ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into and effective as
of the __th day of June, 2002, by and between First Reliance Bancshares, Inc., a
corporation (the "Company"), and the Bankers Bank (the "Escrow Agent').
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to offer and sell (the "Offering") up to
$1,250,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares"), to
investors at $8.00 per Share pursuant to a registered public offering; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish an escrow for funds forwarded by
subscribers for Shares, and the Escrow Agent is willing to serve as Escrow Agent
upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Deposit with Escrow Agent.
(a) The Escrow Agent agrees that it will from time to time accept, in its
capacity as escrow agent, subscription funds for the Shares (the "Escrowed
Funds") in the form of checks received by the Company from subscribers. All
checks shall be made payable to the Escrow Agent. If any check does not clear
normal banking channels in due course, the Escrow Agent will promptly notify the
Company. Any check which does not clear normal banking channels and is returned
by the drawer's bank to Escrow Agent will be promptly turned over to the Company
along with all other subscription documents relating to such check. Any check
received that is made payable to a party other than the Escrow Agent shall be
returned to the Company for return to the proper party. The Company in its sole
and absolute discretion may reject any subscription for shares for any reason
and upon such rejection it shall notify and instruct the Escrow Agent in writing
to return the Escrowed Funds by check made payable to the subscriber. If the
Company rejects or cancels any subscription for any reason the Company will
retain any interest earned on the Escrowed Funds to help defray organizational
costs.
(b) Subscription agreements for the Shares shall be reviewed for accuracy
by the Company and, immediately thereafter, the Company shall deliver to the
Escrow Agent the following information: (i) the name and address of the
subscriber; (ii) the number of Shares subscribed for by such subscriber, (iii)
the subscription price paid by such subscriber; (iv) the subscriber's tax
identification number certified by such subscriber; and (v) a copy of the
subscription agreement.
2. Investment of Escrowed Funds. Upon collection of each check by the
Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent shall invest the funds in deposit accounts or
certificates of deposit
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which are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or another
agency of the United States government, short-term securities issued or fully
guaranteed by the United States government, federal funds, or such other
investments as the Escrow Agent and the Company shall agree. The Company shall
provide the Escrow Agent with instructions from time to time concerning in which
of the specific investment instruments described above the Escrow Funds shall be
invested, and the Escrow Agent shall adhere to such instructions. Unless and
until otherwise instructed by the Company, the Escrow Agent shall by means of a
"Sweep" or other automatic investment program invest the Escrowed Funds in
blocks of $1,000 in federal funds. Interest and other earnings shall start
accruing on such funds as soon as such funds would be deemed to be available for
access under applicable banking laws and pursuant to the Escrow Agent's own
banking policies.
3. Distribution of Escrowed Funds. The Escrow Agent shall distribute the
Escrowed Funds in the amounts, at the times, and upon the conditions hereinafter
set forth in this Agreement.
(a) If at any time on or prior to the expiration date of the offering as
described in the prospectus relating to the offering, (the "Closing Date"), (i)
the Escrow Agent has certified to the Company in writing that the Escrow Agent
has received at least $1,000,000 in Escrowed Funds, and (ii) the Escrow Agent
has received a certificate from the President or the Chairman of the Board of
the Company that all other conditions to the release of funds as described in
the Company's Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pertaining to the public offering have been met, then the Escrow
Agent shall deliver the Escrowed Funds to the Company to the extent such
Escrowed Funds are collected funds. If any portion of the Escrowed Funds are not
collected funds, then the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company of such fact and
shall distribute such funds to the Company only after such funds become
collected funds. For purposes of this Agreement, "collected funds" shall mean
all funds received by the Escrow Agent, which have cleared normal banking
channels.
(b) If the Escrowed Funds do not, on or prior to the Closing Date, become
deliverable to the Company based on failure to meet the conditions described in
Paragraph 3(a), or if the Company terminates the offering at any time prior to
the Closing Date and delivers written notice to the Escrow Agent of such
termination (the "Termination Note"), the Escrow Agent shall return the Escrowed
Funds which are collected funds as directed in writing by the Company to the
respective subscribers in amounts equal to the subscription amount theretofore
paid by each of them. All uncleared checks representing Escrowed Funds which are
not collected funds as of the Initial Closing Date shall be collected by the
Escrow Agent, and together with all related subscription documents thereof shall
be delivered to the Company by the Escrow Agent, unless the Escrow Agent is
otherwise specifically directed in writing by the Company.
4. Distribution of Interest. Any interest earned on the Escrowed Funds
shall be retained by the Company.
5. Fee of Escrow Agent. The escrow account will accrue a service charge
of $15.00 per month. In addition, a $20.00 per check fee will be charged if the
escrow account has to be refunded due to a failure to complete the subscription.
All of these fees are payable upon the release of the Escrow Funds, and the
Escrow Agent is hereby authorized to deduct such
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fees from the Escrowed Funds prior to any release thereof pursuant to Section 3
hereof.
6. Liability of Escrow Agent.
(a) In performing any of its duties under the Agreement, or upon the
claimed failure to perform its duties hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall not be
liable to anyone for any damages, losses or expenses which it may incur as a
result of the Escrow Agent so acting, or failing to act; provided, however, the
Escrow Agent shall be liable for damages arising out of its willful default or
misconduct or its gross negligence under this Agreement. Accordingly, the Escrow
Agent shall not incur any such liability with respect to (i) any action taken or
omitted to be taken in good faith upon advice of its counsel or counsel for the
Company which is given with respect to any questions relating to the duties and
responsibilities of the Escrow Agent hereunder; or (ii) any action taken or
omitted to be taken in reliance upon any document, including any written notice
or instructions provided for this Escrow Agreement, not only as to its due
execution and to the validity and effectiveness of its provisions but also as to
the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, if the Escrow Agent
shall in good faith believe such document to be genuine, to have been signed or
presented by a proper person or persons, and to conform with the provisions of
this Agreement.
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses,
including, without limitation, reasonable costs of investigation and counsel
fees and disbursements which may be imposed by the Escrow Agent or incurred by
it in connection with its acceptance of this appointment as Escrow Agent
hereunder or the performance of its duties hereunder, including, without
limitation, any litigation arising from this Escrow Agreement or involving the
subject matter thereof; except, that if the Escrow Agent shall be found guilty
of willful misconduct or gross negligence under this Agreement, then, in that
event, the Escrow Agent shall bear all such losses, claims, damages and
expenses.
(c) If a dispute ensues between any of the parties hereto which, in the
opinion of the Escrow Agent, is sufficient to justify its doing so, the Escrow
Agent shall retain legal counsel of its choice as it reasonably may deem
necessary to advise it concerning its obligations hereunder and to represent it
in any litigation to which it may be a part by reason of this Agreement. The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to tender into the registry or custody of any
court of competent jurisdiction all money or property in its hands under the
terms of this Agreement, and to file such legal proceedings as it deems
appropriate, and shall thereupon be discharged from all further duties under
this Agreement. Any such legal action may be brought in any such court as the
Escrow Agent shall determine to have jurisdiction thereof. In connection with
such dispute, the Company shall indemnify the Escrow Agent against its court
costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred.
(d) The Escrow Agent may resign at any time upon giving thirty (30) days
written notice to the Company. If a successor escrow agent is not appointed by
Company within thirty (30) days after notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction to name a successor escrow
agent and the Escrow Agent herein shall be fully relieved of all liability under
this Agreement to any and all parties upon the transfer of the Escrowed Funds
and all related documentation thereto, including appropriate information to
assist the
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successor escrow agent with the reporting of earnings of the Escrowed Funds to
the appropriate state and federal agencies in accordance with the applicable
state and federal income tax laws, to the successor escrow agent designated by
the Company appointed by the court.
7. Appointment of Successor. The Company may, upon the delivery of thirty
(30) days written notice appointing a successor escrow agent to the Escrow
Agent, terminate the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder. In the event of
such termination, the Escrow Agent shall immediately deliver to the successor
escrow agent selected by the Company, all documentation and Escrowed Funds
including interest earnings thereon in its possession, less any fees and
expenses due to the Escrow Agent or required to be paid by the Escrow Agent to a
third party pursuant to this Agreement.
8. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given three days after having been deposited
for mailing if sent by registered mail, or certified mail return receipt
requested, or delivery by courier, to the respective addresses set forth below:
If to the subscribers for Shares: To their respective addresses as specified in
their Subscription Agreements.
The Company: First Reliance Bancshares, Inc.
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With a copy to: M. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Jr.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Law Firm, PA
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The Escrow Agent: The Bankers Bank
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Attention: ▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
First Vice President
9. Representations of the Company. The Company hereby acknowledges that
the status of the Escrow Agent with respect to the offering of the Shares is
that of agent only for the limited purposes herein set forth, and hereby agrees
it will not represent or imply that the Escrow Agent, by serving as the Escrow
Agent hereunder or otherwise, has investigated the desirability or advisability
in an investment in the Shares, or has approved, endorsed or passed upon the
merits of the Shares, not shall the Company use the name of the Escrow Agent in
any manner whatsoever in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, other
than by acknowledgment that it has agreed to serve as Escrow Agent for the
limited purposes herein set forth.
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10. General
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.
(b) The section headings contained herein are for reference purposes only
and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(c) This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of
the parties with regard to this escrow transaction and supersedes all prior
agreements, arrangements and understandings relating to the subject matter
hereof.
(d) This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or canceled, and
any of the terms or conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written
instrument executed by each party hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the
party waiving compliance. The failure of any part at any time or times to
require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect the right
at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver in any one or more instances by
any part of any condition, or of the breach of any term contained in this
Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, shall be deemed to be, or construed
as, a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach, or a waiver
of any other condition or of the breach of any other terms of this Agreement.
(e) This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(f) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective administrators, successors and assigns. The Escrow Agent shall
be bound only by the terms of this Escrow Agreement and shall not be bound by
or incur any liability with respect to any other agreement or understanding
between the parties except as herein expressly provided. The Escrow Agent shall
not have any duties hereunder except those specifically set forth herein.
(g) No interest in any part of this Agreement shall be assignable in the
absence of a written agreement by ad between all the parties to this Agreement,
executed with the same formalities as this original Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as the
date first written above.
COMPANY: ESCROW AGENT:
FIRST RELIANCE BANCSHARES, INC. THE BANKERS BANK
By: /s/ A ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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A ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Executive Vice President and CFO First Vice President
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