year 2009.  Although these figures provide some insight into our experience with asbestos litigation, no guarantee can be made as to the dismissal and settlement rate that we will experience in the future.

Settlements are made without any admission of liability.  Settlement amounts may vary depending upon a number of factors, including the jurisdiction where the action was brought, the nature and extent of the disease alleged and the associated medical evidence, the age and occupation of the claimant, the existence or absence of other possible causes of the alleged illness of the alleged injured party and the availability of legal defenses, as well as whether the action is brought alone or as part of a group of claimants.  To date, we have been successful in obtaining dismissals for many of the claims and have settled only a limited number.  The majority of settled claims were settled for immaterial amounts, and the majority of such costs have been paid by our insurance carriers.  In addition, to d ate, we have not been required to pay any punitive damage awards.

·
Potential Liability

In late 2004, we determined that it was reasonably prudent, based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time, to have a formal analysis performed to determine our potential future liability and related insurance coverage for asbestos-related matters.  This determination was made based on several factors, including the growing number of asbestos-related claims at the time and the related settlement history.  As a result, National Economic Research Associates, Inc. (NERA), a consulting firm with expertise in the field of evaluating mass tort litigation asbestos bodily-injury claims, was engaged to assist us in projecting our future asbestos-related liabilities and defense costs with regard to pending claims and future unasserted claims.  Projecting future asbestos costs is subject to numerous variab les that are extremely difficult to predict, including the number of claims that might be received, the type and severity of the disease alleged by each claimant, the long latency period associated with asbestos exposure, dismissal rates, costs of medical treatment, the financial resources of other companies that are co-defendants in claims, uncertainties surrounding the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and from case to case and the impact of potential changes in legislative or judicial standards, including potential tort reform.  Furthermore, any predictions with respect to these variables are subject to even greater uncertainty as the projection period lengthens.  In light of these inherent uncertainties, the limited amount and variability of our claims history and consultations with NERA, we believe that five years is the most reasonable period for recognizing a reserve for future costs, and that costs that might be incurred after that period are not reasonably esti mable at this time.  As a result, we also believe that our ultimate net asbestos-related contingent liability (i.e., our indemnity or other claim disposition costs plus related legal fees) cannot be estimated with certainty.

 
17

 
·
Insurance Coverage

Our applicable insurance policies generally provide coverage for asbestos liability costs, including coverage for both resolution and defense costs.  Following the initiation of asbestos litigation, an effort was made to identify all of our primary and excess insurance carriers that provided applicable coverage beginning in the 1950s through the mid-1980s.  There are three such primary carriers and numerous excess carriers, all of which were put on notice of the litigation.  In late 2004, Marsh Risk Consulting (Marsh), a consulting firm with expertise in the field of evaluating insurance coverage and the likelihood of recovery for asbestos-related claims, was engaged to work with us to project our insurance coverage for asbestos-related claims. Marsh’s conclusions were based primarily on a review of our coverage history, application of reasonable assumptions on the allocation of coverage consistent with industry standards, an assessment of the creditworthiness of the insurance carriers, analysis of applicable deductibles, retentions and policy limits, the experience of NERA and a review of NERA’s reports.

·
Cost Sharing Agreement

To date, our primary insurance carriers have provided for substantially all of the settlement and defense costs associated with our asbestos-related claims.  However, as claims continued, we determined, along with our primary insurance carriers, that it would be appropriate to enter into a cost sharing agreement to clearly define the cost sharing relationship among such carriers and ourselves.  A definitive cost sharing agreement was finalized on September 28, 2006.  Under the definitive agreement, the primary insurance carriers will continue to pay essentially all resolution and defense costs associated with these claims until the applicable coverage is exhausted.

·
Impact on Financial Statements

Given the inherent uncertainty in making future projections, we have had the projections of current and future asbestos claims periodically re-examined, and we will have them updated if needed based on our experience, changes in the underlying assumptions that formed the basis for NERA’s and Marsh’s models, and other relevant factors, such as changes in the tort system and our success in resolving claims.  Based on the assumptions employed by and the report prepared by NERA and other variables, NERA and Marsh updated their respective analyses for year end 2009 and the estimated liability and estimated insurance recovery, for the five-year period through 2014, is $27.5 million and $27.4 million, respectively.  These amounts are currently reflected in our financial statements at March 31, 2010 as no materi al changes occurred during the quarter that would cause us to believe that an additional update to the analysis was required.
 
The amounts recorded for the asbestos-related liability and the related insurance receivables described above were based on facts known at the time and a number of assumptions.  However, projecting future events, such as the number of new claims to be filed each year, the average cost of disposing of such claims, coverage issues among insurers, the continuing solvency of various insurance companies, the ability of insurance companies to reimburse amounts owed to us on a timely basis, as well as the numerous uncertainties surrounding asbestos litigation in the United States (including, but not limited to, uncertainties surrounding the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as well as potential legislative changes), could cause the actual liability and insurance recoveries for us to be higher or lower than those p rojected or recorded.

There can be no assurance that our accrued asbestos liabilities will approximate our actual asbestos-related settlement and defense costs, or that our accrued insurance recoveries will be realized.  We believe that it is reasonably possible that we will incur additional charges for our asbestos liabilities and defense costs in the future, which could exceed existing reserves, but such excess amount cannot be estimated at this time.  We will continue to vigorously defend ourselves and believe we have substantial unutilized insurance coverage to mitigate future costs related to this matter.

Other Environmental and Legal Matters

·
In 2005, we began to market our manufacturing facility in Windham, Connecticut to find potential interested buyers.  This facility was formerly the location of the manufacturing operations of our elastomer component and float businesses prior to the relocation of these businesses to Suzhou, China in the fall of 2004.  As part of our due diligence in preparing the site for sale, we determined that there were several environmental issues at the site and, although under no legal obligation to voluntarily remediate the site, we believed that remediation procedures would have to be performed in order to successfully sell the property.  We determined that the potential remediation cost range would be approximately $0.4 million to $1.0 million and would most likely approximate the mid-point of this range.   We therefore recorded a $0.7 million charge in the fourth quarter of 2005.  During the third quarter of 2008, the remediation for this site was completed.  Due to the remediation not being as extensive as originally estimated, we reduced the accrual by approximately $0.5 million and paid approximately $0.2 million in costs associated with the remediation work.  During 2009, we entered into the post-remediation monitoring period, which is required to continue for a minimum of four quarters up to a maximum of eight quarters and will continue at least to the end of 2010, at which point the CT DEP will evaluate the site and determine if any additional remediation work will be necessary, or if the site can be closed.  As of March 31, 2010, any future costs associated with this monitoring are expected to be minimal and will be expensed as incurred.

 
18

 
·
On May 16, 2007, CalAmp Corp. (CalAmp) filed a lawsuit against us for unspecified damages.  During the second quarter of 2008, CalAmp responded to discovery requests in the litigation and stated that their then current estimated total damages were $82.9 million. In the lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, CalAmp alleged performance issues with certain printed circuit board laminate materials we had provided for use in certain of their products.  In the first quarter of 2009 this lawsuit was settled for $9.0 million. The settlement was reached through mediation mandated by the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Both parties acknowledged that Rogers admitted no wrongdoing or liability for any claim made by CalAmp. We agreed to settle this litigation solely to avoid the time, expense and in convenience of continued litigation.  Under the settlement reached through mediation mandated by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, we paid CalAmp the $9.0 million settlement amount in January 2009.  We had accrued $0.9 million related to this lawsuit in 2007 and recorded an additional $8.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.  Legal and other costs related to this lawsuit were approximately $1.8 million in 2008.  In February 2009, subsequent to the settlement with CalAmp, we reached an agreement with our primary insurance carrier to recover costs associated with a portion of the settlement ($1.0 million) as well as certain legal fees and other defense costs associated with the lawsuit (approximately $1.0 million).  Payment for these amounts was received in the first quarter of 2009.  On February 6, 2009, we filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Fireman’s Fund In surance Company, our excess insurance carrier, seeking to collect the remaining $8.0 million of the settlement amount.  At this time, we cannot determine the probability of recovery in this matter and, consequently, have not recorded this amount as a receivable.

In addition to the above issues, the nature and scope of our business bring us in regular contact with the general public and a variety of businesses and government agencies.  Such activities inherently subject us to the possibility of litigation, including environmental and product liability matters that are defended and handled in the ordinary course of business.  We have established accruals for matters for which management considers a loss to be probable and reasonably estimable.  It is the opinion of management that facts known at the present time do not indicate that such litigation, after taking into account insurance coverage and the aforementioned accruals, will have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Note 13 – Restructuring and Impairment Charges

In the first quarter of 2009, we announced a cost reduction initiative that included a workforce reduction, as well as a significant reduction in our operating and overhead expenses, to better align our cost structure with the lower sales volumes experienced at the end of 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009.  We recognized approximately $2.8 million in severance charges and paid out approximately $0.5 million related to severance in the first quarter of 2009.  These charges impacted the results of all of our reportable segments.

A summary of the activity in the severance accrual for the first quarter of 2009 was as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
     
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ -  
Provisions
    2,795  
Payments
    (496 )
Balance at March 31, 2009
  $ 2,299  

During the first quarter of 2010, activity in the severance accrual was comprised of payments of severance accrued due to work force reductions in the first half of 2009.  Severance activity for the first quarter of 2010 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
     
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 1,088  
Provisions
    -  
Payments
    (532 )
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 556  

We did not record any restructuring or impairment charges in the first quarter of 2010.

 
19

 

Note 14 - Investment

In the third quarter of 2009, we made a strategic investment of $5.0 million in Solicore, Inc., headquartered in Lakeland, Florida.  Solicore is the world leader for embedded power solutions, offering its patented Flexicon advanced ultra-thin, flexible, lithium polymer batteries for smart cards, controlled access cards, RFID tags, and medical devices.  Our investment, part of a total of $13.3 million raised by Solicore in the current financing round, provides us with a minority equity stake in Solicore and representation on Solicore’s Board of Directors.  We account for this investment under the cost method as we cannot exert significant influence.  We also entered into a joint development agreement with Solicore to develop the next generation of power solution products.  As part of the agreement, we will have the exclusive right to manufacture a significant portion of the products that result from this collaboration.

Note 15 – Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 22.3% and 23.2%, respectively, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, as compared with the statutory rate of 35.0%.  In both the three month periods ended March 31, 2010, and March 31, 2009, our tax rate continued to benefit from favorable tax rates on certain foreign business activity.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2009, we established a valuation allowance against substantially all of our U.S. deferred tax asset based upon the consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” standard.  As of March 31, 2010, we have concluded, based on this standard, that a valuation allowance is still appropriate against substantially all of our U.S. deferred tax assets.

Our accounting policy is to account for interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense.  As of March 31, 2010, we have approximately $0.8 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions included in the $8.1 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $5.8 million of which, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate.

We are subject to numerous tax filings including U.S. Federal, various state and foreign jurisdictions.  Currently, the following tax years remain open to the possibility of audit, by jurisdiction: U.S. Federal 2006 – 2009, various states 2004 – 2009, and foreign 2005 – 2009.

 
20

 


As used herein, the “Company”, “Rogers”, “we”, “us”, “our” and similar terms include Rogers Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Company Background and Strategy

We are a global enterprise that provides our customers with innovative solutions and industry leading products in a variety of markets, including portable communications, communications infrastructure, consumer electronics, mass transit, automotive, defense and alternative energy.  We generate revenues and cash flows through the development, manufacture, and distribution of specialty material-based products that are sold to multiple customers, primarily OEM’s and contract manufacturers that, in turn, produce component products that are sold to end-customers for use in various applications.  As such, our business is highly dependent, although indirectly, on market demand for these end-user products.  Our ability to forecast future sales growth is largely dependent on management’s ability to anti cipate changing market conditions and how our customers will react to these changing conditions.  It is also highly limited due to the short lead times demanded by our customers and the dynamics of serving as a relatively small supplier in the overall supply chain for these end-user products.  In addition, our sales represent a number of different products across a wide range of price points and distribution channels that do not always allow for meaningful quantitative analysis of changes in demand or price per unit with respect to the effect on sales and earnings.

Our current focus is on worldwide markets that have an increasing percentage of materials being used to support growing high technology applications, wired and wireless infrastructures, mobile internet devices, satellite television receivers, mass transit, wind and solar energy applications and hybrid electric and electric vehicles.  We continue to focus on business opportunities around the globe, particularly in the Asian marketplace, as evidenced by the continued investment in our facilities in Suzhou, China, which functions as our manufacturing base serving our customers in Asia.  Our goal is to become the supplier of choice for our customers in all of the various markets in which we participate.  To achieve this goal, we strive to make the best products in these respective markets and to deliver the hi ghest level of service to our customers.

First Quarter 2010 Executive Summary

In the first quarter of 2010, we continued to build on the positive momentum experienced in the second half of 2009, as sales continued to rebound, reaching $83.9 million in the quarter as compared to a recession-driven $65.5 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Our bottom line results also improved significantly, as we achieved net income of $0.43 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to a net loss of $0.56 per share in the first quarter of 2009.

Our sales growth was driven by the performance of our core strategic businesses, as High Performance Foams achieved sales of $31.8 million, an increase of almost 85% over the $17.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2009, and our Printed Circuit Materials achieved sales of $34.6 million, an increase of 15.1% over the $30.0 million in sales in the first quarter of 2009.  From an operating results perspective, all of our reportable segments reported significant improvements in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the losses incurred in the first quarter of 2009.  Once again, these improvements were led by our High Performance Foams segment, which achieved operating income of $2.3 million as compared to an operating loss in the first quarter of 2009 of $4.7 million, and our Printed Circuit Materials segment, which reported operating income of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to an operating loss of $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2009.

Our activities in the first quarter of 2010 also highlighted our continued focus to grow our Company through our efforts in new business development as we acquired SK Utis Co., Ltd. (SK Utis), a high performance polyurethane foam business located in South Korea.  SK Utis, a former subsidiary of SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., was established in 2005 and has quickly grown into a high-quality supplier of polyurethane foam solutions for portable communications, entertainment, and industrial applications to leading Korean-based OEMs.  It has a solid presence in several key markets we have targeted for growth, including mobile internet devices and high definition televisions, among others.  It also allows us to extend our presence into the dynamic Korean marketplace.  We are working diligently to integrate the company into our operations and expect it to be accretive to both sales and earnings in the second quarter of 2010.

Overall, we continue to see improvement in our businesses across many markets and regions as the global economy continues to rebound from its low points in the first half of 2009.  The measures we took in 2009 to streamline our business, increase our operational efficiencies and control our costs are enabling us to gain greater leverage on incremental sales to drive more value to our shareholders.  We are continuing to closely monitor our costs, as well as our overall balance sheet position, which continues to remain very strong, as evidenced by our strong working capital position and our ability to generate positive cash flow.  Our strong balance sheet position was further evidenced by the fact that we internally funded the acquisition of SK Utis (initial cash outflow of approximately $26.0 million) and d id not need to borrow from any of our external credit facilities.  However, if a future opportunity arose that we believe would benefit our Company and its shareholders, we would utilize various alternative financial resources that would allow us to best meet our funding requirements.

 
21

 

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected operations data expressed as a percentage of net sales.

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
             
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Manufacturing margins
    36.1       21.3  
                 
Selling and administrative expenses
    25.0       25.5  
Research and development expenses
    4.2       8.4  
Restructuring and impairment charges
    -       4.3  
Operating (loss) income
    6.8       (16.9 )
                 
Equity income in unconsolidated joint ventures
    2.6       (0.6 )
Other income (loss), net
    1.0       (0.1 )
Net impairment losses
    -       -  
Interest income, net
    -       0.3  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    10.5       (17.3 )
                 
Income tax (benefit) expense
    2.3       (4.0 )
                 
Net (loss) income
    8.2 %     (13.3 )%

Net Sales

Net sales for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 were $83.9 million as compared to $65.5 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, an increase of 28.2%. Sales levels in the first quarter of 2009 represented the lowest point of the economic recession, as sales have increased sequentially since that point in time.  Sales levels in the first quarter of 2010 represent the highest level of sales since the global recession began.  The overall increase in sales was driven primarily by the performance of our High Performance Foams and Printed Circuit Materials reportable segments, which achieved sales growth of 85.2% and 15.1%, respectively, quarter over quarter.  See “Segment Sales and Operations” below for further discussion on segment performance.

Manufacturing Margins

Manufacturing margins as a percentage of sales increased significantly from 21.3% in the first quarter of 2009 to 36.1% in the first quarter of 2010.  The improvement is primarily attributable to the overall increase in sales volume between the periods, particularly considering that the majority of the sales volume increases were in our core strategic segments of HPF and PCM, which typically drive a large percentage of our profitability.  The margin increase was also driven by our improved operating leverage, as we were able to increase our sales on a much lower operating cost structure due to the cost cutting initiatives that began in 2009 and continue through 2010.  Margins were also favorably impacted by an increase in our overall inventory balance of approximately 6%, excluding the impact of the additi onal PLS and SK Utis inventory as of March 31, 2010.  Lastly, margins in the first quarter of 2009 were exceedingly low, as sales declined at such a rapid pace that we could not adjust our cost structure quickly enough to compensate accordingly.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses increased 25.3% from $16.7 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $21.0 million in the first quarter of 2010.  The quarter-over-quarter increase in expense experienced in 2010 as compared to 2009 can be primarily attributable to the incremental costs incurred during 2010 for equity compensation and incentive compensation programs.  Equity compensation expense totaled $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of $1.9 million from the first quarter of 2009, which was due primarily to the timing of the issuance of our primary 2010 stock option grants in the first quarter of 2010, as the comparable grant was issued in the second quarter of 2009, and the related accounting treatment that requires us to immediately expense certain grants to those individuals who are eligib le for retirement.  The increase in incentive compensation expense of approximately $2.2 million was driven by our current projections related to our annual incentive compensation plan.  There was no incentive compensation costs incurred in 2009.  In addition, selling and administrative expenses includes approximately $0.9 million in costs related to the acquisition of SK Utis in the first quarter of 2010.  Excluding the 2010 equity compensation, incentive and acquisition costs, selling and administrative expenses decreased in 2010 as compared to 2009 by 8.8%, primarily due to our lower cost structure, which more than offset the higher costs incurred related to increased production levels.

 
22

 
As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses were approximately 25.0% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to 25.5% in the first quarter of 2009.  Excluding the above mentioned items, selling and administrative expenses were approximately 18.2% of sales in the first quarter of 2010.  These declines were due in part to both the significant increase in volumes in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the comparable prior year period, as well as our ability to leverage our lower cost structure in 2010 on the higher sales levels.

Research and Development Expenses
 
Research and development (R&D) expense declined 35% from $5.5 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2010.  As a percentage of sales, R&D expense was 4.2% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to 8.4% in the first quarter of 2009.  The decline in R&D costs was driven by several factors, including a significant reduction of approximately $0.6 million in legal costs primarily associated with patent protection activities, as much of that work has been shifted internally under our general counsel office, which was created in 2009; over $0.4 million in salary reductions as a result of the reduction in workforce that occurred in the first half of 2009; as well as the timing of spending on certain initiatives.  Also contributing to the decline was the fact that spending was more controlled in 2009 due to the decline in our overall business and management’s efforts to control adding back such costs as business conditions improve.  We will continue to target a reinvestment percentage of approximately 6% of sales into R&D activities each year and are focused on continually investing in R&D, both in our efforts to improve the technology and products in our current portfolio, as well as researching product extensions and new business development opportunities to further expand and grow our product portfolio.  We believe that investment in technology and R&D initiatives are a fundamental strength of our company that has been a key driver to our past success and will be a key aspect to our continued success in the future.

Restructuring and Impairment Charges

In the first quarter of 2009, we announced a cost reduction initiative that included a workforce reduction, as well as a significant reduction in our operating and overhead expenses, to better align our cost structure with the lower sales volumes experienced at the end of 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009.   We recognized approximately $2.8 million in severance charges and paid out approximately $0.5 million related to severance in the first quarter of 2009.

There were no restructuring and impairment charges incurred in the first quarter of 2010.

Equity Income/Loss in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated joint ventures increased significantly from a loss of $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2009 to income of $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2010.  This increase is primarily attributable to the strong performance of our foam joint ventures, Rogers INOAC Suzhou Corporation (RIS) in China and Rogers INOAC Corporation (RIC) in Japan, as business rebounded significantly from the recession driven declines and excess inventory levels experienced in 2009.  The first quarter of 2009 marked the low point for performance of these joint ventures, as sales began to rebound in the middle of 2009, consistent with our wholly-owned High Performance Foams business.

Other Income (Loss), Net

Other income (loss) increased from a loss of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2009 to income of $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2010.  The primary drivers of this increase was a significant increase of $0.7 million in commission income from our Polyimide Laminate Systems (PLS) joint venture (dissolved at March 31, 2010) as the business effectively shut down operations for a majority of the first quarter of 2009 due to the recession.  Other income was also affected by $0.2 million of favorable foreign exchange impact due to the appreciation of the U.S. dollar in 2010.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 22.3% and 23.2%, respectively, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, as compared with the statutory rate of 35.0%.  In both the three month periods ended March 31, 2010, and March 31, 2009, our tax rate continued to benefit from favorable tax rates on certain foreign business activity.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2009, we established a valuation allowance against substantially all of our U.S. deferred tax asset based upon the consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” standard.  As of March 31, 2010, we have concluded, based on this standard, that a valuation allowance is still appropriate against substantially all of our U.S. deferred tax assets.

 
23

 

Segment Sales and Operations

High Performance Foams

(Dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 31.8     $ 17.2  
Operating income (loss)
    2.3       (4.7 )

Our High Performance Foams (HPF) reportable segment is comprised of our polyurethane and silicone foam products.  Net sales in this segment were $31.8 million in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 84.9% from the recession-driven $17.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Operating results in this segment also improved significantly as the segment swung from an operating loss of $4.7 million in the first quarter of 2009 to an operating profit of $2.3 million in 2010.  First quarter 2010 results also included approximately $0.9 million of costs associated with the acquisition of SK Utis.  Sales have continued to increase sequentially in this segment from the low point experienced in the first quarter of 2009, as sales in first quarter of 2010 improved upon the fourth quarter 2009 results b y 12.0%.  The increase in sales has been driven by strong demand for specialty foam materials across almost all end markets, particularly in mobile internet devices.  Also, sales into the mass transit market were strong, driven by demand for specialty foam products into seating applications in trains.  Sales in this segment have also improved incrementally as a result of the acquisition of the assets of MTI Global in the second quarter of 2009 and will benefit in the future from the acquisition of SK Utis, which occurred in the first quarter of 2010. First quarter results do not include any operational activity of SK Utis, as the company was acquired at the close of business on March 31, 2010.

Printed Circuit Materials

(Dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 34.5     $ 30.0  
Operating income (loss)
    4.6       (0.9 )

Our Printed Circuit Materials (PCM) reportable segment is comprised of our high frequency circuit material products.  Net sales in this segment increased by 15.1% from $30.0 million in the first quarter of 2009 to $34.5 million in the first quarter of 2010.  Operating results also improved from an operating loss of $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2009 to operating income of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2010.  Overall, the first quarter of 2010 was very strong for PCM, particularly from a profitability standpoint, as a favorable sales mix and strong demand into key markets drove the segment’s performance.  Specifically, sales into the 3G (third generation) wireless infrastructure market in China were higher compared to the first quarter of 2009; however, the initial build-out of this is mostly complete and we expect sales into this market to return to more normal levels going forward.  Sales into the satellite television markets for low-noise block down (LNB) converters were relatively stable this quarter.

Custom Electrical Components

(Dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 11.3     $ 13.2  
Operating loss
    (1.0 )     (3.1 )

Our Custom Electrical Components reportable segment is comprised of electroluminescent lamps, inverters, and power distribution systems products.  Net sales in this segment decreased by 14.4% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009; however, results from operations improved from a loss of $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2009 to a loss of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2010.  The decline in revenues this quarter as compared to the prior year is related to softer demand for power distribution systems products in the renewable energy market primarily in Europe and the mass transit market primarily in Asia as some wind energy and railway infrastructure projects were postponed.  Conversely, the demand for power distribution systems products in the Asian renewable energy market continues to show growth.

 
24

 
 
Other Polymer Products

(Dollars in millions)
 
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 6.3     $ 5.1  
Operating loss
    (0.2 )     (2.4 )

Our Other Polymer Products reportable segment consists of elastomer rollers, floats, non-woven materials, thermal management products and flexible circuit material products.  Net sales in this segment increased by 22.6% in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the comparable prior year period and operating losses declined from a loss of $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2009 to a loss of $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2010.  These improvements are due primarily to the improved performance of our elastomer component and float products, as well as better cost controls around our thermal management systems start-up business. We continuously evaluate the viability of the product portfolio in this segment as it relates to the overall long-term strategic and operational focus of our Company.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position

We believe our strong balance sheet and our ability to generate cash from operations to reinvest in our business is one of our fundamental strengths, as demonstrated by our continued strong financial position at the end of the first quarter of 2010.  We have remained debt free since 2002 and continue to finance our operating needs through internally generated funds.  We believe over the next twelve months, internally generated funds plus available lines of credit and other sources of liquidity will be sufficient to meet the capital expenditures and ongoing financial needs of the business.  However, we continually review and evaluate the adequacy of our lending facilities and relationships to ensure that they will support the future needs of our business.

       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Key Balance Sheet Accounts:
           
  Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
  $ 42,928     $ 58,137  
  Accounts receivable
    56,500       46,179  
  Inventory
    39,379       33,826  
                 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
 
Key Cash Flow Measures:
               
  Cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations
  $ 12,590     $ (22,558 )
  Cash used in investing activities from continuing operations
    (26,622 )     (2,267 )
  Cash provided by (used) in financing activities
    380       (35 )

At March 31, 2010, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $42.9 million as compared to $58.1 million at December 31, 2009, a decline of approximately 26%.  This decline was due primarily to the cash payment of $26.0 million made for the acquisition of SK Utis during the quarter, which was financed entirely through internal funding as we did not utilize any of our credit facilities.  This decline was also partially offset by positive cash flow from operations and $8.1 million of dividends received from our joint ventures.

Significant changes in our balance sheet accounts from December 31, 2009 to March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 
o
Accounts receivable increased 22.3%, from $46.2 million at December 31, 2009 to $56.5 million at March 31, 2010 due to a combination of the increased sales in the first quarter of 2010 and the impact of SK Utis and PLS, which increased accounts receivable by $2.7 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 
o
Inventories increased $5.6 million, or 16.4%, from $33.8 million at December 31, 2009 to $39.4 million at March 31, 2010 which is primarily attributable to the increased demand and sales volumes across segments that led to higher inventory levels to meet such anticipated future demand.  Inventory levels were also increased by $1.9 million and $1.7 million due to the impact of SK Utis and PLS, respectively.

 
o
Goodwill and other intangibles at March 31, 2010 increased $23.4 million from December 31, 2009, due primarily to the preliminary valuations of the intangible assets created as a result of the purchase of SK Utis.

 
o
Accounts payable increased 55% to $14.4 million at March 31, 2010 from $9.3 million at December 31, 2009 primarily as a result of purchases related to the increased inventory levels in addition to the timing of payments.  This was combined with an increase of $1.3 million due to the purchase of SK Utis.

 
25

 

Credit Facilities

We have a Multicurrency Revolving Credit Agreement with RBS Citizens, National Association (Bank), a successor in interest to Citizens Bank of Connecticut (Credit Agreement).  On November 16, 2009, we entered into Amendment No. 5 (Amendment) to this Credit Agreement.  Pursuant to this Amendment, the total facility under the Credit Agreement was reduced from $100 million to $50 million, by eliminating the previously existing $25 million credit facility and reducing the previously existing $75 million credit facility to $50 million.   The current $50 million credit facility (Credit Facility) is available for loans or letters of credit.  It is a multi-currency facility under which we may borrow in U.S. dollars, Japanese Yen, Euros or any other currency freely convertible into U.S. dollars and t raded on a recognized interbank market.  Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, we have the right to incur additional indebtedness outside of the Credit Agreement through additional borrowings in an aggregate amount of up to $25 million.

The Credit Facility expires on November 12, 2011.  The rate of interest charged on any outstanding loans can, at our option and subject to certain restrictions, be based on the prime rate or at a rate 200 basis points over LIBOR.   Under the arrangement, the ongoing commitment fee is 30 basis points of the maximum amount that can be borrowed, net of any outstanding borrowings and the maximum amount that beneficiaries may draw under outstanding letters of credit.

There were no borrowings pursuant to the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants primarily related to total indebtedness, interest expense, and capital expenditures.  The Amendment modifies the definition of EBITDA contained in the Credit Agreement by adding back into earnings non-cash stock compensation charges and certain asset impairment charges, thereby relieving certain restraints on our ability to borrow.  We were in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

At March 31, 2010, we had the following standby letters of credit (LOC) and guarantees that were backed by the Credit Facility:
 
·
$1.0 million irrevocable standby LOC - to guarantee Rogers’ self insured workers compensation plan
 
·
$0.2 million letter guarantee – to guarantee a payable obligation for a Chinese subsidiary (Rogers Shanghai)
 
·
$0.3 million LOC – to guarantee a payable obligation for a Chinese subsidiary (Rogers Suzhou)

No amounts were owed on the LOCs as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

The volatility in the credit markets has generally diminished liquidity and capital availability in worldwide markets. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruptions in the credit and financial markets and adverse global economic conditions. However, we believe that our existing sources of liquidity and cash expected to be generated from future operations, together with existing and anticipated available long-term financing, will be sufficient to fund operations, capital expenditures, and research and development efforts for at least the next twelve months.

Auction Rate Securities

As of March 31, 2010, we held approximately $42.8 million of auction rate securities at par value as compared to approximately $43.4 million as of December 31, 2009.  At the end of 2007, these securities were classified as available-for-sale and recorded at fair value based on market valuations at that time (Level 1 input in accordance with accounting guidance).  However, in the first quarter of 2008, the markets in which these securities traded became illiquid, causing us to reclassify these securities from a Level 1 input to a Level 3 input, as an active market no longer existed for these securities, and therefore we had to base our valuations on unobservable inputs.  Accordingly, our asset value was determined considering several factors, including an estimated time horizon for redeeming such securities , a discount factor to determine the present value of such securities, as well as the quality of the underlying securities, most of which were backed by investment grade student loans or municipalities.  Our initial valuations utilized a discount period of approximately two years, which represented our best estimates of the time period over which these securities would be redeemed.  However, as 2008 progressed, we determined that, based on the market conditions at the time that the estimated time horizon for redemption of such securities would be greater than two years and, in the fourth quarter of 2008, we adjusted our assumptions for this consideration.  The total fair value of the auction rate securities at March 31, 2010, was $38.7 million.  These securities are classified as long-term assets, except for those that are scheduled to be redeemed within the next three months, which are classified as short-term investments.

The impairment described above, as of the first quarter of 2010, is classified as an other-than-temporary loss, separated into the amount representing the credit loss and the amount related to all other factors.  The amount representing the credit loss is recognized in earnings, and as long as we do not intend to sell the security or it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis, the remaining amount is recorded in other comprehensive income.  The amount recognized in earnings during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 was less than $0.1 million.  The assumptions utilized in the valuation will continue to be reviewed and, as market conditions continue to evolve and change, we will adjust our assumptions accordingly, which could result in either positive or negative valuation adjustments in the future.

 
26

 
Currently, we believe that we have the ability and intent to hold these securities until recovery.  We also do not believe that the illiquid nature of these securities will negatively impact our business, as we believe we have the ability to generate sufficient cash to fund the operations and future growth of the business absent these securities.

Contingencies

During the first quarter of 2010, we did not become aware of any new material developments related to environmental matters or other contingencies.  We have not had any material recurring costs and capital expenditures related to environmental matters.  Refer to Note 12 “Commitments and Contingencies”, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, for further discussion on ongoing environmental and contingency matters.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no significant changes outside the ordinary course of business in our contractual obligations during the first quarter of 2010.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are, in the opinion of management, likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the first quarter of 2010.

Forward-Looking Statements

This information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2009.

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.  Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “should,” “target,” “may,” “project,” “guidance,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results or performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changing business, economic, and political conditions both in the United States and in foreign countries; increasing competition; changes in product mix; the development of new products and manufacturing processes and the inherent risks associated with such efforts; the outcome of current and future litigation; the accuracy of our analysis of our potential asbestos-related exposure and insurance coverage; changes in the availability and cost of raw materials; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and any difficulties in integrating acquired businesses into our operations.  Such factors also apply to our joint ventures.  We make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statements, unless required by law. Additional information about certain factors that could cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those items described in Item 1A, Risk Factors, to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2009.


There have been no significant changes in our exposure to market risk during the first quarter of 2010.  For discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, contained in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


The Company, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as of March 31, 2010.  Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed (i) to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed,  summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and are accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 
27

 
On March 31, 2010, we acquired a 90% interest SK Utis Co., Ltd, a high performance polyurethane foam business, which is located in South Korea, for $29.1 million.  Since this acquisition occurred in March 2010, the scope of our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting does not include the acquired operations of SK Utis Co., Ltd, as permitted by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC rules for recently acquired businesses.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during its most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.



See a discussion of environmental, asbestos and other litigation matters in Note 12, “Commitments and Contingencies”, to the condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.


There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
28

 
 

List of Exhibits:

3a
Restated Articles of Organization of Rogers Corporation were filed as Exhibit 3a to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 filed on February 27, 2007*.
   
3b
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rogers Corporation, effective February 21, 2007 filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2007*.
   
4a
Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2007, between the Registrant and Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 23, 2007*.
   
4b
Certain Long-Term Debt Instruments, each representing indebtedness in an amount equal to less than 10 percent of the Registrant’s total consolidated assets, have not been filed as exhibits to this report on Form 10-Q.  The Registrant hereby undertakes to file these instruments with the Commission upon request.
   
10.1
Acquisition Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2010, by and among the Registrant, SK Chemicals Co., Ltd. and SK Utis Co., Ltd., filed herewith.
   
10.2
Second Amendment to Rogers Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan**, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2010*.
   
10.3
Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Rogers Corporation Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan For Key Employees**, filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2010*.
   
10.4
Amended and Restated Officer Special Severance Agreement by and between the Registrant and Robert D. Wachob **, filed herewith.
   
23.1
Consent of National Economic Research Associates, Inc., filed herewith.
   
23.2
Consent of Marsh U.S.A., Inc., filed herewith.
   
31(a)
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
   
31(b)
Certification of Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.
   
32
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished herewith.
   
*
In accordance with Rule 12b-23 and Rule 12b-32 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, reference is made to the documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
**
Management Contract.
   
   
 
Part II, Items 2, 3, 4, and 5 are not applicable and have been omitted.

 
29

 
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
  ROGERS CORPORATION
  (Registrant)
 


 
 
/s/  Dennis M. Loughran
 
 
 
/s/ Ronald J. Pelletier
Dennis M. Loughran
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer
 
Ronald J. Pelletier
Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

Dated:  May 4, 2010
 
 
 
30

EX-10.1 2 a6274778ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 a6274778ex10-1.htm
Exhibit 10.1



 

 






ACQUISITION AGREEMENT

by and among




Rogers Corporation,



SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., and



SK Utis Co., Ltd.


______________________________

Dated as of March 23, 2010

______________________________











 
 
 
 

ARTICLE I
     
PURCHASE AND SALE
    1  
  1.1  
Acquired Stock and Technology Assets Purchase
    1  
  1.2  
Purchase Price for Acquired Stock and Technology Assets
    2  
  1.3  
Purchase Price Adjustments
    2  
  1.4  
Closing Transactions
    4  
ARTICLE II
       
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
    7  
  2.1  
Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligations
    7  
  2.2  
Conditions to the Parent’s Obligations
    9  
ARTICLE III
       
COVENANTS PRIOR TO CLOSING
    10  
  3.1  
Affirmative Covenants of the Company and the Parent
    10  
  3.2  
Negative Covenants of the Company and the Parent
    11  
  3.3  
Covenants of Purchaser
    12  
ARTICLE IV
       
COMPANY REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    13  
  4.1  
Organization and Corporate Power
    13  
  4.2  
Authorization of Transactions
    13  
  4.3  
Capitalization
    13  
  4.4  
Subsidiaries; Investments
    14  
  4.5  
Absence of Conflicts
    14  
  4.6  
Financial Statements and Related Matters
    14  
  4.7  
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
    15  
  4.8  
Absence of Certain Developments
    15  
  4.9  
Title to Properties
    16  
  4.10  
Taxes
    17  
  4.11  
Contracts and Commitments
    18  
  4.12  
Proprietary Rights
    20  
  4.13  
Litigation; Proceedings
    21  
  4.14  
Brokerage
    21  
  4.15  
Licenses
    21  
  4.16  
Employees
    21  
  4.17  
Employee Benefit Plans
    23  
  4.18  
Insurance
    23  
  4.19  
Officers and Directors; Bank Accounts
    24  
  4.20  
Affiliate Transactions
    24  
  4.21  
Compliance with Laws
    24  
  4.22  
Export and Import Laws
    24  
  4.23  
Environmental Matters
    24  
  4.24  
Manufacturing Margins
    25  
  4.25  
Disclosure
    25  
 
 
 

 
 
ARTICLE V
       
PARENT REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    25  
  5.1  
Authorization of Transactions
    25  
  5.2  
Absence of Conflicts
    26  
  5.3  
Brokerage
    26  
  5.4  
Parent Contracts and Commitments
    27  
  5.5  
Shares
    27  
  5.6  
Ownership of Technology Assets
    27  
ARTICLE VI
       
PURCHASER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    27  
  6.1  
Organization
    27  
  6.2  
Authorization of Transaction
    27  
  6.3  
No Violation
    27  
  6.4  
Governmental Authorities and Consents
    28  
  6.5  
Litigation
    28  
  6.6  
Brokerage
    28  
  6.7  
Investment
    28  
ARTICLE VII
           
TERMINATION
        28  
  7.1  
Termination
    28  
  7.2  
Effect of Termination
    28  
ARTICLE VIII
       
INDEMNIFICATION AND RELATED MATTERS
    29  
  8.1  
Survival
    29  
  8.2  
Indemnification
    29  
ARTICLE IX
       
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
    33  
  9.1  
Certain Taxes
    33  
  9.2  
Press Releases and Announcements
    33  
  9.3  
Further Assurances
    33  
  9.4  
Specific Performance
    33  
  9.5  
Transition Assistance
    33  
  9.6  
Expenses
    33  
  9.7  
Exclusivity
    34  
  9.8  
Books and Records
    34  
  9.9  
Non-competition, Non-solicitation and Confidentiality
    34  
  9.10  
Parent Contracts and Commitments
    35  
ARTICLE X
       
MISCELLANEOUS
    36  
  10.1  
Amendment and Waiver
    36  
  10.2  
Notices
    36  
  10.3  
Binding Agreement; Assignment
    36  
 
 
- ii -

 
 
  10.4  
Severability
    37  
  10.5  
No Strict Construction
    37  
  10.6  
Captions
    37  
  10.7  
Entire Agreement
    37  
  10.8  
Counterparts
    37  
  10.9  
Governing Law
    37  
  10.10  
Parties in Interest
    37  
  10.11  
Foreign Currency Conversions
    37  
  10.12  
Dispute Resolution
    37  
  10.13  
Waiver of Sovereign Immunity
    39  
 
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
   
   
Exhibit A
Form of Shareholders Agreement
Exhibit B
Form of Yoon &Yang LLC Legal opinion
Exhibit C
Form of Barun Law Legal opinion
   
   
INDEX OF SCHEDULES
 
Schedule 1.3(a) (iii)
Calculation of Target Amount
Schedule 2.1(g)
Resignations
Schedule 2.1(j)
Certain Payables
Schedule 3.1(f)
Certain Information
Schedule 4.1
Foreign Qualifications
Schedule 4.2
Certain Proceedings
Schedule 4.5
Conflicts
Schedule 4.6
Financial Statements
Schedule 4.8
Recent Developments
Schedule 4.9(b)
Leases
Schedule 4.9(e)
Manufacturing Lines
Schedule 4.11(a)
General Contracts
Schedule 4.11(d)
Supplier Contracts
Schedule 4.11(e)
Customer Contracts
Schedule 4.12
Proprietary Rights
Schedule 4.15
Permits and Licenses
Schedule 4.16(a)
Employees
Schedule 4.16(c)
Independent Contractors
Schedule 4.16(d)
Work Permits
Schedule 4.16(f)
Loans
Schedule 4.17(a)
Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 4.18
Insurance
Schedule 4.19
Bank Accounts
Schedule 4.20
Affiliate Transactions
 
 
- iii -

 
 
Schedule 4.23
Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.24
Manufacturing Margins
Schedule 5.2
Parent Consents
Schedule 5.4
Parent Contracts
Schedule 6.6
Purchase brokers’ fees
 
 
- iv -

 
 
ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
 
THIS ACQUISITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of the 23nd day of March, 2010, by and among SK Utis Co., Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”), SK Chemicals Co., Ltd, a company organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Parent”), and Rogers Corporation, a company organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA (the “Purchaser”).  The Company, the Parent and the Purchaser are referred to herein collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party.”  Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings set forth in Annex I attached hereto.
 
W I T N E S S E T H
 
WHEREAS, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of one million six hundred thousand (1,600,000) shares of common stock, with a par value of five thousand Korean Won (KRW5,000) per share (the “Common Stock”), of which eight hundred thousand (800,000) shares are issued and outstanding;
 
WHEREAS, the Parent owns beneficially and of record all of the issued and outstanding Common Stock;
 
WHEREAS, the Parent also owns the Technology Assets, which assets are used in the Company’s operations;
 
WHEREAS, on the Closing Date the Purchaser desires to acquire from the Parent, and the Parent desires to sell to the Purchaser, ninety percent (90%) of the Common Stock owned by the Parent (the “Majority Stock”), and all of its right, title and interest in and to the Technology Assets; and
 
WHEREAS, on the second anniversary of the Closing Date the Purchaser desires to acquire from the Parent the remaining ten percent (10%) of the Common Stock owned by the Parent (the “Minority Stock”) (the Majority Stock and the Minority Stock are referred to herein collectively as the “Acquired Stock”).
 
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 
PURCHASE AND SALE
 
1.1           Acquired Stock and Technology Assets Purchase.  On and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall purchase from the Parent, and the Parent shall sell and transfer to the Purchaser, free and clear of any Encumbrances, the Majority Stock, together with all of the Parent’s right, title and interest in and to the Technology Assets. On and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall purchase from the Parent, and the Parent shall sell and transfer to the Purchaser, free and clear of any Encumbrances, the Minority Stock.
 
 
 

 
1.2           Purchase Price for Acquired Stock and Technology Assets.
 
(a)           The Parties have agreed upon the value of the Acquired Stock and the Technology Assets of twenty-nine million one hundred thirty five thousand US dollars (US$29,135,000), which amount is subject to the adjustments set forth in Section 1.3.
 
(b)           The aggregate purchase price of twenty-nine million one hundred thirty five thousand US dollars (US$29,135,000) will be allocated among the Majority Stock (the “Majority Stock Purchase Price”), the Minority Stock (the “Minority Stock Purchase Price”) (the sum of the Majority Stock Purchase Price and the Minority Stock Purchase Price is referred to herein collectively as the “Stock Purchase Price”) and the Technology Assets (the “Asset Purchase Price”) in accordance with an appraisal to be performed by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers. Notwithstanding such appraisal, if the Purchaser is required under United States generally accepted accounting principles to allocate the Purchase Price differently from such allocation, it may do so.  The Parties agree to share equally the costs and expenses of, and to cooperate fully with, such accounting firm, in connection with the performance of such appraisal. The amount of the “Initial Cash Payment” is twenty-six million forty-five thousand US dollars ($26,045,000). The sum of the Stock Purchase Price, the Asset Purchase Price, and the VAT Refund (as defined in Section 1.3(b) below) is referred to herein collectively as the “Purchase Price.”
 
(c)           The Initial Cash Payment will be paid to the Parent on the Closing Date.  The Minority Stock Purchase Price and ten percent (10%) of the Asset Purchase Price will be paid to the Parent on the second anniversary of the Closing Date.
 
(d)           On the date hereof, the Purchaser has deposited the sum of six million one hundred seventy five thousand five hundred sixty two US dollars (US6,175,562), which is the US dollar equivalent of seven billion Korean won (KRW 7,000,000,000) based upon the exchange rate on the date hereof, with Hana Bank (the “Escrow Agent”) to be held in accordance with the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement entered into on the date hereof among the Escrow Agent and the Parties (the “Escrow Agreement”).  Such sum, together with all interest earned thereon, is referred to herein as the “Deposit.”  The Parent and the Purchaser agree to equally bear the cost and expenses for the Deposit. In the event this Agreement is terminated, the Deposit will be distributed as set forth in Section 7.2.  Upon the Closing hereunder, the Deposit will be distributed to the Parent and shall be credited toward the amounts otherwise due from the Purchaser to the Parent at the Closing.
 
1.3           Purchase Price Adjustments.
 
(a)           Post-Closing Adjustments.
 
(i)        Within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date, the Purchaser and, at the Purchaser’s election, its auditors, will conduct a review of the Company’s books and records (the “Closing Review”) of the Net Core Working Capital Amount, the Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, the Cash, and the Indebtedness, in all cases as of the close of business (6:00 pm) (“Close of Business”) on the Closing Date, and will prepare and deliver to the Parent a computation of the Net Core Working Capital Amount, the Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, the Cash and the Indebtedness as of the Close of Business on the Closing Date (the “Draft Computation”). At the request of the Purchaser, the peri od for the Closing Review may be extended by an additional fifteen (15) days. The Purchaser and its auditors will give the Parent and, at the Parent’s election, its auditors, the opportunity to observe the Closing Review and will make available to the Parent and its auditors all records and work papers used in preparing the Draft Computation.  The Purchaser, its auditors, and the Company shall provide full cooperation to the Parent and its auditors, including, without limitation, making available and providing reasonable access to the premises, books and records, and employees of the Company.
 
 
- 2 -

 
(ii)        If the Parent disagrees with the computation of the Net Core Working Capital Amount, the Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, the Cash, or the Indebtedness reflected on the Draft Computation, the Parent may, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Draft Computation, which may be extended by an additional fifteen (15) days upon the request of the Parent, deliver a notice (an “Objection Notice”) to the Purchaser setting forth the Parent’s calculation of the Net Core Working Capital Amount, the Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, the Cash, or the Indebtedness, as applicable, as of the Close of Business on the Closing Date.  If the Parent fails to provide the Purchaser with an Objection No tice within thirty (30) days (or forty-five (45) days in the case of an extension) after receipt of the Draft Computation, then the Draft Computation shall be deemed final for the purposes hereof.  Should a dispute arise, the Purchaser and the Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any disagreements as to the computation of the Net Core Working Capital Amount, the Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, the Cash, or the Indebtedness, as applicable, but if they do not obtain a final resolution within thirty (30) days after the Purchaser has received the Objection Notice, the Purchaser and the Parent will jointly retain an independent accounting firm of recognized international standing (the “Firm”) to resolve any remaining disagreements.  If the Purchaser and the Parent cannot agree on such Firm within three (3) days, each shall select promptly an internationally recognized independent accounting firm, and such two firms together shall select promptly a third such firm, which third firm shall be the Firm.  The Purchaser and the Parent will direct the Firm to render a determination within fifteen (15) days of its retention and the Purchaser, the Company, the Parent and their respective agents will cooperate with the Firm during its engagement.  The Firm will consider only those items and amounts in the Draft Computation set forth in the Objection Notice which the Purchaser and the Parent are unable to resolve.  The Firm’s determination will be based on the definitions of Net Core Working Capital Amount, Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, Cash, and Indebtedness included herein.  The determination of the Firm will be conclusive and binding upon the Purchaser and the Parent.  The Purchaser and the Parent shall split equally the costs and expenses incurred to retain the Firm.
 
(iii)        The Net Core Working Capital Amount, as finally determined pursuant to this Section 1.3(a), is referred to herein as the “Actual Net Core Working Capital Amount.”  If the Actual Net Core Working Capital Amount is less than the amount determined as set forth on Schedule 1.3(a)(iii) attached hereto (the “Target Amount”), the Parent shall owe the amount of such shortfall to the Purchaser.  If, however, the Actual Net Core Working Capital amount is greater than the Target Amount, the Purchaser shall owe the Parent the amount of such excess.
 
(iv)        The Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount, as finally determined pursuant to Section 1.3(a)(ii), is referred to herein as the “Actual Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount.” If the Actual Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount is less than (-) KRW162,085,794 (for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing is a negative number), the Parent shall owe the Purchaser the amount of such shortfall.  If the Actual Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount is greater than KRW37,914,206, the Purchaser shall owe the Parent the amount of such excess.  If the Actual Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount falls between the two figures stated above (i.e., (-)KRW162,085,794 and KRW37,914,206), inclusive, no adjustment shall be made.
 
 
- 3 -

 
(v)        The Cash, as finally determined pursuant to Section 1.3(a)(ii), is referred to herein as the “Actual Cash.”  The Purchaser shall owe the Parent the amount of the Actual Cash, provided that as of the Closing Date, the Parent, in its reasonable judgment, shall have caused the Company to pay a dividend in the maximum amount allowed under applicable law without creating the Company’s cash balance to be minus immediately following the Closing Date.
 
(vi)       The Indebtedness, as finally determined pursuant to Section 1.3(a)(ii), is referred to herein as the “Actual Indebtedness.”  The Parent shall owe the Purchaser the amount of the Actual Indebtedness.
 
(vii)      The amounts owed  by one Party to another under Sections 1.3(a)(iii)-(vi) shall be netted, and either the Purchaser shall pay to the Parent, or the Parent shall pay to the Purchaser, the net amount so determined to be due, within fifteen (15) Business Days of the determination thereof.
 
(viii)     All amounts to be paid pursuant to this Section 1.3(a) shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to one or more bank accounts designated in writing by the Party or Parties entitled to receive such amounts.  All calculations of amounts due under this Section will be made as of the Close of Business on the Closing Date and any foreign currency conversions relating thereto will be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.11 hereof.
 
(b)           In addition to the adjustments described in Section 1.3(a) and the payments to be made under Section 1.3(a) (vii) and (viii), the Purchaser will pay to the Parent the amount equivalent to the Cash to be collected by the Company after the Closing Date as a refund of VAT relating to relocation expenses in moving the Company’s business from the Prior Location to the New Location, which amount is expected to be approximately the amount equivalent to ninety thousand dollars (US$90,000) and is expected to be received by the Company in May 2010 (the “VAT Refund”), within three (3) Business Days upon receipt thereof, in accordance with Section 1.3(a)(viii) above.
 
 
- 4 -

 
1.4           Closing Transactions.
 
(a)           Closing.  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at the Parent’s office in Seoul, Korea, commencing at 10:00 am, on March 31, 2010 (Korean time), subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (other than conditions with respect to actions the respective Parties will take at the Closing itself).  If the Closing does not occur on March 31, 2010, the Closing shall take place on the second Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of all condit ions to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The date and time of the Closing are herein referred to as the “Closing Date.”  Unless indicated otherwise herein, the Closing shall be deemed to occur on, and be effective as of, the Close of Business on the Closing Date.
 
(b)           Initial Closing Transactions.  Subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Parties shall simultaneously consummate the following transactions on the Closing Date:
 
(i)      the Parent shall deliver to the Purchaser a certificate of non-issuance of share certificates for all of the Majority Stock, free of all Encumbrances, together with a copy of the shareholder registry of the Company, certified by the representative director of the Company and issued as of the Closing Date;
 
(ii)      the Parent shall transfer by an appropriate instrument or instruments to the Purchaser all its right, title and interest in and to the Technology Assets, including assignments in recordable form in all jurisdictions where such Technology Assets are registered with a Governmental Authority;
 
(iii)     the Purchaser shall pay to the Parent the amount of difference between the Initial Cash Payment and the Deposit, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, and the Deposit shall be released to the Parent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement; provided, however, that if the Purchaser reasonably determines that the condition to Closing set forth in Section 2.1(a) hereof has been satisfied but in the Purchaser’s reasonable judgment there exists a breach of a representation or warranty set forth in Article IV or V hereof, the Purchaser shall deposit with the Escrow Agent an amount equal to a reasonable estimate of the Loss caused by the breached representations and warranties in question on or prior to the Closing Date (“Deposited Am ount”) in accordance with the Escrow Agreement; provided, further, that the Deposited Amount shall not be more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Purchase Price.  After the Closing, if the Parent objects to the Deposited Amount, the Purchaser and the Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any disagreements as to the amount of the Loss, but if they do not obtain a final resolution within ten (10) days thereof, the Purchaser and the Parent will jointly retain an independent accounting firm of recognized international standing (the “Accounting Firm”) to resolve any remaining disagreements.  If the Purchaser and the Parent cannot agree on such firm within three (3) days, each shall select promptly an internationally recognized independent accounting firm, and such two firms together shall select promptly a third such firm, which third firm shall be the Accounting Firm.  T he Purchaser and the Parent will direct the Accounting Firm to render a determination solely as to whether the Deposited Amount is a reasonable estimate of the Loss within fifteen (15) days of its retention and the Purchaser, the Company, the Parent and their respective agents will cooperate with the Accounting Firm during its engagement.  If the Accounting Firm determines that the  Deposited Amount is in excess of its reasonable estimate of the Loss, the Purchaser shall cause the Escrow Agent to release to the Parent such excess within three business (3) days from the Accounting Firm’s determination.  Any remaining Deposited Amount will be held by the Escrow Agent until the amount, if any, of the Loss in question is finally determined by agreement of the Parties or in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.12 hereof, after which determination the Escrow Agent shall release such Deposited Amount in accordance with a written notice of such determination duly executed by the Parent and the Purchaser or the arbitrator’s award.  In addition, the Parent may, at its sole discretion, request the arbitrator to review the reasonableness of the Purchaser’s estimation of the Loss in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.12 hereof.  In the event that the arbitrator decides that such estimation was unreasonable, then Purchaser shall pay to the Parent, as a penalty, the Parent’s costs incurred for the arbitration and any interest earned on the Deposited Amount;
 
 
- 5 -

 
(iv)     the Company, the Parent and the Purchaser, as applicable, shall deliver the opinions, certificates and other documents and instruments required to be delivered by or on behalf of such Party under Article II; and
 
(v)      the Company, the Parent and the Purchaser shall take all actions as necessary (i) to effectuate the registration of the resignations tendered by the directors and the statutory auditor of the Company referred to in Section 2.1(h), (ii) to cause the persons designated by the Purchaser to be elected as the directors and the statutory auditor of the Company at the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company to be convened on the Closing Date and registered with the competent commercial registry immediately after the Closing Date, and (iii) to cause the Company to change its name to one without “SK” at the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company on the Closing Date and to register the changed name with the competent commercial registry immedi ately after the Closing Date.
 
(c)           Subsequent Closing Transactions.  On the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Parent shall deliver to the Purchaser a certificate of non-issuance of share certificates for all of the Minority Stock, free of all Encumbrances.  Simultaneously with such delivery, the Purchaser shall pay three million ninety thousand dollars (US$ 3,090,000), representing the Minority Stock Purchase Price and ten percent (10%) of the Asset Purchase Price (collectively, the “Balance Payment”), to the Parent, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account designated by the Parent.  On the second anniversary of the Closing Date, if the Purchaser claims Loss u nder and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.2, the Purchaser and the Parent will jointly retain the Accounting Firm, and will jointly request the Accounting Firm to make a determination, within 15 days of its retention, of the reasonable amount of such Loss. The reasonable amount of such Loss so determined by the Accounting Firm will be withheld from the amount of the Balance Payment payable to the Parent by the Purchaser hereunder until finally determined by agreement of the Parties or in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.12 hereof; provided, that any Loss which are covered by the Deposited Amount under Section 1.4(b)(iii) shall not be included in such Loss to be withheld from the amount of the Balance Payment under this Section 1.4(c).  Any amount of the Balance Payment remaining after such withholding shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Parent within one (1) Business Day from the date when the Accounting Firm has rendered its determination of the amount of Loss, in th e manner set forth above.  Upon final determination by agreement of the Parties or in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.12 hereof  regarding the amount of Loss incurred by the Purchaser, the amount, if any, finally determined to be due to the Purchaser from the Parent in respect of the Loss in question shall be deducted from the amount of the Balance Payment initially withheld by the Purchaser , and any remaining amount of the Balance Payment after such deduction shall be paid immediately by the Purchaser to the Parent in the manner set forth above.  If the amount of Loss incurred, as finally determined, exceeds the amount of the Balance Payment initially withheld by the Purchaser, the Parent will immediately pay the amount of such excess to the Purchaser.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 1.4(c) shall be made subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.2.
 
 
- 6 -

 
 
ARTICLE II
 
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
 
2.1           Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligations.  The obligation of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions as of the Closing Date:
 
(a)           There shall not exist any breach or breaches of any of the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV and Article V hereof, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout Article IV and Article V (without taking into account any disclosures made by the Company or the Parent to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 3.1(g) hereof), as a result of which breach or breaches it is reasonable to conclude that the amount of the Loss resulting therefrom is more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Purchase Price (for the avoidance of doubt, should there exist a breach or representation or warranty but, taking the existence of such breach or breaches into ac count, the amount of the Loss is less than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Purchase Price, the provisions of Section 1.4(b)(iii) hereof with respect to depositing the Deposited Amount with the Escrow Agent will apply);
 
(b)           The Company and the Parent shall not have undertaken any willful or intentional breach of the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV and Article V hereof, and the Company and the Parent shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by each of them under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing;
 
(c)           All consents that are required to prevent a breach of, a default under, a termination or modification of, or any acceleration of, any obligations under any contract to which the Company is a party shall have been obtained in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser;
 
(d)           Releases of any and all Encumbrances held by third parties against property of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser, shall have been received;
 
(e)           All Government Consents that are required for the transfer of the Acquired Stock or the Technology Assets to the Purchaser and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been duly made and obtained on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired or been terminated;
 
(f)           No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any Governmental Authority or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable judgment, decree, injunction, order or ruling would prevent the performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, declare unlawful the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or cause such transactions to be rescinded or materially and adversely affect the right of the Purchaser to own, operate or control the Company, and no judgment, decree, injunction, order or ruling shall have been entered, nor shall any other legal restraint exist, which has or would have any of the foregoing effects;
 
 
- 7 -

 
(g)           Except as otherwise specified in writing by the Purchaser, all of the Company’s directors, statutory auditor and officers described in Schedule 2.1(g) attached hereto shall have duly executed and tendered their respective resignation letters;
 
(h)           The Purchaser and the Parent shall have entered into a shareholders’ agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Shareholders’ Agreement”);
 
(i)           All of the Company’s operations shall have been moved from Suwon, Gyeonggi-do (the “Prior Location”) to Ansan, Gyeonggi-do (the “New Location”), the Company shall have replaced the carbon absorbent in the air emission control device located on the Company’s premises, and all Licenses required to permit the Company to operate in the Ordinary Course of Business at the New Location shall be in place;
 
(j)           Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.1(j) attached hereto, all intercompany payables will have been discharged in full, all agreements whether written or oral between the Company and the Parent or any Affiliate of the Parent will have been terminated, and the parties to such agreements will have mutually released all claims against each other arising out of such agreements;
 
(k)          The Purchaser shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Yoon & Yang LLC, counsel to the Company and the Parent, substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;
 
(l)           In addition to the items set forth above, on or prior to the Closing, the Parent shall have delivered to the Purchaser all of the following:
 
 
(i)
a certificate in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser, dated the Closing Date, stating that the conditions specified in Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.1(b) have been satisfied, which may be waived by the Purchaser in its sole discretion;
 
(ii)        copies of all third party and governmental consents, approvals, filings, releases and terminations required in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein;
 
(iii)       certified copies of the resolutions of the Parent’s board of directors approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
 
(iv)      with respect to the Company, a copy of (i) the commercial registry extract pertaining to the Company, (ii) the business registration certificate of the Company, and (iii) original national and local tax clearance certificates of the Company ((i), (ii), and (iii) shall be current and effective as of the Close of Business on the last day before the Closing Date);
 
(v)       letters of the resignations described in Section 2.1(g) and the original certificate of the registered seal of each of the resigning directors, statutory auditor and officers;
 
(vi)      all documents and records relating to the business of the Company that are in the Parent’s possession, other than such documents and records which the Parent is required to retain by applicable law;
 
(vii)     duly executed (i) waiver of the Parent waiving the notice period to convene the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company on the Closing Date (together with the certificate of the registered seal of the Parent) and (ii) minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of the Company resolving to convene such meeting of the shareholders on the Closing Date; and
 
(viii)   such other documents or instruments as the Purchaser may reasonably request to effect the transactions contemplated hereby (provided such request is not intended to unreasonably delay the Closing).
 
 
- 8 -

 
(m)           All proceedings to be taken by the Parent in connection with the consummation of the Closing transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates, opinions, instruments and other documents required to be delivered by the Parent to effect the transactions contemplated hereby reasonably requested by the Purchaser shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchaser (provided that in making a determination of reasonable satisfaction hereunder, the Purchaser is not intending to unreasonably delay the Closing).
 
Any condition specified in this Section 2.1 may be waived by the Purchaser, but no such waiver will be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by the Purchaser.
 
2.2           Conditions to the Parent’s Obligations.  The obligation of the Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions as of the Closing Date:
 
(a)           Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout such representations and warranties;
 
(b)           The Purchaser shall have performed and complied with all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under this Agreement on or prior to the Closing;
 
(c)           All Government Consents that are required for the transfer of the Acquired Stock or the Technology Assets to the Purchaser and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby shall have been duly made and obtained on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Parent and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired or been terminated;
 
(d)           No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending before any Governmental Authority or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable judgment, decree, injunction, order or ruling would prevent the performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, declare unlawful the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or cause such transactions to be rescinded or materially and adversely affect the right of the Purchaser to own, operate or control the Company, and no judgment, decree, injunction, order or ruling shall have been entered, nor shall any other legal constraint exist, which has any of the foregoing effects;
 
(e)           The Purchaser and the Parent shall have entered into the Shareholders’ Agreement;
 
(f)           The Parent shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Barun Law, counsel to the Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto;
 
(g)           In addition to the items set forth above, on or prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have delivered to the Parent all of the following:
 
 
- 9 -

 
 
(i)
a certificate from the Purchaser in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Parent, dated the Closing Date, stating that the conditions specified in Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(b) have been satisfied or setting forth any exceptions to such conditions, which may be waived by the Parent in its sole discretion;
 
 
(ii)
certified copies of the resolutions of the Purchaser’s board of directors approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
 
 
(iii)
certificate of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts providing that the Purchaser is in good standing in such jurisdiction; and
 
 
(iv)
such other documents or instruments as the Parent may reasonably request to effect the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
Any condition specified in this Section 2.2 may be waived by the Parent, but no such waiver shall be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by the Parent.
 
ARTICLE III
 
COVENANTS PRIOR TO CLOSING
 
3.1           Affirmative Covenants of the Company and the Parent.  Prior to the Closing, unless the Purchaser otherwise agrees in writing, the Company shall, and the Parent will cause the Company to:
 
(a)          conduct its business and operations only in the Ordinary Course of Business and in accordance with all applicable law;
 
(b)          keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and all rights, franchises and Proprietary Rights relating or pertaining to its business and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its current insurance (or reinsurance) policies not to be canceled or terminated or any of the coverage to lapse;
 
(c)          use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practices to (i) carry on the Company’s business and to keep its properties intact, including its present business operations, physical facilities, working conditions and employees and its present material relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers and customers and others having business relations with it; and (ii) respond promptly to all actions, notices, requests, investigations, and the like made by any Governmental Authority, including but not limited to any patent office actions relating to any Proprietary Rights;
 
(d)          maintain the material assets of the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with current needs, replace in accordance with prudent practices its inoperable, worn out or obsolete assets (ordinary wear and tear excepted) with assets of good quality consistent with prudent practices and current needs and, in the event of a casualty, loss or damage to any of such assets or properties prior to the Closing Date, whether or not the Company is insured, either repair or replace such damaged property or resolve the matter in such other manner as mutually agreed upon by the Parent and the Purchaser;
 
(e)          maintain the books, accounts and records of the Company in accordance with past custom and practice as used in the preparation of the Financial Statements;
 
 
- 10 -

 
(f)          cooperate with the Purchaser and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions to the Purchaser’s obligation to close to be satisfied (including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of all agreements contemplated hereunder to be so executed and delivered and the making and obtaining of all material third party and governmental notices, filings, authorizations, approvals, consents, releases and terminations); and cooperate with the Purchaser in the Purchaser’s investigation of the business and properties of the Company by permitting the Purchaser and its employees, agents, accounting, legal and other authorized representatives during normal business hours, upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to: (i) have full access (except with respect to the information on Schedule 3.1(f) attached hereto, which information exists in documentary form currently in possession of the Company, which documents will be delivered to the Purchaser at the Closing, and neither the Parent nor any of its Affiliates will retain any copies of such documents following the Closing) to the premises, books and records of the Company at reasonable hours for the purpose of performing such investigation; (ii) visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company; and (iii) discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company with the respective directors, officers, partners, and independent accountants, and, subject to the prior consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), with the respective key employees, key customers, key sales representatives and key suppliers of the Company; and
 
(g)          promptly, but in any case within two (2) Business Days of discovery, give written notice to the Purchaser in writing of all matters which: (i) exist on the date of this Agreement and should have been included on the Schedules under the terms of this Agreement but were not previously included in the Schedules (a “Schedule Correction”); or (ii) have occurred from and after the date of this Agreement and which, if existing on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be described in the Schedules (an “Update”).  At the Closing, the Parent shall deliver to the Purchaser an amendment and restatement of the Schedules which include all Updates up to and including the Closing Date (as so updated, the “Updated Schedules”) and which clearly indicates the differences between the Schedules and the Updated Schedules.  If requested by the Purchaser prior to the Closing, representatives of the Parent and the Company shall meet and discuss with the Purchaser prior to the Closing any Update which is, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser, adverse in any manner to the Company.  The delivery of any Schedule Correction pursuant to this Section 3.1(g) shall not cure any breach of any representation or warranty made as of the date of this Agreement or otherwise limit or affect in any way the remedies available hereunder to any Party.  Also, the delivery of the Updated Schedules shall not be taken into account for the purpose of determining the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1(a) and (b) o f this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, any matter disclosed in the Updated Schedules as set forth above shall not be the basis of a claim for a breach of the representations and warranties hereunder.
 
3.2           Negative Covenants of the Company and the Parent.  Prior to the Closing, unless the Purchaser otherwise agrees in writing, the Company shall not, and the Parent shall cause the Company not to:
 
(a)           take any action that would require disclosure under Section 4.8;
 
(b)           make any loans or enter into any transaction with any Insider other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(c)           except as required pursuant to Employee Plans and applicable labor laws in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (i) enter into any commitment to provide any severance or termination pay to (or amend any existing agreement relating to such severance or termination pay with) any current or former director, officer, employer or employee of the Company, (ii) establish, adopt, increase or amend any collective bargaining, bonus, insurance, severance, termination, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including any grant of stock appreciation rights, performance awards, phantom units, restricted stock awards of other equity-based awards), stock purchase or other employee benefit plans or any Employee Plan or any plan, agreement, progr am, policy, trust, fund or other arrangement that would be an Employee Plan if it were in existence as of the date of this Agreement, (iii) enter into any new employment or other similar agreement (or amend any such existing agreement) with any director, officer, or employee of the Company, (iv) establish or increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former director, officer, or employee of the Company, (v) enter into any commitment to provide any transaction bonus, spot bonus, tax gross-up or other similar payment or benefit, or (vi) except in accordance with past practices, contribute to any pension, retirement, profit sharing or stock bonus plan or multiemployer plan covering the employees of the Company;
 
 
- 11 -

 
(d)           except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, enter into any material contract, agreement or transaction, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business and at arm’s length with unaffiliated Persons;
 
(e)           effectuate any transactions involving the Company’s capital stock or equity securities other than the payment of dividends;
 
(f)           sell, transfer, contribute, distribute, or otherwise dispose of any securities or assets of the Company to any Person, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(g)           incur any Indebtedness;
 
(h)           delay the Closing without reasonable cause; and
 
(i)           agree to do any of the foregoing, or negotiate or have any discussions with any Person with respect to any of the foregoing, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business.
 
3.3           Covenants of Purchaser.  On or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall:
 
(a)               promptly (once it obtains knowledge thereof) inform the Parent in writing of any variances from the representations and warranties contained in Article VI or any breach of any covenant hereunder by the Purchaser;
 
(b)               not delay the Closing without reasonable cause; and
 
(c)               cooperate with the Parent and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions to each Parent obligation to close to be satisfied (including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of all Transaction Documents other than this Agreement to be so executed and delivered and the making and obtaining of all material third party and governmental filings, authorizations, approvals, consents, releases and terminations).
 
ARTICLE IV
 
COMPANY REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into and consummate this Agreement, the Parent hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are true and correct on the date of this Agreement and, taking into account any disclosures made in the Updated Schedules, shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date:
 
 
- 12 -

 
4.1           Organization and Corporate Power.  The Company is an entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its state or country of organization.  The jurisdiction of organization of the Company and all jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business are set forth on Schedule 4.1 attached hereto.  The Company has full power and authority and all licenses, permits and authorizations necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted.  Correct and complete copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws (or comparable organiz ational documents) have been furnished to the Purchaser, which documents reflect all amendments made thereto at any time prior to the date of this Agreement.  Correct and complete copies of the minute books containing the records of meetings of the stockholders and board of directors, and the shareholders’ registry of the Company have been furnished to the Purchaser.  The Company is not in default under or in violation of any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents).
 
4.2           Authorization of Transactions.  The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Board of Directors of the Company has duly approved the Transaction Documents and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2 attached hereto, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to approve and authorize the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and t he consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  All of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, subject to the valid execution and delivery thereof by the other Parties thereto, will constitute the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.
 
4.3           Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 800,000 shares are issued and outstanding.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized, validly issued, and fully paid, and are non-assessable, and are held of record and beneficially by the Parent and are not subject to, nor were they issued in violation of, any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal, and are owned of record and beneficially by the Parent free and clear of all Encumbrances.  There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, contracts, calls, puts, rights to subs cribe, conversion rights or other agreements or commitments to which the Company is a party or which are binding upon the Company providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of any of its capital stock (other than this Agreement).  There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, restricted stock or units, or similar rights with respect to the Company.  There are no voting trusts, proxies or any other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the capital stock of the Company.  The Company is not subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its capital stock.
 
4.4           Subsidiaries; Investments.  The Company does not own or hold any shares of stock or any other security or interest in any other Person or any rights to acquire any such stock or other security or interest.
 
 
- 13 -

 
4.5           Absence of Conflicts.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5 attached hereto, the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Company will not (i) violate any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) of the Company; (ii) violate any material provision of, require consent under, or result in the breach or acceleration or termination of, or entitle any party to modify, accelerate or terminate (whether after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both), any material obligation under, any indenture, mortgage, lease, loan agreement, License, instrument or other agreement, or any order, arbitration award, judgment, or decree, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon the Acquired Stock, the Technology Assets or the assets of the Company; (iv) require any authorization, consent, approval, or other action from, or notice or declaration to or filing with, any Governmental Authority by the Company; or (v) violate or conflict with any other material restriction or any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject.
 
4.6           Financial Statements and Related Matters. Attached hereto as Schedule 4.6 are copies of the Company’s (i) unaudited balance sheet as of February 28, 2010 (the “Latest Balance Sheet”) and the related statements of income and cash flows for the two (2) month period then ended; and (ii) audited balance sheets and statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Each of the foregoing financial statements (including in all cases the notes thereto, if any) (collectively the “Financial Statements”) is accurate and complete, is consistent with the Company’s books and records (which, in turn, are accurate and complete and maintained in accordance with GAAP), presents fairly the Company’s financial condition and results of operations as of the times and for the periods referred to therein, and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject in the case of unaudited financial statements to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments for recurring accruals (which shall not be material individually or in the aggregate) and to footnote disclosure.  Except as separately identified in Schedule 4.6, there are no special or nonrecurring items of income or expense during the periods covered by the Financial Statements.  The accounts and notes receivable of the Company reflected on the Latest  Balance Sheet: (i) arose from bona fide sales transactions in the ordinary course of business and are payable on ordinary trade terms, (ii) are legal, valid and binding obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and by general equitable principles, (iii) are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim except to the extent set forth in the Latest Balance Sheet, (iv) do not represent obligations for goods sold on consignment, on approval or on a sale-or-return basis or subject to any other repurchase or return arrangement, (v) are collectible in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in the aggregate recorded amounts thereof, net of any applicable reserve reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet, and  (vi) are not the subject of any actions or proceedings brought by or on  behalf of the Company.  The transactions of the Compan y are executed with management’s authorization, are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization, and the recorded accountability for its assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
 
4.7           Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.  To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has no obligations or liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise, whether due or to become due and regardless of when asserted) arising out of transactions entered into at or prior to the Closing, or any action or inaction at or prior to the Closing, or any state of facts existing at or prior to the Closing, except: (i) obligations under contracts or commitments identified on Schedule 4.11(a), Schedule 4.11(d) or Schedule 4.11(e) attached hereto or under contracts and commitments which are not required to be disclosed thereon (other than obligations or liabilities for breaches thereof); (ii) liabilities reflected on the Latest Balance Sheet; and (iii) liabilities which have arisen after the date of the Latest Balance Sheet and which are of a nature, type, and amount previously incurred by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business or which otherwise arose in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
 
- 14 -

 
4.8           Absence of Certain Developments.  Except as set forth on  Schedule 4.8 attached hereto and except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2009, the Company has not:
 
(a)           suffered any change that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or suffered any theft, damage, destruction or casualty loss in excess of sixty-five million won (KRW65,000,000) to its assets, whether or not covered by insurance, or suffered any substantial destruction of its books and records;
 
(b)           redeemed or repurchased, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other equity security;
 
(c)           issued, sold or transferred any equity securities, any securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into shares of its capital stock or other equity securities, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of its capital stock or other equity securities;
 
(d)           incurred or become subject to any liabilities in excess of sixty-five million won (KRW65,000,000), except liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(e)           subjected any portion of its properties or assets to any Encumbrance, except Encumbrances incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(f)           sold, leased, assigned or transferred (including, without limitation, transfers to the Parent or any Insider) any portion of its tangible assets in excess of sixty-five million won (KRW65,000,000) (other than inventory sold in the Ordinary Course of Business), or canceled without fair consideration any material debts or claims owing to or held by it;
 
(g)           sold, assigned, licensed or transferred (including, without limitation, transfers to the Parent or any Insider) any Proprietary Rights owned by, issued to or licensed to the Company or disclosed any Confidential Information (other than pursuant to agreements requiring the recipient to maintain the confidentiality of and preserving all rights of the Company in such Confidential Information) or received any Confidential Information of any third party in violation of any obligation of confidentiality;
 
(h)           suffered any extraordinary losses or waived any rights of material value;
 
(i)           incurred any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness to finance its working capital needs incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business);
 
(j)           entered into, amended or terminated any material lease, contract, agreement or commitment, or taken any other action or entered into any other transaction other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(k)           entered into any other material transaction, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, or materially changed any business practice;
 
 
- 15 -

 
(l)           made or granted any bonus or any wage, salary or compensation increase to any director, officer, employee or sales representative, group of employees or consultants or made or granted any increase in any employee benefit plan or arrangement, in each case other than in the Ordinary Course of Business; granted any severance or termination pay to (or amended any existing arrangement for such severance or termination pay with) any director, officer or employee; entered into any employment agreement (or amended any existing employment agreement) with any director, officer or employee; or amended or terminated any existing employee benefit plan or arrangement or adopted any new employee benefit plan or arrangement;
 
(m)           made any other change in employment terms for any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(n)           incurred intercompany charges or conducted its cash management customs and practices other than in the Ordinary Course of Business (including, without limitation, with respect to collection of accounts receivable, purchases of inventory and supplies, repairs and maintenance, and payment of accounts payable and accrued expenses);
 
(o)           made any capital expenditures or commitments for capital expenditures that aggregate in excess of one hundred million Won (KRW100,000,000);
 
(p)           made any loans or advances to, or guarantees for the benefit of, any Person other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
(q)           made any charitable contributions or pledges that aggregate in excess of one hundred million Won (KRW100,000,000);
 
(r)           changed (or authorized any change in) its Articles of Incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents);
 
(s)           made or changed any material Tax election, adopted or changed any material Tax accounting method, amended any Tax Return, or settled or compromised any material Tax liability;
 
(t)           changed any accounting principle, method or practice;
 
(u)           suffered any loss of employees which might reasonably be considered to materially affect the Company’s operations; or
 
(v)           agreed or committed to do any of the foregoing.
 
4.9           Title to Properties.
 
(a)           Owned Properties.  The Company does not own any real property.
 
(b)           Leased Properties.  The leases and subleases described on Schedule 4.9(b) attached hereto constitute all of the leases and subleases under which the Company holds leasehold or subleasehold interests in real property.  The real property leases and subleases described on Schedule 4.9(b) are valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect and have not been modified (except to the extent disclosed in the documents delivered to the Purchaser), and the Company holds a valid and existing leasehold interest under such leases or subleases to which it is a party for the term set forth on Schedule 4.9(b).  The Company has delivered to the Purchaser complete and accurate copies of each of the leases or subleases described on Schedule 4.9(b).  With respect to each lease and sublease listed on Schedule 4.9(b):
 
 
- 16 -

 
 
(i)
the lease or sublease shall continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect on identical terms immediately following the Closing;
 
 
(ii)
neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party to the lease or sublease is in breach or default, and no event has occurred with respect to the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, with respect to any other party to the lease or sublease, which, with notice or lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default or permit termination, modification or acceleration under the lease or sublease;
 
 
(iii)
no party to the lease or sublease has repudiated any provision thereof and there are no disputes, oral agreements or forbearance programs in effect as to the lease or sublease; and
 
 
(iv)
the Company has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any interest in the leasehold or subleasehold.
 
(c)           The real property described on Schedule 4.9(b) constitutes all of the real property used or occupied by the Company.
 
(d)           The Company owns good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, free and clear of all Encumbrances, all of the personal property and assets which are shown on the Latest Balance Sheet or acquired thereafter or which it otherwise purports to own, or which are used by the Company.
 
(e)           The buildings, machinery, equipment, personal properties, vehicles and other tangible assets of the Company purported to be owned or used in connection with the real property leased or subleased by it have been operated and are currently being operated in conformity with all applicable laws and regulations, are in reasonably good condition and repair, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and are being used and are usable in the Ordinary Course of Business. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Schedule 4.9(e) attached hereto identifies the manufacturing lines which have been installed at the New Location.  All such manufacturing lines are currently producing produc ts of a quality and at speeds and rates, with labor requirements and scrap rates, substantially similar to the manufacturing lines at the Prior Location.  The Company owns or leases under valid leases all buildings, machinery, equipment and other tangible assets necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as conducted on the date hereof.
 
4.10           Taxes.
 
(a)           The Company has timely filed all Tax Returns which are required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate in all respects and have been prepared in compliance with applicable law;
 
(b)           all Taxes due and payable by the Company, whether or not shown on a Tax Return, have been paid by the Company and no Taxes are delinquent;
 
(c)           the amount stated as set side as reserves for Taxes on the Latest Balance Sheet is sufficient to pay in full all Taxes for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, whether or not such Taxes are due on or before such date and, since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, the Company has not incurred any liability for Taxes other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
 
 
- 17 -

 
(d)           no deficiency for any amount of Tax which has not been resolved has been asserted or assessed by a taxing authority against the Company, and neither the Company nor the Parent has Knowledge that any such assessment or asserted Tax liability shall be made;
 
(e)           there is no action, suit, taxing authority proceeding or audit now in progress, pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or with respect to the Company;
 
(f)           the Company has not (i) waived any statute of limitations, (ii) agreed to any extension of the period for assessment or collection or (iii) executed or filed any power of attorney, in each case with respect to any Taxes which waiver, agreement or power of attorney is currently in force;
 
(g)           the Company has no liability for Taxes of any Person other than the Company, whether by reason of a contractual undertaking, any  provision of local, state or foreign Tax law, or otherwise;
 
(h)           the Company is not a party to or bound by any Tax allocation, sharing, indemnity or similar agreement or arrangement with any Person and the Company has no current or potential contractual obligation to indemnify any other Person with respect to Taxes; and
 
(i)           the Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor or other third party.
 
4.11           Contracts and Commitments.
 
(a)           Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11(a), Schedule 4.11(d), or Schedule 4.11(e) attached hereto, the Company is not currently a party to or bound by, whether written or, except set forth below, oral, any
 
 
(i)
policy, practice, plan or program of paying severance pay or any form of severance compensation in connection with the termination of employment;
 
 
(ii)
any contract for the employment of any officer or individual employee, including any non-competition or confidentiality agreements, or any severance agreements, in each case that is not terminable or amendable by the Company at will;
 
 
(iii)
agreement or indenture relating to the borrowing of money or to mortgaging, pledging or otherwise placing a Encumbrance on any of its assets;
 
 
(iv)
agreements with respect to the lending or investing of funds;
 
 
(v)
license or royalty agreements;
 
 
(vi)
guaranty of any obligation, other than endorsements made for collection;
 
 
- 18 -

 
 
(vii)
lease or agreement under which it is lessor of or permits any third party to hold or operate any property, real or personal, owned or controlled by it (other than leases of equipment in the Ordinary Course of Business);
 
 
(viii)
written contract or group of related written contracts with the same party continuing over a period of more than six months from the date or dates thereof, not terminable by it on 30 days or less notice without penalties or involving more than one hundred million Won (KRW100,000,000);
 
 
(ix)
contract which prohibits it from freely engaging in business anywhere in the world; or
 
 
(x)
contract under which all or a material portion of its manufacturing process has been outsourced to a third party;
 
 
(xi)
sales agency or distributorship agreements or arrangements for the sale of any of its products;
 
 
(xii)
joint venture, partnership, or similar contracts involving a sharing of profits or expenses;
 
 
(xiii)
powers of attorney, except routine powers of attorney relating to representations before Governmental Authorities or given in connection with qualification to conduct business in another jurisdiction;
 
 
(xiv)
written contract upon which its business is substantially dependent, such as a continuing contract to sell a material amount of its products or to purchase a material amount of its requirements of goods, services or raw materials; or
 
 
(xv)
other agreement not of the type listed above that is material to the Company, whether or not entered into the Ordinary Course of Business.
 
(b)           (i) No contract or commitment required to be disclosed on Schedule 4.11(a), Schedule 4.11(d), or Schedule 4.11(e) has been breached or cancelled by the other party, and the Company has not received any notice that there exists anticipated breach by any other party to any contract required to be set forth on any of such schedules; (ii) the Company is not in default under or in breach of any contract or commitment required to be disclosed on Schedule 4.11(a), Schedule 4.11(d), or Schedule 4.11(e), and no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would result in a default or breach thereunder by the Company; (iii) the Company has no present expectation or intention of not fully performing any obligation under any contract required to be set forth on Schedule 4.11(a), Schedule 4.11(d), or Schedule 4.11(e); and (iv) each agreement required to be set forth on Schedule 4.11(a),  Schedule 4.11(d), or Schedule 4.11(e)  is a valid and binding obligation of the Company.
 
(c)           The Company has provided the Purchaser with a true and correct copy of all written contracts which are required to be disclosed on Schedule 4.11(a), in each case together with all amendments, waivers or other changes thereto.  With respect to written contracts required to be disclosed on either Schedule 4.11(d) or Schedule 4.11(e), the Company has provided the Purchaser with a true and correct copy of all such written contracts, having deleted therefrom the names and other identifying information of the counterparties to such contracts.  Upon signing of th is Agreement, the Company will promptly provide the Purchaser with such names and other identifying information.
 
 
- 19 -

 
(d)           Schedule 4.11(d) attached hereto lists (but does not identify by name) all suppliers from which the Company ordered raw materials, supplies, merchandise and other goods and services during 2007, 2008 and 2009, showing for each such year the aggregate amount purchased from each such supplier during each such twelve-month period, indicates with an asterisk (*) whether a written contract exists with each such supplier, and further indicates with a double asterisk (**) those suppliers which are sole-source suppliers. Neither the Company nor the Parent has received any notice that there has been any material adverse change in the price of such raw materials, supplies, merchandise or other goods or services, or that any such supplier will not sell raw materials, supplies, merchandise and other goods to the Company at any time after the Closing Date on terms and conditions similar to those used in its current sales to the Company.  There exists no Knowledge of the Company that any supplier of the Company described above has otherwise threatened to take any action described in the preceding sentence as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. There are no existing unresolved disputes between the Company and any its suppliers, and except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 4.11(d) attached hereto, there have been no such disputes during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the Latest Balance Sheet Date, and to the Knowledge of each of the Company and the Parent, there exists no basis for such a dispute. .
 
(e)           Schedule 4.11(e) attached hereto lists (but does not identify by name) all customers to which the Company sold products during 2007, 2008, and 2009, showing for each such year the aggregate amount purchased by each such customer during each such twelve-month period, and indicates with an asterisk (*) whether a written contract exists with each such customer. Neither the Company nor the Parent has received any notice that any such customer intends in the future to stop entirely the purchase of, decrease in a material amount, or materially change the mix of products purchased from the Company as compared with the sales during such twelve-month period, or otherwise renegotiate its current arrangement with the Company.  Neither the Company nor the Parent has Knowledge that any customer of the Company described above has otherwise threatened to take any action described in the preceding sentence as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  There are no existing unresolved disputes between the Company and any of its customers, and except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 4.11(e) attached hereto, there have been no such disputes during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the Latest Balance Sheet Date, and to the Knowledge of each of the Company and the Parent, there exists no basis for such a dispute.
 
4.12           Proprietary Rights.
 
(a)           Schedule 4.12 attached hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of: (i) all patented, registered or applied for Proprietary Rights owned or used (currently or historically) by the Company; (ii) all trade names, unregistered trademarks and material unregistered copyrights owned or used (currently or historically) by the Company; and (iii) all licenses or other agreements to which the Company is a party, either as licensee or licensor, for any Proprietary Rights.
 
(b)           Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12:  (i) the Company owns, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and possesses without restriction as to use, all right, title and interest in and to the Proprietary Rights that are used or held for use by the Company in connection with, necessary for the operation of, or otherwise material to, the Company’s business; (ii) the Company has not received within the past two years from the date hereof any notices of invalidity, infringement or misappropriation from any third party with respect to any such Proprietary Rights; (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise come into confli ct with any Proprietary Rights of any third parties; and (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no third party is currently interfering with, infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise coming into conflict with any Proprietary Rights of the Company.
 
 
- 20 -

 
(c)           To the Knowledge of the Company, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will have no material adverse effect on the Company’s right, title and interest in and to any of its Proprietary Rights.  The Company has taken all necessary actions to maintain and protect its Proprietary Rights and shall continue to maintain and protect those rights prior to the Closing so as to not adversely affect the validity or enforcement of such Proprietary Rights.
 
4.13           Litigation; Proceedings.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, orders, judgments, decrees or investigations pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened either against or by the Company at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, and there exist no unresolved claims made either against or by the Company or with respect to any of the Company’s assets.  The Company is not subject to any outstanding order, judgment or decree issued by any Governmental Authority or any arbitrator.
 
4.14           Brokerage.  There are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Company.
 
4.15           Licenses.  Schedule 4.15 attached hereto contains a complete listing and summary description of all Licenses held or possessed by the Company or used by the Company in the conduct of its businesses.  Except as indicated on Schedule 4.15, the Company validly holds or possesses all Licenses which are required to conduct its business as presently conducted and pursuant to all applicable laws.  All such Licenses are in full force and effect, and no loss, lapse, suspension or expiration of any License is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, t hreatened (including, without limitation, as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby) other than expiration in accordance with the terms thereof.  No past or existing violations of law will result in any material adverse modification or revocation of any License of the Company.
 
4.16           Employees.
 
(a)           Schedule 4.16(a) attached hereto contains a complete and correct list of all employees (including individuals employed on a fixed-term (gaeyakjik) basis) of the Company, including job title and compensation (base salary, incentive and commissions), as of the date of this Agreement (together with all employees hired after the date hereof, the “Employees”). The Employees’ contracts and relationships with the Company have been made and are conducted in accordance with applicable law, including the Korean Labor Standards Act. None of the Company’s or the Parent 217;s actions toward, or relationship with, the individuals employed on a fixed-term (gaeyakjik) basis could reasonably be viewed as creating a regular employment relationship under the Korean Labor Standards Act.
 
(b)           The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement or similar relationship with any labor organization.  To the Knowledge of the Company, no executive employee and no group of employees (including employees employed on a fixed-term (gaeyakjik) basis) of the Company has any plans to terminate his, her or its employment or relationship with the Company.  Within the past three (3) years, the Company has not experienced any strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, grievances, unfair labor practices claims or other employee or labor disputes, and none of the foregoing have been threatened.  No grievances are outstanding against the Company under any collective bargaining agree ment or similar arrangement. The Company has not engaged in any unfair labor practice, and there are no unfair labor practice complaints pending against the Company before any Governmental Authority. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no organizational effort presently being made to establish any labor union with respect to employees of the Company.
 
 
- 21 -

 
(c)           Schedule 4.16(c) attached hereto contains a complete and correct list of all the individuals engaged by the Company  who are providing services for compensation in excess of KRW 500,000 per month (including, without limitation, services as consultants, financial planners and freelancers) to the Company as of the date of this Agreement on a self-employed basis or are supplied by an agency (together with all individuals so engaged or so supplied after the date hereof, each, an “Independent Contractor”).  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16(c), t he Independent Contractors’ contracts and relationships with the Company have been made and are conducted in accordance with applicable law. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.16(b)(ii) attached hereto, none of the Company’s actions toward, or relationship with, such Independent Contractors could reasonably be viewed as creating an employment relationship under the Korean Labor Standards Act.
 
(d)           Schedule 4.16(d) attached hereto contains a list of all employees of the Company who hold a temporary work authorization or visa (“Work Permits”), setting forth the name of such employees, the type of Work Permit, and the length of time remaining on such Work Permit.
 
(e)           The Company is, and since its inception has been, in material compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to employment, termination of employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and the payment of wages and benefits (including the maintenance of employment agreements and work rules), social security, including all such applicable laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, prohibited discrimination or distinction and other similar employment activities. The Company has not been subject to an audit, investigation, claim, fine, penalty, or other administrative proceeding in connection with any such laws, and there exists no dispute with any Employee, Independent Contractor, or former employe e or independent contractor of the Company.  There are no conciliation agreements, arbitration decisions, consent decrees, orders, judgments, citations, administrative proceedings, formal complaints or investigations, or material violations of any Applicable Law pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened before the Korean labor courts or any other agencies (including Ministry of Labor and labor commissions) or courts against or involving the Company or its officers.
 
(f)           Schedule 4.16(f) attached hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of all loans made by the Company to any of its Employees or Independent Contractors, including the name of the debtor, principal amount of the loan when issued, principal amount outstanding, interest rate, and maturity thereof, and description of any security interest or collateral securing the repayment of such loan. Each such loan was made, and has been maintained and administered, by the Company in accordance with applicable law.
 
4.17           Employee Benefit Plans.
 
(a)           Schedule 4.17(a) attached hereto contains a list identifying each plan or arrangement (whether or not written) providing for bonuses, profit-sharing, stock option or other stock related rights or other forms of incentive or deferred compensation, vacation benefits, insurance (including any self-insured arrangements), health or medical benefits, employee assistance, disability or sick leave benefits, workers’ compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits, severance benefits or post-employment or retirement benefits which covers any current officer, director, Employee or Independent Contractor of the Company (or their beneficiaries or dependents), or any former such person who is currently receiv ing, or entitled to receive in the future, such benefits, or with respect to which the Company could incur liability (“Employee Plans”).  Copies of such plans (and, if applicable, related trust or funding arrangements or insurance policies and all amendments thereto) have been furnished to the Purchaser. Schedule 4.17(a) identifies with an asterisk (*) any Employee Plans which the Parent or the Affiliates of the Parent will not provide after the Closing Date.
 
 
- 22 -

 
(b)           Each Employee Plan has been created, operated and administered in accordance with its terms and applicable law, and there are no existing circumstances or any events that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the legal status of any such plan. 
 
(c)           (i)           There are no claims pending or threatened with respect to any of the Employee Plans by any Employee or Independent Contractor or otherwise involving any such plan or the assets of such plan (other than routine claims for benefits).  There is no action, suit, investigation, audit or proceeding pending or threatened under or with respect to any Employee Plan before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority.
 
(ii)           All contributions or other amounts payable by the Company with respect to each Employee Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid.
 
(d)           The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, either alone or in combination with another event: (i) entitle any Employee, Independent Contractor, or current or former employee, independent contractor, officer or director of the Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) result in any payment becoming due, accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such Employee, Independent Contractor, officer or director; or (iii) result in any forgiveness of indebtedness, trigger any funding obligation under any Employee Plan or impose any restrictions or limitations on the Company’s rights to administer, amend or terminate any Employee Plan.
 
4.18           Insurance.  Schedule 4.18 attached hereto lists and briefly describes each insurance policy maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to the Company’s properties, assets and business, together with a claims history for the past five (5) years.  Schedule 4.18 identifies with an asterisk (*) any such insurance policy maintained by the Parent or another Affiliate of the Company on behalf of the Company.  All of such insurance policies are in full force and effect, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates is in defaul t with respect to its obligations under any such insurance policies, and the Company has not been denied insurance coverage. Neither the Company, nor the Parent with respect to the Company, has received any notice of cancellation, or modification in coverage amounts or non-renewal of any such policy, nor has the termination of any such policies been threatened, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there exists no event, occurrence, condition or act (including the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) that, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition, would reasonably be expected to entitle any insurer to terminate or cancel any such policies.  Schedule 4.18 also sets forth a list of all pending insurance claims and the claims history for the Company during the past five (5) years (including with respect to insurance obtained but not currently maintained).  Except as s et forth on Schedule 4.18, the Company has no self-insurance or co-insurance programs.
 
4.19           Officers and Directors; Bank Accounts.  Schedule 4.19 attached hereto lists all officers and directors of the Company, and all bank accounts, safety deposit boxes and lock boxes (designating each authorized signatory with respect thereto) for the Company.
 
 
- 23 -

 
4.20           Affiliate Transactions.  Schedule 4.20 attached hereto identifies all services provided by the Parent or any Affiliates of the Parent to the Company during the last twelve (12) months, and provides a reasonable estimate of the cost of such services charged by the Parent to the Company.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.20 attached hereto, no Insider is a party to any agreement, contract, commitment or transaction currently in effect with the Company.  No Insider is a party to any agreement, contract, commitment or transaction, other than those e ntered into on an arms-length basis, pertaining to the business of the Company or has any interest in any property, real or personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining to the business of the Company that was not entered into on an arm’s length basis.
 
4.21           Compliance with Laws.  The Company and its officers, directors, Employees and, to the Knowledge of the Company, Independent Contractors have complied with and are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances of any Governmental Authority which are applicable to the business, business practices (including, but not limited to, the Company’s marketing and sales of its respective products and services) or any owned or leased properties of the Company and to which the Company may be subject, no claims have been filed against the Company alleging a violation of any such laws or regulations, and the Company has not received notice of any such violations.  No Pers on has offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment, directly or indirectly, of anything of value to any official of a Governmental Authority for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business for the Company.
 
4.22           Export and Import Laws.  The Company:
 
(a)            is in compliance with all currently applicable Export and Import Laws, and there are no claims, complaints, charges, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company or the Parent, reasonably expected or threatened between the Company and any Governmental Authority under any Export and Import Laws;
 
(b)           has complied and has prepared and timely applied for all import and export Licenses required under Export and Import Laws for the conduct of the Company’s current business; and
 
(c)           has made available to the Purchaser true and complete copies of issued and pending import and export Licenses.
 
4.23           Environmental Matters.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.23 attached hereto:
 
(a)           The Company has been in compliance with and is currently in compliance with all Environmental and Safety Requirements, and the Company has received no notice, report or information regarding any liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) or any corrective, investigatory or remedial obligations arising under Environmental and Safety Requirements which relate to the Company or to any of its properties or facilities;
 
(b)           Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company has obtained and complied with, and is currently in compliance with, all Licenses required under any Environmental and Safety Requirements for the occupancy of its respective properties or facilities or the operation of its business, and a list of all such Licenses is set forth on Schedule 4.23;
 
(c)           The other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not impose any obligations on the Company for site investigation or for cleanup, or notification to or consent of any government agencies or third parties under any Environmental and Safety Requirements (including, without limitation, any so called “transaction-triggered” or “responsible property transfer” laws and regulations);
 
 
- 24 -

 
(d)           None of the following exists at any property or facility owned, occupied or operated by the Company: (i) underground storage tanks or surface impoundments; (ii) asbestos-containing material in any form or condition; (iii) materials or equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls; or (iv) landfills;
 
(e)           The Company has not treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported, handled or Released any substance (including, without limitation, any hazardous substance) or owned, occupied or operated any facility or property, so as to give rise to liabilities of the Company for response costs, natural resource damages or attorneys’ fees under any Environmental and Safety Requirements;
 
(f)           The Company has not, either expressly or by operation of law, assumed or undertaken any liability or corrective investigatory or remedial obligation of any other Person relating to any Environmental and Safety Requirements; and
 
(g)           No Environmental Lien has attached to any property owned, leased or operated by the Company.
 
4.24           Manufacturing Margins.  Schedule 4.24 attached hereto shows for each of 2007, 2008, and 2009 raw materials calculated as a percentage of revenues.  With respect to 2007 and 2008 such percentage is an aggregate for each year, and with respect to 2009 such percentages are shown on a monthly basis.
 
4.25           Disclosure.  Neither this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, nor any of the Schedules, Attachments or Exhibits hereto, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make each statement contained herein or therein, not misleading.
 
ARTICLE V
 
PARENT REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
As a material inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, the Parent represents and warrants to the Purchaser that the following representations and warranties are true and correct on the date of this Agreement and, taking into account any disclosures made in the Updated Schedules, shall be true and correct on the Closing Date:
 
5.1           Authorization of Transactions.  The Parent is validly existing under the laws of the state or country of its organization, and has full power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Parent has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Board of Directors of the Parent has duly approved the Transaction Documents and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  No other corpor ate proceedings on the part of the Parent are necessary to approve and authorize the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  All of the Transaction Documents to which the Parent is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Parent and, subject to the valid execution and delivery thereof by the other Parties thereto, constitute the valid and binding agreements of the Parent, enforceable against the Parent in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.
 
 
- 25 -

 
5.2           Absence of Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby by the Parent do not and will not (i) violate any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) of the Parent; (ii) violate any material provision of, or result in the breach or acceleration or termination of, or entitle any party to modify, accelerate or terminate (whether after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both), any material obligation under, any indenture, mortgage, lease, loan agreement, License, instrument or other agreement, or any order, arbitration award, judgment, or decree, to which the Parent is a party or by which it is bound; (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance upon the Acquired Stock, the Technology Assets, or any other assets of the Parent; (iv) except as set forth on Schedule 5.2 attached hereto, require any authorization, consent, approval, or other action from, or notice or declaration to or filing with, any Governmental Authority by the Parent; or (v) violate or conflict with any other material restriction or any law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Parent is subject.
 
5.3           Brokerage.  There are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Parent.
 
5.4           Parent Contracts and Commitments.  Schedule 5.4 attached hereto sets forth a complete and correct list of all contracts and commitments to which the Parent is a party and which benefit, directly or indirectly, the Company, including specifically all contracts with the Previous Shareholders.  No contract or commitment required to be disclosed on Schedule 5.4 has been amended or modified in any way, no provision thereof been waived by the Parent, no such contract or commitment has been breached or cancelled by the other party, and the Parent has no Knowledge of any anticipated breach by any other party to any contract required to be set forth on Schedule 5.4.  The Parent is not in default under or in breach of any contract or commitment required to be disclosed on Schedule 5.4, and no event has occurred which with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would result in a default or breach thereunder by the Parent. The Parent has complied with all applicable laws in entering into the agreements required to be set forth on Schedule 5.4, and each such agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights gener ally and laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies.
 
5.5           Shares. The Parent holds of record and owns beneficially the shares of Acquired Stock, free and clear of any Encumbrances.  The Parent is not a party to any option, warrant, right, contract, call, put or other agreement or commitment providing for the disposition or acquisition of any capital stock of the Company (other than this Agreement).  The Parent is not a party to any voting trust, proxy or other agreement or understanding with respect to the voting of any capital stock of the Company.  The Parent’s purchase of the shares of the Company from Chang-Oh Chang and Tae-Hyo Kim (collectively referred to herein as the “Previous Shareholders”), who were previously shareholders of the Company, was duly completed pursuant to the stock transfer agreements with the Previous Shareholders dated September 25, 2009.  Accordingly, the Previous Shareholders do not and will not have any right, claim or interest relating to any share of the Company, including, but not limited to, the right to rescind such stock transfer agreements dated September 25, 2009.
 
 
- 26 -

 
5.6           Ownership of Technology Assets.  Schedule 4.12 attached hereto includes a complete and correct list of all the Technology Assets.  The Parent owns, free and clear of all Encumbrances, without restriction as to use, all right, title and interest in and to the Technology Assets; neither the Parent nor the Company has received within the past two years from the date hereof any notices of invalidity, infringement or misappropriation from any third party with respect to any of such Technology Assets.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
PURCHASER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
As a material inducement to the Parent and the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Parent and the Company that:
 
6.1           Organization.  The Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which it is required to be qualified.
 
6.2           Authorization of Transaction.  The Purchaser has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Purchaser, and no other corporate authorization on its part is necessary for the execution, delivery or performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  This Agreement constitutes, and each of th e other Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party shall when executed constitute, a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedy.
 
6.3           No Violation.  The Purchaser is not subject to or obligated under its Articles of Organization, its bylaws, any applicable law, or rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority, or any agreement or instrument, or any License, or subject to any order, writ, injunction or decree, which would be breached or violated by its execution, delivery or performance of the Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party.
 
6.4           Governmental Authorities and Consents.  Other than the foreign investment report required to be filed under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, the Purchaser is not required to submit any notice, report or other filing with any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution or delivery by it of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.  No consent, approval or authorization of any Governmental Authority or any other party or Person is required to be obtained by the Purchaser in connection with its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the ot her Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
 
- 27 -

 
6.5           Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings or orders pending or, to the Purchaser’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Purchaser at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority which may adversely affect the Purchaser’s performance under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Purchaser is a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
6.6           Brokerage. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.6 attached hereto, there are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any arrangement or agreement made by or on behalf of the Purchaser.
 
6.7           Investment.  The Purchaser is acquiring the Acquired Stock for investment and not with a view to any distribution thereof within the meaning of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
ARTICLE VII
 
 TERMINATION
 
7.1           Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
 
(a)           by mutual written consent of the Parent and the Purchaser;
 
(b)           by the Parent only if there has been a material misrepresentation or breach on the part of the Purchaser of the representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement;
 
(c)           by the Purchaser only if the conditions set forth in either of Sections 2.1(a) and 2.1(b) hereof have not been satisfied or waived; or
 
(d)           by the Parent or the Purchaser if the Closing has not occurred on or prior to June 30, 2010 without any fault attributable to any Party; provided, however, that for the avoidance of any doubt, a Party who breaches this Agreement shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d).
 
7.2           Effect of Termination.  In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Parent or the Purchaser as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any Party to any other Party under this Agreement, except that: (a) in the event of termination under Section 7.1 (a), (c) or (d), the Deposit shall be returned to the Purchaser; (b) in the event of termination by the Parent under Section 7.1(b), the Parent shall be entitled to retain the Deposit as liquidated damages. Nothing herein shall relieve any Party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
 
In the event of the termination of this Agreement by either the Parent or the Purchaser under Section 7.1, the Purchaser shall, immediately upon the request of the Parent, deliver to the Parent any Confidential Information held by the Purchaser that is not already generally available to the public, and destroy any such Confidential Information in electronic form and certify such destruction to the Parent in writing.
 
 
- 28 -

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
INDEMNIFICATION AND RELATED MATTERS
 
8.1           Survival.  All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or in any writing or certificate delivered in connection with this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be affected by any examination made for or on behalf of any Party, the knowledge of any of such Party’s officers, directors, stockholders, employees or agents, or the acceptance of any certificate or opinion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 8.1, no Party shall be entitled to recover for any Loss pursuant to Section 8.2(a)(i) or Section 8.2(c)(i) unless written notice of a claim thereof is delivered to the other Party prior to the Applicable Limitation Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Applicable Limitation Date” shall mean the date which is eighteen (18) months following the Closing Date; provided that the Applicable Limitation Date with respect to the following Losses shall be as follows: (i) with respect to any Loss arising from or related to a breach of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.10 (Taxes), the Applicable Limitation Date shall be the expiration date of the statute of limitations (including any extensions or waivers thereto to the extent that such statute of limitations may be tolled) applicable to the Tax which gave rise to such Loss, (ii) with respect to any Loss arising from or related to a breach of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.23 (Environmental Matters), the Applicable Limitation Date shall be the fifth ann iversary of the Closing Date, and (iii) with respect to any Loss arising from or related to a breach of the representations or Warranties set forth Section 5.4 (Parent Contracts and Commitments) or Section 5.5 (Shares), the Applicable Limitation Date shall be the third anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, that in cases of fraud or willful misrepresentation, misconduct or breach, there shall be no expiration of the applicable representation and warranty or Applicable Limitation Date.
 
8.2           Indemnification.
 
(a)           The Parent shall protect, defend and indemnify the Purchaser, the Company and each of their respective officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Purchaser Parties”) and hold each of them harmless from and against and pay on behalf of or reimburse such Purchaser Parties in respect of any Loss which any such Purchaser Party may suffer, sustain or become subject to, as a result of or relating to:
 
 
(i)
the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Parent contained in this Agreement or any certificate delivered by the Company or the Parent to the Purchaser with respect thereto in connection with the Closing (disregarding all materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications referred to in said representations and warranties);
 
 
(ii)
the breach of any covenant or agreement made by the Parent or the Company contained in this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, or any certificate delivered by the Parent or the Company to the Purchaser with respect thereto in connection with the Closing;
 
 
(iii)
the sale of any product by the Company prior to the Closing Date, provided that any claim for indemnity by the Purchaser under this clause (iii) of Section 8.2(a) must be made within three (3) years following the Closing Date;
 
 
- 29 -

 
 
(iv)
any Taxes attributable to the operation of the Company prior to the Closing Date, to the extent the amounts of such Taxes are not taken into account in determining the Actual Net Core Working Capital Amount(for purposes of attributing Taxes based upon income to the period preceding the Closing Date, the Parties will assume that the relevant Tax period ended on the Closing Date, and for all other Taxes, such attribution will be made on a pro rata basis, taking into account the number of days preceding the Closing Date and the number of days in the relevant Tax period);
 
 
(v)
any matter arising under Environmental and Safety Requirements within five (5) years of the Closing Date and attributable to an event or events which occurred prior to the Closing Date; and
 
 
(vi)
any fraud or willful misrepresentation made by the Parent or the Company in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(b)           The indemnification provided for in Section 8.2(a) above is subject to the following limitations:
 
 
(i)
the Parent will be liable to the Purchaser Parties with respect to claims referred to in Section 8.2(a) (i) only if a Purchaser Party gives the Parent written notice thereof prior to the Applicable Limitation Date;
 
 
(ii)
the Parent will be liable to the Purchaser Parties with respect to claims referred to in Section 8.2(a) (i) or (ii) only if the aggregate amount of all Losses relating to any and all claims referred to in Section 8.2(a) (i) or (ii) exceeds three hundred thousand US dollars (US$300,000) (the “Basket Amount”), in which case the Parent will be liable to the Purchaser Parties for all Losses, including the Basket Amount; and
 
 
(iii)
the total amount of the Parent’s liability for indemnification under Section 8.2(a) (i) or (iii) above shall not exceed, under any circumstances, the Purchase Price.
 
(c)          The Purchaser shall protect, defend and indemnify the Parent and hold the Parent and its officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Parent Parties”) harmless from and against and pay on behalf of or reimburse such Parent Party in respect of any Loss which any Parent Party may suffer, sustain or become subject to, as a result of or relating to:
 
 
(i)
the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Purchaser contained in Article VI of this Agreement or any certificate delivered by the Purchaser to the Parent with respect thereto in connection with the Closing (disregarding all materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications referred to in said representations and warranties); or
 
 
(ii)
the breach of any covenant or agreement made by the Purchaser contained in this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, any Exhibit hereto or any certificate delivered by the Purchaser to the Parent with respect thereto in connection with the Closing.
 
 
- 30 -

 
(d)           The indemnification provided for in Section 8.2(c)(i) above is subject to the following limitations:
 
 
(i)
the Purchaser will be liable to the Parent Parties with respect to claims referred to in Section 8.2(c)(i) only if the Parent gives the Purchaser written notice thereof within the Applicable Limitation Date;
 
 
(ii)
the Purchaser will be liable to the Parent Parties with respect to claims referred to in Section 8.2(c)(i) or (ii) only if the aggregate amount of all Losses relating to any and all claims referred to in Section 8.2(c) (i) or (ii) exceeds the Basket Amount, in which case the Purchaser will be liable to the Parent Parties for all Losses, including the Basket Amount; and
 
 
(iii)
the total amount of the Purchaser’s liability for indemnification under Section 8.2(c)(i) shall not exceed, under any circumstances, the Purchase Price.
 
(e)           If a Party hereto seeks indemnification under this Article VIII, such Party (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give prompt, written notice to the other Party (the “Indemnifying Party”) after receiving written notice of any action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim against it (if by a third party) or discovering the liability, obligation or facts giving rise to such claim for indemnification, describing the claim, the amount thereof (if known and quantifiable), and the basis thereof; provided that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except and to the extent such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
 
(f)           If any action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim shall be brought or asserted by any third party which, if adversely determined, would entitle the Indemnified Party to indemnity pursuant to this Article VIII (a “Third Party Claim”), the Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of the same in writing, specifying in detail the basis of such claim and the facts pertaining thereto and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation or other claim giving rise to the Indemnified Party’s claim for indemnification at its expense, and at its option (subject to the limitations set fort h below) shall be entitled to appoint lead counsel of such defense with reputable counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party; provided that, as a condition precedent to the Indemnifying Party’s right to assume control of such defense, it must first agree to be fully responsible for all Losses relating to such claims and that it will provide full indemnification to the Indemnified Party for all Losses relating to such claim; and provided further that the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume control of such defense and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party, if the claim over which the Indemnifying Party seeks to assume control: (i) seeks non-monetary relief; (ii) involves criminal or quasi-criminal allegations; or (iii) involves a claim to which the Indemnified Party reasonably believes an adverse determination would be detrimental to or injure the Indemnified Party’s reputation or future business prospects.  The Indemnif ying Party shall relinquish control of such defense and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party, if, upon petition by the Indemnified Party, the appropriate court rules that the Indemnifying Party failed or is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend the claim.  If the Indemnifying Party is permitted to assume and control the defense and elects to do so, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ counsel separate from counsel employed by the Indemnifying Party in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel employed by the Indemnified Party shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party unless: (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Indemnifying Party in writing; or (ii) the Indemnifying Party has been advised by counsel that a reasonable likelihood exists of a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party.  If the Indemnifyi ng Party shall control the defense of any such claim, the Indemnifying Party shall obtain the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim, if pursuant to or as a result of such settlement or cessation, injunction or other equitable relief will be imposed against the Indemnified Party or if such settlement does not expressly unconditionally release the Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations with respect to such claim.
 
 
- 31 -

 
(g)           In the event that an Indemnified Party has a claim against an Indemnifying Party hereunder which does not involve a Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall send a written notice to the Indemnifying Party describing such claim.  Within fifteen (15) days after delivery of such written notice, the Indemnifying Party shall provide to the Indemnified Party a written response (the “Response Notice”), in which the Indemnifying Party must either: (x) agree that some or all of the Losses claimed should be indemnified and, in the case of any Losses claimed and not so agreed to, contest such claimed amount, or (y) contest all of the Lo sses claimed.  The Indemnifying Party may contest such claimed amount of Losses only based upon a good faith belief that all or such portion of such claimed amount does not constitute Losses for which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification hereunder.  If the Indemnifying Party does not deliver on a timely basis a Response Notice, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have agreed that all of the claimed amount should be indemnified.  If the Indemnifying Party in the Response Notice contests all or part of the claimed amount (thereupon, the “Contested Amount”), the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall attempt promptly and in good faith to agree upon the rights of the Parties with respect to the Contested Amount.  If the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party should so agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by such Parties and, if such agreement provides that all or a portion of the Contested Amount is to be paid to the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall make such payments in accordance with the terms of such agreement.  If the Parties cannot agree as to any resolution of any Contested Amount, then the Parties shall have available to them any and all remedies subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement.
 
(h)           To the extent permitted under applicable law, amounts paid to or on behalf of the Parent or the Purchaser as indemnification shall be treated as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes.
 
(i)           In connection with any indemnification claim pursuant to this Section 8.2, the Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate in a reasonable manner with any discovery proceedings related to such claim.
 
ARTICLE IX
 
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
 
9.1           Certain Taxes.  All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement, shall be paid by the Party assessed such Taxes and fees when due, and such Party will, at its own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if required by applicable law, the other Party or Parties will, and will cause its or their Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation.
 
 
- 32 -

 
9.2           Press Releases and Announcements.  Prior to the Closing Date, no press releases related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, or other announcements to the employees, customers or suppliers of the Company shall be issued without the mutual approval of all Parties (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), except for any public disclosure which any Party in good faith believes is required by law, regulation, or a rule of a securities exchange; provided that the Purchaser shall be entitled to: (i) disclose the transactions contemplated hereby in any document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (ii) include a detailed description of the Company in such filing; and (iii) include copies of the Company’s Financial Statements in such filing.  After the Closing Date, no press releases related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, or other announcements to the employees, customers or suppliers of the Company shall be issued without the Purchaser’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), except for any public disclosure which is required by applicable law, regulation, or rules of a securities exchange.
 
9.3           Further Assurances.  Each Party shall execute and deliver such further instruments of conveyance and transfer and take such additional action as the other Parties may reasonably request to effect, consummate, confirm or evidence the transfer to the Purchaser of the Acquired Stock and the Technology Assets, and any other transactions contemplated hereby, and to otherwise enable the Parties hereto to carry out this Agreement in accordance with the material terms hereof.
 
9.4           Specific Performance.  The Parent acknowledges that the Company’s business is unique and recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by such the Parent, money damages may be inadequate and the Purchaser may have no adequate remedy at law.  Accordingly, the Parent agrees that the Purchaser shall have the right, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing in its favor, to enforce its rights and the Parent’s obligations hereunder not only by an action or actions for damages but also by an action or actions for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable relief.
 
9.5           Transition Assistance.  The Parent shall not in any manner take any action which is designed, intended, or might be reasonably anticipated to have the effect of discouraging customers, suppliers, lessors, licensors and other business associates of the Company from maintaining the same business relationships with the Company after the date of this Agreement as were maintained with the Company prior to the date of this Agreement.
 
9.6           Expenses.  The Parties shall each pay all of their own fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees, costs and expenses of legal counsel, investment bankers, brokers or other representatives and consultants and appraisal fees, costs and expenses) incurred in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
 
9.7           Exclusivity.  Until this Agreement is terminated by its terms, neither the Company nor the Parent (and neither the Company nor the Parent shall cause or permit any Insider or agent or any other Person acting on behalf of the Parent, the Company, or its Affiliates to): (a) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to any (i) liquidation, dissolution or recapitalization of, (ii) merger or consolidation with or into, (iii) acquisition or purchase of assets of or any equity interest in, or (iv) similar transaction or business combination involving the Company; or (b) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, furnish any informati on with respect to, assist or participate in, or facilitate in any other manner any effort or attempt by any other Person to do or seek any of the foregoing.  The Company and the Parent each agrees that it will discontinue immediately (and will cause any Insider or agent or any other Person acting on behalf of the Parent, the Company, or its Affiliates to discontinue immediately) any negotiations or discussion with respect to any of the foregoing.
 
 
- 33 -

 
9.8           Books and Records.  Unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Purchaser, the Parent will not, for a period of seven years following the date hereof, destroy, alter or otherwise dispose of any of the books and records relating to the Company which are retained by the Parent without first offering to surrender to the Purchaser such books and records or any portion thereof of which the Purchaser may intend to destroy, alter or dispose.  The Parent will allow the Purchaser’s representatives, attorneys and accountants access to such books and records, upon reasonable request during the Parent’s normal business hours, for the purpose of examining and copying the same in co nnection with any matter related to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
9.9           Non-competition, Non-solicitation and Confidentiality.
 
(a)           Non-competition.  In consideration of the Purchase Price and the mutual covenants provided for herein, during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Non-compete Period”), the Parent shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Non-competing Parties”) not to, engage, whether as an owner, operator, manager, employee, officer, director, consultant, advisor, representative or otherwise, directly or indirectly in the design, engineer, manufacture, market, distribut ion or sale of microcellular polyurethane foams and pads anywhere in the world; provided that ownership of less than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding stock of any publicly-traded corporation shall not be deemed to be engaging solely by reason thereof in any of its businesses.  The Parties hereto agree that the covenant set forth in this Section 9.9(a) is reasonable with respect to its duration, geographical area and scope.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 9.9(a) is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or pr ovision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed.
 
(b)           Non-solicitation.  During the Non-compete Period, the Parent shall not, and shall cause the other Non-competing Parties not to: (i) directly or indirectly contact, approach or solicit for the purpose of offering employment to or hiring (whether as an employee, consultant, agent, independent contractor or otherwise) or actually hire any person employed by the Company within two years prior to the Closing Date or during the Non-compete Period, without the prior written consent of the Company; or (ii) induce or attempt to induce any customer or other business relation of the Company into any business relationship with the Parent or any other Non-competing Parties which is likely to materially har m the Company.  The term “indirectly” as used in this Section 9.9(b) is intended to mean any acts authorized or directed by or on behalf of any Non-competing Party or any person controlled by such Non-competing Party.
 
 
- 34 -

 
(c)           Confidentiality. During the Non-compete Period, the Parent shall, and shall cause the other Non-competing Parties to, treat and hold as confidential any information concerning the business and affairs of the Company that is not already generally available to the public (the “Confidential Information”), refrain from using any of the Confidential Information except in connection with this Agreement, and deliver promptly to the Purchaser or destroy, at the request and option of the Purchaser, all tangible embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential Information which are in its possession or under its control.  Notwi thstanding the above, information subject to the operation of this Section 9.9(c) shall not include information that: (i) becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a prohibited disclosure by the Party seeking to make such disclosure or use (or any of its representatives); or (ii) is rightfully disclosed to the Party seeking to make such disclosure or use on a non-confidential basis by a source other than the Party seeking to dispute such disclosure or use or any of their representatives.  In the event that any Non-competing Party is requested or required (by oral question or request for information or documents in any legal proceeding, interrogatory, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or similar process) to disclose any Confidential Information, the Parent shall cause such Non-competing Party to notify the Purchaser promptly of the request or requirement so that the Purchaser may seek an appropriate protective order or waive compliance with the provisions of this Sectio n 9.9(c).  If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, any Non-competing Party is, on the advice of counsel, compelled to disclose any Confidential Information to any tribunal or else stand liable for contempt, such Non-competing Party may disclose the Confidential Information to the tribunal; provided that the Parent shall cause such disclosing Non-competing Party to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, at the request of the Purchaser, an order or other assurance that confidential treatment shall be accorded to such portion of the Confidential Information required to be disclosed as the Purchaser shall designate.
 
(d)           Trade Names.  No Non-competing Party shall use the “Utis” or any names confusingly similar thereto in any manner anywhere in the world after Closing, except with written approval of the Purchaser.
 
(e)           Remedy for Breach.  The Parent on behalf of itself and the other Non-competing Parties acknowledges and agrees that in the event of a breach of any of the provisions of this Section 9.9 by any Non-competing Party, monetary damages shall not constitute a sufficient remedy.  Consequently, in the event of any such breach, the Purchaser, successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof, in each case without the requirement of posting a bond or proving actu al damages.
 
9.10           Parent Contracts and Commitments.  The Parent will not amend, modify, or waive any right under any of the contracts or commitments required to be disclosed in Schedule 5.4, including particularly the contracts with the Previous Shareholders, and the Parent will use its best efforts to enforce any and all of its rights thereunder.
 
ARTICLE X
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
10.1           Amendment and Waiver.  This Agreement may be amended and any provision of this Agreement may be waived only by a written instrument duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Purchaser and an authorized officer of the Parent, and no Party may rely on any purported amendment or waiver which is not executed in such fashion.  No course of dealing between or among any persons having any interest in this Agreement shall be deemed effective to modify, amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of any Party under or by reason of this Agreement.
 
 
- 35 -

 
10.2           Notices.  All notices, demands and other communications given or delivered under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be in the English language, and shall be either personally delivered, sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), or sent by reputable overnight delivery service, in each case at or to the addresses set forth below (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice).  Any such notice, demand or other communication given in accordance with the foregoing shall be effective upon receipt.
 
Notices to the Company (if prior to Closing):
with a copy to:
SK Utis Co., Ltd.
948-1, Daechi3-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
135-847, Korea
Attn: Hern-Jin Park, Ph.D., Representative Director
 
Yoon & Yang LLC
19th Fl., ASEM Tower, 159-1 Samsung-dong
Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-798, Korea
Attn : Young Jae Shin, Partner
Notices to the Parent:
with a copy to:
SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Corporate Strategy
948-1, Daechi3-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
135-847, Korea
Attn: Jae Yong Ahn, Vice President
 
Yoon & Yang LLC
19th Fl., ASEM Tower, 159-1 Samsung-dong
Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-798, Korea
Attn : Young Jae Shin, Partner
Notices to Purchaser:
with copies to:
Rogers Corporation
One Technology Drive
Rogers, CT, USA 06263-0188
Attn: Pete Kaczmarek, Senior Vice President
 
Rogers Corporation
One Technology Drive
Rogers, CT, USA  06263-0188
Attn: General Counsel
 

 
10.3           Binding Agreement; Assignment.  This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by a Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties; provided, that the Purchaser may at any time prior to the Closing, at its sole discretion, assign, in whole or in part, its rights and obligations pursuant to this Agreement to one of its Subsidiaries, including Subsidiaries which may be organized subsequent to the date hereof (it being understood that as of the date hereof, the Purchaser has assigned its right to acquire the Acquired Stock to Rogers BVBA, a Belgian corporation and an indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Purchaser).
 
10.4           Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
 
10.5           No Strict Construction.  The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Person.
 
 
- 36 -

 
10.6           Captions.  The captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or in any way affect any provision of this Agreement, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced and construed as if no captions had been used in this Agreement.
 
10.7           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents referred to herein contain the entire agreement among the Parties and supersede any prior negotiations, understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
 
10.8           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, it being understood that all of the Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
 
10.9           Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the Republic of Korea, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision (whether of the Republic of Korea or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Republic of Korea.
 
10.10           Parties in Interest.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns any rights or remedies under or by virtue of this Agreement.
 
10.11           Foreign Currency Conversions.  If any amount to be paid, transferred, allocated, indemnified, reimbursed or calculated pursuant to, or in accordance with, the terms of this Agreement or any Exhibit or Schedule (including the Schedules) referred to herein (including the calculation, payment or reimbursement of Losses under Article VIII hereof) is originally stated or expressed in a currency other than US Dollars, then, for the purpose of determining the amount to be so paid, transferred, allocated, indemnified, reimbursed or calculated, such amount shall be converted into US Dollars at the basic exchange rate between those two currencies most recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal in New Y ork on the Business Day immediately prior to (or, if no such quote exists on such Business Day, on the closest Business Day prior to) the day on which the Party required to make such payment, transfer, indemnification, reimbursement or calculation first becomes obligated to do so
 
10.12           Dispute Resolution.
 
(a)           Except as specifically provided in Section 1.3, any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with any Transaction Document (including any provision of any Schedule or Exhibit thereto) or the breach, termination or validity thereof (“Dispute”) shall, upon the written request of any Party, be finally and exclusively settled by arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce then in effect (the “Rules”), except as modified herein.
 
(b)           The arbitration shall be conducted, and the award shall be rendered, in Singapore, in the English language.
 
 
- 37 -

 
(c)           There shall be three arbitrators of whom the Purchaser on the one hand and the Parent on the other hand each shall nominate one in accordance with the Rules.  The two party-nominated arbitrators shall nominate the third arbitrator to serve as the chairman of the arbitral tribunal within thirty (30) days of the nomination of the second arbitrator.  In the event that the two party-appointed arbitrators are unable to timely agree on the third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC Court”) upon the written request of any Party, within thirty (30) days of such request. 0; The Terms of Reference (as defined under the Rules) shall be signed by the Parties (or approved by the ICC Court) as expeditiously as possible, but no later than forty-five (45) days after the confirmation of the appointment of the third arbitrator.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.4(b)(iii) of this Agreement, the costs of the arbitrators shall be borne by the Parties in accordance with the decision of the arbitrators.
 
(d)           The hearing on the merits shall be held as expeditiously as possible, but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the signing of the Terms of Reference or approval of the Terms of Reference by the ICC Court. The hearing shall last no longer than ten (10) days, which shall be consecutive, if possible.  In addition to monetary damages, the arbitral tribunal shall be empowered to award declaratory relief, including injunctive relief or specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement. The award shall be rendered within thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing.
 
(e)           The Parties jointly request the arbitral tribunal to use its best efforts to comply with the time frames set forth in the preceding Sections 10.12(c) and 10.12(d), but recognize that a longer time may be required notwithstanding such best efforts.  The Parties agree that the arbitral tribunal (or the ICC Court, where applicable) shall have the authority to modify such time frames if the arbitral tribunal (or the ICC Court) determines that such modification is necessary or if the Parties jointly request such modification, and that failure to comply with such time frames shall not be a ground for challenging enforcement of the arbitral award.
 
(f)           By agreeing to arbitration, the Parties do not intend to deprive any court of its jurisdiction to issue a pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment or other order in aid of arbitration proceedings or the enforcement of any award.  Without prejudice to such provisional remedies that may be granted by a national court, the arbitral tribunal shall have full authority to grant provisional remedies, to order a Party to seek modification or vacation of an injunction, attachment or other order issued by a national court, and to award damages for the failure of any Party to respect the arbitral tribunal’s orders to that effect.
 
(g)           The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the Parties as from the date rendered, and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the Parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal. Judgment upon any award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction in respect thereof.
 
(h)           In order to facilitate the comprehensive resolution of all related Disputes, all claims that arise under or in connection with this Agreement (but not any other Transaction Document) may be brought in a single arbitration. Upon the request of any Party, the arbitral tribunal shall consolidate any arbitration proceeding constituted under this Agreement with any other arbitration proceeding instituted under this Agreement if the arbitral tribunal determines that (i) there are issues of fact or law common to the proceedings so that a consolidated proceeding would be more efficient than separate proceedings, and (ii) no Party would be unduly prejudiced as a result of such consolidation through undue delay or otherwise.  In the event of different rulings on this question by the different arbitral tribunals constituted under this Agreement, the ruling of the arbitral tribunal constituted first in time shall control, and such arbitral tribunal shall serve as the tribunal for any consolidated arbitration. In the event of such consolidation, the Terms of Reference, if finalized, shall be revised and amended within thirty (30) days of such consolidation, and the hearing on the merits shall be held as expeditiously as possible but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the amendment of the Terms of Reference.
 
 
- 38 -

 
10.13           Waiver of Sovereign Immunity.  To the extent that any Party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) with respect to himself or itself or its property, such Party:
 
(a)           agrees that the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document constitute private and commercial acts done for private and commercial purposes;
 
(b)           agrees that, should any proceedings be brought against it or its assets in any jurisdiction in relation to any Transaction Document or any transaction contemplated hereby and thereby, such Party is not entitled to sovereign immunity in respect of its obligations under such Transaction Document or transaction, and no sovereign immunity from such proceedings (including, without limitation, immunity from service of process from suit, from the jurisdiction of any court, from an order or injunction of such court or the enforcement of same against its assets) shall be claimed by or on behalf of such Party or with respect to its assets;
 
(c)           waives, in any such proceedings, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right of sovereign immunity that it or any of its assets now has or may acquire in the future in any jurisdiction; and
 
(d)           waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of sovereign immunity with respect to the enforcement of any judgment or award against it in any such proceedings to the giving of any relief or the issue of any process in any jurisdiction in connection with such proceedings (including, without limitation, pre-judgment attachment, post judgment attachment, the making, enforcement or execution against or in respect of any assets whatsoever irrespective of their use or intended use of any order or judgment that may be made or given in connection therewith).
 
 [signature page to follow]
 

 

 
- 39 -

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
SK CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
ROGERS CORPORATION
 
 
By:  __/s/ Jae Yong Ahn_____________
        Name: Jae Yong Ahn
        Title: VP/Corporate Strategy
 
 
By:  __/s/ Peter G. Kaczmarek__________
        Name: Peter G. Kaczmarek
        Title: Senior Vice President
 
 
SK UTIS CO., LTD.
 
 
By:  ___/s/ Hern Jin Park______________
        Name: Hern Jin Park
        Title: Representative Director
 
 

 
 

 
ANNEX I – DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms, when used herein with initial capital letters, shall have the respective meanings set forth herein:
 
Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities or otherwise.
 
Agreement” means this Acquisition Agreement, including all Exhibits and Schedules hereto, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.
 
Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Seoul, Korea are authorized or required by law to close.
 
Cash” means an amount equal to the sum of (A) all cash held by the Company in deposit accounts or physically on hand at the Company’s principal place of business, and (B) the key money deposits paid by the Company which total an amount equal to three hundred thirty-two million won (KRW 332,000,000 KRW.
 
Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, condition, equitable interest, lien, option, pledge, security interest, yangdo tambo right, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income, or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
 
Environmental Affiliates” of any Person means, with respect to any particular matter, all other Persons whose liabilities or obligations with respect to that particular matter have been assumed by, or are otherwise deemed by law to be those of, such first Person.
 
Environmental and Safety Requirements” means all national, state, territorial, provincial, county, city or other unit or subdivision thereof, or foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances and similar provisions having the force or effect of law, all judicial and administrative orders and determinations, and all common law concerning public health and safety, worker health and safety and pollution or protection of the environment, including all such standards of conduct and bases of obligations relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing, processing, discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous materials, substances or wastes, chemical s ubstances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs), noise or radiation.
 
Environmental Lien” means any lien, whether recorded or unrecorded, in favor of any Governmental Authority relating to any liability of the Company or any Environmental Affiliate of the Company arising under any Environmental and Safety Requirement.
 
Export and Import Laws” means the laws and regulations of any government regulating the provision of services to parties not of the country in question, or the export and import of articles and information from and to such country and to parties not of such country.
 
 
 

 
 
Government Consent” means any consent, approval, order or authorization of, or designation, registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority.
 
Governmental Authority” means any nation, state, territory, province, county, city or other unit or subdivision thereof, or any entity, agency, commission or authority exercising executive, legislative, court, judicial, quasi-judicial, regulatory, administrative or taxing functions of, or pertaining to, government.
 
GAAP” means, at a given time, generally accepted accounting principles as used in Korea, applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements to the extent the Financial Statements themselves are prepared in accordance with Korean generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication: (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations under financing leases in respect of which such Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or in respect of which obligations such Person assures a creditor against loss; and (c) any other amount which is required to be accrued as a long-term liability in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the preparation of the Latest Balance Sheet.
 
Insider” means any officer, director, stockholder, or Affiliate, as applicable, of the Company or any of its Affiliates or any immediate family member of such Person (including, without limitation, any Person related by marriage or adoption to any such individual) or any entity in which any such Person owns a thirty percent (30%) or greater beneficial interest.
 
Knowledge of the Company” means (a) the actual knowledge of any employee of the Company or the Parent in charge of tasks directly related to the relevant representation or warranty made by either the Company or the Parent, any registered or non-registered director of the Company, any of the Company’s team leaders, or any employee or registered or non-registered director of the Parent who is in charge of general or functional supervisory or administrative responsibility for the Company, and (b) with respect to each individual described in clause (a) above, the knowledge that an individual would have acquired after making due inquiry as prudent business person would have made in the management of his or her business affairs.
 
Korea” means the Republic of Korea.
 
Licenses” means all permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, approvals and other authorizations of any Governmental Authority, or other similar rights.
 
Loss” means, with respect to any Person, any diminution of value or other damage, liability, demand, claim, action, cause of action, cost, damage, deficiency, Tax, penalty, fine or other loss or expense, whether or not arising out of a third party claim, including all interest, penalties, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and all amounts paid or incurred in connection with any action, demand, proceeding, investigation or claim by any third party (including any Governmental Authority) against or affecting such Person or which, if determined adversely to such Person, would give rise to, evidence the existence of, or relate to, any other Loss and the investigation, defense or settlement of any of the foregoing, together with interest thereon from the date on which such Person provides the written notice of the related claim as described in Section 8.2 (Indemnification) through and including the date on which the total amount of the claim, including such interest, is recovered or recouped pursuant to Article VIII.
 
 
 

 
Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
Net Core Working Capital Amount” means, as of a given time, (i) the book value of the Company’s trade accounts receivable; plus (ii) the book value of the Company’s inventories; minus (ii) the book value of the Company’s trade accounts payable, all determined in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the preparation of the Latest Balance Sheet.
 
Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount” means, as of a given time,  (i) the book value of the Company’s non-financial current assets, including accrued revenue receivables, non-trade accounts receivable, advanced payments, prepaid expenses, cash in advance, VAT from purchases, prepaid taxes, and short-term loans to employees, but excluding Cash, any accrual with respect to the VAT Refund, trade accounts receivable, inventories, and deferred tax assets, minus (ii) the book value of the Company’s non-financial current liabilities, including non-trade expenses, withholdings payable, VAT from sales, taxes payable, and accrued expenses, but excluding trade accounts payable and Indebtedness, all determined in accordance with GAAP, applied on a ba sis consistent with the preparation of the Latest Balance Sheet.
 
Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses consistent with past practice (including, without limitation, with respect to collection of accounts receivable, purchases of inventory and supplies, repairs and maintenance, payment of accounts payable and accrued expenses, levels of capital expenditures, fulfillment of customer orders, pricing, selling terms, and operation of cash management practices generally).
 
Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a Governmental Authority, or any other entity.
 
Proprietary Rights” means any and all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trademark or service mark applications and registrations, trade and corporate names, domain names, web sites, copyrights, copyright applications, registrations, customer and supplier lists, inventions, processes, designs, formulae, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information, and any other similar intellectual property or proprietary rights, and all tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing (in any medium, including electronic media).
 
Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers, and other closed receptacles containing any hazardous substance or pollutant or contaminant).
 
 
 

 
Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of shares of stock of which is entitled (without regard to 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 that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or any partnership, association or other business entity fifty percent (50%) or more of the partnership or other similar ownership interest of which is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes of this definition, a Person is deemed to have a fifty percent (50%) or more ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person is allocated fifty percent (50%) or more of the gains or losses of such partnership, association or other business entity or is or controls a managing director or general partner of such partnership, association or other business entity.
 
Tax Returns” means returns, declarations, reports, claims for refund, information returns or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of Taxes of any party or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.
 
Taxes” means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, estimated, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, or other tax, fee, assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any obligations to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to any Tax liability of another Person.
 
Technology Assets” means the technology described in Schedule 4.12, which is owned by the Parent and is used in the manufacture of microcellular polyurethane foams and pads.
 
Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, and all other agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents to be entered into or delivered by any Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
Other Definitional Provisions.
 
(a)           Accounting Terms. Accounting terms which are not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them under GAAP.  To the extent that the definition of accounting term that is defined in this Agreement is inconsistent with the meaning of such term under GAAP, the definition set forth in this Agreement will control.
 
(b)           “Hereof,” etc.  The terms “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and terms of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  Section, clause, Schedule and Exhibit references contained in this Agreement are references to Sections, clauses, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.  All references herein to “days” shall be references to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.  All references to “US dollar,” “dollar” or “US$” shall refer to United States dollars and to “KRW” shall refer to Korean won.
 
 
 

 
(c)           Successor Laws. Any reference to any particular law or regulation will be interpreted to include any revision of or successor to that section regardless of how it is numbered or classified.
 
 
 

 
           Cross Reference of Other Definitions.  Each capitalized term listed below is defined in the corresponding Section of this Agreement:
 
Term
Section
Accounting Firm
1.4(b)(iii)
Agreement
Preface
Acquired Stock
Recitals
Actual Cash
1.3(a)(v)
Actual Indebtedness
1.3(a)(vi)
Actual Net Core Working Capital Amount
1.3(a)(iii)
Actual Net Non-Core Working Capital Amount
1.3(a)(iv)
Applicable Limitation Date
8.1
Asset Purchase Price
1.2(b)
Balance Payment
1.4(c)
Basket Amount
8.2(b)(ii)
Closing
1.4(a)
Closing Date
1.4(a)
Closing Review
1.3(a)(i)
Common Stock
Recitals
Company
Preface
Confidential Information
9.9(c)
Contested Amount
8.2(g)
Deposit
1.2 (d)
Deposited Amount
1.4(b)(iii)
Dispute
10.12(a)
Draft Computation
1.3(a)(i)
Employee
4.16(a)
Employee Plans
4.17(a)
Escrow Agent
1.2 (d)
Escrow Agreement
1.2(d)
Financial Statements
4.6
Firm
1.3(a)(ii)
Indemnified Party
8.2(e)
Indemnifying Party
8.2(e)
Independent Contractor
4.16(c)
Initial Cash Payment
1.2(b)
ICC Court
10.12(c)
Latest Balance Sheet
4.6
Majority Stock
Recitals
Majority Stock Purchase Price
1.2(b)
Minority Stock
Recitals
Minority Stock Purchase Price
1.2(b)
   
New Location
2.1(i)
Non-compete Period
9.9(a)
 
 
 

 
 
Non-competing Parties
9.9(a)
Objection Notice
1.3(a)(ii)
Parent
Preface
Parent Parties
8.2(c)
Party
Preface
Parties
Preface
Previous Shareholders
5.5
Prior Location
2.1(i)
Purchase Price
1.2(b)
Purchaser
Preface
Purchaser Parties
8.2(a)
Response Notice
8.2(g)
Rules
10.12(a)
Schedule Correction
3.1(g)
Shareholders’ Agreement
2.1(h)
Stock Purchase Price
1.2(b)
Target Amount
1.3(a)(iii)
Third Party Claim
8.2(f)
   
Update
3.1(g)
Updated Schedules
3.1(g)
VAT Refund
1.3(b)
Work Permit
4.16(d)

 
 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
 

 

 




 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
by and among




Rogers Corporation,



SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., and



SK Utis Co., Ltd.


______________________________

Dated as of March [●], 2010

______________________________



 
 

 

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
 
This Shareholders Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of  March [●], 2010, by and among: SK Utis Co., Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea (the “Company”), SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., a company organized and existing under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“SK Chemicals”), and Rogers Corporation, a company organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA (“Rogers”).  The Company, the SK Chemicals and the Rogers are referred to herein collectively as the “Parties” and, individually, as a “Party”.
 
RECITALS
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain share acquisition agreement dated [   ] by the Parties, (the “Acquisition Agreement”), SK Chemicals is selling ninety percent (90%) of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company (the “Majority Stock”) owned by SK Chemicals, and all of its right, title and interest in and to the Technology Assets.
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, on the second anniversary of the closing date of sale and purchase of the Majority Stock, SK Chemicals will be selling the remaining ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company owned by SK Chemicals (the “Minority Stock”)(the Majority Stock and the Minority Stock are referred to herein collectively as the “Acquired Stock”).
 
WHEREAS, the execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company, SK Chemicals and Rogers desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth their rights and obligations as shareholders of the Company.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
 
1.           Definitions
 
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
 
Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
Acquired Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
 “Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
Law” means any law, rule, regulation, legislation, statute, ordinance or order.
 
 
 

 
Majority Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
Minority Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
Parties” or “Party” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, fund or an incorporated organization or association or other form of business enterprise, a governmental entity or any other form of a legal entity.
 
Rogers” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
“Shareholder Party” means either Rogers or SK Chemicals.
 
SK Chemicals” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
 
 “Transfer” means to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any interest in the Company or any right or obligation under this Agreement, whether voluntarily or by operation of Law.
 
2.           Transfer of Shares
 
SK Chemical shall not Transfer all or any portion of the Minority Stock without the prior written consent of Rogers, which consent may be withheld in Rogers’s sole discretion.
 
3.           Wavier of Dividends
 
SK Chemical hereby waives all of its rights to declared or undeclared dividends payable on or with respect to the Company’s common shares, it being a condition of consummation of the Acquisition Agreement, and the express intent of the Parties, that following the Closing Date, all cash and non-cash distributions of the Company with respect to its common stock shall be for the sole benefit of Rogers.  The Company and Rogers acknowledge and agree to such waiver of rights to dividends by SK Chemicals.  The Parties also acknowledge that the Purchase Price paid by Rogers under the Acquisition Agreement reflects the understanding set forth in this Agreement, and that  there is therefore a bona fide business purpose for the waiver set forth herein.
 
4.           Voting Agreement and Management
 
4.1           Voting Agreement. SK Chemicals hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that the SK Chemicals shall vote all of the Minority Stocks consistently with, or as otherwise directed by, Rogers.  Upon request from Rogers, SK Chemicals shall also execute any instrument that is required under the applicable Law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company in order to effectuate the covenant contained in this Section 4.1.
 
4.2           Management. SK Chemicals shall not, and shall not seek to, elect its own directors or statutory auditor of the Company or seek to have any appointment rights with respect to any officer or other employees of the Company.
 
 
 

 
5.           Representations and Warranties
 
Each Party represents and warrants to the other Parties as follows:
 
5.1           Organization. Such Party is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and proposed to be conducted.
 
5.2           Authorization; Due Execution. Such Party has all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.  The execution and delivery of, and the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such Party.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
 
5.3           Non-Contravention.  The execution and delivery by such Party of this Agreement and the performance by such Party of its obligations hereunder do not violate any provision of such Party’s constitutional documents or any La applicable to such Party.
 
6.           Termination
 
6.1           Term.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the Closing Date hereof and remain in full force and effect until it is terminated in accordance with Section 6.2.
 
6.2           Termination.  This Agreement shall be terminated forthwith upon the occurrence of any of the following:
 
(a)           by mutual agreement by the Parties evidenced in writing; or
 
(b)           SK Chemicals ceases to own any of the Minority Stock..
 
6.3           Effects of Termination.  In the event of termination pursuant to Section 6.2, this Agreement shall become wholly void and of no further effect; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any Party from any liability for breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the terms, conditions and agreements contained in Sections6 and 7 shall survive such termination and shall not lapse except as provided herein.
 
7.           Miscellaneous Provisions
 
7.1           Amendment and Waiver.  This Agreement may be amended and any provision of this Agreement may be waived only by a written instrument duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Rogers and an authorized officer of the SK Chemicals, and no Party may rely on any purported amendment or waiver which is not executed in such fashion.  No course of dealing between or among any persons having any interest in this Agreement shall be deemed effective to modify, amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of any Party under or by reason of this Agreement.
 
 
 

 
7.2           Notices.  All notices, demands and other communications given or delivered under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be in the English language, and shall be either personally delivered, sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), or sent by reputable overnight delivery service, in each case at or to the addresses set forth below (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice).  Any such notice, demand or other communication given in accordance with the foregoing shall be effective upon receipt.
 
Notices to the Company:
with a copy to:
[contact information]
 
[counsel]
   
Notices to the SK Chemicals:
with a copy to:
SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Corporate Strategy
948-1, Daechi3-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
135-847, Korea
Attn : Jae Yong Ahn, Vice President
 
SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Corporate Strategy
948-1, Daechi3-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
135-847, Korea
Attn : Leader of Legal Affairs Team
 
   
Notices to Rogers:
with copies to:
Rogers Corporation
One Technology Drive
Rogers, CT, USA 06263-0188
Attn: Pete Kaczmarek, Senior Vice President
Rogers Corporation
One Technology Drive
Rogers, CT, USA  06263-0188
Attn: General Counsel
 
 
7.3           Binding Agreement; Assignment.  This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder may be assigned by a Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties
 
7.4           Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
 
7.5           No Strict Construction.  The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Person.
 
7.6           Captions.  The captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or in any way affect any provision of this Agreement, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced and construed as if no captions had been used in this Agreement.
 
 
 

 
7.7           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents referred to herein contain the entire agreement among the Parties and supersede any prior negotiations, understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
 
7.8           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, it being understood that all of the Parties need not sign the same counterpart.
 
7.9           Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the Republic of Korea, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision (whether of the Republic of Korea or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Republic of Korea.
 
7.10           Further Assurance.  Each Party covenants and agrees that, without further consideration, it will prepare, execute, acknowledge, file, record, publish and deliver such other instruments, documents and statements and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary or convenient in the judgment of the other Parties to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement.
 
7.11           Confidentiality. Each of the Parties will maintain in confidence, and will cause its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors to maintain in confidence, and not use to the detriment of any other Party, the existence of, and any written, oral or other information obtained from another Party in connection with, this Agreement, unless or except for (a) such information that is already known to others not bound by a duty of confidentiality or such information becomes publicly available through no fault of such Party or (b) the furnishing or use of such information is required by Law or any government authority.
 
7.12           Dispute Resolution. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to Article 10.12 of the Acquisition Agreement.
 
[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
 
SK CHEMICALS CO, LTD.
ROGERS CORPORATION
 
By:  ______________________________
        Name:
        Title:
 
By:  ______________________________
        Name:
        Title:
 
SK UTIS CO, LTD.
 
By:  ______________________________
        Name:
        Title:
 
 

 

 
EX-10.4 3 a6274778ex10-4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4 a6274778ex10-4.htm
EXHIBIT 10.4

ROGERS CORPORATION
AMENDMENT TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
OFFICER SPECIAL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT


WHEREAS, Robert D. Wachob (the “Officer”) is employed by Rogers Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation, (herein referred to as the “Company”) as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, the Officer and the Company (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Parties”) entered into the Amended and Restated Officer Special Severance Agreement between the Company and Officer, effective as of December 17, 2008 (the “Agreement”),

WHEREAS, the Officer is eligible to receive annual bonuses under the Rogers Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended (the “AICP”), and there is a possibility that annual bonuses payable under the AICP (the “AICP Bonuses”) may be covered by the Agreement after a Change in Control (as defined in the Agreement);

WHEREAS, the Parties intended that the AICP Bonuses qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and

WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed that its in the best interests of the Officer and the Company to amend the Agreement so that any AICP Bonuses payable under the Agreement continue to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and pursuant to the powers and procedures for amendment set forth in Section 15 of the Agreement, the Parties hereby agree to amend the Agreement, effective for AICP Bonuses relating to the 2010 performance period and thereafter, as follows:

 
1.
Section 4(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
 
“Pro-Rata Bonus. The Officer shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of the Executive’s annual bonus for the performance year in which the Officer’s Qualifying Termination occurs, payable at the time that annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives, but in no event later than the next following March 15th, determined by multiplying the amount the Officer would have received based upon actual performance had employment continued through the end of the performance year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the performance year of termination that the Officer is employed by the Company and the denominator of which is 365.”
 
 
1 of 2

 
 
 
2.
Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the Agreement in all other respects remains in full force and effect and is hereby confirmed.
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Amendment to the Agreement to be duly executed on this 24th day of March, 2010.
 
 
ROGERS CORPORATION
   
 
By:   /s/ Robert M. Soffer
   
 
Its:   Vice President and Secretary
   
   
   
 
OFFICER
   
 
By:   /s/ Robert D. Wachob
 
         Robert D. Wachob
   
 
 


2 of 2

EX-23.1 4 a6274778ex23-1.htm EXHIBIT 23.1 a6274778ex23-1.htm
Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.

We hereby consent to the references to our firm with respect to the economic analysis we performed regarding Rogers Corporation’s projected liability for its asbestos-related liabilities and defense costs contained in the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 of Rogers Corporation and any amendments thereto, and to all references to us as having conducted such analysis.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Form 10-Q within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 

  National Economic Research Associates, Inc.  
       
 
By:
/s/ Mary Elizabeth Stern  
    Name: Mary Elizabeth Stern  
    Title:   Vice President  
       
 

New York, New York
May 3, 2010

 
EX-23.2 5 a6274778ex23-2.htm EXHIBIT 23.2 a6274778ex23-2.htm
Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF MARSH USA, INC.

We hereby consent to the references to our firm with respect to the analysis we performed regarding Rogers Corporation’s insurance coverage for its asbestos-related liabilities and defense costs contained in the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 of Rogers Corporation and any amendments thereto, and to all references to us as having conducted such analysis.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of such Form 10-Q within the meaning of the term “experts” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regul ations promulgated thereunder.
 

  MARSH USA, INC.  
       
 
By:
/s/ John H. Denton  
    Name: John H. Denton  
    Title:   Senior Vice President  
       

 
New York, New York
April 30, 2010

 
EX-31.(A) 6 a6274778ex31a.htm EXHIBIT 31(A) a6274778ex31a.htm
Exhibit 31(a)
CERTIFICATIONS

I, Robert D. Wachob, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Rogers Corporation;

 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 
4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
 
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
 
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
 
5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
 
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  May 4, 2010


/s/ Robert D. Wachob
Robert D. Wachob
President and Chief Executive Officer
Principal Executive Officer
 
 
EX-31.(B) 7 a6274778ex31b.htm EXHIBIT 31(B) a6274778ex31b.htm
Exhibit 31(b)
 
CERTIFICATIONS

I, Dennis M. Loughran, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Rogers Corporation;

 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 
4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
 
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
 
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
 
5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
 
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
 
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date:  May 4, 2010


/s/ Dennis M. Loughran
Dennis M. Loughran
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer

EX-32 8 a6274778ex32.htm EXHIBIT 32 a6274778ex32.htm
Exhibit 32
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned officers of Rogers Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that:

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 (the “Form 10-Q”) of the Corporation fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation.
 

/s/ Robert D. Wachob
Robert D. Wachob
President and Chief Executive Officer
Principal Executive Officer
May 4, 2010



/s/ Dennis M. Loughran
Dennis M. Loughran
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Principal Financial Officer
May 4, 2010


-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----