LONG TERM ESCROW AGREEMENT
This Escrow Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 24, 2002
among (i) Tilia International, Inc., a Xxxx Islands corporation ("Tilia"), (ii)
Alltrista Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Buyer"), (iii) Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx (the "Sellers' Representative") and (iv) X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company,
National Association, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Tilia, Tilia, Inc., a California corporation ("Tilia U.S."),
Tilia Canada, Inc. a corporation organized under the Canada Business Corporation
Act ("Tilia Canada") (Tilia, Tilia U.S. and Tilia Canada are collectively
referred to herein as the "Sellers" and each individually as a "Seller"), the
Sellers' Representative, and the Buyer have entered into that certain Asset
Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2002 (the "Purchase Agreement"),
pursuant to which certain amounts are to be placed in escrow as a source of the
payment for any indemnified claims that may arise pursuant to Section 13 of the
Purchase Agreement;
WHEREAS, Section 3.1 of the Purchase Agreement provides that at the
Closing, the Buyer shall deposit in escrow with the Escrow Agent an amount equal
to $5,000,000, constituting a part of the purchase price under the Purchase
Agreement, to provide a fund in the event that any indemnification claims are
made against Tilia in accordance with Section 13 of the Purchase Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Buyer has issued on the date hereof a certain promissory
note payable to Tilia in the principal amount of $5,000,000 (the "Long Term
Note") pursuant to which payments shall be made to the Escrow Agent under the
terms thereof;
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agent has agreed to act as escrow agent pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as
set forth in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise specifically defined
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
SECTION 1. Establishment of Escrow.
(a) On the Closing Date, the Buyer will wire transfer in immediately
available funds to the Escrow Agent, in accordance with Section 3.3 of the
Purchase Agreement, an amount equal to $5,000,000 (together with any payment
received by the Escrow Agent from the Buyer pursuant to the terms of the Long
Term Note, the "Long Term Escrowed Amount").
(b) The Escrow Agent hereby agrees to act as escrow agent and to hold,
safeguard and disburse the Long Term Escrowed Amount pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof.
SECTION 2. Investment of Funds. The Long Term Escrowed Amount shall be
invested, from time to time, to the extent possible, in the [Chase Investment
Money Market Account] or in such other instruments mutually agreed by both the
Buyer and the Sellers' Representative, with any remainder being deposited and
maintained in a money market deposit account with a bank organized under the
laws of the United States of America or of the State of California, which is
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or in such other accounts
mutually agreed by both the Buyer and the Sellers' Representative, until
disbursement of the entire Long Term Escrowed Amount. All interest or any other
income earned with respect to such investment shall be retained by the Escrow
Agent as part of the Long Term Escrowed Amount until distributed in accordance
with other provisions of this Agreement. For all federal, state and local income
tax purposes, Tilia, the Buyer and the Escrow Agent shall treat Tilia as the
owner of the Long Term Escrowed Amount. Accordingly, Tilia shall pay all income,
withholding and any other taxes imposed on or measured by income, to the extent
attributable to any sums deposited with the Escrow Agent pursuant to Section 1
of this Agreement or attributable to interest thereon and shall file, or cause
to be filed, all tax and information returns applicable thereto. The Escrow
Agent is authorized to liquidate any portion of the Long Term Escrowed Amount
consisting of investments to provide for payments required to be made under this
Agreement.
SECTION 3. Release of Escrowed Amount. The Escrow Agent shall release
the Long Term Escrowed Amount (as increased by any earnings thereon and as
reduced by any payments made from time to time pursuant to this Section 3
hereof, any Claim or any losses on investments), as follows:
(a) The Escrow Agent shall release the Long Term Escrowed Amount in
accordance with the written instructions of both the Buyer and the Sellers'
Representative.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall release such amounts as are authorized to be
paid to the Buyer pursuant to Section 4 below.
(c) On June 30, 2005, the Escrow Agent shall distribute the Long Term
Escrowed Amount to Tilia, provided, that if there shall remain one or more Open
Claims and/or if the Escrow Agent shall have received one or more notices from
the Buyer pursuant to Section 4(a) below, then the Escrow Agent shall distribute
the Long Term Escrowed Amount to Tilia less (i) the Claim Reserves in respect of
any Open Claims and (ii) the aggregate amount specified in such notices for
which a Claim Reserve has not been established.
(d) Following June 30, 2005, the Escrow Agent shall from time to time
distribute to Tilia any Long Term Escrowed Amount that exceeds the amount of the
Claim Reserves with respect to any Open Claims as to which there has been no
Final Determination; provided that if the Escrow Agent shall have received one
or more notices from the Buyer pursuant to Section 4(a) below on or prior to
March 31, 2003, and no Claim Reserve(s) shall
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have been established in respect of the Claim or Claims referred in any such
notice, the Escrow Agent shall retain as part of the Escrowed Amount an amount
equal to the aggregate of the amounts specified by the Buyer in any such
notices.
SECTION 4. Buyer Claims. The procedure for payments from the Long Term
Escrowed Amount shall be as follows:
(a) As the Buyer shall determine that it is entitled to an
indemnification payment under Section 13 of the Purchase Agreement (including
without limitation Section 13.2(a) thereof), the Buyer may request payment from
the Long Term Escrowed Amount by giving written notice of such claim to the
Escrow Agent and to the Sellers' Representatives, certifying in such notice the
nature of the claim in reasonable detail, the amount thereof if then
ascertainable and, if not then ascertainable, a good faith estimate of the
amount thereof and the provision(s) in the Purchase Agreement on which the claim
is based. Buyer may give notice of claim in accordance with this Section 4(a) at
any time on or prior to June 30, 2005 and no notice of claim may be given to the
Escrow Agent after June 30, 2005.
(b) If, within thirty (30) calendar days after actual receipt by the
Sellers' Representative of the written notice of a claim from the Buyer in
accordance with Section 4(a), the Escrow Agent has not actually received written
objection to such claim from the Sellers' Representative, the claim stated in
such notice shall be conclusively deemed to be approved by Tilia and the Escrow
Agent shall promptly thereafter pay to the Buyer from the Long Term Escrowed
Amount the amount of such claim to the extent of the funds in the Long Term
Escrowed Amount and shall notify the Sellers' Representative of such payment.
(c) If within said thirty (30) calendar days the Escrow Agent shall
have actually received from the Sellers' Representative a written objection to
the claim by the Buyer, stating the nature of and grounds for such objection (a
copy of which objection shall in each case be sent to the Buyer by the Sellers'
Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 below), then such
claim shall be deemed to be an "Open Claim" and the Escrow Agent shall reserve
within the Long Term Escrowed Amount an amount equal to the amount of the Open
Claim (which amount for each Open Claim is referred to herein as the "Claim
Reserve").
(d) The amount constituting the Claim Reserve for each Open Claim shall
be paid by the Escrow Agent from the Long Term Escrowed Amount to the Buyer only
either (i) in accordance with a joint written instruction by the Buyer and the
Sellers' Representative or (ii) if and to the extent consistent with a copy of a
final judgment by or order of the Board of Arbitration referred to in Section 9
hereof or a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to which any period of
time to appeal such judgment or order shall have lapsed pertaining to the Open
Claim, sent to the Escrow Agent by the Buyer or the Sellers' Representative, in
any case accompanied by a certification that any period of time to file an
appeal of such judgment or order has lapsed and no such appeal has been filed or
is otherwise pending (a "Final Determination"), and any portion of the Claim
Reserve for such Open Claim not so required to be paid to the Buyer shall be
deemed to be part of the remaining Long Term Escrowed Amount. The Escrow Agent
shall, within two banking days of having been given a copy of a Final
Determination for an Open Claim, pay the Buyer an amount equal to the aggregate
amount payable to the Buyer under the Final Determination for such Open Claim.
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(e) The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge and agree that all
instructions, directions or other communications given by the Buyer shall be
made pursuant to a writing signed by a duly authorized representative thereof,
and that all instructions, directions or other communications given by the
Sellers' Representative or, in the event of his death or disability, his
executor or guardian, as the case may be.
SECTION 5. Termination of Escrow. This Agreement shall terminate at
such time as there is no longer any Long Term Escrowed Amount. The provisions of
Section 6 shall survive a termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 6. Duties of the Escrow Agent
(a) The duties and obligations of the Escrow Agent, in its capacity as
such, shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement and
the Escrow Agent shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement. The Escrow
Agent shall not be bound in any way by any other agreement or contract among any
of the parties (whether or not the Escrow Agent has knowledge thereof).
(b) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable, except for its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct and, except with respect to claims based upon
such gross negligence or willful misconduct that are successfully asserted
against the Escrow Agent, the Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow
Agent (and any successor of the Escrow Agent) from and against any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements, arising out of and in connection with this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Escrow Agent shall in no event be
liable in connection with its investment or reinvestment of any cash held by it
hereunder in good faith, in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without
limitation, any liability for any delays (not resulting from its gross
negligence or willful misconduct) in the investment or reinvestment of the Long
Term Escrowed Amount, or any loss of interest incident to any such delays. In no
event shall Escrow Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss
or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits),
even if the Escrow Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or
damage and regardless of the form of action.
(c) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely in good faith upon any
order, judgment, certification, demand, notice, instrument or other writing
delivered to it hereunder without being required to determine the authenticity
or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of
the service thereof. The Escrow Agent may act in good faith in reliance upon any
instrument or signature believed by it to be genuine and may assume that the
person purporting to give receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any
document in connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do
so. In the administration of the Long Term Escrowed Amount, the Escrow Agent may
execute any of its powers and perform its duties hereunder directly or through
agents or attorneys and may, consult with counsel, accountants and other skilled
persons to be selected and retained by it. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable
for the performance of agents or for anything done, suffered or omitted in good
faith by it in accordance with the advice or opinion of any such counsel,
accountants or other skilled persons.
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(d) If a controversy arises between one or more of the parties hereto,
or between any of the parties hereto and any person not a party hereto, as to
whether or not or to whom the Escrow Agent shall deliver the Long Term Escrowed
Amount or any portion thereof or as to any other matter arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the Long Term Escrowed Amount deposited hereunder,
the Escrow Agent shall not be required to determine the same and need not make
any delivery of the Long Term Escrowed Amount or any portion thereof but may
retain it without liability to anyone until the rights of the parties to the
dispute shall have finally been determined by (i) mutual agreement, or (ii) a
copy of a final judgment by or order of a board of arbitration or a court of
competent jurisdiction with respect to which any period of time to appeal such
judgment or order shall have lapsed, accompanied by a certification that any
period of time to file an appeal of such judgment or order has lapsed and no
such appeal has been filed or is otherwise pending, but the Escrow Agent shall
be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend any such proceedings. The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to assume that no such controversy has arisen
unless it has received conflicting written notice from the parties to this
Agreement or a written notice from any person that such a controversy has arisen
which refers specifically to this Agreement and identifies by name and address
the adverse claimants to the controversy.
(e) The Escrow Agent hereby accepts its appointment and agrees to act
as the Escrow Agent under the terms and conditions of this Agreement. By such
acceptance and agreement, however, the Escrow Agent shall not be deemed to have
waived any right with respect to any transaction or representation (other than
its service as Escrow Agent hereunder) between or among it and any other party
or parties hereto.
(f) 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 of substantially all of its
escrow/custody business, provided such company shall be eligible to serve as
Escrow Agent hereunder, shall be the successor hereunder to the Escrow Agent
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act. In the event
the Escrow Agent becomes unavailable or unwilling to continue in its capacity
hereunder, the Escrow Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties or
obligations by giving notice of its resignation to the parties to this
Agreement, specifying a date not less than sixty (60) calendar days following
such notice date when such resignation shall take effect. Buyer and the Sellers'
Representative shall jointly designate a successor Escrow Agent prior to the
expiration of such sixty (60) calendar days period by giving written notice to
the resigning Escrow Agent. If at that time the Escrow Agent has not received a
designation of a successor escrow agent, the Escrow Agent's sole responsibility
after that time shall be to retain and safeguard the Escrowed Amount until
receipt of a designation of successor escrow agent from the Buyer and the
Sellers' Representative. The Escrow Agent shall promptly transfer the Long Term
Escrowed Amount to such designated successor.
(g) The Escrow Agent shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Escrow Agent in performance
of its duties hereunder (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements
of its counsel). Such fees, costs and expenses payable to the Escrow Agent shall
be borne one-half by Tilia and one-half by the Buyer.
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(h) The Sellers and the Buyer shall reimburse and indemnify the Escrow
Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense,
including but not limited to reasonable counsel fees, incurred without bad
faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Escrow Agent
arising out of or in connection with its acceptance of, or the performance of
its duties and obligations under this Agreement as well as the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim or liability arising out of or relating
to this Agreement. Such reimbursement to and indemnification of the Escrow Agent
shall be borne one-half by Tilia and one-half by the Buyer.
(i) The Sellers, the Buyer and the Escrow Agent agree to be bound by
the terms set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
SECTION 7. Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other
communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to
have been duly given when (a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of
receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt) provided
that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when
received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery
service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and
facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile
numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):
If to Tilia:
Tilia International, Inc.
c/o Tilia, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Lion III
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to the Sellers' Representative:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X.X.
One Union Square
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000 0000
Copy to:
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Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Lion III
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to the Buyer:
Alltrista Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X000
Xxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Ian X.X. Xxxxxx
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxxx
000 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to Escrow Agent:
X.X. Xxxxxx Trust Company, National Association
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx #0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
SECTION 8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED, PERFORMED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS
OF LAWS THEREOF.
SECTION 9. Arbitration. All disputes between Tilia and the Sellers'
Representative and the Buyer arising out of this Agreement shall be submitted to
binding arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.2(e) of the
Purchase Agreement.
SECTION 10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which,
when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same.
SECTION 11. Section Headings. The headings of sections in this
Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not affect its construction
or interpretation.
SECTION 12. Waiver. The rights and remedies of the parties to this
Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither the failure nor any delay
by any party in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement
or the documents referred to in this
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Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no
single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will preclude
any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or the exercise
of any other right, power, or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the
documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one party, in whole
or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in a
writing signed by the other party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a party
will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and
(c) no notice to or demand on one party will be deemed to be a waiver of any
obligation of such party or of the right of the party giving such notice or
demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this
Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.
SECTION 13. Exclusive Agreement and Modification. This Agreement and
the Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements among the parties with
respect to their subject matter and constitute (along with the documents
referred to in this Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms
of the agreement between the parties with respect to their subject matter. This
Agreement may not be amended except by a written agreement executed by all of
the parties hereto.
SECTION 14. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part by any party without the
prior consent of the other parties hereto and any such attempted assignment
without such prior written consent shall be void and of no force and effect,
provided, that the Buyer may assign its rights hereunder to one or more
Affiliates and to any party providing financing in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby (provided that such assignment shall not serve
as a novation) and Tilia may assign its rights and obligations to a liquidating
trust or similar entity, to the shareholders of Tilia or their assignees or to
other Affiliates of Tilia, provided further, that no such assignment shall
reduce or otherwise vitiate any of the obligations of Tilia or the Escrow Agent
hereunder. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
SECTION 15. Tax Reporting The Sellers agree to provide the Escrow Agent
with certified tax identification numbers for each Seller by furnishing
appropriate Forms W-9 (or Forms W-8, in the case of non-U.S. persons) and other
forms and documents that the Escrow Agent may reasonably request (collectively,
"Tax Reporting Documentation") to the Escrow Agent within thirty (30) days after
the date hereof.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first written above.
ALLTRISTA CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
TILIA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
by Corporate Directors Limited, Director
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Corvette
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Corvette
Title: Authorized Signatory
X.X. XXXXXX TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION as Escrow Agent
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
[LONG TERM ESCROW AGREEMENT]
EXHIBIT A
1. Specimen Signatures The Escrow Agent may rely on the signatures contained on
the signature page hereto as the specimen signatures of the parties, until
changed in writing by a certificate to the Escrow Agent from the party so
changing.
2. Funds Transfer Language
a) In the event funds transfer instructions are given (other than in writing at
the time of execution of the Escrow Agreement) whether in writing, by telecopier
or otherwise, the Escrow Agent is authorized to seek confirmation of such
instructions by telephone call-back to the person or persons designated on
Attachment "A" hereto, and the Escrow Agent may rely upon the confirmations of
anyone purporting to be the person or persons so designated. The persons and
telephone numbers for call-backs may be changed only in a writing actually
received and acknowledged by the Escrow Agent. The parties to this Agreement
acknowledge that such security procedure is commercially reasonable.
b) 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 other parties hereto to identify (I) the
beneficiary, (ii) the beneficiary's bank, or (iii) an 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.
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Attachment A
Telephone Number(s) for Call-Backs and Person(s)
Designated to Confirm Funds Transfer and Payment Instructions
Escrow Agent is authorized to confirm payment instructions issued in the name of
any of the parties to this Agreement with any person purporting to be the person
designated on behalf of such party as indicated below, whether or not that
person is the person who has issued the payment instructions to the Escrow
Agent.
Name Telephone Number
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FOR THE BUYER:
Ian X.X. Xxxxxx (000) 000-0000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx
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FOR SELLERS' REPRESENTATIVE:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (415) 392-9228 ext. 223
Hanns J. Xxxxxxx (000) 000-0000
