Disbursement of the Escrow Shares 3.1 The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares during the period (the “Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and (i) for 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending on the earlier of (x) six months after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement, hereinafter a “Business Combination”) and (y) the date on which the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) for the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending six months after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination. The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares (and any applicable share power) to such Initial Shareholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated at any time during the Escrow Period, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Escrow Shares; provided further, however, that if, within six months after the Company consummates an initial Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders of such entity having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Initial Shareholders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.1.
3.2 Notwithstanding Section 3.1, if the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 750,000 Units of the Company in full within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Initial Shareholders agree that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of Escrow Shares held by the Initial Shareholders listed on Exhibit B determined by multiplying (a) the product of (i) 187,500 multiplied by (ii) a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of Escrow Shares held by each such holder, and (y) the denominator of which is the total number of Escrow Shares, by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 750,000 minus the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 750,000. The Company shall promptly provide notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with their exercise thereof.
Appointment of the Escrow Agent The Escrow Agent is hereby designated and appointed to act as escrow agent in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such designation and appointment.
Acceptance by Escrow Agent The Escrow Agent hereby accepts and agrees to perform its obligations hereunder, provided that:
(a) The Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any signature believed by it to be genuine, and may assume that any person who has been designated by Underwriter or the Company to give any written instructions, notice or receipt, or make any statements in connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so. Escrow Agent shall have no duty to make inquiry as to the genuineness, accuracy or validity of any statements or instructions or any signatures on statements or instructions. The names and true signatures of each individual authorized to act singly on behalf of the Company and Underwriter are stated in Schedule II, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Company and Underwriter may each remove or add one or more of its authorized signers stated on Schedule II by notifying the Escrow Agent of such change in accordance with this Agreement, which notice shall include the true signature for any new authorized signatories.
(b) The Escrow Agent may act relative hereto in reliance upon advice of counsel in reference to any matter connected herewith. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any mistake of fact or error of judgment or law, or for any acts or omissions of any kind, unless caused by its willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(c) Underwriter and the Company agree to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, costs, liabilities, damages, suits, demands, judgments or expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees) claimed against or incurred by Escrow Agent arising out of or related, directly or indirectly, to this Escrow Agreement unless caused by the Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(d) In the event that the Escrow Agent shall be uncertain as to its duties or rights hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to (i) refrain from taking any action other than to keep safely the Escrow Funds until it shall be directed otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) deliver the Escrow Funds to a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) The Escrow Agent shall have no duty, responsibility or obligation to interpret or enforce the terms of any agreement other than Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder, and the Escrow Agent shall not be required to make a request that any monies be delivered to the Escrow Account, it being agreed that the sole duties and responsibilities of the Escrow Agent shall be to the extent not prohibited by applicable law (i) to accept checks or other instruments for the payment of money and wire transfers delivered to the Escrow Agent for the Escrow Account and deposit said checks and wire transfers into the non-interest bearing Escrow Account, and (ii) to disburse or refrain from disbursing the Escrow Funds as stated above, provided that the checks received by the Escrow Agent have been collected and are available for withdrawal.
Disbursement of the Escrow Securities 3.1 The Escrow Agent shall hold the Insider Shares during the period (the “Insider Shares Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and (i) for 50% of the Insider Shares, ending on the earlier of (x) six months after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement, hereinafter a “Business Combination”) and (y) the date on which the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) for the remaining 50% of the Insider Shares, ending six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination. The Insider Shares shall be released upon notice to the Escrow Agent by any Initial Securityholder or the Company that the foregoing requirements have been met. The Company shall promptly provide written notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Insider Shares Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Securityholder’s Insider Shares to such Initial Securityholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated at any time during the Insider Shares Escrow Period, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Insider Shares; provided further, however, that if, subsequent to the Company’s Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders of such entity having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a written notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Insider Shares to the Initial Securityholders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or cancellation of the Insider Shares in accordance with this Section 3.
3.2 Notwithstanding Section 3.1, if the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1,500,000 Units of the Company in full within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Initial Securityholders agree that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of Insider Shares held by each such holder determined by multiplying (a) the product of (i) 375,000 multiplied by (ii) a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of Insider Shares held by each such holder, and (y) the denominator of which is the total number of Insider Shares, by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,500,000 minus the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,500,000. The Company shall promptly provide written notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with their exercise thereof. The Initial Securityholders hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Escrow Agent to transfer the said Insider Shares on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Duties of the Escrow Agent The Escrow Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent is not a party to, or bound by, any other agreement among the other parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and the Escrow Agent’s duties shall be determined solely by reference to this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty to enforce any obligation of any person, other than as provided herein. The Escrow Agent shall be under no liability to anyone by reason of any failure on the part of any party hereto or any maker, endorser or other signatory of any document or any other person to perform such person’s obligations under any such document.
Disbursements from the Escrow Account a. At such time as Escrow Agent has collected and deposited instruments of payment in the total amount of the Advance and has received such Common Stock via D.W.A.C from the Company which are to be issued to the Investor pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Investor. The Escrow Agent will continue to hold such funds until the Investor and Company execute and deliver a Joint Written Direction directing the Escrow Agent to disburse the Escrow Funds pursuant to Joint Written Direction at which time the Escrow Agent shall wire the Escrow Funds to the Company. In disbursing such funds, Escrow Agent is authorized to rely upon such Joint Written Direction from Company and may accept any signatory from the Company listed on the signature page to this Agreement and any signature from the Investor that Escrow Agent already has on file. Simultaneous with delivery of the executed Joint Written Direction to the Escrow Agent the Investor and Company shall execute and deliver a Common Stock Joint Written Direction to the Escrow Agent directing the Escrow Agent to release via D.W.A.C to the Investor the shares of the Company's Common Stock. In releasing such shares of Common Stock the Escrow Agent is authorized to rely upon such Common Stock Joint Written Direction from Company and may accept any signatory from the Company listed on the signature page to this Agreement and any signature from the Escrow Agent has on file. In the event the Escrow Agent does not receive the amount of the Advance from the Investor or the shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Investor from the Company, the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Investor.
Resignation and Termination of the Escrow Agent The Escrow Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice of such resignation to Underwriter and the Company. Upon providing such notice, the Escrow Agent shall have no further obligation hereunder except to hold as depositary the Escrow Funds that it receives until the end of such 30-day period. In such event, the Escrow Agent shall not take any action, other than receiving and depositing Investors checks and wire transfers in accordance with this Agreement, until the Company has designated a banking corporation, trust company, attorney or other person as successor. Upon receipt of such written designation signed by Underwriter and the Company, the Escrow Agent shall promptly deliver the Escrow Funds to such successor and shall thereafter have no further obligations hereunder. If such instructions are not received within 30 days following the effective date of such resignation, then the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Funds held by it pursuant to this Agreement with a clerk of a court of competent jurisdiction pending the appointment of a successor. In either case provided for in this Section, the Escrow Agent shall be relieved of all further obligations and released from all liability thereafter arising with respect to the Escrow Funds.
The Escrow Agent To induce the Escrow Agent to act hereunder, it is further agreed by the Buyer and the Seller that:
(a) The Escrow Agent shall not be under any duty to give the Escrowed Property held by it hereunder any greater degree of care than it gives its own similar property and shall not be required to invest any Escrowed Property held hereunder except as directed in this Agreement. Uninvested funds held hereunder shall not earn or accrue interest.
(b) 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.
(c) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct and, except with respect to claims based upon such gross negligence or willful misconduct that are successfully asserted against the Escrow Agent, the Buyer and the Seller shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent (and any successor escrow agent) from and against one-half of 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 its gross negligence or willful misconduct) in the investment or reinvestment of the Escrowed Property or any loss of interest incident to any such delays. This Section 5(c) shall survive notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the resignation of the Escrow Agent.
(d) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely in good faith upon any order, judgment, certification, demand, notice, instrument or other writing delivered to it hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof 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 that any person purporting to give receipt or advice or make any statement or execute any document in connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so.
(e) The Escrow Agent may act pursuant to the advice of counsel with respect to any matter relating to this Agreement and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted in good faith in accordance with such advice.
(f) The Escrow Agent does not have any interest in the Escrowed Property deposited hereunder but is serving as escrow holder only and has only possession thereof. The Buyer and the Seller shall each pay or reimburse the Escrow Agent upon request for one-half of any transfer taxes or other taxes relating to the Escrowed Property incurred in connection herewith and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent from any amounts that it is obligated to pay in the way of such taxes. Any payments of income from the Escrow Account shall be subject to withholding regulations therein in force with respect to United States taxes. It is understood that the Escrow Agent shall be responsible for income reporting only with respect to income earned on investment of the Escrowed Property and is not responsible for any other reporting. This Section 5(f) shall survive notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement or the resignation of the Escrow Agent.
(g) The Escrow Agent makes no representation as to the validity, value, genuineness or the collectability of any security or other document or instrument held by or delivered to it.
(h) 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.
(i) The Escrow Agent (and any successor escrow agent) may at any time resign as such by delivering the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, to any successor escrow agent jointly designated by the Buyer and the Seller in writing or to any court of competent jurisdiction, whereupon the Escrow Agent shall be discharged of and from any and all further obligations arising in connection with this Agreement. The resignation of the Escrow Agent will take effect on the date (the "Resignation Date") which is the earlier to occur of: (i) the date a successor is appointed (including a court of competent jurisdiction) or (ii) the date which is 30 days after the date of delivery of its written notice of resignation to the other parties hereto. Upon the appointment of a successor escrow agent, such successor escrow agent shall deliver written notice to the Buyer and the Seller on the appointment of such successor escrow agent. If at the Resignation Date the Escrow Agent has not received a designation of a successor escrow agent, the Escrow Agent's sole responsibility after the Resignation Date shall be to safekeep the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, until receipt of a designation of successor escrow agent or a joint written disposition instruction by the other parties hereto.
(j) 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.
(k) In the event of any disagreement between the Buyer and the Seller resulting in adverse claims or demands being made in connection with the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, 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 and Interest, if any, until the Escrow Agent shall have received (i) a Final Determination (as defined in Section 3(b) and accompanied by the opinion of counsel referred to in Section 3(b)) directing delivery of the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, or (ii) a written agreement executed by the Buyer and the Seller directing delivery of the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, in which event the Escrow Agent shall disburse the Escrowed Property and Interest, if any, in accordance with such Final Determination or agreement. The Escrow Agent shall act on such Final Determination or agreement without further question.
(l) The compensation of the Escrow Agent (as payment in full) for the services to be rendered by the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be the amount of $2,500 for the initial year paid by the Buyer at the time of execution of this Agreement and $2,000 annually thereafter, together with reimbursement for all reasonable expenses, 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 fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be paid by the Buyer. Any fees or expenses of the Escrow Agent or its counsel which are not paid as provided for herein may be taken from any property held by the Escrow Agent hereunder.
(m) No prospectuses, press releases, reports and promotional material or other similar materials 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.
(n) The other parties hereto authorize the Escrow Agent, for any securities held hereunder, to use the services of any United States central securities depository it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the Depository Trust Company and the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.
Direction to Escrow Agent The Issuer and the Securityholders direct the Escrow Agent to hold the escrow securities in escrow until they are released from escrow under this Agreement.
Indemnification of the Escrow Agent In consideration of the benefits to be derived by Seller from the Split-Off Escrow Agreement, as a third-party beneficiary under the Split-Off Escrow Agreement, Seller shall, from and at all times after the date of the Split-Off Escrow Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent and each partner, director, officer, employee, attorney, agent and affiliate of Escrow Agent (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), to the fullest extent permitted by law and to the extent provided herein, against any and all actions, claims (whether or not valid), losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, costs and expenses) incurred by or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties from and after the date hereof, whether direct, indirect or consequential, as a result of or arising from or in any way relating to any claim, demand, suit, action, or proceeding (including any inquiry or investigation) by any person, including without limitation the parties to the Split-Off Escrow Agreement, whether threatened or initiated, asserting a claim for any legal or equitable remedy against any person under any statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, any federal or state securities laws, or under any common law or equitable cause or otherwise, arising from or in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, performance or failure of performance of the Split-Off Escrow Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein, whether or not any such Indemnified Party is a party to any such action or proceeding, suit or the target of any such inquiry or investigation; provided, however, that no Indemnified Party shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for liability finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, subject to no further appeal, to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. The obligations of the parties under this section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
