Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

December 10, 2004

 

 

Mr D.C. Roffey

Hogeweg 41h

1098 BX Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Dear Mr Roffey:

 

Liquidation of Metron Technology N.V. (to be renamed Nortem N.V.)

 

The purpose of this
letter is to confirm the terms and conditions under which we would like to
engage you as principal executive officer and principal financial officer as
well as liquidator (vereffenaar) of
Metron Technology N.V. (“Metron”).

 

Please note that
your formal appointment as principal executive officer, principal financial
officer and liquidator is conditional on (i) Metron’s shareholders approving (a) the sale and transfer of substantially all of
Metron’s assets to Applied Materials, Inc., pursuant to the stock and asset
purchase agreement, dated August 16, 2004, entered into between Metron and
Applied Materials, Inc; (b) the dissolution of Metron following the closing of
the asset sale; and (c) your appointment as principal
executive officer, principal financial officer and as liquidator for Metron and (ii) the closing of the asset sale.

 

The Parties do not intend to enter into an employment agreement.

 

Duties
and responsibilities

If you accept your
engagement, we would expect you to have reasonable availability to fulfil (i)
all duties of post closing management of Metron described in Annex 1 hereto and
(ii) all duties Dutch corporate law attributes to a liquidator of a Dutch N.V.
under supervision of Metron’s supervisory board and in cooperation with your
fellow liquidator.

 

We would primarily
expect you to be responsible for keeping good accounting records and the
fulfilment by Metron of any and all of its obligations under any US securities
laws and regulations, rules and requirements of any securities exchange, the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act or any other non-Dutch laws and regulations creating obligations
for Metron.

 

Metron intends to
engage Mr Peter Verloop to act as your fellow liquidator following the closing
of the asset sale. Mr Verloop will be primarily responsible for - and we would
expect you, as a fellow liquidator, to assist him as much as possible with -
the making of an inventory of Metron’s assets and

 

 

liabilities
remaining after the closing of the asset sale and the satisfying of as much of
the liabilities as possible to allow one or more initial liquidation
distributions to Metron’s shareholders.

 

Subsequently we
would expect you to arrange for the fulfilment of any remaining liabilities,
and the filings and public announcements required under US laws and regulations
in relation to the liquidation, the final liquidation distribution to Metron’s
shareholders and the delisting of the Metron shares.

 

As Metron’s
liquidator you will have the right to consult with Metron’s auditors, Metron’s
US counsel, Metron’s Dutch counsel and all other advisors of Metron on all
financial, legal and tax matters relating to the liquidation of Metron.

 

As a liquidator you
shall be free to carry out your duties autonomously and in the manner you may
deem fit, at least after prior consultation with your fellow liquidator and
with Metron’s Supervisory Board. With due regard for all the obligations
arising from this engagement, you shall be free to perform professional services
for third parties. In the event of a possible conflict of interest, you shall
consult the Supervisory Board in advance.

 

Fees

Your engagement
will be on the basis of payment of a monthly fee in the amount of the euro
equivalent of USD 10,000 for the first month and the EUR equivalent of USD
6,300 for the second and following months. Metron will also reimburse you for
specified out of pocket expenses, such as travel and courier costs.

 

The fees shall be
paid without withholding wage tax and social security premiums. You shall
indemnify and hold Metron harmless for any tax assessment in respect of wage
tax and/or employee’s insurance imposed by the tax office or the employee
insurance administration agency, including accrued interest and any administrative
fines, in connection with the remuneration and/or reimbursement of expenses
regarding your engagement as a liquidator.

 

In addition to the
above Metron will pay you a completion bonus in the amount of the euro
equivalent of (i) USD 30,000 if the liquidation is complete within 180 days of
the closing of the asset sale, (ii) USD 10,000 if the liquidation is complete within
181 to 240 days of the closing of the asset sale and (iii) USD 5,000 if the
liquidation is complete after 240 days.

 

Termination

Your engagement
shall terminate by operation of law as soon as all duties Dutch Corporate Law
attributes to the liquidator are fulfilled, i.e. as per the moment Metron does
no longer have any assets and ceases to exist.

 

2

 

Both parties shall
be entitled to terminate the engagement prior to the abovementioned fixed period
by giving notice. You will have to observe a notice period of three months, Metron
has to observe a notice period of six months. If a party ends the engagement
without observing these notice periods, he is liable to the other party for a
penalty that equals the amount of the average gross fee that would have been
paid/earned if the notice period would have been observed properly.

 

Indemnification

As Metron’s
liquidator you shall be automatically indemnified by Metron, in the way as
described in section 20 of Metron’s articles of association.

 

In addition Metron
hereby agrees to warrant you from and indemnify you against, at your first
request, any form of damage, liability and/or costs, including but not limited
to reasonable lawyers’ fees, which are the result of or are connected to claims
or actions (in or out of court) made against you, in your capacity as
liquidator of Metron (whether or not in conjunction with claims or actions
against one or more others) by (or for the benefit of) any third party including,
but not limited to, Metron or one or more co-liquidators, any direct or
indirect shareholders of Metron or any other person holding a direct or
indirect interest in Metron, insofar as such claims or actions are in any way
connected with or arise from any act or omission to act in your capacity as
liquidator of Metron.

 

If a claim or action as referred to in the first paragraph of this article is
made against you, then Metron will bear all costs which you have to make in
order to defend yourself against such claims and actions. The foregoing remains
valid irrespective of the claims or actions being justified or not, provided
however that the foregoing does not apply if and insofar as it is determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction that you have acted grossly negligent or with
wilful misconduct.

 

Liability
Insurance

As a liquidator of Metron your potential liabilities will be covered in
accordance with the attached D&O insurance policy.

 

Applicable
law and disputes

This engagement letter is governed by Dutch law. All disputes arising
from or associated with it will be settled in the first instance by the court
in Amsterdam.

 

Acceptance

Please confirm that you accept your engagement as principal executive
officer, principal financial officer and as liquidator of Metron (conditional
on your appointment by Metron’s shareholders) and that this letter accurately
describes the scope and terms of your engagement, by signing this letter and
returning the signed copy to us. Your engagement will start on the earlier of
(i) the effective date of your appointment as Metron’s liquidator or (ii) the
date on which Metron’s current management would request you to start your engagement.

 

3

 

Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this letter.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

	
  /s/ EDWARD D. SEGAL

  	
   

  
	
  Metron Technology N.V.

  
	
  Edward D. Segal

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
  Agreed to this day, the 10th of December 2004

  
	
   

  
	
  /s/ D.C. ROFFEY

  	
   

  
	
  D.C. Roffey

  
			

 

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Annex 1

 

Duties
of post-closing management of Nortem N.V. (currently named: Metron Technology
N.V.)

 

Continue to run as a Dutch company until liquidated

Make all required filings (regulatory and tax)

Keep good
accounting records

 

Manage the wind down and liquidation

Manage the wind down and liquidation process and advisors

Ensure the cash is invested safely and in accordance with policy

Resolve all open issues to liquidation

Manage expenses

Keep AMAT informed of expense status and needs for additional cash

Coordinate with Transfer Agent on all distributions

Arrange for and complete de-listing

 

Continue to run as a listed NASDAQ Registrant until de-listed

Keep good accounting records

Close the quarterly books

File required SEC filings

Ensure SOX compliance

Certify SOX compliance

Decide on appropriate investor communications

Ensure compliance with NASDAQ listing standards
until de-listed

De-list and liquidate cleanly

 

5Exhibit 10.2

 

December 10, 2004

 

 

Mr P.J.P. Verloop

Keizersgracht 536

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

Dear Mr Verloop,

 

Liquidation of Metron Technology N.V. (to be renamed Nortem N.V.)

 

The purpose of this
letter is to confirm the terms and conditions under which we would like to
engage you as the liquidator (vereffenaar) of
Metron Technology N.V. (“Metron”).

 

Please note that
your formal appointment as liquidator is conditional on (i) Metron’s
shareholders approving (a)
the sale and transfer of substantially all of Metron’s assets to Applied
Materials, Inc., pursuant to the stock and asset purchase agreement, dated August 16,
2004, entered into between Metron and Applied Materials, Inc; (b) the
dissolution of Metron following the closing of the asset sale; and (c) your
appointment as liquidator for Metron and (ii) the closing of the asset sale.

 

The parties do not intend to enter into an employment agreement.

 

Duties
and responsibilities

If you accept your
engagement, we would expect you to have reasonable availability to fulfil all
duties Dutch corporate law attributes to a liquidator of a Dutch N.V. under
supervision of Metron’s supervisory board and in cooperation with your fellow
liquidator.  We would primarily expect
you to make an inventory of Metron’s assets and liabilities remaining after the
closing of the asset sale and to satisfy as much of the liabilities as possible
to allow one or more initial liquidation distributions to Metron’s shareholders.

 

Subsequently we
would expect you to arrange for the fulfilment of any remaining liabilities,
the filings and public announcements required under Dutch law in relation to
the liquidation and for a final liquidation distribution to Metron’s
shareholders.

 

 

As Metron’s
liquidator, you will have the right to consult with Metron’s auditors, Metron’s
US counsel, Metron’s Dutch counsel and all other advisors of Metron on all
financial, legal and tax matters relating to the liquidation of Metron. In
addition, you may at the expense of Metron consult US counsel of your choice on
your personal liability as Metron’s liquidator under US laws and regulations,
provided that (i) prior to its dissolution Metron will only reimburse such
costs up to an amount of USD 1,500 or up to the amount approved by Metron’s
managing board and (ii) subsequent to its dissolution Metron will only
reimburse such costs up to the amount approved by Metron’s supervisory board.

 

We would not
consider you to be responsible for the fulfilment by Metron of any and all of
its obligations under any US securities laws and regulations, the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act or any other non-Dutch laws and regulations creating obligations for
Metron. Metron intends to engage its former controller in the Netherlands, Mr
Charles Roffey, to act as principal executive officer and principal financial
officer and as your fellow liquidator following the closing of the asset sale.
Mr Roffey, amongst other things, will be primarily responsible for the
fulfilment of the aforementioned obligations, including but not limited to the
making of all filings and certifications required by the SEC and NASDAQ.

 

As a liquidator,
you shall be free to carry out your duties autonomously and in the manner you
may deem fit, at least after prior consultation with your fellow liquidator and
with Metron’s Supervisory Board. With due regard for all the obligations
arising from this engagement, you shall be free to perform professional services
for third parties. In the event of a possible conflict of interest, you shall
consult the Supervisory Board in advance.

 

Fees

Your engagement
will be on the basis of payment per hours spent and you will provide Metron
with a summary of hours spent every two weeks. Metron will pay you an hourly
fee in the amount of EUR 200 plus out of pocket expenses, such as travel and
courier costs and costs for suitable office space and secretarial support, upon
receipt of your statement of fees, specifying the time spent and the out of
pocket expenses. We have provided you with an advance payment in the amount of
EUR 8,000.

 

The fees shall be
paid without withholding wage tax and social security premiums. You shall
indemnify and hold Metron harmless for any tax assessment in respect of wage
tax and/or employee’s insurance imposed by the tax office or the employee

 

2

 

insurance
administration agency, including accrued interest and any administrative fines,
in connection with the remuneration and/or reimbursement of expenses regarding
your engagement as a liquidator.

 

Termination

Your engagement as
a liquidator shall terminate by operation of law as soon as all duties Dutch
Corporate Law attributes to the liquidator are fulfilled. Both parties shall be
entitled to terminate the engagement prior to the abovementioned fixed period
by giving notice. You will have to observe a notice period of three months;
Metron has to observe a notice period of six months. If a party ends the
engagement without observing these notice periods, he is liable to the other
party for a penalty that equals the amount of the average gross fee that would
have been paid/earned if the notice period would have been observed properly.
The amount of the average gross fee will be calculated on the basis of the
average of the monthly gross fees paid/earned in the three months prior to the
month in which one of the parties ended the engagement without observing the
applicable notice period.

 

Indemnification

As Metron’s
liquidator, you shall be automatically indemnified by Metron, in the way as described
in section 20 of Metron’s articles of association.

 

In addition, Metron
hereby agrees to warrant you from and indemnify you against, at your first
request, any form of damage, liability and/or costs, including but not limited
to reasonable lawyers’ fees, which are the result of or are connected to claims
or actions (in or out of court) made against you, in your capacity as
liquidator of Metron (whether or not in conjunction with claims or actions
against one or more others) by (or for the benefit of) any third party including,
but not limited to, Metron or one or more co-liquidators, any direct or
indirect shareholders of Metron or any other person holding a direct or
indirect interest in Metron, insofar as such claims or actions are in any way
connected with or arise from any act or omission to act in your capacity as
liquidator of Metron.

 

If a claim or action as referred to in the first paragraph of this article is
made against you, then Metron will bear all costs which you have to make in
order to defend yourself against such claims and actions. The foregoing remains
valid irrespective of the claims or actions being justified or not, provided
however that the foregoing does not apply if and insofar as it is determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction that you have acted grossly negligent or with
wilful misconduct.

 

3

 

Liability
Insurance

As a liquidator
of Metron, your potential liabilities will be covered in accordance with the attached D&O insurance policy.

 

Applicable
law and disputes

This engagement letter is governed by Dutch law. All disputes arising
from or associated with it will be settled in the first instance by the court
in Amsterdam.

 

Acceptance

Please confirm that you accept your engagement as liquidator of Metron
(conditional on your appointment by Metron’s shareholders) and that this letter
accurately describes the scope and terms of your engagement, by signing this
letter and returning the signed copy to us. Your engagement will start on the
earlier of (i) the effective date of your appointment as Metron’s liquidator or
(ii) the date on which Metron’s current management would request you to start
your engagement.

 

Please contact us if you have any questions concerning this letter.

 

	
  Yours sincerely,

  
	
   

  
	
  /s/ EDWARD D. SEGAL

  	
   

  
	
  Metron Technology N.V.

  
	
  Edward D. Segal

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
  Agreed to this day, the 10th of December 2004

  
	
   

  
	
  /s/ P.J.P. VERLOOP

  	
   

  
	
  P.J.P. Verloop

  
			

 

4

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