ESCROW AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
This Escrow Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 6, 2020, by and between: KBL Merger Corp. IV, a Delaware corporation (“KBL”); and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, as representative (the “Stockholder Representative”) of the Persons identified from time to time on Schedule 1 hereto; and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the “Escrow Agent”).
Recitals
WHEREAS, KBL and the Stockholder Representative, together with KBL Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), 180 Life Sciences Corp. (“180”), Katexco Pharmaceuticals Corp. (“Katexco”), CannBioRex Pharmaceuticals Corp. (“CBR Pharma”) and 180 Therapeutics L.P. (“180 LP” and together with Katexco and CBR Pharma, the “180 Subsidiaries”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement dated as of July 25, 2019 (the “Business Combination Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things: (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into 180; and (ii) certain stock issuances are to be made to the Company Stockholders (as defined below). A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A;
WHEREAS, the Business Combination Agreement contemplates the establishment of an escrow fund to secure certain rights of the KBL Indemnitees (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to indemnification as provided in the Business Combination Agreement; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.17 of the Business Combination Agreement, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx has been irrevocably appointed by the Company Stockholders to serve as the representative for the benefit of the Company Stockholders and the 180 Subsidiaries in connection with, among other things, all matters under this Agreement and the resolution of all indemnification claims under the Business Combination Agreement.
Agreement
The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
Section 1. Defined Terms.
1.1 Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
1.2 As used in this Agreement, the term “Company Stockholders” refers to the Persons who were stockholders of 180 immediately prior to the Effective Time or their respective Affiliates to which the rights under this Agreement have been assigned as set forth herein.
Section 2. Escrow and Indemnification.
2.1 Shares and Stock Powers Placed in Escrow. At or following the Effective Time, in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement, KBL, which shall change its name to 180 Life Sciences Corp. in connection with the Business Combination, shall issue certificates for the Escrowed Shares registered in the names of each of the Company Stockholders evidencing the shares of KBL Common Stock to be held in escrow under this Agreement in the amounts set forth on Schedule 1, and shall cause such certificates to be delivered to the Escrow Agent.
2.2 Escrow Funds. The Escrowed Shares being held in escrow pursuant to this Agreement, together with any distributions on the Escrowed Shares, shall collectively constitute an escrow fund (the “Escrow Fund”) securing the indemnification rights of KBL and the KBL Indemnitees under the Business Combination Agreement. The Escrow Agent agrees to accept delivery of the Escrow Funds and to hold the Escrow Fund in a separate escrow account (such account, the “Escrow Account”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement.
2.3 Voting of Escrow Shares. The record owner of the Escrowed Shares shall be entitled to exercise all voting rights with respect to such Escrowed Shares. The Escrow Agent is not obligated to distribute to the Company Stockholders or to the Stockholder Representative any proxy materials and other documents relating to the Escrow Shares received by the Escrow Agent from KBL.
2.4 Investments. The Escrow Agent shall invest and reinvest the cash (if any) held in the Escrow Account from time to time in (a) short-term securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; and/or (b) repurchase agreements relating to such securities. Upon the request of either KBL or the Stockholder Representative, the Escrow Agent shall provide a statement to the requesting party that describes any deposit, distribution or investment activity or deductions with respect to any funds held in the Escrow Account in addition to quarterly account statements from the Escrow Agent.
2.5 Interest, Etc. KBL and the Stockholder Representative, on behalf of each of the Company Stockholders, agree that any interest accruing on or income otherwise earned (including any ordinary cash dividends paid in respect to the Escrowed Shares) on any investment of any funds in the Escrow Account shall be held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account. The aggregate amount of all interest and other income earned on any investment of any funds in the Escrow Account shall be distributed by the Escrow Agent as set forth in Section 3.
2.6 Dividends, Etc. KBL and the Stockholder Representative, on behalf of each of the Company Stockholders, agree that any shares of KBL Common Stock or other property (including ordinary cash dividends) distributable or issuable (whether by way of dividend, stock split or otherwise) in respect of or in exchange for any Escrowed Shares (including pursuant to or as a part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, reorganization or liquidation involving KBL) shall not be distributed or issued to the beneficial owners of such Escrowed Shares, but rather shall be distributed or issued to and held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account as part of the Escrow Fund. Any securities or other property received by the Escrow Agent in respect of any Escrowed Shares held in escrow as a result of any stock split or combination of shares of KBL Common Stock, payment of a stock dividend or other stock distribution in or on shares of KBL Common Stock, or change of KBL Common Stock into any other securities pursuant to or as a part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, reorganization or liquidation involving KBL, or otherwise, shall be held by the Escrow Agent as part of the Escrow Fund.
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2.7 Transferability. Except as provided for herein or by operation of law, the interests of the Company Stockholders in the Escrow Fund and in the Escrowed Shares shall not be assignable or transferable.
2.8 Trust Fund. The Escrow Fund shall be held as trust funds and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process or any other judicial process of any creditor of any Company Stockholder, or of any party hereto. The Escrow Agent shall hold and safeguard the Escrow Fund until the Termination Date (as defined in Section 6) or earlier distribution in accordance with this Agreement.
Section 3. Release of Escrow Shares.
3.1 General. Within 10 Business Days after receiving either (a) joint written instructions from KBL and the Stockholder Representative (“Joint Instructions”) or (b) an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction (a “Court Order”) relating to the release of any Escrowed Shares from the Escrow Fund, in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Business Combination Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall release or cause to be released any such Escrowed Shares and any other amounts from the Escrow Fund, in the amounts, to the Persons and in the manner set forth in such Joint Instructions Court Order.
3.2 Escrow Release Date. Promptly following the one (1) year anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Escrow Release Date”), but in no event later than two (2) Business Days thereafter, the Stockholder Representative and KBL shall deliver to the Escrow Agent joint written instructions directing the Escrow Agent to distribute any remaining Escrowed Shares in the Escrow Fund less a number of Escrowed Shares in the Escrow Fund equal to the aggregate value of all unsatisfied or disputed indemnifiable Losses set forth in any Claim Notice delivered to the Stockholder Representative on or prior to the Escrow Release Date in accordance with Article 8 of the Business Combination Agreement. Any portion of the Escrowed Shares held by the Escrow Agent following the Escrow Release Date with respect to pending but unresolved claims for indemnification pursuant to Article 8 of the Business Combination Agreement that is not awarded to KBL upon the resolution of such claims shall be promptly distributed by the Escrow Agent to the Company Stockholders and the Company Subsidiaries on a pro rata basis. KBL and the Stockholder Representative shall, promptly after final resolution of such pending claims (but in no event later than two (2) Business Days thereafter), execute a joint instruction to release such amounts from the Escrow Account in accordance with such final resolution thereof. For purposes of this Agreement and of Article 8 of the Business Combination Agreement, the Escrowed Shares shall be valued at the Per Share Redemption Price.
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3.3 Disputes. All disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to Section 3 of this Agreement that are not resolved by mutual agreement between KBL and the Stockholder Representative shall be resolved solely and exclusively as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.
Section 4. Fees and Expenses.
The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, fees in accordance with Schedule 2. In accordance with Schedule 2, the Escrow Agent will also be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Escrow Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder and the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All such fees and expenses shall be paid by Parent.
Section 5. Limitation of Escrow Agent’s Liability.
5.1 The Escrow Agent undertakes to perform such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement only and shall have no duty under any other agreement or document, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall incur no liability with respect to any action taken by it or for any inaction on its part in reliance upon any notice, direction, instruction, consent, statement or other document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and duly authorized, nor for any other action or inaction except for its own negligence or willful misconduct. In all questions arising under this Agreement, the Escrow Agent may rely on the advice of counsel, and for anything done, omitted or suffered in good faith by the Escrow Agent based upon such advice the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to anyone. In no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for incidental, punitive or consequential damages.
5.2 KBL and the Stockholder Representative, acting on behalf of the Company Stockholders, hereby agree to indemnify the Escrow Agent and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold it and them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Escrow Agent, arising out of or in connection with the Escrow Agent’s carrying out its duties hereunder. This right of indemnification shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the resignation of the Escrow Agent.
Section 6. Termination.
This Agreement shall terminate upon the release by the Escrow Agent of the final amounts held in the Escrow Fund in accordance with Section 3 (the date of such release being referred to as the “Termination Date”).
Section 7. Successor Escrow Agent.
In the event the Escrow Agent becomes unavailable or unwilling to continue as escrow agent under this Agreement, the Escrow Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder by giving its written resignation to the parties to this Agreement. Such resignation shall take effect not less than 30 days after it is given to all the other parties hereto. In such event, KBL may appoint a successor Escrow Agent (acceptable to the Stockholder Representative, acting reasonably). If KBL fails to appoint a successor Escrow Agent within 15 days after receiving the Escrow Agent’s written resignation, the Escrow Agent shall have the right to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Escrow Agent. The successor Escrow Agent shall execute and deliver to the Escrow Agent an instrument accepting such appointment, and the successor Escrow Agent shall, without further acts, be vested with all the estates, property rights, powers and duties of the predecessor Escrow Agent as if originally named as Escrow Agent herein. The Escrow Agent shall act in accordance with written instructions from KBL and the Stockholder Representative as to the transfer of the Escrow Funds to a successor Escrow Agent.
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Section 8. Company Stockholder Representatives.
8.1 Unless and until KBL and the Escrow Agent shall have received written notice of the appointment of a successor Stockholder Representative in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, KBL and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, the power and authority of the Stockholder Representative to act on behalf of the Company Stockholders.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Attorneys’ Fees. In any action at law or suit in equity to enforce or interpret this Agreement or the rights of any of the parties hereunder, the prevailing party in such action or suit shall be entitled to receive a reasonable sum for its attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in such action or suit.
9.2 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received when delivered (by hand, by registered mail, by courier or express delivery service or by facsimile) to the address or facsimile telephone number set forth beneath the name of such party below (or to such other address or facsimile telephone number as such party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other parties hereto):
if to Parent:
KBL
Merger Corp. IV
00 Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00X
Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLP
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: M. Xxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
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if to the Stockholder Representative:
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
The Loev Law Firm, PC
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
if to the Escrow Agent:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: ____________
Facsimile: ______________
Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices addressed to the Escrow Agent shall be effective only upon receipt. If any notice or other document is required to be delivered to the Escrow Agent and any other Person, the Escrow Agent may assume without inquiry that notice or other document was received by such other Person on the date on which it was received by the Escrow Agent.
9.3 Headings. The bold-faced headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
9.4 Counterparts and Exchanges by Facsimile or Other Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
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9.5 Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof. In any action between the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement: (a) each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York; (b) if any such action is commenced in a state court, then, subject to applicable law, no party shall object to the removal of such action to any federal court located in the State of New York; and (c) each of the parties irrevocably waives the right to trial by jury.
9.6 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and each of their respective permitted successors and assigns, if any. The rights of a Company Stockholder under this Agreement may be assigned, delegated or transferred, in whole or in part, by each of the Company Stockholders to any Affiliate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such Company Stockholder, or any other Person, managed fund or managed client account over which such Company Stockholder or any of its Affiliates exercises investment authority, including, without limitation, with respect to voting and dispositive rights.
9.7 Waiver. No failure on the part of any Person to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any Person in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. No Person shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Person; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.
9.8 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of KBL, the Stockholder Representative and the Escrow Agent; provided, however, that any amendment executed and delivered by the Stockholder Representative shall be deemed to have been approved by and duly executed and delivered by all of the Company Stockholders.
9.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit 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 provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties hereto agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term.
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9.10 Parties in Interest. Except as expressly provided herein, none of the provisions of this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to provide any rights or remedies to any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, if any.
9.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among or between any of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
9.12 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any action arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
9.13 Tax Reporting Information. KBL agrees to provide the Escrow Agent with a certified tax identification number for KBL and the Stockholder Representative agrees to provide the Escrow Agent with certified tax identification numbers for each of the Company Stockholders by furnishing appropriate forms W-9 (or Forms W-8, in the case of non-U.S. persons) and any other forms and documents that the Escrow Agent may reasonably request (collectively, “Tax Reporting Documentation”) to the Escrow Agent within 30 days after the date hereof. The parties hereto understand that, if such Tax Reporting Documentation is not so furnished to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold a portion of any interest or other income earned on the investment of monies held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement, and to immediately remit such withholding to the Internal Revenue Service.
9.14 Cooperation. The Stockholder Representative on behalf of the Company Stockholders and KBL agrees to cooperate fully with the Escrow Agent and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements, stock powers and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by KBL, the Stockholder Representative or the Escrow Agent to evidence or reflect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
9.15 Construction.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neutral genders; and the neutral gender shall include masculine and feminine genders.
(b) The parties hereto agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(c) As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(d) Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to “Sections”, “Schedules” and “Exhibits” are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement, Schedules to this Agreement and Exhibits to this Agreement.
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In Witness Whereof, the parties have duly caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
| KBL Merger Corp. IV, a Delaware corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, M.D. | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, M.D. | |
| Title: | CEO | |
| Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, solely in his capacity as a Stockholders’ Representative | ||
| /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
| Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
[Escrow Agreement Signature Page]
Schedule
1
Company Stockholders
Schedule
2
Escrow Agent’s Fees and Expenses
| Monthly Fee for holding securities and/or cash: | $________ per month |
| Additional out of pocket expenses including postage and stationary: | Additional |
Exhibit
A
Business Combination Agreement
