FUNDS ESCROW AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4 |
FUNDS ESCROW AGREEMENT |
This Funds Escrow Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of September 28, 2007 |
among eLEC Communications Corp., a New York corporation (the “Company”), LV |
Administrative Services, Inc., as administrative and collateral agent for the Purchasers (as |
defined in the Purchase Agreement referred to below) (the “Agent”), and Loeb & Loeb LLP (the |
“Escrow Agent”). |
W I T N E S S E T H: |
WHEREAS, the Agent has advised the Escrow Agent that (a) the Company, the Agent |
and the Purchasers have entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase |
Agreement”) for the sale by the Company to the Purchasers of secured term notes (the “Term |
Notes”) and (b) the Company has issued to the Purchasers common stock purchase warrants (the |
“Warrants”) in connection with the issuance of the Term Notes; |
WHEREAS, the Company and the Agent wish to deliver to the Escrow Agent copies of |
the Documents (as hereafter defined) and, following the satisfaction of all closing conditions |
relating to the Documents, the Purchasers to deliver the Escrowed Payment (as hereafter |
defined), in each case, to be held and released by Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms and |
conditions of this Agreement; and |
WHEREAS, the Escrow Agent is willing to serve as escrow agent pursuant to the terms |
and conditions of this Agreement; |
NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows: |
ARTICLE I |
INTERPRETATION |
1.1. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the |
meanings set forth below. |
(a) “Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, modified and/or |
supplemented from time to time by written agreement among the parties hereto. |
(b) “Closing Payments” means, collectively, (i) the closing payment to be |
paid to Valens Capital Management, LLC, an investment manager of the Creditor Parties, |
in the amount of $9,000 and (ii) the closing payment to be paid to Laurus Capital |
Management, L.L.C., an investment manager of the Creditor Parties, in the amount of |
$119,000. |
(c) “Creditor Parties” means collectively, the Agent and the Purchasers. |
(d) “Disbursement Letter” means that certain letter delivered to the Escrow |
Agent by the Company, acceptable in form and substance to the Agent, setting forth wire |
instructions and amounts to be funded at the Closing. |
(e) “Documents” means copies of the Disbursement Letter, the Purchase |
Agreement, the Term Notes and the Warrants. |
(f) “Escrowed Payment” means $4,000,000. |
1.2. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the |
parties hereto with respect to the arrangement with the Escrow Agent and supersedes all prior |
agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions of the parties, whether oral or written |
with respect to the arrangement with the Escrow Agent. There are no warranties, representations |
and other agreements made by the parties in connection with the arrangement with the Escrow |
Agent except as specifically set forth in this Agreement. |
1.3. Extended Meanings. In this Agreement words importing the singular number |
include the plural and vice versa; words importing the masculine gender include the feminine |
and neuter genders. The word “person” includes an individual, body corporate, partnership, |
trustee or trust or unincorporated association, executor, administrator or legal representative. |
1.4. Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified, |
superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended, and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived, |
in each case only by a written instrument signed by all parties hereto, or, in the case of a waiver, |
by the party waiving compliance. Except as expressly stated herein, no delay on the part of any |
party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor |
shall any waiver on the part of any party of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any |
other or future exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder. |
1.5. Headings. The division of this Agreement into articles, sections, subsections and |
paragraphs and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not |
affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. |
1.6. Law Governing this Agreement; Consent to Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT |
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF |
THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF |
LAWS. With respect to any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or to the |
transactions contemplated hereby (“Proceedings”), each party hereto irrevocably submits to the |
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the County of New York, State of New York and the |
United States District court located in the county of New York in the State of New York. Each |
party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) waives trial by jury in any Proceeding |
relating to this Agreement and for any related counterclaim and (b) waives any objection which |
it may have at any time to the laying of venue of any Proceeding brought in any such court, |
waives any claim that such Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further |
waives the right to object, with respect to such Proceedings, that such court does not have |
jurisdiction over such party. As between the Company and the Agent, the prevailing party shall |
be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In the event |
2 |
that any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be |
invalid or unenforceable, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected and shall |
remain in full force and effect. |
1.7. Construction. Each party acknowledges that its legal counsel participated in the |
preparation of this Agreement and, therefore, stipulates that the rule of construction that |
ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the interpretation |
of this Agreement to favor any party against the other. |
ARTICLE II |
APPOINTMENT OF AND DELIVERIES TO THE ESCROW AGENT |
2.1. Appointment. The Company and the Agent hereby irrevocably designate and |
appoint the Escrow Agent as their escrow agent for the purposes set forth herein, and the Escrow |
Agent by its execution and delivery of this Agreement hereby accepts such appointment under |
the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
2.2. Copies of Documents to Escrow Agent. On or about the date hereof, the Agent |
and the Company shall deliver to the Escrow Agent copies of the Documents executed by such |
parties. |
2.3. Delivery of Escrowed Payment to Escrow Agent. Following the satisfaction of all |
closing conditions relating to the Documents (other than the funding of the Escrowed Payment), |
the Purchasers shall deliver to the Escrow Agent the Escrowed Payment. At such time, the |
Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrowed Payment as agent for the Company, subject to the terms |
and conditions of this Agreement. |
2.4. Intention to Create Escrow Over the Escrowed Payment. The Agent and the |
Company intend that the Escrowed Payment shall be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent and |
released from escrow by the Escrow Agent only in accordance with the terms and conditions of |
this Agreement. |
ARTICLE III |
RELEASE OF ESCROW |
3.1. Release of Escrow. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2, the Escrow Agent |
shall release the Escrowed Payment from escrow as follows: |
(a) Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of (i) oral instructions from Xxxxx Grin |
and/or Xxxxxx Grin (each of whom is an officer of the Agent) consenting to the release of |
the Escrowed Payment from escrow in accordance with the Disbursement Letter |
following the Escrow Agent’s receipt of the Escrowed Payment, (ii) the Disbursement |
Letter, and (iii) the Escrowed Payment, the Escrowed Payment shall promptly be |
disbursed in accordance with the Disbursement Letter. The Disbursement Letter shall |
include, without limitation, Escrow Agent’s authorization to retain from the Escrowed |
Payment Escrow Agent’s fee for acting as Escrow Agent hereunder and the Closing |
3 |
Payments for delivery to Valens Capital Management, LLC and Laurus Capital |
Management, L.L.C. in accordance with the Disbursement Letter. |
(b) Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of a final and non-appealable |
judgment, order, decree or award of a court of competent jurisdiction (a “Court Order”) |
relating to the Escrowed Payment, the Escrow Agent shall remit the Escrowed Payment |
in accordance with the Court Order. Any Court Order shall be accompanied by an |
opinion of counsel for the party presenting the Court Order to the Escrow Agent (which |
opinion shall be satisfactory to the Escrow Agent) to the effect that the court issuing the |
Court Order is a court of competent jurisdiction and that the Court Order is final and non- |
appealable. |
3.2. Acknowledgement of Company and Agent; Disputes. The Company and the |
Agent acknowledge that the only terms and conditions upon which the Escrowed Payment are to |
be released from escrow are as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement. The Company |
and the Agent reaffirm their agreement to abide by the terms and conditions of this Agreement |
with respect to the release of the Escrowed Payment. Any dispute with respect to the release of |
the Escrowed Payment shall be resolved pursuant to Section 4.2 or by written agreement |
between the Company and Agent. |
ARTICLE IV |
CONCERNING THE ESCROW AGENT |
4.1. Duties and Responsibilities of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent’s duties and |
responsibilities shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: |
(a) The Agent and the Company acknowledge and agree that the Escrow |
Agent (i) shall not be required to inquire into whether the Agent, the Company or any |
other party is entitled to receipt of any Document or all or any portion of the Escrowed |
Payment; (ii) shall not be called upon to construe or review any Document or any other |
document, instrument or agreement entered into in connection therewith; (iii) shall be |
obligated only for the performance of such duties as are specifically assumed by the |
Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement; (iv) may rely on and shall be protected in |
acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, instrument, |
statement, request or document furnished to it hereunder and believed by the Escrow |
Agent in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper |
person or party, without being required to determine the authenticity or correctness of any |
fact stated therein or the propriety or validity or the service thereof; (v) may assume that |
any person purporting to give notice or make any statement or execute any document in |
connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so; (vi) shall not be |
responsible for the identity, authority or rights of any person, firm or company executing |
or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver this Agreement or any Document or any |
funds deposited hereunder or any endorsement thereon or assignment thereof; (vii) shall |
not be under any duty to give the property held by Escrow Agent hereunder any greater |
degree of care than Escrow Agent gives its own similar property; and (viii) may consult |
counsel satisfactory to Escrow Agent (including, without limitation, Loeb & Loeb LLP or |
4 |
such other counsel of Escrow Agent’s choosing), the opinion of such counsel to be full |
and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or |
omitted by Escrow Agent hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of |
such counsel. |
(b) The Agent and the Company acknowledge that the Escrow Agent is acting |
solely as a stakeholder at their request and that the Escrow Agent shall not be liable for |
any action taken by Escrow Agent in good faith and believed by Escrow Agent to be |
authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon Escrow Agent by this |
Agreement. The Agent and the Company hereby, jointly and severally, indemnify and |
hold harmless the Escrow Agent and any of Escrow Agent’s partners, employees, agents |
and representatives from and against any and all actions taken or omitted to be taken by |
Escrow Agent or any of them hereunder and any and all claims, losses, liabilities, costs, |
damages and expenses suffered and/or incurred by the Escrow Agent arising in any |
manner whatsoever out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and/or any |
transaction related in any way hereto, including the fees of outside counsel and other |
costs and expenses of defending itself against any claims, losses, liabilities, costs, |
damages and expenses arising in any manner whatsoever out the transactions |
contemplated by this Agreement and/or any transaction related in any way hereto, except |
for such claims, losses, liabilities, costs, damages and expenses incurred by reason of the |
Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent shall owe a |
duty only to the Agent and the Company under this Agreement and to no other person. |
(c) The Agent and the Company shall jointly and severally reimburse the |
Escrow Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees (which |
counsel may be Loeb & Loeb LLP or such other counsel of the Escrow Agent’s |
choosing) incurred in connection with the performance of its duties and responsibilities |
hereunder, which shall not (subject to Section 4.1(b)) exceed $2,000. |
(d) The Escrow Agent may at any time resign as Escrow Agent hereunder by |
giving five (5) business days prior written notice of resignation to the Agent and the |
Company. Prior to the effective date of resignation as specified in such notice, the Agent |
and Company will issue to the Escrow Agent a joint instruction authorizing delivery of |
the Documents and the Escrowed Payment to a substitute Escrow Agent selected by the |
Agent and the Company. If no successor Escrow Agent is named by the Agent and the |
Company, the Escrow Agent may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction in the State |
of New York for appointment of a successor Escrow Agent, and deposit the Documents |
and the Escrowed Payment with the clerk of any such court, and/or otherwise commence |
an interpleader or similar action for a determination of where to deposit the same. |
(e) The Escrow Agent does not have and will not have any interest in the |
Documents and the Escrowed Payment, but is serving only as escrow agent, having only |
possession thereof. |
(f) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it |
in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized hereby or within the rights or |
powers conferred upon it hereunder, nor for action taken or omitted by it in good faith, |
5 |
and in accordance with advice of counsel (which counsel may be Loeb & Loeb LLP or |
such other counsel of the Escrow Agent’s choosing), and shall not be liable for any |
mistake of fact or error of judgment or for any acts or omissions of any kind except to the |
extent any such liability arose from its own willful misconduct or gross negligence. |
(g) This Agreement sets forth exclusively the duties of the Escrow Agent with |
respect to any and all matters pertinent thereto and no implied duties or obligations shall |
be read into this Agreement. |
(h) The Escrow Agent shall be permitted to act as counsel for the Creditor |
Parties or the Company, as the case may be, in any dispute as to the disposition of the |
Documents and the Escrowed Payment, in any other dispute between the Creditor Parties |
and the Company, whether or not the Escrow Agent is then holding the Documents |
and/or the Escrowed Payment and continues to act as the Escrow Agent hereunder. |
(i) The provisions of this Section 4.1 shall survive the resignation of the |
Escrow Agent or the termination of this Agreement. |
4.2. Dispute Resolution; Judgments. Resolution of disputes arising under this |
Agreement shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: |
(a) If any dispute shall arise with respect to the delivery, ownership, right of |
possession or disposition of the Documents and/or the Escrowed Payment, or if the |
Escrow Agent shall in good faith be uncertain as to its duties or rights hereunder, the |
Escrow Agent shall be authorized, without liability to anyone, to (i) refrain from taking |
any action other than to continue to hold the Documents and the Escrowed Payment |
pending receipt of a joint instruction from the Agent and the Company, (ii) commence an |
interpleader or similar action, suit or proceeding for the resolution of any such dispute; |
and/or (iii) deposit the Documents and the Escrowed Payment with any court of |
competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, in which event the Escrow Agent shall |
give written notice thereof to the Agent and the Company and shall thereupon be relieved |
and discharged from all further obligations pursuant to this Agreement. The Escrow |
Agent may, but shall be under no duty to, institute or defend any legal proceedings which |
relate to the Documents and the Escrowed Payment. The Escrow Agent shall have the |
right to retain counsel if it becomes involved in any disagreement, dispute or litigation on |
account of this Agreement or otherwise determines that it is necessary to consult counsel |
which such counsel may be Loeb & Loeb LLP or such other counsel of the Escrow |
Agent’s choosing. |
(b) The Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized to comply with and |
obey any Court Order. In case the Escrow Agent obeys or complies with a Court Order, |
the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to the Creditor Parties, the Company or any other |
person, firm, company or entity by reason of such compliance. |
6 |
ARTICLE V | ||||
GENERAL MATTERS | ||||
5.1. Termination. This escrow shall terminate upon disbursement of the Escrowed | ||||
Payment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or earlier upon the agreement in writing | ||||
of the Agent and the Company or resignation of the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms | ||||
hereof. | ||||
5.2. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or | ||||
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given one (1) day | ||||
after being sent by telecopy (with copy delivered by overnight courier, regular or certified mail): | ||||
If to the Company, to: | eLEC Communications Corp. | |||
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000 | ||||
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||
Attention: Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Facsimile: 000-000-0000 | ||||
With a copy to: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP | |||
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||||
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq. | ||||
Facsimile: 000-000-0000 | ||||
If to the Agent, to: | LV Administrative Services Corp. | |||
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx | ||||
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 | ||||
Attention: Portfolio Services | ||||
Fax: 000-000-0000 | ||||
If to the Escrow Agent, to: | Loeb & Loeb LLP | |||
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 | ||||
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq. | ||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | ||||
or to such other address as any of them shall give to the others by notice made pursuant to this | ||||
Section 5.2. | ||||
5.3. Interest. The Escrowed Payment shall not be held in an interest bearing account | ||||
nor will interest be payable in connection therewith. | ||||
5.4. Assignment; Binding Agreement. Neither this Agreement nor any right or | ||||
obligation hereunder shall be assignable by any party without the prior written consent of the | ||||
other parties hereto. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties | ||||
hereto and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns. | ||||
7 |
5.5. Invalidity. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, |
or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any |
respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every |
other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be in any way impaired |
thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties hereto shall be |
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
5.6. Counterparts/Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of |
counterparts and by different signatories hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so |
executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the |
same agreement. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile or electronic transmission. |
[Signature Page to Follow] |
8 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Funds Escrow |
Agreement as of the date and year first above written. |
COMPANY: |
eLEC COMMUNICATIONS CORP. |
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx |
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxx |
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
AGENT: |
LV ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CORP., |
as Agent |
By: Valens Capital Management, LLC, its |
investment manager |
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxxx |
Name: Xxx Xxxxx |
Title: Senior Managing Director |
ESCROW AGENT: |
LOEB & LOEB LLP |
By: /s/ Loeb & Loeb |
Name: |
Title: |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO |
FUNDS ESCROW AGREEMENT |