Liability of Escrow Agent a. Escrow Agent shall have no liability or obligation with respect to the Escrow Funds except for Escrow Agent's willful misconduct or gross negligence. Escrow Agent's sole responsibility shall be for the safekeeping, investment, and disbursement of the Escrow Funds in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Escrow Agent shall have no implied duties or obligations and shall not be charged with knowledge or notice or any fact or circumstance not specifically set forth herein. Escrow Agent may rely upon any instrument, not only as to its due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained herein, which Escrow Agent shall in good faith believe to be genuine, to have been signed or presented by the person or parties purporting to sign the same and conform to the provisions of this Agreement. In no event shall Escrow Agent be liable for incidental, indirect, special, and consequential or punitive damages. Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to take any legal action or commence any proceeding in connection with the Escrow Funds, any account in which Escrow Funds are deposited, this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, or to appear in, prosecute or defend any such legal action or proceeding. Escrow Agent may consult legal counsel selected by it in any event of any dispute or question as to construction of any of the provisions hereof or of any other agreement or its duties hereunder, or relating to any dispute involving any party hereto, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully indemnified from any liability whatsoever in acting in accordance with the opinion or instructions of such counsel. The Company and the Investor(s) jointly and severally shall promptly pay, upon demand, the reasonable fees and expenses of any such counsel.
b. Escrow Agent is hereby authorized, in its sole discretion, to comply with orders issued or process entered by any court with respect to the Escrow Funds, without determination by Escrow Agent of such court's jurisdiction in the matter. If any portion of the Escrow Funds is at any time attached, garnished or levied upon under any court order, or in case the payment, assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery of any such property shall be stayed or enjoined by any court order, or in any case any order judgment or decree shall be made or entered by any court affecting such property or any part thereof, then and in any such event, Escrow Agent is authorized, in its sole discretion, to rely upon and comply with any such order, writ judgment or decree which it is advised by legal counsel selected by it, binding upon it, without the need for appeal or other action; and if Escrow Agent complies with any such order, writ, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person or entity by reason of such compliance even though such order, writ judgment or decree may be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
Tax Liability The Authorized Participant shall be responsible for the payment of any transfer tax, sales or use tax, stamp tax, recording tax, value added tax and any other similar tax or government charge applicable to the creation or redemption of any Basket made pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of whether or not such tax or charge is imposed directly on the Authorized Participant. To the extent the Trustee, the Sponsor or the Trust is required by law to pay any such tax or charge, the Authorized Participant agrees to promptly indemnify such party for any such payment, together with any applicable penalties, additions to tax or interest thereon.
Indemnification of Escrow Agent From and at all times after the date of this Agreement, the parties jointly and severally, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law and to the extent provided herein, indemnify and hold harmless Escrow Agent and each director, officer, employee, attorney, agent and affiliate of Escrow Agent (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") 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 this 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 this 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 solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. If any such action or claim shall be brought or asserted against any Indemnified Party, such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company and the Investor hereunder in writing, and the and the Company shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel and the payment of all expenses. Such Indemnified Party shall, in its sole discretion, have the right to employ separate counsel (who may be selected by such Indemnified Party in its sole discretion) in any such action and to participate and to participate in the defense thereof, and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid by such Indemnified Party, except that the Investor and/or the Company shall be required to pay such fees and expense if (a) the Investor or the Company agree to pay such fees and expenses, or (b) the Investor and/or the Company shall fail to assume the defense of such action or proceeding or shall fail, in the sole discretion of such Indemnified Party, to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party in any such action or proceeding, (c) the Investor and the Company are the plaintiff in any such action or proceeding or (d) the named or potential parties to any such action or proceeding (including any potentially impleaded parties) include both Indemnified Party the Company and/or the Investor and Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company or the Investor. The Investor and the Company shall be jointly and severally liable to pay fees and expenses of counsel pursuant to the preceding sentence, except that any obligation to pay under clause (a) shall apply only to the party so agreeing. All such fees and expenses payable by the Company and/or the Investor pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be paid from time to time as incurred, both in advance of and after the final disposition of such action or claim. The obligations of the parties under this section shall survive any termination of this Agreement, and resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent shall be independent of any obligation of Escrow Agent.
Limitation of Liability of Escrow Agent The Escrow Agent will not be liable to any of the Parties hereunder for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement, except for losses directly, principally and immediately caused by its bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence. Under no circumstances will the Escrow Agent be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, consequential, exemplary, aggravated or punitive losses or damages hereunder, including any loss of profits, whether foreseeable or unforeseeable. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, in no event will the collective liability of the Escrow Agent under or in connection with this Agreement to any one or more Parties, except for losses directly caused by its bad faith or willful misconduct, exceed the amount of its annual fees under this Agreement or the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000.00), whichever amount shall be greater.
Limitation of Escrow Agent’s Liability (a) Neither the Escrow Agent nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall incur 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; provided, that with respect to the custody of the Cash Collateral and Escrow Fund, the Escrow Agent shall use the standard care of customarily used by custodians of funds. The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement and shall not be responsible for any of the agreements referred to herein, including the Merger Agreement and the Partnership Merger Agreement, but shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in this Escrow Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Escrow Agent (i) shall not be obligated to inquire as to the accuracy of any calculations used in preparing the Disbursement Certificate and (ii) shall have no obligation to inquire whether the Partnership has the right to liquidated damages pursuant to the Merger 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 liable for any losses resulting from the investments made in accordance with this Agreement. In no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages.
(b) BRI and the Partnership shall jointly and severally indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Escrow Agent, arising out of or in connection with its carrying out of its duties hereunder, including without limitation drawing on the Letter of Credit.
(c) BRI and the Partnership jointly and severally hereby agree to assume any and all obligations imposed now or hereafter by any applicable tax law with respect to the payment of Escrow Funds 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 payment or other activities under this Agreement (other than taxes on the net income of the Escrow Agent attributable to the payment of fees hereunder). BRI and the Partnership 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. BRI and the Partnership jointly and severally hereby 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 which arises out of this Agreement, including costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), interest and penalties.
Protection of Escrow Fund (i) The Escrow Agent shall hold and safeguard the Escrow Fund during the Escrow Period, shall treat such fund as a trust fund in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and not as the property of Parent and shall hold and dispose of the Escrow Fund only in accordance with the terms hereof.
(ii) Any shares of Parent Common Stock or other equity securities issued or distributed by Parent (including shares issued upon a stock split) ("New Shares") in respect of Parent Common Stock in the Escrow Fund which ---------- have not been released from the Escrow Fund shall be added to the Escrow Fund and become a part thereof. New Shares issued in respect of shares of Parent Common Stock which have been released from the Escrow Fund shall not be added to the Escrow Fund but shall be distributed to the record holders thereof. Cash dividends on Parent Common Stock shall not be added to the Escrow Fund but shall be distributed to the record holders thereof.
(iii) Each Company Shareholder shall have voting rights with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock contributed to the Escrow Fund by such Company Shareholder (and on any voting securities added to the Escrow Fund in respect of such shares of Parent Common Stock).
Termination of Escrow In the event of the release of all Proceeds and all accrued interest in accordance with Section 4 and Section 5 of this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate and the Escrow Agent shall be relieved of all responsibilities in connection with the escrow deposits provided for in this Agreement, except claims which are occasioned by its gross negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct.
Indemnity Escrow (i) At or prior to the Closing, Pubco, the Seller Representative and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or such other escrow agent mutually acceptable to Purchaser and the Company), as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), shall enter into an Escrow Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser and the Company (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which Pubco shall cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent a number of Class B Exchange Shares (each valued at the Redemption Price) equal to (x) fifteen percent (15%) of the estimated Exchange Consideration, divided by (y) the Redemption Price otherwise issuable to the Sellers at the Closing based on the Estimated Closing Statement (such Class B Exchange Shares, together with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted, in each case, as long as they remain in the Indemnity Escrow Account, the “Indemnity Escrow Shares”) to be held, along with any other dividends, distributions or other income on the Indemnity Escrow Shares, in each case, as long as they remain in the Indemnity Escrow Account (together with the Indemnity Escrow Shares, the “Indemnity Escrow Property”), in a segregated escrow account (the “Indemnity Escrow Account”) and disbursed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. The portion of the Class B Exchange Shares that shall be withheld at the Closing for deposit in the Indemnity Escrow Account, and any disbursement from the Indemnity Escrow Account to Pubco, shall be allocated between the Class B Sellers based on each such Seller’s relative Pro Rata Share (as between themselves). The Indemnity Escrow Shares shall serve as the sole and exclusive source of payment of the obligations of the Sellers under Section 2.5(d) and the obligations of the Indemnitors pursuant to Article IX (other than with respect to (A) Fraud Claims or (B) any indemnification claims for breach of any Company and Seller Fundamental Representations, for which the Main Seller shall be solely responsible). Unless otherwise required by Law, all distributions made from the Indemnity Escrow Account shall be treated by the Parties as an adjustment to the Exchange Consideration received by the Sellers pursuant to Article II hereof. Each Class B Seller shall be deemed to be the owner of such Seller’s relative Pro Rata Share (as between themselves) of the Indemnity Escrow Shares during the time such Indemnity Escrow Shares are held in the Indemnity Escrow Account, subject to the retention of any dividends, distributions and other earnings thereon in the Indemnity Escrow Account until disbursed therefrom in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. Each Class B Seller shall have the right to vote such Seller’s relative Pro Rata Share (as between themselves) of the Indemnity Escrow Shares (together with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted) during the time held in the Indemnity Escrow Account as Indemnity Escrow Shares.
(ii) (A) Within three (3) Business Days after the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date (such anniversary, the “First Escrow Release Date”), the Purchaser Representative and Seller Representatives shall give joint written instruction to the Escrow Agent directing the release of the First Released Escrow Property (if any) to the Class B Sellers; (B) within three (3) Business Days after the twenty-four (24) month anniversary (such anniversary, the “Expiration Date”), the Purchaser Representative and Seller Representatives shall give joint written instruction to the Escrow Agent directing the release of all remaining Indemnity Escrow Property (if any) to the Class B Sellers; and (C) the Indemnity Escrow Property shall not be subject to any indemnification claim to the extent such claim is made after the Expiration Date; provided, however, with respect to any indemnification claim made in accordance with Article IX hereof on or prior to the Expiration Date that remains unresolved at the time and are still contested by an Indemnitee in good faith as of the Expiration Date (any such claim, a “Pending Claim”), an amount of the Indemnity Escrow Property with a value (with respect to the Indemnity Escrow Shares, calculated based on the Pubco Share Price as of the Expiration Date) equal to the aggregate amount of the Pending Claims set forth in the Claim Notice provided by the Purchaser Representative in accordance with Section 9.4 (as adjusted in accordance with Section 9.4(b)) shall remain in the Indemnity Escrow Account until such time as such Pending Claim shall have been finally resolved and paid pursuant to the provisions of Article IX. After the Expiration Date, to the extent that the value of the remaining Indemnity Escrow Property (with respect to the Indemnity Escrow Shares, calculated based on the Pubco Share Price) exceeds the aggregate amount of (a) resolved but unpaid claims in favor of an Indemnitee and (b) the Pending Claims set forth in the Claim Notice (as adjusted in accordance with Section 9.4(b)) submitted prior to the Expiration Date, an amount of Indemnity Escrow Property having a value (with respect to the Indemnity Escrow Shares, calculated based on the Pubco Share Price) equal to such excess shall be promptly (and no later than three (3) Business Days) disbursed by the Escrow Agent to the Class B Sellers (and Purchaser Representative and Seller Representatives shall promptly give joint written instructions to the Escrow Agent directing such release), with respect to each release of the Indemnity Escrow Property to the Class B Sellers, each such Seller shall receive such Seller’s relative Pro Rata Share (as between themselves) of such Indemnity Escrow Property. Promptly after the final resolution of all Pending Claims and payment of all indemnification obligations in connection therewith, the Escrow Agent shall transfer any Indemnity Escrow Property remaining in the Indemnity Escrow Account to the Class B Sellers with each such Seller receiving such Seller’s relative Pro Rata Share (as between themselves) of such Indemnity Escrow Property.
Release of Escrow Funds The Escrow Funds shall be paid by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the following:
(a) In the event that the Company advises the Escrow Agent in writing that the Offering has been terminated (the “Termination Notice”), the Escrow Agent shall promptly return the funds paid by each Investor to such Investor without interest or offset.
(b) At each Closing, the Company and the Placement Agent shall provide the Escrow Agent with written instructions regarding the disbursement of the Escrow Funds in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof and signed by the Company and the Placement Agent (the “Disbursement Instructions”).
(c) If by 5:00 P.M. Eastern time on the Final Termination Date, the Escrow Agent has not received written Disbursement Instructions from the Company and Placement Agent regarding the disbursement of the Escrow Funds in the Escrow Account, if any, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly return such Escrow Funds, if any, to the Investors without interest or offset. The Escrow Funds returned to the Investors shall be free and clear of any and all claims of the Escrow Agent.
(d) The Escrow Agent shall not be required to pay any uncollected funds or any funds that are not available for withdrawal.
(e) The Placement Agent or the Company will provide the Escrow Agent with the payment instructions for each Investor, to whom the funds should be returned in accordance with this section.
(f) In the event that Escrow Agent makes any payment to any other party pursuant to this Escrow Agreement and for any reason such payment (or any portion thereof) is required to be returned to the Escrow Account or another party or is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a receiver, trustee or other party under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, other federal or state law, common law or equitable doctrine, then the recipient party shall repay to the Escrow Agent upon written request the amount so paid to it.
(g) The Escrow Agent shall, in its sole discretion, comply with judgments or orders issued or process entered by any court with respect to the Escrow Amount, including without limitation any attachment, levy or garnishment, without any obligation to determine such court's jurisdiction in the matter and in accordance with its normal business practices. If the Escrow Agent complies with any such judgment, order or process, then it shall not be liable to any of the Parties or any other person by reason of such compliance, regardless of the final disposition of any such judgment, order or process.
(h) Each Party understands and agrees that Escrow Agent shall have no obligation or duty to act upon a written direction delivered to Escrow Agent for the disbursement of all or part of the Escrow Amount under this Agreement (a “Written Direction”) if such Written Direction is not
(i) in writing,
(ii) signed by representatives of both Parties listed in Schedule II to this Agreement, in each case, each such individual an “Authorized Representative” of such Party), and
(iii) delivered to, and able to be authenticated by, Escrow Agent in accordance with Section 1.4 below.
(i) Upon request by any Party, the Escrow Agent set up each Party with on-line access to the account(s) established pursuant to this Agreement, which each Party can use to view and verify transaction on such account(s).
(j) A Party may specify in a Written Direction whether such Escrow Amount shall be disbursed by way of wire transfer or check. If the written notice for the disbursement of funds does not so specify the disbursement means, Escrow Agent may disburse the Escrow Amount by wire transfer.
Resignation of Escrow Agent (1) If the Escrow Agent wishes to resign as escrow agent, the Escrow Agent will give written notice to the Issuer.
(2) If the Issuer wishes to terminate the Escrow Agent as escrow agent, the Issuer will give written notice to the Escrow Agent.
(3) If the Escrow Agent resigns or is terminated, the Issuer will be responsible for ensuring that the Escrow Agent is replaced not later than the resignation or termination date by another escrow agent that is acceptable to the securities regulators having jurisdiction in the matter and that has accepted such appointment, which appointment will be binding on the Issuer and the Securityholders.
(4) The resignation or termination of the Escrow Agent will be effective, and the Escrow Agent will cease to be bound by this Agreement, on the date that is 60 days after the date of receipt of the notices referred to above by the Escrow Agent or Issuer, as applicable, or on such other date as the Escrow Agent and the Issuer may agree upon (the “resignation or termination date”), provided that the resignation or termination date will not be less than 10 business days before a release date.
(5) If the Issuer has not appointed a successor escrow agent within 60 days of the resignation or termination date, the Escrow Agent will apply, at the Issuer’s expense, to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor escrow agent, and the duties and responsibilities of the Escrow Agent will cease immediately upon such appointment.
(6) On any new appointment under this section, the successor Xxxxxx Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and obligations as if it had been originally named herein as Escrow Agent, without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed. The predecessor Escrow Agent, upon receipt of payment for any outstanding account for its services and expenses then unpaid, will transfer, deliver and pay over to the successor Escrow Agent, who will be entitled to receive, all securities, records or other property on deposit with the predecessor Escrow Agent in relation to this Agreement and the predecessor Escrow Agent will thereupon be discharged as Escrow Agent.
(7) If any changes are made to Part 8 of this Agreement as a result of the appointment of the successor Escrow Agent, those changes must not be inconsistent with the Policy and the terms of this Agreement and the Issuer to this Agreement will file a copy of the new Agreement with the securities regulators with jurisdiction over this Agreement and the escrow securities.
