AMENDED AND RESTATED
ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") effective as
of July 26, 2001, is made and entered into by and among RAMY EL-BATRAWI (the
"Optionor"), an individual resident in California and the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of GenesisIntermedia, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), RIVERDALE LLC, a New York limited liability company ("Holder") and
Wilmington Trust FSB, a federal savings bank (the "Escrow Agent").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, for good and valuable consideration, the Optionor has agreed to
grant Options to the Holder providing for the purchase of shares of Common Stock
of the Company held by Optionor all as set forth in the Option Agreement (the
"Option Agreement");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Option Agreement, the option to purchase an
aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company
are to be granted to Holder (the "Option Shares");
WHEREAS, the Option Agreement provides that of the 1,500,000 Option shares
(i) 1,000,000 of the Option Shares to be issued to the Holder (the "Escrow
Shares") be placed in an escrow account on the terms and conditions set forth
herein and (ii) a further 500,000 shares that may be placed in an escrow account
in event that the Holder elects to exercise its option to purchase such shares;
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to establish the terms and conditions
pursuant to which such escrow account will be established and maintained.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. ESCROW.
(a) Escrow Fund. On the date hereof this Escrow Agreement shall be executed
by each of the parties hereto. On or before July 30, 2001, Optionor agrees to
place in escrow one million shares (the "Series IA Escrow Shares") subject to
the Series IA Options, and any other shares that may become subject to such
Options in accordance with Section 4 of the Option Agreement. In addition, in
the event that Optionor receives notice by the Holder of its intention to
exercise its Series IB Options, Optionor agrees to place the 500,000 shares (the
"Series IB Escrow Shares and, together with the Series IA Escrow Shares, the
"Escrow Shares") subject to the Series IB Options, and any other shares that may
become subject to such Options, as a result of the provisions of Section 4 of
the Option Agreement. Optionor shall deposit or shall cause the Company's
transfer agent to deposit in an intermediary securities account for the Escrow
Agent the 1,000,000 Escrow Shares, such deposit to constitute an escrow account
(the "Escrow Fund"). The Escrow Shares shall be delivered by the Optionor or the
Company's transfer agent to the escrow account in the form of a duly authorized
stock certificate issued in the name of the Holder, together with stock powers
endorsed in blank. The Escrow Agent agrees to accept delivery of the Escrow
Shares and to hold such in the Escrow Fund subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement. Optionor covenants that all shares of Option Common Stock
that may be transferred upon exercise of the Options will be fully paid,
nonassessable, free of preemptive rights and free from all taxes, liens, charges
and security interests with respect to the transfer thereof.
(b) Delay of Issuance by the Optionor. If the Series IA Escrow Shares are
not delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held in escrow pursuant to Section 1(a)
above or before July 30, 2001, Optionor shall pay to the Holder the sum of
$35,000 for each business day that the Series IA Escrow Shares are not so
delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held in escrow pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. If the Series IB Escrow Shares are not delivered to the Escrow Agent
to be held in escrow pursuant to Section 1(a) above within seven days of the
Optionor receiving notice by the Holder of its intention to exercise its Series
IB Options, Optionor shall pay to the Holder the sum of $35,000 for each
business day that the Series IB Escrow Shares are not so delivered to the Escrow
Agent to be held in escrow pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. These
payments shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other damages suffered
by the Holder as a result of Optionor's failure to deliver the Option Common
Stock as required by the terms of the Options upon exercise of the Options.
(c) Protection of Escrow Fund. The Escrow Agent shall hold and safeguard
the Escrow Shares so long as such shares remain in the Escrow Fund, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and not as the property of Optionor,
and shall hold and dispose of the Escrow Shares only in accordance with the
terms hereof.
(d) Voting and Rights of Ownership The Holder shall have a right to direct
Optionor and Optionor hereby agrees if so directed to vote the shares underlying
the Options on any matters requiring the vote of the Company's stockholders and
relating to the issuance of securities of the Company, amendments to the
Company's charter documentation that affect the rights of holders of Common
Stock, the sale of assets of the Company, a merger or consolidation of the
Company, or any other recapitalization or reorganization of the Company. Escrow
Agent shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to the provisions
of this Section (2)(d).
(e) No Transfer by the Holder. Holder may not, without the prior written
consent of Optionor, sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer any of the
Escrow Shares prior to the exercise of the Options with respect to such shares
by the Holder.
(f) Escrow Agent's Power to Transfer. The Escrow Agent is hereby granted
the sole power to effect any transfer of the Escrow Shares contemplated by this
Agreement. Optionor and the Company shall cooperate with the Escrow Agent in
promptly issuing (or causing the Company's transfer agent to issue) stock
certificates to effect such transfer. The Escrow Agent is hereby specifically
directed and granted the power to appoint UBS PaineWebber Inc. (or its
affiliate) to act as custodian of the Escrow Shares and to establish an account
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by executing the new account application and related documents in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A. This provision shall in no way affect Escrow
Agent's obligation to deliver shares to Holder under the circumstances provided
herein.
2. DRAW FROM THE ESCROW FUND.
(a) Upon the exercise of the Options at any time and from time to time at
the election of Holder in accordance with Section 3 of the Option Agreement and
the terms of the Options, Holder will deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate
(the "Option Certificate") evidencing exercise of the Options by the Holder. The
Escrow Agent shall give written notice to the Holder of its receipt of the
Option Certificate not later than the close of business on the day following the
day of receipt thereof. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively
upon such Option Certificate and shall not have any liability for delivering the
Holder the Escrow Shares in accordance with Section 2(b) herein.
(b) If the Escrow Agent shall receive the Option Certificate before 3:30
p.m. (Pacific Time) on the Termination Date (as defined below), then the Escrow
Agent shall, on or before the second business day next following the date of the
Escrow Agent's receipt of the Option Certificates, deliver to Holder from the
Escrow Fund the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Option
Certificate to be delivered upon such exercise (the "Escrow Fund Draw")
regardless of any contrary notices that the Escrow Agent may receive from the
Optionor or the Company or any third party.
3. RELEASE OF ESCROW FUND. On the earlier of (i) July 2, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
(Pacific time) or (ii) on such day which is one day after the date that the
Options otherwise expire unexercised (either such date and time, the
"Termination Date"), if the Escrow Agent has not prior to the close of business
on the Termination Date received from Holder the Option Certificate duly
exercised and completed, all Escrow Shares held by the Escrow Agent in the
Escrow Fund will be released to the Optionor.
4. FEES AND EXPENSES. Upon execution of this Agreement and deposit of the
Escrow Shares with the Escrow Agent, Escrow Agent will be entitled to fees in
accordance with the Escrow Agent's fee schedules in effect at that time. The
Escrow Agent will also be entitled to reimbursement on demand for extraordinary
expenses incurred in performance of its duties hereunder including, without
limitation, payment of all fees, charges, and interest incurred in connection
with the establishment and maintenance of Escrow Agent's account with UBS Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Inc., payment of any reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by the
Escrow Agent in connection with the resolution of any claim by any party
hereunder in accordance with the Escrow Agent's fee schedule in effect from time
to time. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and extraordinary expenses of
the Escrow Agent for the services to be rendered by the Escrow Agent hereunder
including reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the preparation of
this Agreement. The provisions of Section 4 shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
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5. LIMITATION OF ESCROW AGENT'S LIABILITY.
(a) Neither Escrow Agent nor any of its directors, officers or employees
shall incur any liability with respect to any action taken or suffered by it in
reliance upon any notice, direction, instruction, consent, statement or other
documents believed by it to be genuine and duly authorized, nor for other action
or inaction except its own willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Escrow
Agent shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the validity, accuracy
or content of any document delivered to it nor shall the Escrow Agent be
responsible for the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement. In all questions
arising under this Agreement, the Escrow Agent may rely on the advice of
counsel, including in-house counsel, and for anything done, omitted or suffered
in good faith by the Escrow Agent based on such advice the Escrow Agent shall
not be liable to anyone. The Escrow Agent shall not be required to take any
action hereunder involving any expense unless the payment of such expense is
made or provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to it. The Escrow Agent
shall not be responsible for any other agreements between the parties hereto,
but shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(b) In the event conflicting demands are made or conflicting notices are
served upon the Escrow Agent with respect to the Escrow Shares, the Escrow Agent
will have the absolute right, at the Escrow Agent's election, to do either or
both of the following: (i) resign so a successor can be appointed pursuant to
Section 7 hereof, or (ii) file a suit in interpleader and obtain an order from a
court of competent jurisdiction requiring the parties to interplead and litigate
in such court their several claims and rights among themselves. In the event
such interpleader suit is brought, the Escrow Agent will thereby be fully
released and discharged from all further obligations imposed upon it under this
Agreement, and the Company will pay the Escrow Agent all costs, expenses and
reasonable attorneys' fees expended or incurred by the Escrow Agent pursuant to
the exercise of the Escrow Agent's rights under this Section 5(b) (such costs,
fees and expenses will be treated as extraordinary fees and expenses for the
purposes of Section 4 hereof).
(c) The Company and the Optionor, jointly and severally, hereby agree to
indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, damage,
liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on
the part of Escrow Agent, arising out of or in connection with its carrying out
of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to reasonable legal fees and
other costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim
or liability in the premises. As among themselves, each of the Optionor and the
Company shall be liable for one-half of such amounts. In no event shall the
Escrow Agent be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages.
In addition, Optionor and the Company, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify
and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from any liabilities incurred due to the
establishment and maintenance of the Escrow Agent's account with UBS Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Inc., including any and all obligations, indemnities, fees, charges,
interest, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred or arising in
connection with such account. The provisions of Section 5(c) shall survive
termination of this Agreement.
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(d) The Optionor and the Company, jointly and severally, agree to assume
any and all obligations imposed now or hereafter by any applicable tax law with
respect to the release of any Escrow Shares under this Agreement, and to
indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any taxes,
additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses, that may be
assessed against the Escrow Agent in any such release or other activities under
this Agreement. The Optionor and the Company undertake to instruct the Escrow
Agent in writing with respect to the Escrow Agent's responsibility for
withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges,
certifications and governmental reporting in connection with its acting as
Escrow Agent under this Agreement. The Optionor and the Company, jointly and
severally, agree to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from any
liability on account of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges,
including without limitation the withholding or deduction or the failure to
withhold or deduct the same, and any liability for failure to obtain proper
certifications or to properly report to governmental authorities, to which the
Escrow Agent may be or become subject in connection with or that arises out of
this Agreement, including costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees
and expenses), interest and penalties. The provisions of Section 5(d) shall
survive termination of this Agreement.
6. NOTICES. All notices, instruction and other communications given
hereunder or in connection herewith shall be in writing. Any such notice,
instruction or communication shall be sent either (i) by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (ii) via a reputable
nationwide overnight courier service, or (iii) via facsimile, in each case to
the address set forth below. Any such notice, instruction or communication shall
be deemed to have been delivered three business days after it is sent prepaid,
or one (1) business day after it is sent via a reputable nationwide overnight
courier service, or upon confirmed receipt if sent by facsimile.
If to the Holder, to:
Riverdale LLC
c/o Icahn Associates
000 0xx Xxxxxx - 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
If to the Optionor, to:
Ramy El-Batrawi
GenesisIntermedia, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
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with a copy to:
Sheppard, Mullin, Xxxxxxx & Hampton, LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company, to:
GenesisIntermedia, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
If to the Escrow Agent:
Wilmington Trust FSB
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Any party may give any notice, instruction or communication in connection
with this Agreement using any other means (including personal delivery, telecopy
or ordinary mail), but no such notice, instruction or communication shall be
deemed to have been delivered unless and until it is actually received by the
party to whom it was sent. Any party may change the address to which notices,
instructions or communications are to be delivered by giving the other parties
to this Agreement notice thereof in the manner set forth in this Section 6.
7. SUCCESSOR ESCROW AGENT. In the event the Escrow Agent becomes
unavailable or unwilling to continue in its capacity herewith, the Escrow Agent
may resign and be discharged from its duties or obligations hereunder by giving
its resignation to the parties to this Agreement, specifying not less than 30
days' prior written notice of the date when such resignation shall take effect.
The Optionor may appoint a successor Escrow Agent without the consent of the
Holder so long as such successor is a bank with assets of at least $500 million,
and may appoint any other successor Escrow Agent with the consent of the Holder,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If, however, the Optionor
shall fail to name such a successor escrow agent within twenty (20) days after
the notice of resignation from the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent may apply to a
court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor escrow agent.
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8. GENERAL.
(a) Governing Law; Forum.
(i) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and governed in
all respects by, the internal laws of the State of New York (without giving
effect to principles of conflicts of laws).
(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein, any legal action or other legal
proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of
this Agreement shall be brought or otherwise commenced in any state or federal
court located in Los Angeles County, California.
(iii) Nothing contained in Section 8 shall be deemed to limit or otherwise
affect the right of any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder to commence
any legal proceeding or otherwise proceed against the indemnifying party in any
other forum or jurisdiction.
(b) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be decreed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding
and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, written or
oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(d) Waivers. No waiver by any party hereto of any condition or of any
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.
No waiver by any party of any such condition or breach, in any one instance,
shall be deemed to be a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or
breach or a waiver of any other condition or breach of any other provision
contained herein.
(e) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only with the written consent
of Holder, the Company, the Optionor and the Escrow Agent (or their duly
designated successors).
(f) Dispute Resolution. Other than as provided in Section 2, it is
understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with respect to the
delivery, ownership, right of possession, and/or disposition of the Escrow
Shares, or should any claim be made upon such Escrow Shares by a third party,
the Escrow Agent upon receipt of written notice of such dispute or claim by the
parties hereto or by a third party, is authorized and directed to retain in its
possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Escrow Shares until
such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of
the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a Court in the
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxx, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order,
decree or judgment having expired. The Escrow Agent may, but shall be under no
duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings that relate to the
Escrow Shares.
(g) Force Majeure. The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible for delays or
failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall
include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of
war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire,
communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or
other disasters.
(h) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the respective
parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns.
(i) Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents relating
thereto, including, without limitation, (i) consents, waivers and modifications
which may hereafter be executed, and (ii) certificates and other information
previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic,
photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or
other similar process. The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be
admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative
proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such
reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any
enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence.
[Signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Amended and
Restated Escrow Agreement dated September 10, 2001.
COMPANY: GENESISINTERMEDIA, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:_________________________________
Ramy El-Batrawi
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
HOLDER: RIVERDALE LLC,
a New York limited liability company
By: __________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
OPTIONOR: RAMY EL-BATRAWI,
an individual
_____________________________________
ESCROW AGENT: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB
a Federal Savings Bank
By: _________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
