EXHIBIT 10.32
ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of July 6, 2000, by and
among Pawnbroker.com, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Nevada,
(the "Company"), Gestrow Investments Limited ("Purchaser"), and Epstein Becker &
Green, P.C., having an address at 250 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10177 (the
"Escrow Agent"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings set forth in the Common Stock Purchase Agreement referred to in the
first recital.
WHEREAS, the Purchaser will from time to time as requested by the Company,
purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock from the Company as set forth in
that certain Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") dated
the date hereof between the Purchaser and the Company, which will be issued as
per the terms and conditions contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchaser have requested that the Escrow Agent
hold in escrow and then distribute the initial documents and certain funds which
are conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the Purchase Agreement, and
have further requested that upon each exercise of a Draw Down, the Escrow Agent
hold the relevant documents and the applicable purchase price pending receipt by
Purchaser of certificates representing the securities issuable upon such Draw
Down;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and mutual promises
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
TERMS OF THE ESCROW FOR THE INITIAL CLOSING
1.1. The parties hereby agree to establish an escrow account with the
Escrow Agent whereby the Escrow Agent shall hold the funds and documents which
are referenced in Section 5.2 of the Purchase Agreement.
1.2. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Escrow Agent:
(i) the original executed Registration Rights Agreement in the
form of Exhibit A to the Purchase Agreement;
(ii) the original executed opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP in the
form of Exhibit C to the Purchase Agreement; ---------
(iii) the sum of $35,000 for the non-accountable expenses of
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.;
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(iv) the sum of $35,000 for the fees and expenses of the
Purchaser's counsel;
(v) the original executed Company counterpart of this Escrow
Agreement;
(vi) the original executed Company counterpart of the Purchase
Agreement;
(vii) the original executed Initial Warrant in the form of Exhibit
E to the Purchase Agreement; and ---------
(viii) a warrant certificate issued to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.
Inc. to purchase up to a number of shares of the Company's
Common Stock identical to that of the Initial Warrant with a
term and at an exercise price identical to that of the
Initial Warrant (the "Finder Warrant").
1.3. Upon receipt of the foregoing, and receipt of executed counterparts
from Purchaser of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and
this Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall calculate and enter the number,
the exercise price, the issuance date and the termination date on the face of
the Warrant and Finder Warrant, as appropriate, and shall immediately transfer
the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars $35,000 to Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
("EB&G"), 250 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10177 for the Purchaser's legal,
administrative and escrow costs sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars $35,000, as
a non-accountable expense allowance to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. and deliver
the Finder Warrant to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. and the Escrow Agent shall
then arrange to have the Purchase Agreement, this Escrow Agreement, the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Initial Warrant and the opinion of counsel
delivered to the appropriate parties.
ARTICLE II
TERMS OF THE ESCROW FOR EACH DRAW DOWN
2.1. Each time the Company shall send a Draw Down Notice to the Purchaser
as provided in the Purchase Agreement, it shall send a copy, by facsimile, to
the Escrow Agent.
2.2. Each time the Purchaser shall purchase Shares pursuant to a Draw Down,
the Purchaser shall send the applicable purchase price of the Draw Down Shares
to the Escrow Agent, which shall advise the Company in writing that it has
received the purchase price for such Draw Down Shares. The Company shall
promptly, but no later than three (3) Trading Days after receipt of such funding
notice from the Escrow Agent, cause its transfer agent to issue the Draw Down
Shares to the Purchaser via DTC deposit to the account specified by the
Purchaser from time to time and deliver to the Escrow Agent the Draw Down
Warrants and a warrant certificate for a number of shares. Upon receipt of
written confirmation from the transfer agent or from the Purchaser that such
Draw Down Shares have been so deposited and the Draw Down Warrants a
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warrant certificate issued to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. to purchase up to a
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock identical to that of the Initial
Warrant with a term and at an exercise price identical to that of the Draw Down
Warrant (the "Finder Draw Down Warrant") have been so delivered, the Escrow
Agent shall calculate and enter the number, the exercise price, the Issuance
Date and the Termination Date on the face of the Draw Down Warrant and the
Finder Draw Down Warrant and shall within one (1) Trading Day wire 93% of the
purchase price per the written instructions of the Company, net of One Thousand
Five Hundred $1,500 as escrow expenses to the Escrow Agent, and the remaining 7%
of the purchase price as directed by Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
3.1. No waiver or any breach of any covenant or provision herein contained
shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof, or of
any other covenant or provision herein contained. No extension of time for
performance of any obligation or act shall be deemed an extension of the time
for performance of any other obligation or act.
3.2. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing, and shall be sent by fax, overnight courier, registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and shall be deemed
received upon receipt thereof, as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
3.3. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the permitted successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.
3.4. This Escrow Agreement is the final expression of, and contains the
entire agreement between, the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior understandings with respect thereto. This Escrow
Agreement may not be modified, changed, supplemented or terminated, nor may any
obligations hereunder be waived, except by written instrument signed by the
parties to be charged or by their respective agents duly authorized in writing
or as otherwise expressly permitted herein.
3.5. Whenever required by the context of this Escrow Agreement, the
singular shall include the plural and masculine shall include the feminine. This
Escrow Agreement shall not be construed as if it had been prepared by one of the
parties, but rather as if both parties had prepared the same. Unless otherwise
indicated, all references to Articles are to this Escrow Agreement.
3.6. The parties hereto expressly agree that this Escrow Agreement shall be
governed by, interpreted under and construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York. Except as expressly set forth herein, any action
to enforce, arising out of, or relating in any way to, any provisions of this
Escrow Agreement shall brought in the Federal or state courts of New York, New
York as is more fully set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
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3.7. The Escrow Agent's duties hereunder may be altered, amended, modified
or revoked only by a writing signed by the Company, Purchaser and the Escrow
Agent.
3.8. The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for the performance of such
duties as are specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be protected
in relying or refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably believed by
the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the
proper party or parties. The Escrow Agent shall not be personally liable for any
act the Escrow Agent may do or omit to do hereunder as the Escrow Agent while
acting in good faith, excepting only its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct, and any act done or omitted by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the
advice of the Escrow Agent's attorneys-at-law (other than Escrow Agent itself)
shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
3.9. The Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and
all warnings given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person or
corporation, excepting only orders or process of courts of law and is hereby
expressly authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any
court. In case the Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such order, judgment
or decree, the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or
to any other person, firm or corporation by reason of such decree being
subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside, vacated or found to have
been entered without jurisdiction.
3.10. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any respect on account of the
identity, authorization or rights of the parties executing or delivering or
purporting to execute or deliver the Purchase Agreement or any documents or
papers deposited or called for thereunder or hereunder.
3.11. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to employ such legal counsel and
other experts as the Escrow Agent may deem necessary properly to advise the
Escrow Agent in connection with the Escrow Agent's duties hereunder, may rely
upon the advice of such counsel, and may pay such counsel reasonable
compensation therefor. The Escrow Agent has acted as legal counsel for the
Purchaser, and may continue to act as legal counsel for the Purchaser, from time
to time, notwithstanding its duties as the Escrow Agent hereunder. The Company
consents to the Escrow Agent in such capacity as legal counsel for the Purchaser
and waives any claim that such representation represents a conflict of interest
on the part of the Escrow Agent. The Company understands that the Purchaser and
the Escrow Agent are relying explicitly on the foregoing provision in entering
into this Escrow Agreement.
3.12. The Escrow Agent's responsibilities as escrow agent hereunder shall
terminate if the Escrow Agent shall resign by written notice to the Company and
the Purchaser. In the event of any such resignation, the Purchaser and the
Company shall appoint a successor Escrow Agent.
3.13. If the Escrow Agent reasonably requires other or further instruments
in connection with this Escrow Agreement or obligations in respect hereto, the
necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.
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3.14. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with
respect to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the documents
or the escrow funds held by the Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent is
authorized and directed in the Escrow Agent's sole discretion (1) to retain in
the Escrow Agent's possession without liability to anyone all or any part of
said documents or the escrow funds until such disputes shall have been settled
either by mutual written agreement of the parties concerned by a final order,
decree or judgment or a court of competent jurisdiction after the time for
appeal has expired and no appeal has been perfected, but the Escrow Agent shall
be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend any such proceedings or (2)
to deliver the escrow funds and any other property and documents held by the
Escrow Agent hereunder to a state or Federal court having competent subject
matter jurisdiction and located in the State and City of New York in accordance
with the applicable procedure therefor.
3.15. The Company and the Purchaser agree jointly and severally to
indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent and its partners, employees, agents
and representatives from any and all claims, liabilities, costs or expenses in
any way arising from or relating to the duties or performance of the Escrow
Agent hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Purchase
Agreement other than any such claim, liability, cost or expense to the extent
the same shall have been determined by final, unappealable judgment of a court
of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Escrow Agent.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Escrow Agreement
as of this 6 day of July, 2000.
Pawnbroker.com, Inc.
By: /s/ Neil A. McElwee
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Neil A. McElwee, CEO
Gestrow Investments Limited
By:
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Hans Gassner, Authorized Signatory
ESCROW AGENT:
EPSTEIN BECKER & GREEN, P.C.
By:
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Robert F. Charron, Authorized Signatory
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