ESCROW AGREEMENT
This Escrow Agreement ("Agreement") is made this 11th day of December, 1996,
between United Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware Corporation with its principal
offices in Knoxville, Tennessee (referred to as "UPC") and Strategic Holdings
Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Florida, (referred to as "SHC")
RECITALS
A. UPC is a publicly traded corporation listed on NASDAQ small cap;
B. SHC has in its possession, in a securities account at ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
1,834,407 shares of UPC common stock, acquired by it from Taj Global Equities
Corporation (referred to hereinafter as the "Shares");
C. SHC is indebted to UPC in the amount of $10,876,660.90 as evidenced by
two promissory notes, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit A (referred
to hereinafter as the "Notes");
D. SHC has agreed to execute a Security Agreement granting UPC a security
interest in the Shares to secure the repayment of the Notes;
E. UPC and SHC desire that the Shares be removed from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and a
certificate evidencing the Shares be issued by the transfer agent for UPC, and
placed in ESCROW subject to the terms set forth hereinbelow;
F. The parties agree that there be no sale, pledge, conveyance,
encumbrance or other means of transfer of the Shares from the Escrow
Account without consent of UPC;
Now therefore, based upon the foregoing, the parties agree as follows:
1. SHC agrees to place 1,500,000 of the Shares in escrow with ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esquire (referred to as "Escrow Agent"), ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, to be held by him subject to the terms set forth herein. The
remaining shares shall be held in escrow with Jan Atlas, Esquire, (referred to
as "Additional Escrow Agent"), New River Center, Suite 1900, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
2. SHC agrees to execute such number of stock powers requested by the
Escrow Agent, in order to facilitate this Agreement. SHC further agrees to
execute a proxy(s) in favor of the Escrow Agent for 1,834,407 shares (the
Escrowed Shares) upon request so long as the Shares remain in escrow.
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3. The parties agree that the obligation of SHC pursuant to the Notes shall
be nonrecourse, and UPC shall look solely to the collateral provided for herein
for payment of the Note. Upon the request of UPC, SHC shall cause all or any of
the collateral to be sold at such prices, to such persons and at such times as
UPC shall determine, in which event, the purchase price, less expenses of sale
shall be paid over to UPC. The parties further agree that UPC may enter into an
agreement or agreements to acquire one of more business entities or assets,
subject to the approval of UPC and on terms and conditions approved by UPC, with
all of part of the payment for such entities or assets to be made with all or
part of the collateral. In the event of a successful acquisition, SHC agrees
that it will sell such entity or asset to UPC at its appraised value plus 5%,
the purchase price to be paid by crediting SHC's Note and cash equal to 5% of
appraised value.
4. The parties shall upon the execution of the said Acquisition
Agreement(s) individually notify the Escrow Agent or Additional Escrow Agent, as
warranted by facsimile, overnight delivery of hand delivery of the execution of
such Acquisition Agreement(s) and include in such notification instructions on
as to the number of shares to be utilized and the address of the closing agent
for such transaction(s), if known. Upon reciept, the Escrow Agent shall, within
48 hours of such receipt notify the transfer agent to reissue the number of
shares necessary for the transaction(s) and deliver the certificate together
with an executed stock power, to the closing of said transaction(s).
5. UPC acknowledges ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. has not acted as counsel for UPC
and/or any of its officers and directors with regard to this agreement and any
part of the transactions for purposes of consulting, public relations and the
purchase of the Shares described herein.
6. SHC shall hold 334,407 of the 1,834,407 as security for the payment of
management fee's due SHC. SHC shall receive a minimum of $465,000 or 5% which
ever is greater, payable at a minimum of $200,000 (1997) and $265,000 (1998).
UPC agrees to pay SHC a management fee of $5,000 per month for January and
February, 1997 and $7,500 per month thereafter for a minimum of one year or
until such time as the 1,834,407 has been sold or transferred, which ever is
later. SHC agrees to offset $60,000 of the management fee, for the first year,
against any proceeds received over and above the note and/or 5% fee for
acquisitions. SHC agrees to transfer to ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ upon payment of the
first years fee 150,407 of the 334,407 held as security herein.
7. SHC agrees that unless UPC is in default of the provisions of paragraph
6, above, it will not sell or request the sale of the shares held as security;
and further agrees that in the event of a default under paragraph 6, above,
shall be authorized by UPC to sell not more than 10,000 shares in any one month
for the term of this agreement without the consent of UPC.
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8. UPC and SHC agree that ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or for any act done or omitted by ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. in
good faith, or for anything which he may in good faith do or refrain from doing
in connection herewith. No liability will be incurred by ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
if, in the event of any dispute or question as to the construction of this
Escrow Agreement, he acts in accordance with the opinion of his legal counsel.
9. UPC and SHC agree that Jan Atlas, Esq. shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or for any act done or omitted by Jan Atlas, Esq. in good
faith, or for anything which he may in good faith do or refrain from doing in
connection herewith. No liability will be incurred by Jan Atlas, Esq. if, in the
event of any dispute or question as to the construction of this
Escrow Agreement, he acts in accordance with the opinion of his legal counsel.
10. Upon any breach of this agreement by UPC, UPC agrees to release the
334,407 shares held by SHC without restriction and agrees not to sell, pledge,
conveyance, encumbrance or other means of transfer of the Shares from the Escrow
Account without consent of SHC; and to credit the balance owed under the Note
with an amount equal to the closing bid price of the Shares being released on
the day preceding the release.
11. The Escrow Agent has executed this Agreement solely for the purpose of
accepting the Escrow and his acceptance of the terms of the Escrow.
12. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon their respective successors and
assigns, including the survivor upon any merger, consolidation, share exchange
or combination of either corporation with any other entity.
13. This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings between the parties hereto, oral or written, and may not be
modified or terminated orally. No modification, termination or attempted waiver
shall be valid unless in writing, signed by the party against whom such
modification, termination or waiver is sought to be enforced. This Agreement was
the subject of negotiation by the parties hereto and their counsel. The parties
agree that no prior drafts of this Agreement shall be admissible as evidence
(whether in any arbitration or court of law) in any proceeding which involves
the interpretation of any provisions of this Agreement.
14. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of Tennessee without reference to the conflict of law
principles thereof.
15. Each party represents and warrants to the other that it has full power
and authority, under it's respective Charters and By-laws to enter into and
perform this Agreement and that its execution and performance of this Agreement
shall not constitute a default under or breach of any of the terms of any
agreement to which it is a party or which it is bound. Each party represents
that no consent or approval of any third party is required for its execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or that all consents or approvals of
any third party required for its execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement have been obtained.
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16. UPC will indemnify SHC and save SHC harmless from and against any and
all claims, actions, damages, liability and expense in connection with this
agreement and the underlying transaction. The term expense shall include
reasonable counsel fees, subject to review of the bills for such expenses. In
the event of any such claims or actions being filed which include as an
individual defendant, the President of SHC this indemnification shall include
such individual, predicated upon such individual having fully disclosed to UPC
all facts and actions in which he or SHC has personal knowledge relating to the
purchase of the Shares and any agreements, negotiations or preceding or
following such purchase.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement this
11th day of December, 1996.
UNITED PETROLEUM CORPORATION
/s/ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Witness ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
STRATEGIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
/s/ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------- --------------------------
Witness ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, President
ACCEPTED:
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Escrow Agent
--------------------------
Jan Atlas, Additional Escrow Agent
(SIGNED IN COUNTERPART PAGES)
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