1
EXHIBIT 2.2
INDEMNIFICATION AND ESCROW AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF AUGUST 31, 2000
AMONG
XXXXXX CORPORATION,
WAVTRACE, INC.,
XXXXXX X. XXX XXXXXXXX
AND
CITIBANK, N.A.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Section 1. Definitions.................................................1
Section 2. Deposit and Use of Escrow Amount............................2
Section 3. Disposition of Escrow Amount................................2
Section 4. Delivery of Escrow Amount Upon Termination..................5
Section 5. Permitted Investments; Interest.............................6
Section 6. Liability and Compensation of Escrow Agent..................7
Section 7. Shareholder Representative.................................10
Section 8. Taxes......................................................11
Section 9. Representations and Warranties.............................11
Section 10. Indemnification Provisions and Payment of Net Worth
Adjustment Amount..........................................12
Section 11. Benefit; Successor and Assigns.............................14
Section 12. Termination................................................14
Section 13. Notices....................................................14
Section 14. Governing Law..............................................15
Section 15. Dispute Resolution.........................................15
Section 16. Counterparts...............................................16
Section 17. Headings...................................................16
Section 18. Partial Invalidity.........................................16
Section 19. Entire Agreement; Modification and Waiver..................17
i
3
INDEMNIFICATION AND ESCROW AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION and ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "ESCROW AGREEMENT"),
is dated as of August 31, 2000, among Xxxxxx Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("PARENT"), Wavtrace, Inc., a Washington corporation (the "COMPANY"), Xxxxxx X.
xxx Xxxxxxxx (the "SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE") and Citibank, N.A., as
indemnification and escrow agent (the "ESCROW AGENT").
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, the Company, WT Acquisition Corp., a Washington corporation
("MERGERCO"), the Shareholder Representative and Parent are parties to the
Agreement of Merger, dated as of July 28, 2000 (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"),
pursuant to which Mergerco shall be merged with and into the Company (the
"MERGER"), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (as
such, the "SURVIVING CORPORATION");
WHEREAS, as a condition to their entering into the Merger Agreement,
Parent and Mergerco are being indemnified, held harmless and reimbursed pursuant
to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, to ensure that funds will be available to indemnify, hold
harmless and reimburse Parent Group Members (as defined herein), on the Closing
Date, the Parent shall deposit an amount in U.S. dollars equal to the Escrow
Amount (as defined in the Merger Agreement) with the Escrow Agent in an escrow
account established pursuant to this Escrow Agreement to be held and
subsequently disbursed in accordance with the express terms of this Escrow
Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement provides for the Shareholder
Representative to act in accordance herewith in connection with this Escrow
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agent has been appointed by Parent and the
Shareholder Representative and has agreed to hold the Escrow Amount pursuant to
the express terms of this Escrow Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
set forth in the Merger Agreement. As used herein:
"EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses incurred in connection
with investigating, defending or asserting any claim, action, suit or proceeding
incident to any matter indemnified against hereunder (including, without
limitation, court filing fees, court costs, arbitration fees or costs, witness
fees and reasonable fees and
-1-
4
disbursements of legal counsel, investigators, expert witnesses, consultants,
accountants and other professionals).
"LOSSES" shall mean any and all losses, costs, obligations,
liabilities, settlement payments, payments with respect to Taxes, awards,
judgments, fines, penalties, damages, expenses, deficiencies or other charges.
"PARENT GROUP MEMBER" shall mean the Surviving Corporation, Parent,
or any of their respective Affiliates and their respective successors and
assigns.
"PERMITTED INVESTMENT" shall mean any or any combination of the
following: (i) readily marketable obligations maturing within six (6) months
after the date of acquisition thereof issued by the United States of America or
any agency or instrumentality thereof; (ii) readily marketable obligations
maturing within six (6) months after the date of acquisition thereof issued by
any state or municipality within the United States of America, or any political
subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, rated "A" or better by either
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Xxxxx'x Investors Service Inc.; (iii) readily
marketable commercial paper maturing within one hundred eighty (180) days after
the date of issuance thereof which has the highest credit rating of either
Standard & Poor's Corporation or Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.; (iv) six (6)
month certificates of deposit issued by any bank incorporated and doing business
pursuant to the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof having
combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 or (v) money market funds
(including, but not limited to, Xxxxxxx, Sachs FS Prime Obligations Fund Service
Class (464)).
"SHAREHOLDERS" shall mean the holders of shares of Company Common
Stock and the holders of Unexercised Vested Options who have the right to
receive any Per Share Escrow Payments pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
Section 2. DEPOSIT AND USE OF ESCROW AMOUNT.
(a) On the Closing Date, Parent shall deposit the Escrow Amount with the
Escrow Agent.
(b) Promptly after receipt from Parent of the Escrow Amount, the Escrow
Agent shall confirm to Parent and the Shareholder Representative such receipt in
writing.
(c) The Escrow Agent agrees to hold and disburse the Escrow Amount solely
as instructed in writing by Parent and/or the Shareholder Representative (as set
forth herein) and to act as Escrow Agent only in accordance with the terms,
conditions and provisions of this Escrow Agreement.
Section 3. DISPOSITION OF ESCROW AMOUNT.
(a) Each Parent Group Member shall be entitled to receive payment directly
from the Escrow Agent out of the Escrow Amount in the amount specified which, at
any time and from time to time, such Parent Group Member is entitled to be
indemnified,
-2-
5
reimbursed and held harmless from the Escrow Amount as provided in SECTION 10
hereof, in each case in accordance with the following provisions.
(i) If any Parent Group Member wishes to make a claim (a "CLAIM") for
indemnification pursuant to SECTION 10 hereof, to be satisfied from the
Escrow Amount, such Parent Group Member (individually or collectively, the
"CLAIMING PARTY") shall so notify the Escrow Agent in writing (the "CLAIM
NOTICE") of the facts giving rise to such claim for indemnification
hereunder. Such Claim Notice shall describe in reasonable detail (to the
extent then known or determinable) each individual Loss or Expense that the
Claiming Party has paid or reasonably anticipates that it will have to pay,
the date each such Loss or Expense was paid or incurred (or the basis for
such anticipated Loss or Expense), the nature of the misrepresentation,
breach or warranty or claim to which such Loss or Expense related and the
method of calculating such Loss or Expense. If the Claiming Party is not
the Surviving Corporation or Parent, the Claim Notice must be accompanied
by a certificate from the Surviving Corporation or Parent confirming that
the Claiming Party is a Parent Group Member. At the time of delivery of any
Claim Notice to the Escrow Agent, a duplicate copy of such Claim Notice
shall be delivered by the Claiming Party to the Shareholder Representative.
The Claim Notice shall be accompanied by a certificate of the Claiming
Party attesting to the Claiming Party's contemporaneous delivery of a
duplicate copy of the Claim Notice to the Shareholder Representative.
(ii) Unless the Shareholder Representative shall have delivered an
Objection (as defined herein) in accordance with SECTION 3(a)(iii), the
Escrow Agent shall, on the thirtieth (30th) day (or such earlier day as the
Shareholder Representative shall authorize in writing to the Escrow Agent)
after receipt of a Claim Notice with respect to indemnification for a
specified amount, deliver the Escrow Amount as specified in the Claim
Notice.
(iii) Until the thirtieth (30th) day following delivery of a Claim Notice,
the Shareholder Representative may deliver to the Escrow Agent a written
objection (an "OBJECTION") to the claim made in such Claim Notice. At the
time of delivery of any Objection to the Escrow Agent, a duplicate copy of
such Objection shall be delivered to the Claiming Party and to Parent. Any
such Objection shall be a notice of dispute to either the merits or the
amount of the Claim or both.
(iv) Upon receipt of an Objection properly made, the Escrow Agent shall (1)
deliver the specified portion of the Escrow Amount equal to that portion of
the amount specified in the Claim Notice, if any, which is not disputed by
the Shareholder Representative and (2) designate and segregate out of the
Escrow Amount a portion thereof with a value equal to the amount subject to
the Claim Notice which is disputed by the Shareholder Representative. Such
designated and segregated amount shall be deposited into a separate escrow
sub-account designated the "Disputed Claim Account". Thereafter, the Escrow
Agent shall not dispose of such segregated and disputed portion of the
Escrow Amount until the Escrow Agent shall have received a certified copy
of the final decision of the
-3-
6
arbitrators as contemplated by SECTION 3(a)(vi), or the Escrow Agent shall
have received the written agreement between the Claiming Party and the
Shareholder Representative resolving such dispute and setting forth the
amount, if any, which such Claiming Party is entitled to be paid. The
Escrow Agent will deliver the portion of the Escrow Amount that the
Claiming Party is entitled to receive as set forth in the arbitration
decision after the expiration of ten (10) business days from the receipt of
such decision or, in the event that the amount to which the Claiming Party
is entitled is established pursuant to an agreement between the Claiming
Party and the Shareholder Representative, promptly (but not later than ten
(10) business days) after the Escrow Agent's receipt of such agreement.
(v) The Claiming Party shall deliver a written response to the Shareholder
Representative in respect of any Objection properly delivered by the
Shareholder Representative. If after thirty (30) days following delivery of
such response there remains a dispute as to any Claims, the Shareholder
Representative and the Claiming Party shall attempt in good faith for sixty
(60) days to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect
to each of such claims. If the Shareholder Representative and the Claiming
Party so agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be prepared
and signed by both and shall be furnished to the Escrow Agent and shall
specify the amount to be distributed to the Claiming Party and the account
(or sub-account) from which such disbursement shall be made. The Escrow
Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively and fully on any such
memorandum and shall distribute upon such joint written instruction from
Parent and the Shareholder Representative the specified amount from the
Escrow Amount in accordance with the terms thereof or in the manner set
forth herein.
(vi) If no such agreement can be reached after good faith negotiation,
either the Claiming Party or the Shareholder Representative may, by written
notice to the other, demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount of
the Loss or Expense is at issue in pending litigation with a third party,
in which event arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount is
ascertained or both parties have agreed to arbitration; and in either such
event the matter shall be settled by arbitration conducted in accordance
with SECTION 15 hereof. The decision of the arbitrator as to the validity
and amount of any disputed claim in the related Claim Notice shall be
binding and conclusive and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this SECTION 3, the Escrow Agent shall conclusively rely on and act in
accordance with such arbitrator's decision and make or withhold payments
out of the Escrow Amount in accordance therewith.
(b) THIRD PERSON CLAIMS. The Claiming Party shall have the right to conduct
and control, through counsel of its choosing, the defense, compromise or
settlement of any third Person claim, action or suit as to which indemnification
will be sought by any Claiming Party pursuant to SECTION 10 hereof, and in any
such case the Shareholder Representative shall cooperate in connection therewith
and shall furnish such records, information and testimony and attend such
conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals as may be
reasonably requested by the Claiming Party in
-4-
7
connection therewith; PROVIDED, that the Shareholder Representative may
participate, through counsel chosen by it and at its own expense, in the defense
of any such claim, action or suit as to which the Claiming Party has so elected
to conduct and control the defense thereof; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the
Claiming Party shall not, without the written consent of the Shareholder
Representative (which written consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), pay,
compromise or settle any such claim, action or suit, except that no such consent
shall be required if, following a written request from the Claiming Party, the
Shareholder Representative shall fail, within thirty (30) days after the making
of such request, to acknowledge and agree in writing that, if such claim, action
or suit shall be adversely determined, indemnification shall be provided to such
Claiming Party from the Escrow Amount pursuant hereto.
(c) The Escrow Agent shall not dispose of all or any portion of the Escrow
Amount other than as expressly provided in this Escrow Agreement.
Section 4. DELIVERY OF ESCROW AMOUNT UPON TERMINATION.
(a) On the date which is eight (8) months after the Effective Date (the
"FIRST DISTRIBUTION DATE") and provided that the aggregate dollar amount of
Claims that have been made up to that date do not exceed $500,000, then, upon
joint written instruction from Parent and the Shareholder Representative, the
Escrow Agent shall deliver to the Shareholders an amount (the "FIRST
DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT") equal to one-half of the remaining Escrow Amount. On the
date which is fifteen (15) months after the Effective Date (the "SECOND
DISTRIBUTION DATE"), upon joint written instruction from Parent and the
Shareholder Representative, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to the Shareholders
an amount specified in such joint written instruction (together with the First
Distribution Amount, the "DISTRIBUTION AMOUNT") equal to (A) the remaining
Escrow Amount, LESS (B) any amount designated as subject to a disputed Claim
pursuant to a Claim Notice to the extent such Claim has not been resolved prior
to such date, LESS (C) the Escrow Agent's Compensation and any Indemnification
Liability (as each is defined in SECTION 6) (to the extent Parent and the
Shareholder Representative have received written statements from the Escrow
Agent of such amounts pursuant to SECTION 6(d)), (D) any amounts paid by the
Company for which it may be reimbursed pursuant to SECTION 6(a) hereof, and LESS
(E) any Shareholder Representative's Expenses (to the extent Parent and the
Escrow Agent shall then have received written notice from the Shareholder
Representative to such effect in accordance with SECTION 7(c) hereof). The
portion of any Distribution Amount due to any Shareholder shall be an amount
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the
total amount of the Closing Consideration attributable to such Shareholder
pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the denominator of which is the total
amount of the Closing Consideration.
(b) Any amounts retained in escrow after the Second Distribution Date shall
be held by the Escrow Agent and shall be used to indemnify Parent Group Members
subject to the terms and conditions of this Escrow Agreement and upon resolution
and payment out of the Escrow Amount in satisfaction of applicable pending
Claims, any remaining amounts in escrow shall, upon joint written instruction
from Parent and the
-5-
8
Shareholder Representative, be transferred to the Shareholder Representative
with respect to any Shareholder Representative's Expenses (to the extent Parent
and the Escrow Agent shall then have received written notice from the
Shareholder Representative to such effect in accordance with SECTION 7(c)) and
to the Escrow Agent with respect to any Escrow Agent's Compensation and
Indemnification Liability (to the extent Parent and the Shareholder
Representative have received written statements of such amounts pursuant to
SECTION 6(d)) and any remaining amounts shall be distributed to the Shareholders
in accordance with SECTION 4(a).
(c) Upon distribution of the entire amount of the Escrow Amount, the Escrow
Agent shall give Parent and the Shareholder Representative written notice to
such effect. Such notice shall be given to the address set forth in SECTION 13,
or to such other address as designated pursuant thereto. Upon such distribution,
this Escrow Agreement shall terminate; PROVIDED however that SECTION 6 shall
survive such termination.
(d) At any time prior to final termination of this Escrow Agreement as
provided in SECTION 4(c), the Escrow Agent shall, if so instructed in a writing
signed by Parent and the Shareholder Representative, release from the Escrow
Amount to Parent the amounts SPECIFIED in such writing.
Section 5. PERMITTED INVESTMENTS; INTEREST.
The Escrow Agent is hereby authorized and directed to hold the Escrow
Amount in a segregated escrow account and to disburse such Escrow Amount only in
accordance with the express terms of this Escrow Agreement. From the date hereof
until the date of disbursement of the Escrow Amount pursuant to SECTION 4, the
Escrow Agent is authorized and directed to invest and reinvest any Escrow Amount
in such Permitted Investments as Parent and the Shareholder Representative shall
mutually agree and shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent in writing, so long
as the Escrow Amount is available for disbursement by wire transfer or certified
check within ten (10) business days after the Escrow Agent is instructed and
authorized to release any of the Escrow Amount pursuant to this Escrow
Agreement. In the absence of such an agreement and instructions, the Escrow
Agent agrees to invest and reinvest such funds in Xxxxxxx, Sachs FS Prime
Obligations Fund Service Class (464), or a successor or similar fund jointly
agreed to by Parent and the Shareholder Representative in writing and which is a
Permitted Investment. Any interest or other earnings realized from investment of
the Escrow Amounts shall be considered, and be disposed of by the Escrow Agent
as part of, the Escrow Amount. For purposes of this Escrow Agreement, "interest"
on the Escrow Amount shall include all proceeds thereof and investment earnings
with respect thereto. The Escrow Agent shall have full power and authority to
sell any investments held by it under this Escrow Agreement as necessary to make
disbursements under this Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent, Parent and the
Shareholder Representative shall not be liable or responsible for any unrealized
profit or realized loss on such investments.
-6-
9
Section 6. LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION OF ESCROW AGENT.
(a) The Company and Parent (each an "Indemnifying Party") shall jointly and
severally indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any and
all liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, indemnity, settlement,
cost or expense (other than the Escrow Agent's fees and out-of-pocket expenses
which shall be paid pursuant to the terms of SECTION 6(d) hereof) which may
arise out of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Escrow Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Escrow Agreement and
in accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement (the "Indemnification
Liability"), except such liability and expense as may result from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. The Company shall be
entitled to be reimbursed out of the Escrow Amount for all amounts that the
Company is required to pay in respect of any Indemnification Liability. Subject
to the foregoing, each of the Indemnifying Parties shall contribute to the
Indemnification Liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of each individual Indemnifying Party. In all cases where there
is no such basis for allocating contribution for such Indemnification Liability,
one half of the total Indemnification Liability shall be paid out of the Escrow
Amount and one half to the total Indemnification Liability shall be paid by
Parent. The indemnity provided herein shall survive the termination of this
Escrow Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or
omitted or for any loss or injury resulting from its actions or its performance
or lack of performance of its duties hereunder in the absence of gross
negligence or willful misconduct on its part. In no event shall the Escrow Agent
be liable (i) for acting in accordance with or relying upon any instruction,
notice, demand, certificate or document from Parent or the Shareholder
Representative or any entity acting on behalf of either such party so long as
the Escrow Agent reasonably believes such instrument to be genuine and to have
been signed and presented by the proper party or parties, (ii) for any indirect,
consequential, punitive or special damages, regardless of the form of action and
whether or not any such damages were foreseeable or contemplated, (iii) for the
investment or reinvestment of any cash held by it hereunder, in each case in
good faith, in accordance with the terms hereof, including without limitation
any liability for delays (not resulting from its gross negligence or willful
misconduct) in the investment or reinvestment of the Escrow Amount, or any loss
of interest incident to such delays, (iv) for not performing any act or
fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any
occurrence beyond the control of the Escrow Agent (including but not limited to
any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental
authority, any act of God or war, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve
Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility) or (v) for an
amount in excess of the value of the Escrow Amount, valued as of the date of
deposit.
(c) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be fully
protected in acting in reliance upon, any instructions or directions furnished
to it in writing signed by both Parent and the Shareholder Representative
pursuant to any provision of this Escrow Agreement and shall be entitled to
treat as genuine, and as the document it purports to be, any letter, paper or
other document furnished to it by any Parent Group
-7-
10
Member or the Shareholder Representative, and reasonably believed by the Escrow
Agent to be genuine and to have been signed and presented by the proper party or
parties. In performing its duties hereunder, the Escrow Agent may consult with
counsel to the Escrow Agent and shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be fully
protected in acting in reliance upon, the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(d) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to the fees set forth in ANNEX A
hereto for the performance of services by the Escrow Agent hereunder for each
year or any portion thereof that any portion of the Escrow Amount remains in
escrow and shall be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
it (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) in connection with the
performance of such services and for the preparation and execution of this
Escrow Agreement, and any amendments hereto (such fees and expenses are
hereinafter referred to as the "ESCROW AGENT'S COMPENSATION"). Upon a written
request delivered to the Escrow Agent by either Parent or the Shareholder
Representative, or both, the Escrow Agent shall render statements to Parent and
the Shareholder Representative setting forth in detail the Escrow Agent's
Compensation and the basis upon which the Escrow Agent's Compensation was
computed. The Escrow Agent's Compensation shall be paid out of the Escrow Amount
in accordance with SECTION 4(a) hereof.
(e) The Escrow Agent may resign at any time by giving sixty (60) days
written notice to Parent and the Shareholder Representative; PROVIDED that such
resignation shall not be effective unless and until a successor Escrow Agent has
been appointed and accepts such position pursuant to the terms of this SECTION
6. In such event, Parent and the Shareholder Representative shall appoint a
successor Escrow Agent or, if Parent and the Shareholder Representative are
unable to agree upon a successor Escrow Agent within sixty (60) days after such
notice, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to appoint its own successor,
provided that such successor is a national banking association having combined
capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000. Such appointment, whether by
Parent and the Shareholder Representative, on the one hand, or the Escrow Agent,
on the other hand, shall be effective on the effective date of the aforesaid
resignation (the "ESCROW TRANSFER DATE"). On the Escrow Transfer Date, all
right, title and interest to the Escrow Amount, including interest thereon,
shall be transferred to the successor Escrow Agent and this Escrow Agreement
shall be assigned by the Escrow Agent to such successor Escrow Agent, and
thereafter, the resigning Escrow Agent shall be released from any further duties
hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall continue to serve until its successor is
appointed and has accepted the duties hereunder and has received the transferred
Escrow Amount.
(f) The Escrow Agent shall not have any right, claim or interest in any
portion of the Escrow Amount except for its fees, expenses or costs incurred in
its capacity as Escrow Agent hereunder. If any fees, expenses or costs incurred
by, or any obligation owed to, the Escrow Agent or its counsel hereunder are not
promptly paid when due (and assuming no reasonable dispute has been conveyed in
writing to the Escrow Agent by Parent or the Shareholder Representative or both
with respect to such fees, expenses, costs or obligations or the amounts
thereof), the Escrow Agent may reimburse itself therefor from the Escrow Amount
and may sell, convey or otherwise
-8-
11
dispose of any Permitted Investment for such purpose; provided, that at least
five (5) business days before taking any of the foregoing actions, the Escrow
Agent shall provide written notice to Parent and the Shareholder Representative
of the Escrow Agent's intention to take any such actions. The Escrow Agent may
in its sole discretion withhold from any distribution of the Escrow Amount an
amount it believes is reasonably necessary to compensate the Escrow Agent for
any unpaid amounts to which the Escrow Agent is entitled hereunder.
(g) The duties and responsibilities of the Escrow Agent shall be limited to
those expressly set forth herein and no duties, responsibilities or obligations
shall be inferred or implied. The Escrow Agent shall not be subject to, nor
required to comply with, any other agreement between Parent and the Shareholder
Representative or to which Parent or the Shareholder Representative is a party,
even though reference thereto may be made herein, or to comply with any
direction or instruction (other than those contained herein or delivered in
accordance with this Escrow Agreement) from Parent or the Shareholder
Representative or any entity acting of such party's behalf. The Escrow Agent
shall not be required to expend or risk any of its own funds or otherwise incur
any financial or other liability in the performance of any of its duties
hereunder.
(h) If at any time the Escrow Agent is served with any judicial or
administrative order, judgment, decree, writ or other form of judicial or
administrative process which in any way affects the Escrow Amount (including but
not limited to orders of attachment or garnishment or other forms of levies or
injunction or stays relating to the transfer of the Escrow Amount), the Escrow
Agent is authorized to comply therewith in any manner it or legal counsel of its
own choosing deems reasonably appropriate; and if the Escrow Agent complies with
any such judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, writ or other form
of judicial or administrative process, the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to
any of the parties hereto or to any other person or entity even though such
order, judgment, decree, writ or process may be subsequently modified or vacated
or otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect.
(i) As security for the due and punctual performance of any and all of
Parent's and the Shareholder Representative's obligations to the Escrow Agent
hereunder, now or hereafter arising, Parent and the Shareholder Representative
individually and collectively, hereby pledge, assign and grant to the Escrow
Agent a continuing security interest in, and a lien on, the Escrow Amount and
all Permitted Investments therein. The security interest of the Escrow Agent
shall at all times be valid, perfected and enforceable by the Escrow Agent
against Parent and the Shareholder Representative and all third parties in
accordance with the terms of this Escrow Agreement.
(j) The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible in any respect for the form,
execution, validity, value or genuineness of documents or securities deposited
hereunder or invested herein, or for any description therein, or for the
identity, authority or rights of persons executing or delivering or purporting
to execute or deliver any such document, security or endorsement. The Escrow
Agent shall not be called upon to
-9-
12
advise any party as to the wisdom of selling or retaining or taking or
refraining from any action with respect to any securities or other property
deposited hereunder.
(k) At any time the Escrow Agent may request an instruction in writing in
English from Parent and/or the Shareholder Representative and may, at its
option, include in such request the course of action the Escrow Agent proposes
to take and the date on which it proposes to act, regarding any matter arising
in connection with its duties and obligations hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall
not be liable for acting in accordance with such a proposal on or after the date
specified therein, provided that the specified date shall be at least three (3)
business days after Parent and/or the Shareholder Representative receive the
Escrow Agent's request for instruction and its proposed course of action, and
provided further that, prior to so acting, the Escrow Agent has not received the
written instruction requested.
Section 7. SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE.
(a) Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Shareholder Representative shall
act as the agent of the Shareholders and is entitled to give and receive notices
and communications, to authorize delivery by the Escrow Agent to Parent Group
Members of specified amounts from the Escrow Amount in satisfaction of claims by
Parent Group Members, to object to such deliveries in accordance with the terms
of this Escrow Agreement, to agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and
compromises of, and demand arbitration and comply with orders of courts and
awards of arbitrators with respect to such claims, and to take all actions
necessary or appropriate in the reasonable judgment of the Shareholder
Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing. The Person designated to
be Shareholder Representative may be changed in accordance with the provisions
set forth in the Merger Agreement.
(b) The Shareholder Representative shall not be liable to any holder of
Company Common Stock for any act done or omitted under the Merger Agreement or
hereunder as Shareholder Representative while acting in good faith and in the
exercise of reasonable judgment, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the
written advice of counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
(c) No bond shall be required of the Shareholder Representative and the
Shareholder Representative shall receive no compensation for his services
hereunder. At least five (5) days prior to the first anniversary of the
Effective Date, the Shareholder Representative shall deliver written notice to
the Escrow Agent and Parent setting forth the payment amount of the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Shareholder Representative in connection
with his duties under the Merger Agreement and hereunder (the "SHAREHOLDER
REPRESENTATIVE'S EXPENSES"), which expenses shall be reimbursed from the Escrow
Amount upon written instruction of Parent and the Shareholder Representative to
the extent that any such Shareholder Representative's Expenses together with any
other Acquisition Expenses exceed $200,000.
(d) Neither Parent, any Parent Group Member, nor the Escrow Agent shall be
responsible or liable for any actions taken, suffered or omitted by the
Shareholder
-10-
13
Representative in connection with such Shareholder Representative's capacity as
such, and each of them may conclusively and fully rely on any action or writing
of the Shareholder Representative.
(e) A decision, act, consent or instruction of the Shareholder
Representative shall constitute a decision of all Shareholders and shall be
final, binding and conclusive upon each such Shareholder, and the Escrow Agent
and Parent may conclusively and fully rely upon any decision, act, consent or
instruction of the Shareholder Representative as being the decision, act,
consent or instruction of each and every such Shareholder without any further
inquiry or investigation. The Escrow Agent and each Parent Group Member are
hereby fully indemnified and relieved from any responsibility or liability to
any Person for any actions taken, suffered or omitted by them in accordance with
such decision, act, consent or instruction of the Shareholder Representative.
Section 8. TAXES.
(a) All interest and net gains earned on the Escrow Amount shall be
accounted for by the Escrow Agent separately from the Escrow Amount and shall be
treated as having been received by Parent and included in its income for tax
purposes. The Escrow Agent shall, consistent with such treatment, arrange that
for income tax reporting and withholding purposes Parent is named or treated as
the payee of such amounts. In this regard, Parent shall provide the Escrow Agent
with any certifications or forms required under any applicable tax law.
(b) The parties agree that any distribution of the Escrow Amount to a
Shareholder shall be treated for tax purposes as a payment pursuant to a
contingent debt instrument issued by Parent as part of the Merger Consideration
(as defined in the Merger Agreement). The portion of the distribution which the
parties shall treat as interest for tax purposes shall be the greater of (i) the
amount of the distribution multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the interest (within the meaning of SECTION 5 hereof) on the initial Escrow
Amount to the date of the distribution and the denominator of which is the
Escrow Amount on such date, or (ii) such larger amount as Parent determines must
be reported as interest under section 1274 of the Code (as defined in the Merger
Agreement) and the regulations thereunder or other applicable tax law.
Section 9. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
(a) Each of Parent and the Company represents and warrants to each of the
other parties hereto that it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation; that it
has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Escrow
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; that the execution, delivery
and performance of this Escrow Agreement by it has been duly authorized and
approved by all necessary corporate action; that this Escrow Agreement
constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
-11-
14
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or
other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and that the execution,
delivery and performance of this Escrow Agreement by it will not result in a
breach of or loss of rights under or constitute a default under or a violation
of any trust (constructive or other), agreement, judgment, decree, order or
other instrument to which it is a party or it or its properties or assets may be
bound.
(b) The Shareholder Representative represents to each of the other parties
hereto that he has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Escrow
Agreement and to perform his obligations hereunder; that this Escrow Agreement
constitutes his legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against him in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the effect of
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law); and that the execution, delivery and
performance of this Escrow Agreement by him will not result in a breach of or
loss of rights under or constitute a default under or a violation of any trust
(constructive or other), agreement, judgment, decree, order or other instrument
to which he is a party or his properties or assets may be bound.
Section 10. INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS AND PAYMENT OF NET WORTH ADJUSTMENT
AMOUNT.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION. Each Parent Group Member shall be indemnified, held
harmless and reimbursed from the Escrow Amount from and against any and all Loss
and Expense incurred by such Parent Group Member in connection with or arising
from:
(i) any breach by the Company of any of its covenants or its failure to
perform any of its obligations in the Merger Agreement;
(ii) any breach of any warranty or the inaccuracy of any representation of
the Company contained or referred to in the Merger Agreement or any
certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto;
(iii) any breach of any warranty or the inaccuracy of any representation of
the Shareholder Representative contained or referred to in this Escrow
Agreement or the Merger Agreement or any certificate delivered by the
Shareholder Representative pursuant hereto or pursuant to the Merger
Agreement;
(iv) any breach by the Shareholder Representative of any of its covenants
or failure to perform any of its obligations under this Escrow Agreement or
the Merger Agreement;
(v) any failure by the Company or the Shareholder Representative to obtain,
prior to the Closing, any consent set forth in Schedule 5.3 of the Merger
Agreement;
-12-
15
(vi) the payment by the Company of Acquisition Expenses and Shareholder
Representative's Expenses in excess of $200,000;
(vii) any payment by the Company in excess of insurance costs resulting
from claims disclosed in Schedule 5.21 of the Merger Agreement.
(viii) any payments to be made by the Shareholders pursuant to Section
3.2(d) of the Merger Agreement; or
(ix) any Losses and Expenses incurred by any Parent Group Member in
connection with or arising from the exercise of appraisal rights pursuant
to the WBCA by any holders of capital stock of the Company (including,
without limitation, all Losses and Expenses associated with any appraisal
proceedings and all amounts determined to be payable to any such holders
pursuant to Chapter 23B.13 of the WBCA) to the extent that such Losses and
Expenses exceed the product of (x) the number of Dissenters' Shares and (y)
the Purchase Price divided by the number of shares of Company Common Stock
(other than such shares held by Parent) outstanding at the Effective Time;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Escrow Amount shall be used to indemnify and hold
harmless hereunder with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) of this sentence with
respect to Losses and Expenses incurred by Parent Group Members (other than any
Loss or Expense incurred as a result of inaccuracies of the representations and
warranties contained in SECTIONS 5.1 (Organization and Capital Structure), 5.3
(Authority), 5.7 (Taxes), 5.15 (Intellectual Property; Software), 5.16 (Title to
Property), 5.21 (Litigation), 5.22 (Environmental Matters) and 5.28 (No Finder)
of the Merger Agreement, as to which this proviso shall not apply) unless and
until and only to the extent that the aggregate amount of such Losses and
Expenses exceeds $500,000. Any payment pursuant to this SECTION 10(a) shall be
made in the form of a transfer from the Escrow Amount to the applicable Parent
Group Member(s) pursuant to SECTION 3(a).
(b) LENGTH OF INDEMNITY. The indemnification provided for in this SECTION
10 shall terminate fifteen (15) months after the Effective Date (and no claims
shall be made by any Parent Group Member under this SECTION 10 thereafter),
except that such indemnification shall continue as to any Loss or Expense in
connection with which a Claim Notice is given in accordance with the
requirements of SECTION 3(a)(i) on or prior to the date on which such
indemnification obligation would otherwise terminate in accordance with this
SECTION 10, as to which the indemnification obligation hereunder shall continue
until the liability to be satisfied from the Escrow Amount shall have been
determined pursuant to this SECTION 10, and all Parent Group Members shall have
been reimbursed out of the Escrow Amount for such Loss or Expense in accordance
with the terms hereof.
(c) EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. Except for fraud and remedies that cannot be waived
as a matter of law and injunctive and provisional relief, the Escrow Amount
shall be the sole and exclusive remedy available to Parent Group Members for
Losses and Expenses.
-13-
16
(d) NET WORTH ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT. Promptly after the final and binding
determination of the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Merger
Agreement and upon receipt of notice jointly executed by Parent and the
Shareholder Representative, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to Parent the Net
Worth Adjustment Amount.
Section 11. BENEFIT; SUCCESSOR AND ASSIGNS.
This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns but shall
not be assignable by any party hereto without the written consent of all of the
other parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent may assign its rights and
delegate its obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates and that the Escrow
Agent may assign its rights hereunder to a successor Escrow Agent appointed
hereunder. Except for Parent Group Members and Persons specified in the
preceding sentence, this Escrow Agreement is not intended to confer on any
person not a party hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
Section 12. TERMINATION.
This Escrow Agreement may only be terminated following the delivery of all
amounts held in the Escrow Amount and the delivery of notice by the Escrow Agent
as contemplated by SECTION 4(c) hereof.
Section 13. NOTICES.
All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given or delivered when delivered personally
or four days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or one day after being sent by private prepaid overnight courier
addressed as follows:
IF TO THE ESCROW AGENT:
Citibank, N.A.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
14th Floor, Xxxx 0
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Citibank Agency & Trust Services
IF TO PARENT, THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PARENT GROUP MEMBER:
Xxxxxx Corporation
0000 Xxxx XXXX Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
-14-
17
WITH A COPY TO:
Xxxxxx Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
AND
Sidley & Austin
Bank One Plaza
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
IF TO THE SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE:
Xxxxxx X. xxx Xxxxxxxx
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
WITH COPY TO:
Venture Law Group
4750 Carillon Group
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
or such other address as the Escrow Agent, Parent or the Shareholder
Representative, as the case may be, shall designate in writing to the parties
hereto. Notwithstanding anything contained in this SECTION 13 to the contrary,
the Escrow Agent shall not be deemed to have received any notice unless and
until it has actually received such notice.
Section 14. GOVERNING LAW.
This Escrow Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York other than and without reference to conflict
of law rules or principles.
Section 15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
(a) In the event of any controversy, claim or dispute between or among
Parent, the Company and the Shareholder Representative arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or any alleged breach
thereof, Parent, the Company and the Shareholder Representative shall submit
such dispute to non-binding
-15-
18
mediation in the City of Seattle, State of Washington for a period of 60 days
prior to initiating any legal action in connection therewith, provided that
nothing herein shall prevent the party seeking enforcement from seeking
temporary or preliminary injunctive relief hereunder from a state or federal
court sitting in the City of Seattle, State of Washington (which court shall
have exclusive jurisdiction over any such request for relief) to the extent
necessary to protect itself from any irreparable harm that it would suffer
during the 60-day mediation period. If Parent, the Company and the Shareholder
Representative are unable to agree upon a mediator within five (5) business days
after receipt of written notice of a claim, either party may apply to the
American Arbitration Association for the appointment of a mediator, which
appointment shall be final and binding on both parties. The mediation shall be
conducted pursuant to the mediation rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect, unless Parent, the Company and the Shareholder
Representative agree to an alternative procedure. Parent, the Company and the
Shareholder Representative shall participate in good faith in such mediation,
shall bear its own costs of such mediation and shall share the cost of the
mediator equally.
If any dispute cannot be resolved pursuant to the preceding paragraph
within the 60-day mediation period, either Parent or the Shareholder
Representative may demand, within 30 days after the end of the 60-day mediation
period, that the dispute be submitted to binding arbitration by so notifying
such other parties in writing (the "ARBITRATION"). The Arbitration shall be
conducted in the City of Seattle, State of Washington, before a single
arbitrator. The arbitrator shall be appointed, and the Arbitration shall be
conducted, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association in effect at
the time of such arbitration, provided that the arbitrator shall have no power
to award punitive or exemplary damages to any party to the Arbitration. The
arbitrator's decision shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to
the Arbitration, shall be enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction,
and shall be the exclusive forum for any claims arising out of this Agreement or
the subject matter hereof.
Section 16. COUNTERPARTS.
This Escrow Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
Section 17. HEADINGS.
The section headings contained in this Escrow Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Escrow Agreement.
Section 18. PARTIAL INVALIDITY.
Wherever possible, each provision hereof shall be interpreted in such
manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but in case any one or
more of the provisions contained herein shall, for any reason, be held to be
invalid, illegal or
-16-
19
unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be ineffective in the
jurisdiction involved to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or provisions or any other
provisions hereof, unless such a construction would be unreasonable.
Section 19. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
This Escrow Agreement and the Merger Agreement embody the entire agreement
and understanding among Parent, the Company and the Shareholder Representative
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior
agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. No
amendment, modification or waiver of this Escrow Agreement shall be binding or
effective for any purpose unless it is made in a writing signed by the party
against whom enforcement of such amendment, modification or waiver is sought. No
course of dealing between the parties to this Escrow Agreement shall be deemed
to affect or to modify, amend or discharge any provision or term of this Escrow
Agreement. No delay by any party to or any beneficiary of this Escrow Agreement
in the exercise of any of its rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver
thereof, and no single or partial exercise by any party to or any beneficiary of
this Escrow Agreement of any such right or remedy shall preclude any other or
further exercise thereof. A waiver of any right or remedy on any one occasion
shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right or remedy on any
other occasion.
-17-
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Escrow
Agreement as of the date first above written.
CITIBANK, N.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
XXXXXX CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
WAVTRACE, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. xxx Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. xxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
/s/ Xxxxxx X. xxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXX XXXXXXXX
AS SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE
-18-
