LCA CORP
10-12B/A, EX-10, 2000-12-29
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                          TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

         This is a Transition Services Agreement (the "TSA"), by and among U.S.
INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware corporation ("USI"), and LCA Group Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("LCA").

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution and Indemnification Agreement
between USI and LCA, dated as of January ___, 2001 (the "Spin-off Agreement"),
and in connection therewith, USI and LCA have agreed that staff employed by USI
on the date prior to the date hereof, the majority of whom will be employed by
LCA effective on the Spin-off, will provide LCA and USI with certain transition
services, for a limited period, as set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined
herein, shall have the meaning assigned to each in the Spin-off Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the payments to be made by USI as
provided herein and other valuable consideration, including the Spin-off
Agreement, and in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the
parties intending to be legally bound do hereby agree as follows:

     (1) Services. LCA shall provide, or shall cause to be provided, services to
         USI and USI, to the extent applicable, to provide certain services to
         LCA, described on Exhibit A (collectively, the "Services") upon the
         terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. All such
         Services to be provided by LCA to USI, or USI to LCA, shall be provided
         substantially as now being provided at comparable quality, levels of
         performance and standards of care consistent with that provided by
         USI's staff immediately preceding the date hereof.




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     (2) Cost. The cost for Services to be provided by each party pursuant to
         the TSA shall be compensated at fair market value, and shall be
         categorized as Out-of-Pocket Expenses and One-Time Expenses, as defined
         below. All other costs associated with the TSA, including compensation
         paid to its employees, shall be borne by each respective party to the
         TSA.

         (a) Definitions:

             (i)  Out-of-Pocket Expenses ("OOP") shall mean expenses incurred in
                  the ordinary course of business in accordance with past
                  practices.

            (ii)  One-Time Expenses ("OTE") shall mean a non-recurring expense
                  (x) of less than $5,000 associated with Services, or (y) over
                  $5,000 which has been pre-approved by the entity (USI or LCA)
                  which will be obligated to pay such OTE.

         (b) Payments: LCA shall invoice USI, or vice-versa, for any OOP and/or
         OTE. Amounts due pursuant to invoices regarding OOP and OTE shall be
         payable within thirty (30) days after receipt of the invoice(s).

     (3) Termination. The term of the Services provided hereunder shall commence
         on the Spin-off Date pursuant to the Spin-off Agreement and continue
         for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the Spin-off Date.
         However, USI may terminate its obligation under this TSA upon thirty
         (30) days prior written notice to LCA at any time after March 1, 2001.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) either party fails to perform any
         material provision of the Agreement and the failure to perform is not
         corrected within fifteen (15) days after the other party gives written
         notice of such default or (ii) USI fails to make any payment required
         under the TSA at the time it is due and such failure is not corrected
         within five (5) days after written notice of such failure, then the
         non-defaulting party may terminate the TSA effective at the end of such
         five-day notice period.




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     (4) Standard of Conduct; Limitation of Liability.

         (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, neither party shall have
             liability with respect to its furnishing or receiving any of the
             Services to be provided or received pursuant to the TSA except on
             account of willful misconduct or gross negligence. Except as
             otherwise provided herein, each party to provide the Services is
             not making any representation or warranty as to the quality,
             suitability or adequacy of the Services for any purpose or use.
             In providing the Services, LCA shall not be obligated to (i) hire
             any additional employees, (ii) maintain the employment of any
             specific employee, or (iii) purchase, lease or license any
             additional equipment or other assets on behalf of USI.

         (b) It is understood and agreed that either party shall not be
             obligated to perform or cause to be performed any Services in a
             volume or quantity which substantially exceeds the historical
             volumes or quantities of such services performed prior to the
             Spinoff. USI or LCA will not be required to perform or cause to
             be performed any of the Services for the benefit of any third
             party or any other entity, except with respect to third parties
             which are, or will be, outsourcing vendors providing services to
             LCA or USI pursuant to the TSA.

         (c) LCA's liability to, and remedy of, USI for breach of the TSA shall
             be the lesser of (i) USI's incremental out-of-pocket cost of
             performing such Services itself or (ii) USI's incremental out-of-
             pocket cost of obtaining such service from a third party; provided,
             that USI shall exercise all reasonable efforts under the
             circumstances to minimize the cost of any such alternative to such
             Services by selecting a cost-effective alternative which provides
             the functional equivalent of the Services replaced.




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         (d) USI shall be obligated to return to LCA, and vice-versa, as soon as
             is reasonably practicable, any equipment or other property of the
             other party relating to the Services which is in its control or
             possession and which is not an asset to be retained by such party
             pursuant to the Spin-off Agreement or the ancillary agreements
             thereto.

         (e) Each party to the TSA shall be solely liable and responsible for
             all actions of its employees pursuant to, and in accordance with
             providing Services under the TSA. Subject to Section (4)(c) and
             notwithstanding anything other to the contrary herein, in no event
             shall either party have any liability to (i) the other for special
             or consequential damages under or (ii) any third party.

     (5) Confidentiality. Any and all information which is exchanged by the
         parties in connection with the TSA, whether of a technical or business
         nature, shall be considered confidential. The parties agree that such
         confidential information shall be treated in accordance with the terms
         and provisions of the Spin-off Agreement.

     (6) Force Majeure. A party shall not be liable for a failure or delay in
         the performance of any of its obligations under the TSA or such failure
         or delay as the result of fire, flood, or other natural disaster, act
         of God, war, embargo, riot or the intervention of any governmental
         authority, provided that the party failing in or delaying its
         performance immediately notifies the other party in writing of its
         inability to perform and states the reason for such inability. In the
         event that a party is delayed in the provision or delivery of any
         Services hereunder for the reasons identified in this Section 6,
         provision of such Services shall take place as soon thereafter as is
         feasible.




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     (7) Counterparts. The TSA may be executed simultaneously in two or more
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
         which together shall constitute one in the same TSA.

     (8) Entire Agreement. The TSA is intended to be a complete and integrated
         agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, superseding all
         prior agreements and understandings with respect thereto and my not be
         amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the
         parties hereto.

     (9) Assignment; Binding Agreement. Neither party may assign or delegate the
         TSA or the rights and obligations created hereunder without the prior
         written consent of the other; provided, however, that either party may,
         without the consent of the other, assign its rights in the TSA as
         collateral security to its senior lenders, in which event notice shall
         be given to the other party. Any purported assignment without a
         required consent shall be void and constitute a breach of the TSA.
         Subject to the foregoing, all of the terms and provisions of the TSA
         shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
         the respective successors of the parties hereto.

    (10) No Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of either party in the
         exercise of any power, right or privilege arising hereunder shall
         operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise
         of any power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise
         thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.

    (11) Severability. If any provision of the TSA is for any reason found to be
         ineffective, unenforceable or illegal, such condition shall not affect
         the validity or enforceability of any of the remaining portions hereof;
         provided, further that the parties shall negotiate in good faith to
         replace any




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         ineffective, unenforceable or illegal provision with an effective
         replacement as soon as practical.

    (12) No Joint Venture. Nothing contained herein or in the pursuance of the
         TSA shall constitute the parties as entering into a joint venture or
         partnership or shall it constitute either party the agent for the other
         for any purpose or in any sense whatsoever.

    (13) Choice of Law. The TSA shall be construed in accordance with and
         governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the
         conflict of laws provisions thereof.

    (14) Headings. The headings and subheadings contained herein are for
         information purposes only and shall have no effect upon the intended
         purpose or interpretation of the provisions of the TSA.

    (15) Notices. All notices, requests, demand and other communications which
         are required or may be given under the TSA shall be in writing and
         shall be deemed to have been duly given when received if personally
         delivered; when confirmation of transmission is received, if
         transmitted by facsimile, electronic or digital transmission methods
         provided confirmation of receipt is obtained promptly after completion
         of transmission; the day after it is sent, if sent for next day
         delivery to a domestic address by recognized overnight delivery
         services (e.g., Federal Express); and upon receipt, if sent by
         certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. In each case,
         notice shall be sent to

                           If to USI, addressed to:
                           U.S. Industries, Inc.
                           101 Wood Avenue South
                           Iselin, NJ 08830




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                           Telephone:     (732) 767-0700
                           Facsimile:     (732) 767-2260
                           Attention:     Dorothy E. Sander
                                          Senior Vice President - Administration
                           If to LCA:
                           LCA Group Inc.
                           101 Wood Avenue South
                           Iselin, NJ 08830
                           Telephone:     (732) 767-0700
                           Facsimile:     (732) 767-2260
                           Attention:     Steven C. Barre
                                          Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary

          or to such other place and with such other copies as such party may
          designate as to itself by written notice to others.

     (16) Disputes. Resolution of any and all disputes arising from or in
          connection with the TSA, whether based on contract, tort, statute or
          otherwise, including but not limited to, disputes in connection with
          claims by third parties, shall be resolved as set forth in Article V
          of the Spin-Off Agreement.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the TSA to be
executed by their respective officers as of the date first written above.


                                               LCA GROUP INC.




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                                               By:
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    Steven C. Barre
                                                    Senior Vice President,
                                                    General Counsel & Secretary


                                               U.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                               By:
                                                    -----------------------
                                                    Dorothy E. Sander
                                                    Senior Vice President







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