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EXHIBIT 2.3
ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (the "ESCROW AGREEMENT") is made and entered into as
of July 6, 1999 by and among Silicon Valley Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("BUYER"), and Xxxxxxx- Xxxxxxx Company, a California corporation (the
"SELLER"), and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as escrow agent (the
"ESCROW AGENT").
RECITALS
A. Buyer and Seller are parties to that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), providing for the acquisition (the
"ACQUISITION") by Buyer of the Semiconductor Equipment Group of Seller.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
B. One of the conditions to the closing of the Acquisition, as set forth
in the Purchase Agreement, is the execution and delivery of this Escrow
Agreement.
C. Pursuant to Sections 1.5 and 7.5 of the Purchase Agreement, Buyer
shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Escrow Agent $3,450,000
in immediately available funds (the "ESCROW AMOUNT") into an escrow fund (the
"ESCROW FUND"). The Escrow Amount will be used to satisfy any potential
indemnification obligations of Seller to any SVG Indemnified Party for Damages
as set forth in Article 7 of the Purchase Agreement.
D. This Escrow Agreement sets forth the basis on which the Escrow Agent
will receive and hold, and make disbursements from, the Escrow Fund and the
duties for which the Escrow Agent will be responsible.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. Buyer and Seller appoint Escrow Agent as escrow agent to
serve in such capacity in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in
this Escrow Agreement. Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment.
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2. PURCHASE AGREEMENT. The Escrow Agent acknowledges receipt of a copy of
the Purchase Agreement; however, except for reference thereto for definitions of
certain words or terms not defined herein, the Escrow Agent is not charged with
any duties or responsibilities with respect to the Purchase Agreement.
3. ESCROW AMOUNT. On the Closing Date, Buyer shall deposit, or shall
cause to be deposited, the Escrow Amount directly with the Escrow Agent, the
receipt of which shall be acknowledged to Buyer and Seller, and the same
accepted, by the Escrow Agent as escrow agent hereunder. The Escrow Fund, as
such term is used herein, shall include the Escrow Amount deposited pursuant to
this Section 3 and any interest and earnings thereon, less any payments or
distributions made hereunder.
4. INVESTMENT.
(a) The Escrow Fund shall be invested by the Escrow Agent, without
distinction as to principal and income, upon receipt of written instructions in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A executed by one of the officers of Buyer
named in Exhibit B hereto and by one of the officers of Seller named in Exhibit
C hereto, in one or more of the following investments: (i) interest bearing
open-ended or time deposits of any United States bank with assets in excess of
U.S.$500,000,000 (including any affiliate of Escrow Agent that meets such
capital requirements); or (ii) any other investment vehicle pursuant to the
written instructions from Buyer and Seller including, without limitation, money
market and other mutual funds offered or advised by Escrow Agent or any of
Escrow Agent's affiliates. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any loss
resulting from any investment made pursuant to written instructions of Buyer and
Seller. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Escrow Agent shall have the power to
sell or liquidate the foregoing investments whenever the Escrow Agent shall be
required to release all or any portion of the Escrow Fund pursuant to Section 5
hereof. In effecting any such sale or liquidation Escrow Agent may without
inquiry rely upon written instructions from an authorized officer of Buyer (as
set forth on Exhibit B) and Seller (as set forth in Exhibit C), or an successor
of such authorized officer, as to which investments to sell or liquidate.
(b) The parties acknowledge that payment of any interest earned on
the funds invested in this escrow will be subject to backup withholding
penalties unless either a properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W8 or
W9 certification is submitted to Escrow Agent at the time of execution of this
Agreement.
5. CLAIMS UPON ESCROW FUND.
(a) In the event that any SVG Indemnified Party (an "INDEMNIFIED
PARTY") has a Claim against Seller for which such Indemnified Party desires to
be indemnified as provided in the Purchase Agreement, the Indemnified Party
shall notify Seller of such Claim in accordance with Article VII of the Purchase
Agreement, with a copy to the Escrow Agent, specifying the nature of such Claim
and the amount or the estimated amount thereof to the extent then feasible (the
"CLAIM NOTICE"). If Seller does not notify in writing the Indemnified Party
within thirty (30) days after the date of delivery
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of the Claim Notice that Seller disputes such Claim, with a statement in
reasonable detail (to enable the Indemnified Party to understand the nature of
the dispute) of the basis of such position (a "NOTICE OF OBJECTION"), a copy of
which is delivered to the Escrow Agent, the amount of such Claim shall be
conclusively deemed indemnifiable from the Escrow Account, and the Escrow Agent
shall deliver to the SVG Indemnified Party out of the Escrow Amount cash in an
amount equal to the Damages as specified in the Claim Notice.
(b) In case a Notice of Objection is delivered to the Indemnified
Party in accordance with this Section 5, the Indemnified Party shall respond in
a written statement to the Notice of Objection within thirty (30) days and, for
sixty (60) days thereafter, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve
such dispute. If the parties should so agree, a memorandum (a "CERTIFICATE OF
RESOLUTION") setting forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by both
parties, and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on the Certificate of
Resolution and distribute cash from the Escrow Fund in accordance with the terms
thereof.
(c) If the parties do not resolve the dispute within such sixty (60)
day period, either party may demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount
of the Damages 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 agree to arbitration. Any arbitration under this Section 5 shall be
conducted in accordance with Section 9.7 of the Purchase Agreement and the
decision of the arbitrators shall be written and shall be supported by written
findings of fact and conclusions which shall set forth the award, judgment,
decree or order (an "AWARD") determined by the arbitrators. The Escrow Agent
shall be entitled to act in accordance with an Award and make or withhold
payments out of the Escrow Fund in accordance herewith.
6. ESCROW PROVISIONS.
(a) The Escrow Agent may rely without inquiry or investigation and
shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice,
request, waiver, consent, receipt or other paper or document from any officer of
Seller named in Exhibit C or any officer of Buyer named in Exhibit B, not only
as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions,
but also as to the truth of any information therein contained, that the Escrow
Agent in good faith believes to be genuine. The Escrow Agent may disregard any
and all notices or instructions received from any source, except only (i) such
notices or instructions as are specifically provided for in this Agreement or
any other notice signed by Seller and Buyer and (ii) orders or process of any
court entered or issued with or without jurisdiction. If from time to time any
property held pursuant to this Agreement becomes subject to any levy,
attachment, order, judgment, decree, injunction or other judicial,
administrative, or regulatory process ("ORDER"), the Escrow Agent may comply
with any such Order without liability to any person, even though such Order may
thereafter be annulled, reversed, modified or vacated.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment,
or for any act done or step taken or omitted by it in good faith, or for any
mistake of fact or law, or for anything which it may do or refrain from doing in
connection herewith, except for any liability arising from its own
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gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. In no event shall the Escrow
Agent be liable to any person for punitive, special, indirect or consequential
damages of any kind, even if it is advised of the possibility thereof.
(c) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to consult with counsel, who
may be inside counsel, of its choice with respect to the interpretation of the
provisions hereof, and any other legal matters relating hereto, and shall be
fully protected in taking any action or omitting to take any action in good
faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel.
(d) Buyer and Seller jointly and severally agree to indemnify and
hold the Escrow Agent harmless for any and all claims, liabilities, costs,
payments and expenses of Escrow Agent in connection with its performance of its
duties hereunder, including without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel for court actions, or for anything done or omitted by it in the
performance of this Escrow Agreement, except as a result of the Escrow Agent's
own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
(e) All evidence of investment of funds in the Escrow Fund
(including, but not limited to, savings account passbooks, certificates, notes
and other similar items) shall be kept in a place of safekeeping at an office of
the Escrow Agent, or with a safe deposit company, including any such safe
deposit company owned in whole or in part by the Escrow Agent or by any
affiliate of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall keep accurate accounts of
all income and interest earned by the funds in the Escrow Fund. Within thirty
(30) days after the close of each calendar month, Escrow Agent shall provide
Seller and Buyer statements on deposits and other investments of the Escrow Fund
in accord with its usual practices.
(f) One-half (1/2) of the fees and related expenses of the Escrow
Agent for its services hereunder (including fees and expenses of its legal
counsel) shall be paid by Buyer and one-half (1/2) of such fees and expenses
shall be paid by Seller. Escrow Agent's fees for its duties shall be as set
forth on Exhibit D attached to this Agreement plus reasonable out-of-pocket
costs. Such amounts shall be in addition to other amounts payable by the parties
pursuant to Section 6(d) and other provisions hereof.
(g) None of the provisions contained in this Escrow Agreement shall
require the Escrow Agent to advance or risk its own funds in the performance of
its duties herein described.
(h) Without limiting the Escrow Agent's rights under any other
provision hereof, whenever the Escrow Agent should receive or become aware of
any conflicting demands or claims with respect to this Agreement or the rights
of any of the parties hereto or any property held hereunder, the Escrow Agent
may without liability refrain from any action until the conflict has been
resolved, or alternatively, may tender into the registry or custody of any court
which the Escrow Agent determines to have jurisdiction all money or property in
its hands under this Agreement, together with such legal pleadings as it deems
appropriate, less a reasonable allowance for its legal fees and expenses, and
thereupon be discharged from all further duties and liabilities under this
Agreement. Any inaction or
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filing of proceedings pursuant to this section shall not deprive the Escrow
Agent of its compensation during such inaction or prior filing.
(i) Except as and if specifically provided herein concerning
investments of cash, the Escrow Agent shall have no liability to pay interest on
any money held pursuant to this Agreement. The Escrow Agent may use its own bond
department or any affiliate of Escrow Agent in purchasing or selling securities.
The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any depreciation or change in the value
of such documents or securities or any property evidenced thereby or for any
losses incurred in liquidating securities or other property to satisfy a
distribution request. All distributions provided for hereunder shall be made by
the Escrow Agent from the Escrow Fund to the extent thereof, subject to
deductions allowed to be made by Escrow Agent as provided elsewhere herein.
(j) The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible for any recitals of
fact in this Agreement, or for the sufficiency, form, execution, validity or
genuineness of any documents or securities deposited under this Agreement or for
any signature, endorsement or lack of endorsement thereon, or for the accuracy
of any description therein, or for the identity, authority or rights of the
persons executing or delivering the same or this Agreement.
(k) Although the Escrow Agent may demand specific authorizations
(including corporate resolutions, incumbency certificates and the like) or
identification from a party or its representative prior to taking any action
hereunder, no such demand shall constitute a waiver or deprive the Escrow Agent
of the protections afforded by this Agreement.
(l) The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible for any delays or
failure to perform caused by circumstances reasonably beyond its control,
including but not limited to: breaches by other parties of their obligations
hereunder; delays by messengers or other independent contractors; mechanical or
computer failures; malfunctioning or breakdowns in public utilities, securities
exchanges, Federal Reserve Banks or securities depositories; interference by
governmental units; strikes, lockouts or civil disobedience; fires or other
casualties; acts of God or other similar occurrences.
7. SUCCESSOR ESCROW AGENT. The Escrow Agent, or any successor, may resign
at any time upon giving written notice to Buyer and Seller at least thirty (30)
days before such resignation shall take effect. In addition, Buyer and Seller
may terminate the Escrow Agent's appointment as escrow agent upon giving written
notice (jointly signed by Buyer and Seller) to the Escrow Agent at least thirty
(30) days before such termination shall take effect. If the Escrow Agent shall
resign, be terminated or be unable to serve, then it shall be succeeded by such
bank or trust company jointly named by Buyer and Seller in such thirty (30) day
period, or if no such appointment is made by that time, then it shall be
succeeded by a bank or trust company appointed by a court of competent
jurisdiction upon petition by any of Escrow Agent, Buyer or Seller (in which
action the other parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to
participate) to appoint a successor escrow agent, or the Escrow Agent may tender
the Escrow Fund into court as provided elsewhere in this Agreement. The Escrow
Agent shall transfer the Escrow Fund to its successor and shall thereupon be
discharged from any obligation to perform further services under this Agreement,
and the successor shall thereupon succeed to all of the rights, powers and
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duties and shall assume all of the obligations of the Escrow Agent originally
named in this Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the
obligation of Buyer and Seller to Escrow Agent under Sections 6(d) and 6(f)
shall survive any resignation or removal of Escrow Agent or any termination of
this Agreement.
8. PAYMENT OF TAXES. Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx shall be treated as the owner of the
Escrow Fund for all tax purposes while and to the extent that the Escrow Fund is
held by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall furnish such information to the
other parties hereto as shall be requested in writing for tax preparation
purposes by such parties.
9. TERMINATION.
(a) Unless extended in writing by the parties hereto, the escrow
provided for in this Escrow Agreement shall expire on the later of (i) the
Escrow Release Date, and (ii) the final resolution of, and the final
disbursement of funds to satisfy, any and all Pending Claims (the "TERMINATION
DATE").
(b) Promptly following the Escrow Release Date, the Escrow Agent
shall, to the extent funds are available therefor in the Escrow Fund and in the
following order of priority:
(i) withhold funds in the Escrow Fund (but not exceeding the
Escrow Amount, when combined with any other sums distributed from the Escrow
Fund to Buyer) in sufficient amount, or to the extent funds are available
therefor, to satisfy the maximum amount of any indemnification obligations of
Seller estimated by Buyer in its written instructions relating to any and all
Pending Claims (which estimate shall be made in good faith by Buyer); and
(ii) distribute any funds remaining after the allocations and
distributions provided for in clause (i) above to Seller.
(c) Promptly following the Termination Date, the Escrow Agent shall,
to the extent funds are available therefor in the Escrow Fund after payment in
satisfaction of any indemnification obligations of Seller pursuant to Section 5,
distribute any remaining funds in the Escrow Fund to Seller.
10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Except as is otherwise required by applicable law, this Agreement
may be amended by the parties hereto at any time by execution of an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
(b) Buyer, on the one hand, and Seller, on the other, may, to the
extent legally allowed, waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions for the benefit of such party con tained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
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(c) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by commercial
delivery service, or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested) or sent via facsimile (with acknowledgment of complete transmission)
to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party
as shall be specified by like notice):
(i) if to Buyer, to:
Silicon Valley Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
(ii) if to Seller, to:
Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Stanford Research Park
Palo Alto, California 94304-1223
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx White & XxXxxxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
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(iii) if to the Escrow Agent:
U.S. Bank Trust N.A.
Escrow Depository Services
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx
Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
US Bank Trust N.A.
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxx
(d) The words "include," "includes" and "including" when used herein
shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without limitation."
The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all
of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not
sign the same counterpart.
(f) This Agreement, the Purchase Agreement (for purposes of
definition only) and the exhibits hereto, constitute the entire agreement among
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
(g) Neither this Escrow Agreement nor any beneficial interest therein
may be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred, including by operation of law,
by Buyer or Seller or be taken or reached by any legal or equitable process in
satisfaction of any debt or other liability of Buyer or Seller, except as
provided herein or as would not adversely affect the rights of Seller or Buyer,
respectively, under this Escrow Agreement. Any such attempted transfer in
violation of this Section shall be null and void.
(h) This Escrow Agreement and all action taken hereunder in
accordance with its terms shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Buyer and its subsidiaries, and their respective successors and assigns, the
Escrow Agent and its successors, Seller and its respective successors, assigns,
administrators and legal representatives.
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(i) In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will
continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other
Persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the
intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such void or
unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision
that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other
purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.
(j) Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein
expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not
exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such
party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the
exercise of any other remedy.
(k) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of California regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern
under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
(l) No provisions of this Agreement are intended, nor shall be
interpreted, to provide or create any third party beneficiary rights or any
other rights of any kind in any client, customer, Affiliate, partner of any
party hereto or any other Person unless specifically provided otherwise herein.
(m) Time is of the essence in performing any of the actions
hereunder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed or caused this Escrow
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
SILICON VALLEY GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
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Title: Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
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XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
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Title: Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
ESCROW AGENT:
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ XXX XXXXXX
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Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
_________________, 1999
U.S. Bank Trust N.A.
Escrow Depository Services
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxx Xxxxxx
RE: ESCROW ACCOUNT INVESTMENT INSTRUCTIONS
To: Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement, dated _________ __, 1999, among
Silicon Valley Group, Inc., Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx Company and ____________ (the
"ESCROW AGREEMENT")
Pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, you are hereby instructed to
invest the funds held in the Escrow Account in the following investment(s):
Interest income should be reinvested in such investment vehicle. Thank you
for your assistance in this matter.
SILICON VALLEY GROUP, INC.
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX COMPANY
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT B
SILICON VALLEY GROUP, INC.
AUTHORIZED OFFICERS
NAME AND TITLE SIGNATURE
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Der Torossian
President and Chief Executive Officer -------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer -------------------------------------
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EXHIBIT C
XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX COMPANY
AUTHORIZED OFFICERS
NAME AND TITLE SIGNATURE
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
W. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer -------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Chief Financial Officer -------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Controller -------------------------------------
