ESCROW AGREEMENT
ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of June 30, 1997, among XXXXXX FAMILY GOLF
CENTERS, INC., a Delaware corporation with executive offices at 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 ("Assignee"), FAMILY GOLF CENTERS, INC., a
Delaware corporation with executive offices at 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000 ("FGC"), CARVER GOLF ENTERPRISES, INC., a Massachusetts
corporation, having an address at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000 ("Assignor") and CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, incorporated under the laws of the United States of America with
executive offices at 0 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the "Escrow Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution hereof, Assignor and
Assignee are consummating the transactions contemplated by the Assignment and
Assumption Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement"),
between FGC, Assignor and Assignee pursuant to which, among other things, the
Assignee is assuming certain obligations of Assignor including a Lease of
certain real estate in Carver, Massachusetts and purchasing certain assets of
the Assignor; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, 5,000 shares (the
"Escrowed Property") of the FGC's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, are
required to be placed into an escrow account (the "Escrow Account") to be
maintained by the Escrow Agent against any claims for indemnity under the
Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, this is the Escrow Agreement referred to in the Purchase
Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this Escrow Agreement and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Purchase
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
I. ESCROW.
SECTION 1.01 APPOINTMENT OF ESCROW AGENT. Assignor and Assignee hereby
appoint the Escrow Agent, and the Escrow Agent hereby agrees to serve, as
Escrow Agent in accordance with, and pursuant to, this Agreement.
SECTION 1.02 OPERATION OF ESCROW ACCOUNT. The parties hereto agree
that, subject to Section 1.03 hereof, the Escrow Account shall operate as
follows:
(a) Immediately after the Closing on the date hereof, Assignor is
depositing into the Escrow Account an aggregate of 5,000 FGC Shares delivered
to Assignor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by delivering to the Escrow
Agent a stock certificate in Assignor's name evidencing such FGC Shares
together with a stock power duly endorsed in blank by Assignor.
(b) At any time and from time to time on or prior to the first
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, either of Assignee or FGC
(collectively, "FGC Indemnified Parties") shall be entitled to give one or more
notices to the Escrow Agent, signed by its President or any Vice President
(with a copy to Assignor), to the effect that there has been an event entitling
one or more FGC Indemnified Parties to indemnification from Assignor pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement. Each such notice shall specify the amounts owed by
the Assignor pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the calculation of such
amounts and, in reasonable detail, the basis therefor.
(c) Twenty days after the Escrow Agent has received a notice pursuant
to Section 1.02(b) (or, if not a business day, on the next business day
following such twentieth day), it shall deliver to FGC Escrowed Property having
a value, determined as set forth in Section 1.02(e), equal to the amount
specified in such notice unless the Assignor shall have notified the Escrow
Agent (with a copy to FGC) in writing before such date that it disagrees with
Assignee's or FGC's determination that the FGC Indemnified Party or Parties
specified in such notice are entitled to indemnification with respect to the
Purchase Agreement, which notice shall be set forth in reasonable detail the
basis for such disagreement.
(d) Should any dispute arise with respect to the delivery, ownership,
or right of possession of the Escrowed Property, the Escrow Agent, as more
fully set forth in Section III (xi), is authorized and directed to retain in
its possession without liability to anyone all or any part of the Escrowed
Property until such dispute shall have been settled either by mutual agreement
by the parties concerned or by a final order, decree, or judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction in the United States of America and 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, and may, in its
discretion, deposit such Escrowed Property with a court of competent
jurisdiction in the United States of America which is hearing such dispute.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, in the event FGC Shares are
required to be delivered to FGC pursuant to this Agreement, the value of each
FGC Share which is part of the Escrowed Property shall be deemed equal to the
average of the daily Closing Prices per FGC Share during the period of 10
consecutive trading days commencing 20 trading days prior to the date of
delivery of such FGC Shares. The "CLOSING PRICE" of an FGC Share on any day
means the last sale price (or, if no last sale is reported, the average of the
high bid and low asked prices) for an FGC Share on such day (or, if such day is
not a trading day, on the next preceding trading day) as reported
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on NASDAQ or, if not reported on NASDAQ, as quoted by the National Quotation
Bureau Incorporated, or if the FGC Shares are listed on an exchange, on the
principal exchange on which the FGC Shares are listed. If for any day the
Closing Price of a share of FGC Stock is not determinable by any of the
foregoing means, then the Closing Price for such day shall be determined in
good faith by the Escrow Agent on the basis of such quotations and other
considerations as it may deem appropriate.
(f) In the event that an indemnification claim is made in accordance
with Section 1.02(b) hereof and such claim is not disputed by Assignor within
the 20-day period referred to in Section 1.02(c) hereof, then the Assignor
shall have the right to satisfy such indemnification claim in cash rather than
in FGC Shares being held by the Escrow Agent, provided that the full amount of
such claim is paid to Assignee or FGC within such 20-day period.
SECTION 1.03 DISTRIBUTION OF ESCROWED PROPERTY. Unless a notice under
Section 1.02(b) has been given and Escrowed Property in satisfaction of such
notice has not been delivered to FGC, either because the 20-day period has not
yet run out or because a dispute relating to the claim made by such notice is
then pending, the Escrowed Property or such portion of it as at the time
remains in escrow, together with all dividends and distributions received by
the Escrow Agent with respect thereto, shall be returned to Assignor on June
30, 1998.
SECTION 1.04 TERMINATION OF ESCROW ACCOUNT. This Agreement and the
Escrow Account will terminate at 5:00 P.M., New York City local time, on the
date on which all of the FGC Shares contained in the Escrow Account shall be
distributed as set forth above.
SECTION 1.05 VOTING. The FGC Shares held in the Escrow Account shall
be voted by Assignor or its designees.
II. NOTICES.
Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be (a) delivered by hand, (b) sent by
certified mail return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid, or (c)
sent by over-night delivery and addressed as follows:
If to FGC to it at:
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
(000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.P.
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000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Tel: (000)-000-0000
Fax: (000)-000-0000
If to Assignor to it at:
Carver Golf Enterprises, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxx, Xxxx & X'Xxxxxxxx, P.C.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx., Esq.
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Escrow Agent, to it at:
0 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address as the person to whom notice is to be given may have
previously furnished to the others in the above-referenced manner. Except as
otherwise provided herein, no notice or communication shall be effective until
received or refused.
III. CONCERNING THE ESCROW AGENT.
To induce the Escrow Agent to act hereunder, it is further agreed by
each of Assignor, Assignee and FGC that:
(i) The Escrow Agent shall not be under any duty to give the Escrowed
Property
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held by it hereunder any greater degree of care than it gives its own similar
property and shall not be required to invest any funds held hereunder except as
directed in this Agreement.
(ii) This Agreement expressly sets forth all the duties of the Escrow
Agent with respect to any and all matters pertinent hereto. No implied duties
or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The
Escrow Agent shall not be bound by the provisions of any agreement among the
other parties hereto except this Agreement.
(iii) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable, except for its own gross
negligence, willful misconduct or breach of any representations, warranties or
covenants contained in this Agreement, and, except with respect to claims based
upon such gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach that are successfully
asserted against the Escrow Agent, the other parties hereto shall jointly and
severally indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent (and any successor
Escrow Agent) from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims,
actions, damages, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements, arising out of, and in connection with, this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Escrow Agent shall in no event be liable in
connection with its investment or reinvestment of any cash held by it hereunder
in good faith, in accordance with the terms hereof, including, without
limitation, any liability for any delays (not resulting from gross negligence
or willful misconduct) in the investment or reinvestment of the Escrowed Funds,
or any loss of interest incident to any such delays.
(iv) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any order,
judgment, certification, demand, notice, instrument, or other writing delivered
to it hereunder without being required to determine the authenticity or the
correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of the
service thereof. The Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any instrument or
signature believed by it in good faith to be genuine and may assume, if in good
faith, that any person purporting to give notice or receipt or advice or make
any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof
has been duly authorized to do so.
(v) The Escrow Agent may act pursuant to the advice of counsel with
respect to any matter relating to this Escrow Agreement and shall not be liable
for any action taken or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such
advice.
(vi) The Escrow Agent does not have any interest in the Escrowed
Property deposited hereunder, but is serving as escrow holder only. Any
payments of income from the Escrow Account shall be subject to withholding
regulations then in force with respect to United States taxes.
This paragraph (vi) and paragraph (iii) of this Article III shall
survive notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the resignation of
the Escrow Agent.
(vii) The Escrow Agent makes no representation as to the validity,
value, genuineness, or the collectibility of any security or other documents or
instrument held by, or
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delivered to, it.
(viii) The Escrow Agent shall not be called upon to advise any party
as to the wisdom in selling or retaining or taking or refraining from any
action with respect to any securities or other property deposited hereunder.
(ix) The Escrow Agent (and any successor escrow agent) at any time may
be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder by the delivery to it
of notice of termination signed by Assignor and FGC or at any time may resign
by giving written notice to such effect to Assignor and FGC. Upon any such
termination or resignation, the Escrow Agent shall deliver the Escrowed
Property to any successor escrow agent jointly designated by the other parties
hereto in writing, or to any court of competent jurisdiction if no such
successor escrow agent is agreed upon, whereupon the Escrow Agent shall be
discharged of and from any and all further obligations arising in connection
with this Escrow Agreement. The termination or resignation of the Escrow Agent
shall take effect on the earlier of (A) the appointment of a successor
(including a court of competent jurisdiction) or (B) the day that is 30 days
after the date of delivery: (1) to the Escrow Agent of the other parties'
notice of termination or (2) to the other parties hereto of the Escrow Agent's
written notice of resignation. If at that time the Escrow Agent has not
received a designation of a successor escrow agent, the Escrow Agent's sole
responsibility after that time shall be to keep the Escrowed Property safe
until receipt of a designation of successor escrow agent or a joint written
disposition instruction by the other parties hereto or an enforceable order of
a court of competent jurisdiction.
(x) The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility for the contents of
any writing of any third party contemplated herein as a means to resolve
disputes and may rely without any liability upon the contents thereof.
(xi) In the event of any disagreement among or between the other
parties hereto resulting in adverse claims or demands being made in connection
with the Escrowed Property, or in the event that the Escrow Agent in good faith
is in doubt as to what action it should take hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall
be entitled to retain the Escrowed Property until the Escrow Agent shall have
received (A) a final and non-appealable order of a court of competent
jurisdiction directing delivery of the Escrowed Property or (B) a written
agreement executed by the other parties hereto directing delivery of the
Escrowed Property, in which event the Escrow Agent shall disburse the Escrowed
Property in accordance with such order or agreement. Any court order referred
to in (A) above shall be accompanied by a legal opinion by counsel for the
presenting party satisfactory to the Escrow Agent to the effect that said court
order is final and non-appealable. The Escrow Agent shall act on such court
order and legal opinions without further question.
(xii) As consideration for its agreement to act as Escrow Agent as
herein described, FGC shall pay the Escrow Agent fees determined in accordance
with the terms set forth on Exhibit A hereto (and made a part of this Escrow
Agreement as if herein set forth). In addition, FGC and Assignor agree to
reimburse the Escrow Agent for all reasonable expenses, disbursements, and
advances incurred or made by the Escrow Agent in performance of its duties
hereunder (including
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reasonable fees, expenses, and disbursements of its counsel) and to share
equally the costs thereof.
(xiii) No publicly distributed material or other matter in any
language (including, without limitation, notices and reports) which mentions
the Escrow Agent's name or the rights, powers, or duties of the Escrow Agent
shall be issued by the other parties hereto or on such parties' behalf unless
the Escrow Agent shall first have given its specific written consent thereto.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS.
SECTION 4.01 BINDING EFFECT. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding
upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, heirs, administrators, and representatives,
and shall not be enforceable by, or inure to the benefit of, any other third
party, except as provided in paragraph (ix) of Article III with respect to the
termination of, or resignation by, the Escrow Agent. No party may assign any of
its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the written consent of
the other parties.
SECTION 4.02 CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with, and governed by, the internal law of the State of Delaware
(without reference to its rules as to conflicts of law).
SECTION 4.03 MODIFICATION. This Agreement may only be modified by a
writing signed by all of the parties hereto.
SECTION 4.04 HEADINGS. The section headings herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction thereof. Unless otherwise indicated,
references to Sections and Articles are to Sections and Articles, respectively,
contained herein.
SECTION 4.05 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts but all such separate counterparts shall constitute but one
and the same instrument; provided that, although executed in counterparts, the
executed signature pages of each such counterpart may be affixed to a single
copy of this Agreement which shall constitute an original.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Escrow
Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.
XXXXXX FAMILY GOLF CENTERS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
FAMILY GOLF CENTERS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXXX GOLF ENTERPRISES, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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