ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of the ___ day
of June, 1997, by and between ACTIVE ANKLE SYSTEMS, INC. a Kentucky corporation
("Issuer") and BANK ONE KENTUCKY, NA ("Escrow Agent").
RECITALS:
A. Issuer proposes to offer for sale to subscribers an aggregate of
100,000 shares (the "Shares") at a price of $40.00 per Share, payable at the
time of subscribing for a Share. The payment will be paid into the escrow
created by this Agreement.
B. Issuer intends to sell the Shares on a best-efforts "minimum or none"
basis in a registered offering (the "Offering") by delivering to each subscriber
a Prospectus (the "Prospectus") describing the Offering.
C. Issuer desires to establish an escrow account in which funds received
from subscribers would be deposited pending completion of the Escrow Period (as
defined below). Bank One Trust Company, NA agrees to serve as Escrow Agent in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF ESCROW AGENT. Issuer hereby appoints Bank One
Kentucky, NA as Escrow Agent and Escrow Agent shall establish an escrow account
(the "Escrow Account") on its books named "Active Ankle 1997 Public Offering
Escrow Account." Commencing upon the execution of this Agreement, Escrow Agent
shall act as Escrow Agent and hereby agrees to receive and disburse the proceeds
from the offering of the Shares in accordance with the terms herewith. Issuer
agrees to notify the Escrow Agent promptly of the closing of the offering and
sale of the Shares.
2. PAYMENTS INTO ESCROW. Issuer shall cause all checks received from
subscriber for Shares to be promptly deposited into the Escrow Account. Issuer
shall deliver to the Escrow Agent checks of the subscribers made payable to the
order of "Active Ankle 1997 Public Offering Escrow Account." Any checks that
are received by Escrow Agent that are not made payable to the Escrow Account
shall be returned to the Issuer. Issuer shall furnish to the Escrow Agent at
the time of each deposit of the above-mentioned funds a list containing the name
of each subscriber, the subscriber's address, the number of Shares purchased,
and the amount of the check being delivered to the Escrow Agent (see Exhibit A
for the form to be used). Prior to the receipt of the Minimum (as described
below), the Issuer is aware and understands that it is not entitled to any
proceeds from subscriptions deposited into the Escrow Account and no amounts
deposited in the Escrow Account during the Escrow Period shall become the
property of the Issuer or any other entity, or be subject to the debts of the
Issuer or any other entity.
3. TERMINATION OF ESCROW. The Escrow Period shall commence on the date
hereof and shall terminate ten (10) business days following the earlier to occur
of the following dates:
(a) The date upon which Escrow Agent confirms upon written request of the
Issuer that it has received into the Escrow Account and collected gross
subscription proceeds from the sale of 45,000 Shares, aggregating in
deposited funds the total amount of at least $1,800,000.00 (the "Minimum");
or
(b) The "Cessation Date," which for the purposes of this Agreement shall
be 180 days after the date on which the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission authorizes the sale of Shares, unless Issuer elects to continue
to offer the Shares for sale until some later date, as permitted by the
Prospectus but no later than March 31, 1998; or
(c) The date upon which a determination is made by the Issuer to terminate
the Offering prior to the sale of the Minimum, as communicated to Escrow
Agent in writing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Cessation
Date is intended to signify the date of the cessation of the Offering as
provided in the Prospectus, and not the termination of the Escrow Period of this
Agreement; and upon the occurrence of any of the events described in (a), (b) or
(c) above, the Escrow Period shall continue for such ten (10) business-day
period solely for the limited purposes of collecting subscribers' checks that
have been deposited prior to such event and disbursing funds from the Escrow
Account as provided herein. Escrow Agent will not accept deposits of
subscribers' checks after notice that any of the events described in
subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) has occurred.
4. DUTIES OF ESCROW AGENT. The Escrow Agent will deposit the
subscribers' checks for collection and credit the proceeds to the Escrow Account
to be held by it under the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, Escrow Agent is under no duty or responsibility
to enforce collection of any checks delivered to Escrow Agent hereunder. The
Escrow Agent hereby is authorized to forward each check for collection and
deposit the proceeds in the Escrow Account. As an alternative, the Escrow Agent
may telephone the bank on which the check is drawn to confirm that the check has
been paid. Additionally, to insure that such funds have cleared normal banking
channels for collection, Escrow Agent is authorized to hold for ten (10)
business days funds to be released. Issuer shall immediately reimburse Escrow
Agent any monies paid to it if thereafter the subscriber's check is returned
unpaid. Any item returned unpaid to the Escrow Agent on its first presentation
for payment shall be returned to Issuer and need not be again presented by the
Escrow Agent for collection. Issuer agrees to reimburse Escrow Agent for the
cost incurred with any returned check. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
"collected funds" or the term "collected" when referring to the proceeds of
subscribers' checks shall mean all funds received by Escrow Agent that have
cleared normal banking channels and are in the form of cash. The Escrow Agent
shall invest the funds deposited
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in the Escrow Account as instructed in writing by Issuer, and shall in no
event be liable for any investment loss. Upon termination of the escrow, all
earnings shall belong to and be paid to Issuer.
5. PROCEDURE UPON TERMINATION OF ESCROW. If prior to the Cessation Date,
subscriber's checks in an amount of at least the Minimum have been deposited in
the Escrow Account, upon request from Issuer, Escrow Agent will confirm the
amounts collected by it from subscriber's checks. If such amount is at least
equal to the Minimum, the Issuer may send Escrow Agent a written notice
providing a list of all accepted subscribers, specifying the total amount of
their subscription to be remitted to Issuer, and containing a request to
terminate the Escrow Period and remit such amount, less any fees or other
amounts then owing from Issuer to Escrow Agent hereunder, to the Issuer as
promptly as possible, but in no event later than ten (10) business days after
such termination, by issuing its bank check payable to the Issuer or by
depositing such amount directly into the account of Issuer maintained with Bank
One Kentucky, NA, as designated in writing by Issuer to Escrow Agent. The
Escrow Period shall not terminate upon receipt by Escrow Agent of such notice,
but shall continue for such (10) business-day period solely for the limited
purposes of collecting subscribers' checks that have been deposited prior to
Escrow Agent's receipt of such notice and disbursing funds from the Escrow
Account as provided herein. Escrow Agent will not accept deposits of
subscriber's checks after receipt of such notice.
If, on the Cessation Date, the Minimum Amount has not been deposited with
the Escrow Agent and collected, or if Issuer notifies the Escrow Agent in
writing that Issuer elects to terminate the Offering as provided in paragraph
3(c) above, the Escrow Agent shall then issue and mail its bank checks to the
subscribers in the amount of the subscribers' respective checks, without
deduction, penalty or expense to the subscriber, and shall, for this purpose, be
authorized to rely upon the names and addresses of subscribers furnished it as
contemplated above. No subscriber shall be paid interest with respect to such
deposited funds. The purchase money returned to each subscriber shall be free
and clear of any and all claims of the Issuer and any of its creditors. For
each subscription for which the Escrow Agent has not collected funds but has
submitted the subscriber's check for collection, the Escrow Agent shall promptly
issue a check to such subscriber in the amount of the collected funds from such
subscriber's check after the Escrow Agent has collected such funds. If Escrow
Agent has not yet submitted such subscriber's check for collection, the Escrow
Agent shall promptly remit the subscriber's check directly to such subscriber.
At such time as Escrow Agent shall have made the payments and remittances
provided in the Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall be completely discharged and
released of any and all further liabilities and responsibilities hereunder.
6. FEES TO ESCROW AGENT. As consideration for its agreement to act as
Escrow Agent as herein described, Issuer agrees to pay the Escrow Agent its fees
described on the attached fee schedule (Exhibit B). Further, Issuer agrees to
pay all disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Escrow Agent in
performance of its duties hereunder, including reasonable fees, expenses and
disbursements of its counsel, all in accordance with the attached fee schedule
or the
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other provisions of this Agreement. No such fees or reimbursements shall
be paid out of or chargeable to the funds on deposit in the Escrow Account until
such time as the Minimum has been collected.
Escrow Agent shall promptly issue a check in the amount of the collected
funds from the subscriber's check to the rejected subscriber after the Escrow
Agent has cleared such funds. If Escrow Agent has not yet submitted a rejected
subscriber's check for collection, the Escrow Agent shall promptly remit the
subscriber's check directly to the subscriber.
7. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall automatically
terminate upon the earlier of (i) twenty (20) days after the Cessation Date or
(ii) twenty (20) days after the date upon which the Escrow Agent has delivered
the final portion of Escrow Account funds pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.
8. RESIGNATION BY ESCROW AGENT. Escrow Agent reserves the right to
resign hereunder, upon ten (10) days prior written notice to Issuer. In the
event of said resignation, and prior to the effective date thereof, Issuer, by
written notice to Escrow Agent, shall designate a successor escrow agent to
assume the responsibilities of Escrow Agent under this Agreement, and Escrow
Agent immediately shall deliver any undisbursed Escrow Account funds to such
successor escrow agent. If Issuer shall fail to designate such a successor
escrow agent within such time period, the Escrow Agent may deliver any
undisbursed funds into the registry of any court having jurisdiction.
9. RIGHTS, ETC. OF ESCROW AGENT. The parties hereto agree that the
following provisions shall control with respect to the rights, duties,
liabilities, privileges and immunities of the Escrow Agent:
(a) Escrow Agent shall have no obligation to invest the Escrow Account
without the written direction of Issuer.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility except for the
safekeeping and delivery of the amounts deposited in the Escrow Account in
accordance with this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for
any act done or omitted to be done under this Agreement or in connection
with the amounts deposited in the Escrow Account, except as a result of the
Escrow Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent is
not a party to, nor is it bound by, nor need it give consideration to, the
terms or provisions of, even though it may have knowledge of, (i) any
agreement or undertaking by, between or among the Issuer and any other
party, except this Agreement, (ii) any agreement or undertaking that may be
evidenced by this Agreement, (iii) any other agreements that may now or in
the future be deposited with the Escrow Agent in connection with this
Agreement. The Escrow Agent is not a party to, is not responsible for, and
makes no representation with respect to the offer, sale or distribution of
the Shares including, but not limited to, matters set forth in any offering
documents prepared and distributed in connection with the offer, sale and
distribution of the Shares. The Issuer covenants that it will not commence
any action against the Escrow Agent at law, in
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equity, or otherwise as a result of any action taken or thing done by the
Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement, or for any disbursement made as
authorized herein upon failure of the Issuer to give the notice within the
times herein prescribed. The Escrow Agent has no duty to determine or
inquire into any happening or occurrence of or of any performance or
failure of performance of the Issuer or of any other party with respect to
agreements or arrangements with any other party. If any question, dispute
or disagreement arises among the parties hereto and/or any other party with
respect to the funds deposited in the Escrow Account or the proper
interpretation of this Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to
act and shall not be held liable for refusal to act until the question or
dispute is settled, and the Escrow Agent has the absolute right at its
discretion to do either or both of the following:
(i) withhold and/or stop all further performance under this
Agreement until the Escrow Agent is satisfied, by receipt of a
written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Escrow
Agent and executed and binding upon all interested parties hereto
(who may include the subscribers), that the question, dispute, or
disagreement had been resolved; or
(ii) file a suit in interpleader and obtain by final judgment,
rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, an order binding all
parties interested in the matter. In any such suit, or should the
Escrow Agent become involved in litigation in any manner whatsoever
on account of this Agreement or the Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent
shall be entitled to recover from the Issuer its attorneys' fees and
costs.
The Escrow Agent shall never be required to post a bond in
connection with any services hereunder. The Escrow Agent may consult
with counsel of its own choice and shall have full and complete
authorization and protection for and shall not be liable for any action
taken or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and believed by it to be
authorized hereby, nor for action taken or omitted by it in accordance
with the advice of such counsel (who shall not be counsel for the Issuer).
(c) The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for the performance of such
duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement and may rely and
shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written
notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties and to take statements made therein as authorized and correct
without any affirmative duty of investigation.
(d) The Issuer hereby agrees to indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense (including,
without limitation, all legal expenses incurred in enforcing any of the
provisions of this Agreement or otherwise in connection herewith) incurred
without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Escrow
Agent, arising out of or in connection with its entering into this
Agreement
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and carrying out its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending itself against any claim of liability hereunder or arising out of
or in connection with the sale of the Shares. This covenant shall survive
the termination of this Agreement.
(e) The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any modification, amendment,
termination, cancellation, rescission or supersession of this Agreement
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all of the other parties
hereto and, if its duties as Escrow Agent hereunder are affected thereby,
unless it shall have given prior written consent thereto.
10. NOTICES. Notices required to be sent hereunder shall be delivered by
hand, sent by an express mail service or sent via United States mail, postage
prepaid, certified, return receipt requested, to the following address:
If to Issuer:
Active Ankle Systems, Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
If to Escrow Agent:
Bank One Kentucky, NA
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
No notice to the Escrow Agent shall be deemed to be delivered until
actually received by the Escrow Agent. From time to time any party hereto may
designate an address other than the address listed above by giving the other
parties hereto not less than five (5) days advance notice of such change in
address in accordance with the provisions hereof.
11. GOVERNING LAWS. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of Kentucky.
EXECUTED on the date first written above.
ISSUER: By:___________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
ACTIVE ANKLE SYSTEMS, INC.
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ESCROW AGENT:
BANK ONE KENTUCKY, NA
By: ______________________________
Title: ___________________________
EXHIBIT A
FORM TO ACCOMPANY SUBSCRIBERS' CHECKS
ACTIVE ANKLE 1997 PUBLIC OFFERING
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NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUBSCRIBER AMOUNT OF CHECK NUMBER OF
SHARES
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EXHIBIT B
FEE SCHEDULE
