TERMS OF THE ESCROW 1.1 The parties hereby agree to have the law firm of Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxx, P.C., Greenville, South Carolina act as Escrow Agent whereby the Escrow Agent shall receive the Funds and the Transaction Documents in escrow and distribute the same as set forth in this Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, of even date herewith between VBYR and Xxxxxx (the “Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement”), the Agreement and Plan of Merger, of even date herewith between CSI and VBYR (the “Merger Agreement”), and any and all documents related thereto, with this Agreement being an exhibit to such Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Documents,” and all Documents other than this Agreement, the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and the Merger Agreement being collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”)
1.2 Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto, the parties to the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and the Merger Agreement shall execute and deliver such agreements, and this Agreement, the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and the Merger Agreement shall not be escrowed under the terms of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx shall deliver the executed Transaction Documents to the Escrow Agent and Xxxxxx shall deposit the Funds with the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall thereafter hold the Funds and the Transaction Documents until the earlier of: (i) the date on which CSI, Xxxxxx and VBYR have consummated the Contemplated Transactions; (ii) the termination of any of the Contemplated Transactions prior to consummation; or (iii) February 28, 2005. In the event of the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly release the Funds by wire transfer or check to the Authorized Recipients listed on Exhibit “A” attached hereto in the amounts designated for each of such Authorized Recipients for use by CSI and VBYR to repay the Dividend Note of CSI to the Original Shareholders, to repay the Merger Note portion of the Merger Consideration to be paid by VBYR to the Original Shareholders and to pay certain fees and commissions in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, and the Escrow Agent shall also deliver the Transaction Documents to each of CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx. In the event the closing of the Contemplated Transactions does not occur before February 28, 2005 or the Contemplated Transactions are terminated by CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx on or prior to such date, then the Escrow Agent shall immediately return the Funds to Xxxxxx by wire transfer according to instructions received in writing by the Escrow Agent from Xxxxxx, and the Escrow Agent shall destroy the Transaction Documents.
1.3 In connection with the transactions described in Section 1.2, (i) the Escrow Agent shall release the Funds to the Authorized Recipients and Transaction Documents to CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx upon receipt of a joint written notice from CSI, Xxxxxx and VBYR that all the Contemplated Transactions have been consummated and (ii) the Escrow Agent shall return the Funds to Xxxxxx and destroy the Transaction Documents either (a) upon the receipt of a joint written notice from CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx that the Contemplated Transactions have been terminated or (b) on March 1, 2005, if the Escrow Agent has not received the notice described in Section 1.3(i) above or the Escrow Agent receives notice of termination of the Contemplated Transactions solely from Xxxxxx.
1.4 Upon the completion by the Escrow Agent of its obligations under Section 1.2, this Agreement shall terminate and the Escrow Agent shall have no further liability hereunder.
1.5 This Agreement may be altered or amended only with the written consent of all of the parties hereto. In the event CSI, VBYR or Xxxxxx attempts to change this Agreement in a manner, which, in the Escrow Agent’s discretion, shall be undesirable, the Escrow Agent may resign as Escrow Agent by notifying CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx in writing. In the case of the Escrow Agent’s resignation, the only duty of the Escrow Agent, until receipt of a joint written notice from CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx (the “Transfer Instructions”) that a successor escrow agent has been appointed, shall be to hold and preserve the Funds and the Transaction Documents that are in its possession. Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of said notice from CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx of the appointment of a successor escrow agent, the name of a successor escrow account and a direction to transfer the Funds to such successor escrow account to be thereafter held by such successor escrow agent, the Escrow Agent shall promptly thereafter transfer the Funds and deliver the Transaction Documents to said successor escrow agent. Immediately after said transfer of the Funds and delivery of the Transaction Documents to said successor escrow agent, the Escrow Agent shall furnish CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx with proof of such transfer. The Escrow Agent is authorized to disregard any notices, requests, instructions or demands received by it from CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx after notice of resignation has been given, except only for the Transfer Instructions.
1.6 The Escrow Agent shall be reimbursed by CSI for any reasonable expenses incurred in the event there is a conflict between the parties and the Escrow Agent shall deem it necessary to retain counsel, upon whose advice the Escrow Agent may rely. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by the Escrow Agent in good faith and in no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable or responsible except for the Escrow Agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent has made no representations or warranties to CSI, VBYR or Xxxxxx in connection with this transaction. The Escrow Agent has no liability hereunder to either party other than to hold the Funds received from Xxxxxx and to deliver the Funds under the terms hereof. CSI, VBYR and Xxxxxx each agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent from and with respect to any suits, claims, actions or liabilities arising in any way out of the Contemplated Transactions, including the obligation to defend any legal action brought which in any way arises out of or is related to this Agreement, the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, the Merger Agreement, and/or the other Documents. The parties each and all acknowledge and recognize that the Escrow Agent has also served and shall continue to serve as the legal counsel to CSI and the parties each and all waive any claim of any conflict of interest as a result thereof.
1.7 The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be protected in relying or refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Escrow Agent shall not be personally liable for any act the Escrow Agent may do or omit to do hereunder as the Escrow Agent while acting in good faith, and any act done or omitted by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the advice of the Escrow Agent’s attorneys-at-law shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
1.8 The Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and all warnings or orders given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person or corporation, excepting only the written notices described in Section 1.3 and the Transfer Instructions and/or orders or process of courts of law and is hereby expressly authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any court. In case the Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such order, judgment or decree, including but not limited to the written notices described in Section 1.3 and the Transfer Instructions, then the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person, firm or corporation by reason of such decree or orders being subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside, vacated or found to have been entered without jurisdiction.
1.9 The Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity, authorities or rights of the parties executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called for hereunder.
1.10 If the Escrow Agent reasonably requires other or further documents in connection with this Agreement, the necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such documents.
1.11 It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with respect to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the Funds and/or the Transaction Documents held by the Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent is authorized and directed in the Escrow Agent’s sole discretion (a) to retain the Funds and the Transaction Documents in the Escrow Agent’s possession, without liability to anyone, until such disputes shall have been settled either by mutual written agreement of the parties concerned or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction after the 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 or (b) to deliver the Funds and the Transaction Documents held by the Escrow Agent hereunder to a state or federal court having competent subject matter jurisdiction and located in the State of South Carolina in accordance with the applicable procedure therefor.
