EXHIBIT 10.3
PROCEEDS ESCROW AGREEMENT
Agreement entered on the ___ day of ______________, 2001 by and among
Transition Auto Finance IV, Inc. ("Issuer"), Great Nation Investment Corporation
("Dealer"), and Texas Community Bank, a National Association, as defined by
Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, (the "Escrow
Agent").
WHEREAS, with the assistance of Dealer, the Issuer proposes to offer
and sell up to $10,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.0% Secured
Redeemable Promissory Notes (the "Notes") to be issued under a Trust Indenture
between the Issuer and Trust Management Inc. (the "Trustee").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. The Escrow Agent agrees to act as escrow agent in connection with
the offering and sale of Notes and, as such, to establish an appropriate account
and to receive the proceeds from the sale of the Notes for deposit therein until
the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the termination of the
offering and sale of the Notes (the "Termination Date").
2. Checks or other items for the payment of all or a part of the
purchase price of the Notes (all such items together with all proceeds thereof,
the "Escrowed Property") shall be payable to Escrow Agent, or endorsed by the
Dealer or Issuer to Texas Community Bank and delivered daily to Escrow Agent.
The Escrow Agent will credit the proceeds to an escrow cash account (the "Escrow
Account") to be held by it under the terms of this Agreement subject to Rule
15c2-4 under the Securities Act of 1934. All subscribers' checks or other items
for the payment of the purchase price of Notes shall be transmitted by Dealer to
the Escrow Agent by noon of the next business day upon receipt by Dealer.
3. The Escrowed Property, together with all interest earned thereon,
shall be held by the Escrow Agent until the earlier of (a) the time that the
Escrow Agent has received proceeds from the sale of the Notes in the aggregate
principal amount of $250,000, or more, or (b) March 1, 2002, at which time the
escrow will terminate.
4. Upon termination of the escrow, the Escrow Agent shall release the
Escrowed Property, together with all interest earned thereon to be distributed
to either (a) the Issuer, or such other party or parties, as required to carry
out the purpose of the Note offering if the minimum amount of the Notes have
been sold within the required time period described above, or (b) the
subscribers if the minimum amount of Notes have not been sold within such
period.
5. If at any time to the completion of this escrow said Escrow Agent is
advised by the appropriate securities or state agency that the registration to
sell said notes has been revoked, said Escrow Agent shall thereupon return all
funds and the interest earned thereon to the respective subscribers.
6. Escrow Agent shall deposit all funds received in insured accounts
such that each Investor that deposits funds is insured to the maximum amount
allowed under FDIC regulations, irrespective of the aggregate amount of funds
received from all Investors. The Escrow Agent shall invest such collected funds
deposited in the Escrow Account in short term investments to the extent
permitted by the Texas Banking Commission, provided however, that any such funds
held subject to any minimum escrow contingency shall be invested subject to Rule
15c2-4. The Escrow Agent shall in no event be liable for any loss resulting from
any change in interest rates applicable to funds so invested.
Interest on funds invested pursuant to this Section shall accrue from
the date of investment of such funds until such funds are released from escrow
pursuant to paragraph 4.
7. The Escrow Agent's and Dealer's obligations and duties in
connections herewith are confined to those specifically enumerated in this
Agreement. The Escrow Agent and Dealer shall not be in any manner liable or
responsible for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or validity of any
instruments received by or deposited with them or with reference to the form of
execution thereof, or the identity, authority, or rights of any person
executing, delivering, or depositing same, and neither the Escrow Agent nor the
Dealer shall be liable for any loss that may occur by reason of forgery, false
representation or the exercise of their discretion in any particular manner or
for any other reason, except for their own gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
8. The Escrow Agent shall receive compensation for its services from
Issuer as set forth in the separate schedule of fees as made a part hereof by
reference.
9. The Escrow Agent may act pursuant to the written advice of counsel
with respect to any matter relating to this Escrow Agreement and shall not be
liable for any action taken or omitted in accordance with such advice.
10. The Escrow Agent (and any other successor escrow agent) may at any
time resign as such by delivering all of the Escrowed Property to the successor
escrow agent jointly designated by the other parties hereto in writing, or to
any court of competent jurisdiction, whereupon the Escrow Agent shall be
discharged of and from any and all further obligations arising in connection
with this Escrow Agreement. The resignation of the Escrow Agent will take effect
on the earlier of (a) the appointment of a successor (including a court of
competent jurisdiction), or (b) the day which is thirty (30) days after the date
of delivery of its written notice of resignation to the other parties hereto. If
at that time the Escrow Agent has not received a designation of a successor
escrow agent, the Escrow Agent's sole responsibility after that time shall be to
safekeep the Escrowed Property until receipt of a designation of successor
escrow agent or a written disposition instruction by the Issuer and Dealer or a
final order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
11. If any controversy arises between the parties hereto or with any
third person, the Escrow Agent shall not be required to determine the same or to
take any action but may await the settlement of any such controversy by final
appropriate legal proceeding, or otherwise as the Escrow Agent may require, or
the Escrow Agent may, in its discretion, institute such appropriate
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interpleader or other proceedings in connection therewith as it may deem proper,
notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary. In any such event,
the Escrow Agent shall not be liable for interest or damages to the Issuer or
subscribers. In the event Escrow Agent should institute, or be named as a party
in, any legal proceedings to determine the lawful owner of the Escrowed
Property, Escrow Agent shall be entitled to recover from the contending parties
to said legal proceedings, reasonable attorney's fees and expenses which shall
be incurred by Escrow Agent in said proceedings.
12. This Escrow Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns,
heirs, administrators, and representatives and shall not be enforceable by or
inure to the benefit of any third party except as provided in Section 10 with
respect to a resignation by the Escrow Agent. No party may assign any of its
rights or obligations under this Escrow Agreement without the written consent of
the other parties. This Escrow Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the laws of the State of Texas with regard to conflict of law
principals.
13. This Escrow Agreement may only be modified in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no waiver hereunder shall be effective unless in writing
signed by the party to be charged.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
DEALER:
GREAT NATION INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:
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Date:
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Attest:
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ISSUER:
TRANSITION AUTO FINANCE IV, INC.
By:
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Date:
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Attest:
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ESCROW AGENT:
TEXAS COMMUNITY BANK, A National
Association
By:
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Date:
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Attest:
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