ESCROW AGREEMENT
Ex 10.24
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the • day of
December, 2009.
AMONG:
VUZIX CORPORATION
(the “Issuer”)
AND:
COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC.
(the “Escrow Agent”)
AND:
EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED SECURITYHOLDERS OF THE ISSUER
(a “Securityholder” or “you”)
(collectively, the “Parties”)
This Agreement is being entered into by the Parties under
National Policy
46-201 —
Escrow for Initial Public Offerings (the
“National Policy”) and TSX Venture Exchange
(the “Exchange”) Policy 5.4 —
Escrow, Vendor Consideration and Resale Restrictions (the
“Policy”) in connection with the Issuer’s
proposed initial public offering of securities by prospectus.
The Issuer is a [Tier 1/Tier 2 Issuer] as
described in Exchange Policy 2.1 — Minimum Listing
Requirements.
For good and valuable consideration, the Parties agree as
follows:
PART 1 ESCROW
1.1 Appointment
of Escrow Agent
The Issuer and the Securityholders appoint the Escrow Agent to
act as escrow agent under this Agreement. The Escrow Agent
accepts the appointment.
1.2 Deposit
of Escrow Securities in Escrow
(1) You are depositing the securities (“escrow
securities”) listed opposite your name in Schedule
“A” with the Escrow Agent to be held in escrow under
this Agreement. You will immediately deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Escrow Agent any share certificates or other
evidence of these securities which you have or which you may
later receive.
(2) If you receive any other securities
(“additional escrow securities”):
(a) as a dividend or other distribution on escrow
securities;
(b) on the exercise of a right of purchase, conversion or
exchange attaching to escrow securities, including securities
received on conversion of special warrants;
(c) on a subdivision, or compulsory or automatic conversion
or exchange of escrow securities; or
(d) from a successor issuer in a business combination, if
Part 6 of this Agreement applies,
you will deposit them in escrow with the Escrow Agent. You will
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent any share
certificates or other evidence of those additional escrow
securities. When this Agreement refers to escrow securities,
it includes additional escrow securities.
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(3) You will immediately deliver to the Escrow Agent any
replacement share certificates or other evidence of additional
escrow securities issued to you.
1.3 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.
PART 2 RELEASE
OF ESCROW SECURITIES
2.1 Release
Provisions
The provisions of Schedules [B(1)/B(2)] are incorporated
into and form part of this Agreement.
2.2 Additional
Escrow Securities
If you acquire additional escrow securities in connection with
the transaction to which this agreement relates, those
securities will be added to the securities already in escrow, to
increase the number of remaining escrow securities. After that,
all of the escrow securities will be released in accordance with
the applicable release schedule.
2.3 Delivery
of Share Certificates for Escrow Securities
The Escrow Agent will send to each Securityholder any share
certificates or other evidence of that Securityholder’s
escrow securities in the possession of the Escrow Agent released
from escrow as soon as reasonably practicable after the release.
[The share certificates or other evidence of the escrow
securities will be sent to the Securityholder’s address on
the Issuer’s share register unless the Securityholder has
advised the Escrow Agent in writing otherwise before the escrow
securities are released from escrow.]
2.4 Replacement
Certificates
If, on the date a Securityholder’s escrow securities are to
be released, the Escrow Agent holds a share certificate or other
evidence representing more escrow securities than are to be
released, the Escrow Agent will deliver the share certificate or
other evidence to the Issuer or its transfer agent and request
replacement share certificates or other evidence. The Issuer
will cause replacement share certificates or other evidence to
be prepared and delivered to the Escrow Agent. After the Escrow
Agent receives the replacement share certificates or other
evidence, the Escrow Agent will send to the Securityholder or at
the Securityholder’s direction, the replacement share
certificate or other evidence of the escrow securities released.
The Escrow Agent and Issuer will act as soon as reasonably
practicable.
2.5 Release
upon Death
(1) If a Securityholder dies, the Securityholder’s
escrow securities will be released from escrow. The Escrow Agent
will deliver any share certificates or other evidence of the
escrow securities in the possession of the Escrow Agent to the
Securityholder’s legal representative provided that:
(a) the legal representative of the deceased Securityholder
provides written notice to the Exchange of the intent to release
the escrow securities as at a specified date which is at least
10 business days and not more than 30 business days prior to the
proposed release; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to delivery the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) a certified copy of the death certificate; and
(b) any evidence of the legal representative’s status
that the Escrow Agent may reasonably require.
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2.6 Exchange
Discretion to Terminate
If the Escrow Agent receives a request from the Exchange to halt
or terminate the release of escrow securities from escrow, then
the Escrow Agent will comply with that request, and will not
release any escrow securities from escrow until it receives the
written consent of the Exchange.
2.7 Discretionary
Applications
The Exchange may consent to the release from escrow of escrow
securities in other circumstances and on terms and on conditions
it deems appropriate. Securities may be released from escrow
provided that the Escrow Agent receives written notice from the
Exchange.
PART 3 EARLY
RELEASE ON CHANGE OF ISSUER STATUS
3.1 Early
Release — Graduation to Tier 1
(1) When a Tier 2 Issuer becomes a Tier 1 Issuer,
the release schedule for its escrow securities changes.
(2) If the Issuer reasonably believes that it meets the
Minimum Listing Requirements of a Tier 1 Issuer as
described in Exchange Policy 2.1 — Minimum Listing
Requirements, the Issuer may make application to the
Exchange to be listed as a Tier 1 Issuer. The Issuer must
also concurrently provide notice to the Escrow Agent that it is
making such an application.
(3) If the graduation to Tier 1 is accepted by the
Exchange, the Exchange will issue an Exchange Bulletin
confirming final acceptance for listing of the Issuer on
Tier 1. Upon issuance of this Bulletin the Issuer must
immediately:
(a) issue a news release:
(i) disclosing that it has been accepted for graduation to
Tier 1; and
(ii) disclosing the number of escrow securities to be
released and the dates of release under the new
schedule; and
(b) provide the news release, together with a copy of the
Exchange Bulletin, to the Escrow Agent.
(4) Upon completion of the steps in section 3.1(3)
above, the Issuer’s release schedule will be replaced as
follows:
Applicable
Schedule Pre-Graduation
|
Applicable Schedule Post-Graduation | |
Schedule B(2)
|
Schedule B(1) |
(5) Within 10 days of the Exchange Bulletin confirming
the Issuer’s listing on Tier 1, the Escrow Agent must
release any escrow securities from escrow securities which under
the new release schedule would have been releasable at a date
prior to the Exchange Bulletin.
PART 4 DEALING
WITH ESCROW SECURITIES
4.1 Restriction
on Transfer, etc.
Unless it is expressly permitted in this Agreement, you will not
sell, transfer, assign, mortgage, enter into a derivative
transaction concerning, or otherwise deal in any way with your
escrow securities or any related share certificates or other
evidence of the escrow securities. If a Securityholder is a
private company controlled by one or more Principals of the
Issuer, the Securityholder may not participate in a transaction
that results in a change of its control or a change in the
economic exposure of the Principals to the risks of holding
escrow securities.
4.2 Pledge,
Mortgage or Charge as Collateral for a Loan
Subject to Exchange acceptance, you may pledge, mortgage or
charge your escrow securities to a financial institution as
collateral for a loan, provided that no escrow securities or any
share certificates or other evidence of escrow securities will
be transferred or delivered by the Escrow Agent to the financial
institution for this purpose.
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The loan agreement must provide that the escrow securities will
remain in escrow if the lender realizes on the escrow securities
to satisfy the loan.
4.3 Voting
of Escrow Securities
Although you may exercise voting rights attached to your escrow
securities, you may not, while your securities are held in
escrow, exercise voting rights attached to any securities
(whether in escrow or not) in support of one or more
arrangements that would result in the repayment of capital being
made on the escrow securities prior to a winding up of the
Issuer.
4.4 Dividends
on Escrow Securities
You may receive a dividend or other distribution on your escrow
securities, and elect the manner of payment from the standard
options offered by the Issuer. If the Escrow Agent receives a
dividend or other distribution on your escrow securities, other
than additional escrow securities, the Escrow Agent will pay the
dividend or other distribution to you on receipt.
4.5 Exercise
of Other Rights Attaching to Escrow Securities
You may exercise your rights to exchange or convert your escrow
securities in accordance with this agreement.
PART 5 PERMITTED
TRANSFERS WITHIN ESCROW
5.1 Transfer
to Directors and Senior Officers
(1) You may transfer escrow securities within escrow to
existing or, upon their appointment, incoming directors or
senior officers of the Issuer or any of its material operating
subsidiaries, if the Issuer’s board of directors has
approved the transfer and provided that:
(a) you make application to transfer under the Policy at
least 10 business days and not more than 30 business days
prior to the date of the proposed transfer; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to the transfer the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) a certified copy of the resolution of the board of
directors of the Issuer approving the transfer;
(b) a certificate signed by a director or officer of the
Issuer authorized to sign, stating that the transfer is to a
director or senior officer of the Issuer or a material operating
subsidiary and that any required acceptance from the Exchange
the Issuer is listed on has been received;
(c) an acknowledgment in the form of Form 5E signed by
the transferee; and
(d) a transfer power of attorney, completed and executed by
the transferor in accordance with the requirements of the
Issuer’s transfer agent.
5.2 Transfer
to Other Principals
(1) You may transfer escrow securities within escrow:
(a) to a person or company that before the proposed
transfer holds more than 20% of the voting rights attached to
the Issuer’s outstanding securities; or
(b) to a person or company that after the proposed transfer
(i) will hold more than 10% of the voting rights attached
to the Issuer’s outstanding securities, and
(ii) has the right to elect or appoint one or more
directors or senior officers of the Issuer or any of its
material operating subsidiaries,
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provided that:
(c) you make an application to transfer under the Policy at
least 10 business days and not more than 30 business days prior
to the date of the proposed transfer; and
(d) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to the transfer the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) a certificate signed by a director or officer of the
Issuer authorized to sign, stating that:
(i) the transfer is to a person or company that the officer
believes, after reasonable investigation, holds more than 20% of
the voting rights attached to the Issuer’s outstanding
securities before the proposed transfer; or
(ii) the transfer is to a person or company that:
(A) the officer believes, after reasonable investigation,
will hold more than 10% of the voting rights attached to the
Issuer’s outstanding securities; and
(B) has the right to elect or appoint one or more directors
or senior officers of the Issuer or any of its material
operating subsidiaries
after the proposed transfer; and
(iii) any required approval from the Exchange or any other
exchange on which the Issuer is listed has been received;
(b) an acknowledgment in the form of Form 5E signed by
the transferee; and
(c) a transfer power of attorney, completed and executed by
the transferor in accordance with the requirements of the
Issuer’s transfer agent.
5.3 Transfer
upon Bankruptcy
(1) You may transfer escrow securities within escrow to a
trustee in bankruptcy or another person or company entitled to
escrow securities on bankruptcy provided that:
(a) you make application to transfer under the Policy at
least 10 business days and not more than 30 business days
prior to the date of the proposed transfer; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to the transfer, the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) a certified copy of either
(i) the assignment in bankruptcy filed with the
Superintendent of Bankruptcy, or
(ii) the receiving order adjudging the Securityholder
bankrupt;
(b) a certified copy of a certificate of appointment of the
trustee in bankruptcy;
(c) a transfer power of attorney, duly completed and
executed by the transferor in accordance with the requirements
of the Issuer’s transfer agent; and
(d) an acknowledgment in the form of Form 5E signed by
(i) the trustee in bankruptcy or
(ii) on direction from the trustee, with evidence of that
direction attached to the acknowledgement form, another person
or company legally entitled to the escrow securities.
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5.4 Transfer
Upon Realization of Pledged, Mortgaged or Charged Escrow
Securities
(1) You may transfer escrow securities you have pledged,
mortgaged or charged under section 4.2 to a financial
institution as collateral for a loan within escrow to the lender
on realization provided that:
(a) you make application to transfer under the Policy at
least 10 business days and not more than 30 business days
prior to the date of the proposed transfer; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to the transfer the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) a statutory declaration of an officer of the financial
institution that the financial institution is legally entitled
to the escrow securities;
(b) evidence that the Exchange has accepted the pledge,
mortgage or charge of escrow securities to the financial
institution;
(c) a transfer power of attorney, executed by the
transferor in accordance with the requirements of the
Issuer’s transfer agent; and
(d) an acknowledgement in the form of Form 5E signed
by the financial institution.
5.5 Transfer
to Certain Plans and Funds
(1) You may transfer escrow securities within escrow to or
between a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), registered
retirement income fund (RRIF) or other similar registered plan
or fund with a trustee, where the beneficiaries of the plan or
fund are limited to you and your spouse, children and parents
provided that:
(a) you make application to transfer under the Policy at
least 10 business days and not more than 30 business days
prior to the date of the proposed transfer; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date.
(2) Prior to the transfer the Escrow Agent must receive:
(a) evidence from the trustee of the transferee plan or
fund, or the trustee’s agent, stating that, to the best of
the trustee’s knowledge, the annuitant of the RRSP or RRIF
or the beneficiaries of the other registered plan or fund do not
include any person or company other than you and your spouse,
children and parents;
(b) a transfer power of attorney, executed by the
transferor in accordance with the requirements of the
Issuer’s transfer agent; and
(c) an acknowledgement in the form of Exchange Form 5E
signed by the trustee of the plan or fund.
5.6 Effect
of Transfer Within Escrow
After the transfer of escrow securities within escrow, the
escrow securities will remain in escrow and released from escrow
under this Agreement as if no transfer has occurred, on the same
terms that applied before the transfer. The Escrow Agent will
not deliver any share certificates or other evidence of the
escrow securities to transferees under this Part 5.
5.7 Discretionary
Applications
The Exchange may consent to the transfer within escrow of escrow
securities in other circumstances and on such terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate.
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PART 6 BUSINESS
COMBINATIONS
6.1 Business
Combinations
This Part applies to the following (“business
combinations”):
(a) a formal take-over bid for all outstanding securities
of the Issuer or which, if successful, would result in a change
of control of the Issuer;
(b) a formal issuer bid for all outstanding equity
securities of the Issuer;
(c) a statutory arrangement;
(d) an amalgamation;
(e) a merger; and
(f) a reorganization that has an effect similar to an
amalgamation or merger.
6.2 Delivery
to Escrow Agent
(1) You may tender your escrow securities to a person or
company in a business combination. At least five business
days prior to the date the escrow securities must be tendered
under the business combination, you must deliver to the Escrow
Agent:
(a) a written direction signed by you that directs the
Escrow Agent to deliver to the depositary under the business
combination any share certificates or other evidence of the
escrow securities and a completed and executed cover letter or
similar document and, where required, transfer power of attorney
completed and executed for transfer in accordance with the
requirements of the Issuer’s depository, and any other
documentation specified or provided by you and required to be
delivered to the depositary under the business combination;
(b) written consent of the Exchange; and
(c) any other information concerning the business
combination as the Escrow Agent may reasonably require.
6.3 Delivery
to Depositary
(1) As soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event no
later than three business days after the Escrow Agent receives
the documents and information required under section 6.2,
the Escrow Agent will deliver to the depositary, in accordance
with the direction, any share certificates or other evidence of
the escrow securities, and a letter addressed to the depositary
that
(a) identifies the escrow securities that are being
tendered;
(b) states that the escrow securities are held in escrow;
(c) states that the escrow securities are delivered only
for the purposes of the business combination and that they will
be released from escrow only after the Escrow Agent receives the
information described in section 6.4;
(d) if any share certificates or other evidence of the
escrow securities have been delivered to the depositary,
requires the depositary to return to the Escrow Agent, as soon
as practicable, the share certificates or other evidence of
escrow securities that are not released from escrow into the
business combination; and
(e) where applicable, requires the depositary to deliver or
cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent, as soon as
practicable, share certificates or other evidence of additional
escrow securities that you acquire under the business
combination.
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6.4 Release
of Escrow Securities to Depositary
(1) The Escrow Agent will release from escrow the tendered
escrow securities provided that:
(a) you or the Issuer make application to release the
tendered securities under the Policy on a date at least 10
business days and not more than 30 business days prior to the
date of the proposed release date; and
(b) the Exchange does not provide notice of its objection
to the Escrow Agent prior to 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) or
11:00 a.m. (Calgary time) on such specified date;
(c) the Escrow Agent receives a declaration signed by the
depositary or, if the direction identifies the depositary as
acting on behalf of another person or company in respect of the
business combination, by that other person or company, that
(i) the terms and conditions of the business combination
have been met or waived; and
(ii) the escrow securities have either been taken up and
paid for or are subject to an unconditional obligation to be
taken up and paid for under the business combination.
6.5 Escrow
of New Securities
(1) If you receive securities (“new
securities”) of another issuer (“successor
issuer”) in exchange for your escrow securities, the
new securities will be subject to escrow in substitution for the
tendered escrow securities, unless, immediately after completion
of the business combination,
(a) the successor issuer is an exempt issuer as defined in
the National Policy;
(b) the escrow holder was subject to a Value Security
Escrow Agreement and is not a Principal of the successor
issuer; and
(c) the escrow holder holds less than 1% of the voting
rights attached to the successor issuer’s outstanding
securities. (In calculating this percentage, include securities
that may be issued to the escrow holder under outstanding
convertible securities in both the escrow holder’s
securities and the total securities outstanding.)
6.6 Release
from Escrow of New Securities
(1) The Escrow Agent will send to a Securityholder share
certificates or other evidence of the Securityholder’s new
securities as soon as reasonably practicable after the Escrow
Agent receives:
(a) a certificate from the successor issuer signed by a
director or officer of the successor issuer authorized to sign
(i) stating that it is a successor issuer to the Issuer as
a result of a business combination;
(ii) containing a list of the securityholders whose new
securities are subject to escrow under section 6.5;
(iii) containing a list of the securityholders whose new
securities are not subject to escrow under section 6.5;
(b) written confirmation from the Exchange that it has
accepted the list of Securityholders whose new securities are
not subject to escrow under section 6.5.
(2) The escrow securities of the Securityholders, whose
securities are not subject to escrow under section 6.5,
will be released, and the Escrow Agent will send any share
certificates or other evidence of the escrow securities in the
possession of the Escrow Agent in accordance with
section 2.4.
(3) If your new securities are subject to escrow, unless
subsection (4) applies, the Escrow Agent will hold your new
securities in escrow on the same terms and conditions, including
release dates, as applied to the escrow securities that you
exchanged.
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(4) If the Issuer is a Tier 2 Issuer and the successor
issuer is a Tier 1 Issuer, the release provisions in
section 3.1(4) relating to graduation will apply.
PART 7 RESIGNATION
OF ESCROW AGENT
7.1 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 and the
Exchange.
(2) If the Issuer wishes to terminate the Escrow Agent as
escrow agent, the Issuer will give written notice to the Escrow
Agent and the Exchange.
(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 Exchange 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 Escrow 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 fie a copy of the new Agreement with the Exchange.
PART 8 OTHER
CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS
8.1 Escrow
Agent Not a Trustee
The Escrow Agent accepts duties and responsibilities under this
Agreement, and the escrow securities and any share certificates
or other evidence of these securities, solely as a custodian,
bailee and agent. No trust is intended to be, or is or will be,
created hereby and the Escrow Agent shall owe no duties
hereunder as a trustee.
8.2 Escrow
Agent Not Responsible for Genuineness
The Escrow Agent will not be responsible or liable in any manner
whatever for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or
validity of any escrow security deposited with it.
8.3 Escrow
Agent Not Responsible for Furnished Information
The Escrow Agent will have no responsibility for seeking,
obtaining, compiling, preparing or determining the accuracy of
any information or document, including the representative
capacity in which a party purports to act, that
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the Escrow Agent receives as a condition to a release from
escrow or a transfer of escrow securities within escrow under
this Agreement.
8.4 Escrow
Agent Not Responsible after Release
The Escrow Agent will have no responsibility for escrow
securities that it has released to a Securityholder or at a
Securityholder’s direction according to this Agreement.
8.5 Indemnification
of Escrow Agent
The Issuer and each Securityholder hereby jointly and severally
agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent, its
affiliates, and their current and former directors, officers,
employees and agents from and against any and all claims,
demands, losses, penalties, costs, expenses, fees and
liabilities, including, without limitation, legal fees and
expenses, directly or indirectly arising out of, in connection
with, or in respect of, this Agreement, except where same result
directly and principally from negligence, willful misconduct or
bad faith on the part of the Escrow Agent. This indemnity
survives the release of the escrow securities, the resignation
or termination of the Escrow Agent and the termination of this
Agreement.
8.6 Additional
Provisions
(1) The Escrow Agent will be protected in acting and
relying reasonably upon any notice, direction, instruction,
order, certificate, confirmation, request, waiver, consent,
receipt, statutory declaration or other paper or document
(collectively referred to as “Documents”)
furnished to it and purportedly signed by any officer or person
required to or entitled to execute and deliver to the Escrow
Agent any such Document in connection with this Agreement, not
only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness
of its provisions, but also as to the truth or accuracy of any
information therein contained, which it in good faith believes
to be genuine.
(2) The Escrow Agent will not be bound by any notice of a
claim or demand with respect thereto, or any waiver,
modification, amendment, termination or rescission of this
Agreement unless received by it in writing, and signed by the
other Parties and approved by the Exchange, and, if the duties
or indemnification of the Escrow Agent in this Agreement are
affected, unless it has given its prior written consent.
(3) The Escrow Agent may consult with or retain such legal
counsel and advisors as it may reasonably require for the
purpose of discharging its duties or determining its rights
under this Agreement and may rely and act upon the advice of
such counsel or advisor. Provided that the Escrow Agent has
obtained the prior written consent of the Issuer, the Issuer
will pay or reimburse the Escrow Agent for any reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of such counsel or advisors.
(4) In the event of any disagreement arising under the
terms of this Agreement, the Escrow Agent will be entitled, at
its option, to refuse to comply with any and all demands
whatsoever until the dispute is settled either by a written
agreement among the Parties or by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(5) The Escrow Agent will have no duties or
responsibilities except as expressly provided in this Agreement
and will have no duty or responsibility under the National
Policy or arising under any other agreement, including any
agreement referred to in this Agreement, to which the Escrow
Agent is not a party.
(6) The Escrow Agent will have the right not to act and
will not be liable for refusing to act unless it has received
clear and reasonable documentation that complies with the terms
of this Agreement. Such documentation must not require the
exercise of any discretion or independent judgment.
(7) The Escrow Agent is authorized to cancel any share
certificate delivered to it and hold such Securityholder’s
escrow securities in electronic or uncertificated form only,
pending release of such securities from escrow.
(8) The Escrow Agent will have no responsibility with
respect to any escrow securities in respect of which no share
certificate or other evidence or electronic or uncertificated
form of these securities has been delivered to it, or otherwise
received by it.
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8.7 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 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.
8.8 Remuneration
of Escrow Agent
The Issuer will pay the Escrow Agent reasonable remuneration for
its services under this Agreement, which fees are subject to
revision from time to time on 30 days’ written notice.
The Issuer will reimburse the Escrow Agent for its reasonable
expenses and disbursements. Any amount due under this Section
and unpaid 30 days after request for such payment, will
bear interest from the expiration of such period at a rate per
annum equal to the then current rate charged by the Escrow
Agent, payable on demand.
PART 9 INDEMNIFICATION
OF THE EXCHANGE
9.1 Indemnification
(1) The Issuer and each Securityholder jointly and
severally:
(a) release, indemnify and save harmless the Exchange from
all costs (including legal cost, expenses and disbursements),
charges, claims, demands, damages, liabilities, losses and
expenses incurred by the Exchange;
(b) agree not to make or bring a claim or demand, or
commence any action, against the Exchange; and
(c) agree to indemnify and save harmless the Exchange from
all costs (including legal costs) and damages that the Exchange
incurs or is required by law to pay as a result of any
person’s claim, demand or action,
arising from any and every act or omission committed or omitted
by the Exchange, in connection with this Agreement, even if said
act or omission was negligent, or constituted a breach of the
terms of this Agreement.
(2) This indemnity survives the release of the escrow
securities and the termination of this Agreement.
PART 10 NOTICES
10.1 Notice
to Escrow Agent
Documents will be considered to have been delivered to the
Escrow Agent on the next business day following the date of
transmission, if delivered by fax, the date of delivery, if
delivered by hand during normal business hours or by prepaid
courier, or 5 business days after the date of mailing, if
delivered by mail, to the following:
Name and Address:
|
Computershare Investor Services Inc. 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0 |
|
Attention: Fax: |
Manager, Corporate Trust • |
11
10.2 Notice
to Issuer
Documents will be considered to have been delivered to the
Issuer on the next business day following the date of
transmission, if delivered by fax, the date of delivery, if
delivered by hand or by prepaid courier, or 5 business days
after the date of mailing, if delivered by mail, to the
following:
Name and Address:
|
Vuzix Corporation 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000 |
|
Attention: Fax: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxx (000) 000-0000 |
10.3 Deliveries
to Securityholders
Documents will be considered to have been delivered to a
Securityholder on the date of delivery, if delivered by hand or
by prepaid courier, or 5 business days after the date of
mailing, if delivered by mail, to the address on the
Issuer’s share register.
Any share certificates or other evidence of a
Securityholder’s escrow securities will be sent to the
Securityholder’s address on the Issuer’s share
register unless the Securityholder has advised the Escrow Agent
in writing otherwise at least ten business days before the
escrow securities are released from escrow. The Issuer will
provide the Escrow Agent with each Securityholder’s address
as listed on the Issuer’s share register.
10.4 Change
of Address
(1) The Escrow Agent may change its address for delivery by
delivering notice of the change of address to the Issuer and to
each Securityholder.
(2) The Issuer may change its address for delivery by
delivering notice of the change of address to the Escrow Agent
and to each Securityholder.
(3) A Securityholder may change that Securityholder’s
address for delivery by delivering notice of the change of
address to the Issuer and to the Escrow Agent.
10.5 Postal
Interruption
A party to this Agreement will not mail a Document if the party
is aware of an actual or impending disruption of postal service.
PART 11 GENERAL
11.1 Interpretation —
“holding securities”
Unless the context otherwise requires, all capitalized terms
that are not otherwise defined in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings as defined in Policy 1.1 — Interpretation
or in Policy 5.4 — Escrow, Vendor Consideration
and Resale Restrictions.
When this Agreement refers to securities that a Securityholder
“holds”, it means that the Securityholder has direct
or indirect beneficial ownership of or control or direction over
the securities.
11.2 Enforcement
by Third Parties
The Issuer enters this Agreement both on its own behalf and as
trustee for the Exchange and the Securityholders of the Issuer,
and this Agreement may be enforced by either the Exchange, or
the Securityholders of the Issuer, or both.
12
11.3 Termination,
Amendment, and Waiver of Agreement
(1) Subject to subsection 11.3(3), this Agreement shall
only terminate:
(a) with respect to all the Parties:
(i) as specifically provided in this Agreement;
(ii) subject to subsection 11.3(2), upon the agreement of
all Parties; or
(iii) when the Securities of all Securityholders have been
released from escrow pursuant to this Agreement; and
(b) with respect to a Party:
(i) as specifically provided in this Agreement; or
(ii) if the Party is a Securityholder, when all of the
Securityholder’s Securities have been released from escrow
pursuant to this Agreement.
(2) An agreement to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
section 11.3(1)(a)(ii) shall not be effective unless and until
the agreement to terminate
(a) is evidenced by a memorandum in writing signed by all
Parties;
(b) if the Issuer is listed on the Exchange, the
termination of this Agreement has been consented to in writing
by the Exchange; and
(c) has been approved by a majority vote of securityholders
of the Issuer excluding in each case, Securityholders.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement,
the obligations set forth in section 9.1 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of
the Escrow Agent.
(4) No amendment or waiver of this Agreement or any part of
this Agreement shall be effective unless the amendment or waiver:
(a) is evidenced by a memorandum in writing signed by all
Parties;
(b) if the Issuer is listed on the Exchange, the amendment
or waiver of this Agreement has been approved in writing by the
Exchange; and
(c) has been approved by a majority vote of securityholders
of the Issuer excluding in each case, Securityholders.
(5) No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provision (whether similar or not), nor shall any waiver
constitute a continuing waiver, unless expressly provided.
11.4 Severance
of Illegal Provision
Any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable shall be deemed stricken to the extent
necessary to eliminate any invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability, and the rest of the Agreement and all other
provisions and parts thereof shall remain in full force and
effect and be binding upon the parties hereto as though the said
illegal
and/or
unenforceable provision or part thereof had never been included
in this Agreement.
11.5 Further
Assurances
The Parties will execute and deliver any further documents and
perform any further acts reasonably requested by any of the
Parties to this agreement which are necessary to carry out the
intent of this Agreement.
13
11.6 Time
Time is of the essence of this Agreement.
11.7 Consent
of Exchange to Amendment
The Exchange must approve any amendment to this Agreement if the
Issuer is listed on the Exchange at the time of the proposed
amendment.
11.8 Additional
Escrow Requirements
A Canadian exchange may impose escrow terms or conditions in
addition to those set out in this Agreement.
11.9 Governing
Laws
The laws of {insert principal jurisdiction} and the applicable
laws of Canada will govern this Agreement.
11.10 Counterparts
The Parties may execute this Agreement by fax and in
counterparts, each of which will be considered an original and
all of which will be one agreement.
11.11 Singular
and Plural
Wherever a singular expression is used in this Agreement, that
expression is considered as including the plural or the body
corporate where required by the context.
11.12 Language
This Agreement has been drawn up in the
[English/French] language at the request of all parties.
Cet acte a été rédigé en
[anglais/français] à la demande de toutes les parties.
11.13 Benefit
and Binding Effect
This Agreement will benefit and bind the Parties and their
heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted
assigns and all persons claiming through them as if they had
been a Party to this Agreement.
11.14 Entire
Agreement
This is the entire agreement among the Parties concerning the
subject matter set out in this Agreement and supersedes any and
all prior understandings and agreements.
11.15 Successor
to Escrow Agent
Any corporation with which the Escrow Agent may be amalgamated,
merged or consolidated, or any corporation succeeding to the
business of the Escrow Agent will be the successor of the Escrow
Agent under this Agreement without any further act on its part
or on the part or any of the Parties, provided that the
successor is recognized by the Exchange.
The Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the
date set out above.
COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES INC.
|
||||
Authorized signatory
|
||||
Authorized signatory
|
14
VUZIX CORPORATION
|
||||
Authorized signatory
|
||||
Authorized signatory
|
||||
Signed, sealed and delivered by
|
) | |||
Xxxx Xxxxxxx in the presence of:
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Signature of Witness
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Name
|
) | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Signed, sealed and delivered by
|
) | |||
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx in the presence of:
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Signature of Witness
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Name
|
) | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Signed, sealed and delivered by
|
) | |||
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx in the presence of:
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Signature of Witness
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Name
|
) | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
15
Signed, sealed and delivered by
|
) | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxx in the presence of:
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Signature of Witness
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Name
|
) | Xxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Signed, sealed and delivered by
|
) | |||
Xxxx Xxxxxxx in the presence of:
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Signature of Witness
|
) | |||
) | ||||
|
) | |||
Name
|
) | Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
XXXXXXX FAMILY LLC
|
||||
|
||||
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Authorized Signatory
|
16
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock
|
70,239,611 | |||||||
Stock Options
|
1,673,808 |
17
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock
|
11,913,777 | |||||||
Stock Options
|
374,256 |
18
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock
|
20,278,453 | |||||||
Stock Options
|
174,256 |
19
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock
|
3,209,011 | |||||||
Stock Options
|
268,120 |
20
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Stock Options
|
60,000 |
21
SCHEDULE
“A” TO ESCROW AGREEMENT
Securityholder
Name: Xxxxxxx Family LLC
Signature:
Address for Notice:
•
Securities:
Class and Type |
||||||||
(i.e. Value Securities or |
||||||||
Surplus Securities)
|
Number | Certificate(s) (if Applicable) | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock
|
834,285 |
22
SCHEDULE B(1) —
TIER 1 VALUE SECURITY ESCROW AGREEMENT
RELEASE
OF SECURITIES
Timed
Release
Percentage of Total |
Total Number of |
|||||||
Escrowed Securities |
Escrowed Securities |
|||||||
Release Dates
|
to be Released | to be Released | ||||||
[Insert date of Exchange Bulletin]
|
25 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 6 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
25 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 12 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
25 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 18 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
25 | % | ||||||
TOTAL
|
100 | % | ||||||
* | In the simplest case where there are no changes to the escrow securities initially deposited and no additional escrow securities, then the release schedule outlined above results in the escrow securities being released in equal tranches of 25%. |
23
SCHEDULE B(2) —
TIER 2 VALUE SECURITY ESCROW AGREEMENT
RELEASE
OF SECURITIES
Timed
Release
Percentage of Total |
Total Number of |
|||||||
Escrowed Securities |
Escrowed Securities |
|||||||
Release Dates
|
to be Released | to be Released | ||||||
[Insert date of Exchange Bulletin]
|
10 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 6 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 12 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 18 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 24 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 30 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
[Insert date 36 months following Exchange Bulletin]
|
15 | % | ||||||
TOTAL
|
100 | % | ||||||
* | In the simplest case where there are no changes to the escrow securities initially deposited and no additional escrow securities, the release schedule outlined above results in the escrow securities being released in equal tranches of 15% after completion of the release on the date of the Exchange Bulletin. |
24
SCHEDULE B(3)
UNDERTAKING OF HOLDING COMPANY
UNDERTAKING OF HOLDING COMPANY
TO: | THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE |
• (the “Securityholder”) has subscribed for
and agreed to purchase, as principal, • shares of
common stock of • (the “Escrowed
Securities”). The Escrowed Securities will be held in
escrow as detailed in the escrow agreement entered into between
Vuzix Corporation (the “Issuer”), Computershare
Investor Services Inc. and the Securityholder.
The undersigned Securityholder undertakes that, to the extent
reasonably possible, it will not permit or authorize its
securities to be issued or transferred, nor will it otherwise
authorize any transaction involving any of its securities that
could reasonably result in a change of its control without the
prior consent of the TSX Venture Exchange, as long as the Issuer
remains listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.
DATED this • day of December, 2009.
(Name of Securityholder — please print)
(Authorized Signature)
(Official Capacity — please print)
(Please print here name of individual whose signature appears
above)
25
The Securityholder is directly controlled by the undersigned who
undertakes that, to the extent reasonably possible, he will not
permit or authorize securities of the Securityholder to be
issued or transferred, nor otherwise carry out any transaction
that could reasonably result in a change of control of the
Securityholder without the prior consent of the TSX Venture
Exchange, as long as the Issuer remains listed on the TSX
Venture Exchange.
DATED this • day of December, 2009.
(Signature)
(Name of Controlling Securityholder — please print)
(Signature)
(Name of Controlling Securityholder — please print)
26