EXHIBIT 2.2
ESCROW AGREEMENT
First Tennessee Bank National Association
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
November 13, 2000
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
In accordance with the provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement
dated as of October 31, 2000 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among
MagneTek, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), J-Tec, Inc., an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxx X. Xxxxx, the sole shareholder the
Company ("Shareholder"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and
incorporated herein by reference, you are hereby appointed, and you hereby
accept appointment, as Escrow Agent with the duties and upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth in this Escrow Agreement (the "Escrow
Agreement"). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Stock Purchase Agreement.
1. DEPOSIT INTO ESCROW. Pursuant to Section 2.02(b) of the Stock
Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, as defined in Section 2.02(a)
therein, Buyer will deposit with the Escrow Agent, and Escrow Agent hereby
agrees to accept in its capacity as such, $3,000,000 (three million dollars)
by wire transfer. The Escrow Agent shall hold in accordance with these
instructions such monies, together with any interest earned on such monies
(collectively, the "Funds" and the account in which such Funds are held is
herein called the "Escrow Account"). All Funds held by the Escrow Agent from
time to time shall be invested (i) in the Escrow Agent's Money Management
Account or in such Permitted Investments (as hereinafter defined) as shall
from time to time be directed by Shareholder in writing, or (ii) in such
other interest-bearing investments as Buyer and Shareholder shall jointly
direct. For the purposes of this Escrow Agreement, "Permitted Investments"
shall mean:
(a) demand deposit accounts or money market accounts, or
bankers' acceptances maturing in 91 days or less from the date of issue, of
any commercial bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the
United States or of any State thereof the credit of which is rated not less
than AA or the equivalent rating by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group or
Xxxxx'x Investors Services, Inc.;
(b) certificates of deposit or Eurodollar deposits maturing
in 91 days or less from the date of issue and either placed by an investment
banking firm of recognized national standing, as a broker, or with a bank or
trust company described in subparagraph (a) above;
(c) securities (i) which are commonly known as "commercial
paper," (ii) which are due and payable within ninety-one (91) days from the
date of issue, (iii) which
have been issued by any corporation organized under the laws of the United
States or of any State thereof, and (iv) the ratings for which, at the time
of the acquisition thereof by the Escrow Agent, are not less than "P-l" if
rated by Xxxxx'x Investors Services, Inc., and not less than "A-1" if rated
by Standard and Poor's Ratings Group;
(d) United States Treasury obligations maturing in 91 days
or less from the date of issue;
(e) certificates issued by the Government National Mortgage
Association maturing in 91 days or less from the date of issue;
(f) corporate obligations maturing in less than 91 days
from the date of issue and rated AA or the equivalent by Standard and Poor's
Ratings Group or Xxxxx'x Investors Services, Inc.;
(g) repurchase agreements the terms of which provide that
Buyer takes physical delivery of the securities (and as to which possession
is actually taken) with an investment banking firm described in subparagraph
(b) above; and
(h) mutual funds including proprietary mutual funds of the
Escrow Agent for which the Escrow Agent or an affiliate of the Escrow Agent
serves as an investment advisor or provides other services and receives
reasonable compensation therefor and that, in each case, are rated no lower
than the highest rating category of Standard and Poor's Ratings Group or
Xxxxx'x Investors Services, Inc.
2. TERM OF ESCROW. The term of the escrow governed hereby (the
"Escrow") shall commence on the Closing Date and end on the earlier of (i)
the date on which all Funds have been disbursed in accordance with this
Escrow Agreement, or (ii) the termination of this Escrow Agreement pursuant
to Section 3.3.
3. DISBURSEMENTS.
3.1 PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.
(a) The Funds shall be available to pay, in accordance with
the procedures set forth herein, Damages for which a Buyer Indemnitee is
indemnified under Article IX of the Stock Purchase Agreement, and any amount
that Shareholder may owe to Buyer under Section 2.04(a) of the Stock Purchase
Agreement. All claims for indemnification under Article IX of the Stock
Purchase Agreement shall be made by a Buyer Indemnitee by notice to the
Escrow Agent and the Shareholder pursuant to the provisions of the Stock
Purchase Agreement. All claims for payment of the post-closing purchase price
adjustment due from Shareholder will be made pursuant to the provisions of
Article II of the Stock Purchase Agreement
(b) In respect of claims pursuant to Article IX of the
Stock Purchase Agreement, if within thirty (30) days after Buyer Indemnitee's
notice to Shareholder, Shareholder does not notify the Escrow Agent (with a
copy to Buyer Indemnitee) that Shareholder objects to the claim, the Escrow
Agent promptly shall disburse funds from the Escrow Account to the Buyer
Indemnitee in the amount of such claim.
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(c) In respect of claims pursuant to Article IX of the
Stock Purchase Agreement, if within thirty (30) days after Buyer Indemnitee's
notice to Shareholder, Shareholder notifies the Escrow Agent (copy to Buyer
Indemnitee) that Shareholder objects to the claim, the Escrow Agent shall
disburse funds from the Escrow Account only if, and to the extent that, (i)
it is finally determined under the procedures set forth in Article IX of the
Stock Purchase Agreement that the Buyer Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified for such claim, or (ii) Buyer Indemnitee and Shareholder jointly
notify the Escrow Agent that the Escrow Agent shall make a disbursement to
Buyer Indemnitee with respect to such claim.
(d) In respect of claims pursuant to Section 2.04, provided
fifteen Business Days have elapsed after the Post-Closing Payment Date
pursuant to Section 2.04 and Shareholder has not made such payment to Buyer,
and Buyer so notifies the Escrow Agent, payment shall be made immediately
upon such notification.
3.2 TAXES ON THE FUNDS.
(a) All income tax assessed with respect to any income
earned on the Funds shall be paid (i) by Shareholder with respect to any
interest which during the calendar year is held in Escrow hereunder by the
Escrow Agent and not distributed to Buyer or Shareholder, and (ii) by the
recipient of any payment of Funds by the Escrow Agent hereunder which
includes interest to the extent that income tax has not already been paid on
such interest. Not later than the first day of February following the close
of each calendar year during which the Escrow Agent holds Funds, the Escrow
Agent shall provide to Buyer and Shareholder a statement of the interest
earned during such year on the Funds, together with that portion of such
interest which was not distributed to Buyer or Shareholder during that
calendar year. Not later than the first day of March following the close of
each calendar year during which the Escrow Agent holds Funds, Shareholder
shall provide to the Escrow Agent and Buyer an accounting of the combined
federal, state and local marginal income tax rate applicable to Shareholder
multiplied by the amount of interest earned on the Funds during that calendar
year, which interest has not been distributed to Buyer or Shareholder during
that calendar year (the "Tax Accounting"). Ten days after receipt of the Tax
Accounting, the Escrow Agent shall disburse to Shareholder an amount equal to
the lesser of the Tax Accounting or the amount of Funds on such date, unless
Buyer sends written notification of its rejection of the Tax Accounting to
the Escrow Agent and Shareholder. If Buyer rejects the Tax Accounting and
Buyer and Shareholder are unable to resolve any such disagreement prior to
the twentieth day of March, the disagreement shall be referred for final
determination to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP (the "First Choice") or, if such firm is
not available, such other independent accounting firm of national reputation
selected by the mutual agreement of Buyer and Shareholder (the "Selected
Firm"). As soon as possible after the Escrow Agent receives the final
determination of the Tax Accounting by the First Choice or the Selected Firm,
as the case may be, the Escrow Agent shall disburse to Shareholder an amount
equal to the lesser of the Tax Accounting or the amount of Funds on such date.
(b) The fees of Buyer's auditors (if any) incurred with
respect to the determination of the Tax Accounting shall be paid by Buyer and
the fees of Shareholder's auditors (if any) incurred with respect to the
determination of the Tax Accounting shall be paid by Shareholder. The fees of
the First Choice or the Selected Firm, as the case may be, shall be borne
equally by Buyer and Shareholder.
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(c) Each party hereto (except the Escrow Agent) shall
provide the Escrow Agent with its Tax Identification Number (TIN) as assigned
by the Internal Revenue Service. All interest or other income earned on the
Funds shall be allocated and paid to Buyer and Shareholder, as provided
herein, and reported by the recipient to the Internal Revenue Service as
having been so allocated and paid.
3.3 PAYMENTS IN TERMINATION OF ESCROW. The Escrow Agent
shall disburse the Funds to Shareholder in two separate payments as set forth
below.
(a) The Escrow Agent shall disburse to Shareholder an
amount equal to $1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand dollars), less
all amounts theretofore disbursed or reserved pursuant to Sections 3.1 or 3.4
hereof on the first anniversary of the Closing Date, provided that
Shareholder's employment with the Company has not theretofore been terminated
for "Good Cause" as defined in the Employment Agreement between Shareholder
and Buyer of even date herewith (the "First Release Date"), or as soon
thereafter as practicable.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall disburse to Shareholder all
Funds remaining in the Escrow Account on the date that is thirty-six (36)
months after the Closing Date (the "Second Release Date"), or as soon
thereafter as practicable, other than any Reserved Funds, as defined in
Section 3.4, which shall be disbursed in accordance with that Section.
3.4 RESERVED FUNDS. If a Buyer Indemnitee has notified the
Escrow Agent of a claim and, on the First Release Date or the Second Release
Date, as the case may be, it has not yet been determined whether the Escrow
Agent is required to make a disbursement to Buyer Indemnitee because the
requirements of Section 3.1(b) or (c) above have not yet been completed, the
Escrow Agent shall retain an amount of the Funds necessary to pay in full
such claim (the "Reserved Funds") until such requirements have been
completed, after which the Escrow Agent shall disburse the Reserved Funds,
and any interest earned thereon, (a) to Buyer Indemnitee, to the extent that
such payment is required by Section 3.1, and (b) to Shareholder, to the
extent the Reserved Funds exceed the amount so disbursed to Buyer Indemnitee.
3.5 PRINCIPAL FIRST. All disbursements will be charged
first against principal and thereafter against accrued interest.
4. NATURE OF DUTIES. The duties of the Escrow Agent hereunder are
only such as are specifically set forth in this Escrow Agreement, such duties
being purely ministerial in nature, and the Escrow Agent shall not be
required to take any action as such which it has reason to believe would
subject it to expense or liability unless it shall have been assured or
indemnified to its satisfaction by the party requesting such action. If at
any time the Escrow Agent shall receive conflicting notices, claims, demands
or instructions with respect to the Funds held in the Escrow, or if for any
other reason it shall in good faith be unable to determine the party or
parties entitled to receive such Funds, or any portion thereof, the Escrow
Agent may refuse to make any delivery thereof and retain such Funds safely in
its possession until it shall have received instructions in writing concurred
in by Buyer and Shareholder or until the disposition of such Funds shall be
directed by an order of a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction,
whereupon it shall make disposition in accordance with such instructions or
such order. In the alternative, the Escrow Agent may file a suit in
interpleader in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of
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having the respective rights of the claimants adjudicated and deposit with
such court some or all money and property held hereunder.
5. UNDERSTANDING. It is understood and agreed that the Escrow Agent:
(a) is not a party to, and is not bound by, any agreement
referred to herein or by any agreement among the other parties hereto or
their respective heirs, administrators, successors or assigns, other than as
specifically set forth herein;
(b) is acting hereunder as an Escrow Agent only and is not
responsible or liable in any manner whatever for the sufficiency,
correctness, genuineness or validity of any instrument deposited with it, for
the form of execution of any such instrument or for the identity, authority
or rights of any person executing or depositing it;
(c) shall be protected in acting upon any written notice,
request, waiver, consent, receipt or other paper or document believed by it
in good faith to be genuine and to have been made, signed, sent or presented
by the proper party or parties;
(d) shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or for
any act done or omitted by it in good faith, or for any mistake of fact or
law or for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in connection
herewith, except its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct and in
no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for special, indirect or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not
limited to lost profits), regardless of the form of action;
(e) may consult with legal counsel in the event of any
dispute or question as to the construction of any of the provisions hereof or
its duties hereunder and shall incur no liability and shall be fully
protected in acting in accordance with the opinion and instructions or any
such counsel;
(f) shall not be liable or responsible for any consequences
of any investment made in accordance with the terms hereunder; and
(g) shall not, by act, delay, omission or otherwise, be
deemed to have waived any rights or remedies, or both, hereunder unless such
waiver be in writing, and no waiver shall be valid unless in writing, signed
by the Escrow Agent, and only to the extent therein set forth, and a waiver
by the Escrow Agent of any right or remedy, or both, granted by it hereunder
on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such
right or remedy, or both, which the Escrow Agent would otherwise have had on
any future occasion.
6. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. The Escrow Agent shall receive an
annual base fee of $1000 (one thousand dollars) (the "Base Fee") as
compensation for the performance of its duties hereunder. The Base Fee shall
include the first three disbursements of funds made during each year of the
term of the Escrow in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Escrow
Agreement. In addition to the Base Fee, the Escrow Agent shall receive $50
(fifty dollars) for each disbursement of funds, if any, after the first three
disbursements made during each year of the term of the Escrow (the
"Additional Fee"). The Base Fee shall be borne by Buyer and shall be
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paid as of the Closing Date. Any Additional Fee shall also be borne by Buyer
and shall be paid as the Additional Fee is incurred. Buyer and Shareholder,
jointly and severally, agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Escrow Agent
and its directors, officers, employees and agents for any loss, cost,
liability, damage or expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses, arising out of or relating to the Escrow, the Funds or the
performance of its duties hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
indemnification will be made for any act of bad faith, willful misconduct or
negligence of the Escrow Agent. The covenants contained in this Section 6 and
Section 7 hereunder shall continue after the resignation or removal of the
Escrow Agent or the distribution of all Funds held hereunder. To secure the
payment of all sums owing to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent shall have a
Lien on all Funds held by it hereunder. Such Lien shall be prior to any other
Lien, and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to collect any and all sums
owing to it from such Funds before making any distributions to any other
person.
7. EXPENSES. All expenses reasonably incurred by the Escrow Agent in
connection with the performance of its duties as such hereunder shall be
borne by Buyer. Such expenses shall be reimbursed upon written request
therefor by the Escrow Agent.
8. TERMINATION AND RESIGNATION OF ESCROW AGENT. The Escrow Agent may
be removed with or without cause, by written notice to the Escrow Agent from
Buyer and Shareholder. The Escrow Agent may at any time resign by giving
thirty (30) Business Days prior written notice of such resignation to Buyer
and Shareholder. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, a successor
Escrow Agent (which is a bank or trust company having its principal executive
offices in the State of California and assets in excess of $1 billion) shall
be appointed by Shareholder, which Escrow Agent shall be reasonably
acceptable to Buyer, by an instrument in writing executed by Shareholder and
Buyer and delivered to the Escrow Agent. Any removal or resignation of the
Escrow Agent and appointment of a successor Escrow Agent shall become
effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Escrow Agent. If no
successor Escrow Agent shall have been appointed and have accepted
appointment within thirty (30) days of giving notice of removal or notice of
resignation as aforesaid, the resigning Escrow Agent, Buyer or Shareholder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Escrow Agent, and such court may thereupon, after such notice (if
any) as it may deem proper, appoint such successor Escrow Agent, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such successor Escrow Agent shall be a bank or trust company
meeting the requirements set forth in the third sentence of this Section 8;
and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that until the appointment of such successor Escrow
Agent, the Escrow Agent's sole responsibility shall be to hold the Funds
until the earlier of its receipt of a designation of a successor Escrow
Agent, the written instructions of Buyer and Shareholder determining the
disposition of the Fund or the termination of this Escrow Agreement in
accordance with its terms. Any successor Escrow Agent appointed hereunder
shall signify its acceptance of such appointment by executing and delivering
to Buyer and Shareholder and to its predecessor Escrow Agent a written
acceptance thereof, and thereupon such successor Escrow Agent, without any
further act, shall succeed to the estates, properties, rights, powers,
trusts, duties and obligations of such predecessor Escrow Agent, with like
effect as if originally named Escrow Agent herein; but, nevertheless, at the
written request of Buyer, Shareholder or the successor Escrow Agent, such
predecessor Escrow Agent shall execute and deliver any and all instruments of
conveyance or further assurance and do such other things as may reasonably be
required for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such
successor Escrow Agent all the right, title and interest of such predecessor
Escrow Agent in and to any property held by it hereunder and shall pay over,
transfer, assign and deliver to the successor hereunder
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any cash, Permitted Investments or other property subject to the trusts and
conditions herein set forth. Upon the request of the successor Escrow Agent,
Buyer and Shareholder shall execute and deliver any and all instruments as
may be reasonably required for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Escrow Agent all such moneys, estates,
properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations.
Any company into which the Escrow Agent may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated or any company resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which it shall be a party or any
company to which the Escrow Agent may sell or transfer all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business or escrow business, shall be the
successor to such Escrow Agent without the execution or filing of any paper
or any further act, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
9. NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, telegraphed,
telexed or sent by facsimile transmission and shall be deemed given when so
delivered personally, telegraphed, telexed or sent by facsimile transmission
as follows:
(a) IF TO SHAREHOLDER TO:
Xxx X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
WITH A COPY TO:
Dynes & Garbig Co. LPA
2840 Alt. St. Xx. 00 X.
Xxxxx X
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
(b) IF TO BUYER TO:
MagneTek, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx XxXxxxxx
Telecopier No.: (000) 000-0000
WITH A COPY TO:
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Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
(c) if to Escrow Agent to:
First Tennessee Bank National Association
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Any party may by notice given in accordance with this Section 9 to
the other parties designate another address or person for receipt of notices
hereunder.
In the event funds transfer instructions are given (other than in
writing at the time of execution of this Escrow Agreement), whether in
writing, by telecopier or otherwise, the Escrow Agent shall seek confirmation
of such instructions by telephone call-back to the persons designated on
Schedule 9 hereto, and the Escrow Agent may rely upon the confirmations of
anyone purporting to be any of the persons so designated. The persons and
telephone numbers for call-backs may be changed only in writing actually
received and acknowledged by the Escrow Agent. The parties to this Escrow
Agreement acknowledge that such security procedure is commercially reasonable.
It is understood that the Escrow Agent and the beneficiary's bank in
any funds transfer may rely solely upon any account numbers or similar
identifying number provided by either of the parties hereto to identify (i)
the beneficiary, (ii) the beneficiary's bank or (iii) an intermediary bank.
The Escrow Agent may apply any of the escrowed Funds for any payment order it
executes using any such identifying number, even where its use may result in
a person other than the beneficiary being paid, or the transfer of funds to a
bank other than the beneficiary's bank, or an intermediary bank designated.
10. SURVIVAL. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon the
parties hereto and upon their respective successors in interest and assigns;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Buyer and Shareholder may not assign this Escrow
Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto,
except that Buyer may assign this Escrow Agreement to an Affiliate or to any
bank or other similar lender as security for indebtedness incurred by Buyer,
and the Escrow Agent may assign this Escrow Agreement to a successor Escrow
Agent appointed as provided in Section 8 hereof.
11. HEADINGS. Headings in this Escrow Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not be deemed to have any substantive effect.
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12. GOVERNING LAW. This Escrow Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without
regard to the choice of law rules thereof.
13. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Any dispute between Buyer and Shareholder
under this Agreement in respect of the provisions of the Stock Purchase
Agreement or the Employment Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with
the dispute resolution provisions of the applicable agreement.
14. COUNTERPARTS. This Escrow Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.
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Very truly yours,
"BUYER"
MAGNETEK, INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
"SHAREHOLDER"
XXX X. XXXXX
---------------------------------------------
The foregoing is accepted and confirmed
"ESCROW AGENT"
FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: Dated:
---------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
See "Stock Purchase Agreement" attached hereto.
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Schedule 9
Telephone Numbers for Call-Backs and
PERSONS DESIGNATED TO CONFIRM FUNDS TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS
If to Buyer:
NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER
1. Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx (000) 000-0000
2.
If to Shareholder:
NAME: TELEPHONE NUMBER:
1. Xxx X. Xxxxx (000) 000-0000
2. Xxxxx X. Xxxxx (000) 000-0000
Telephone call-backs shall be made to each of Buyer and Shareholder if joint
instructions are required pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.
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