THIS
ESCROW AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”)
dated
as of June 6, 2007, by and among YP Corp., a Nevada corporation (“YP”);
Rajesh Navar (the “Representative”),
in
his capacity as the Representative of the former shareholders of LiveDeal,
Inc.
a California corporation (“LiveDeal”);
and
Thomas Title & Escrow, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company, as escrow
agent (the “Escrow
Agent”).
RECITALS
A. YP,
LiveDeal, LD Acquisition Co., a California corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of YP (“Merger
Sub”);
Rajesh Navar and Arati Navar, Trustees of the Rajesh & Arati Navar Living
Trust dated 9/23/2002; and the Representative are parties to that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date hereof (the “Merger
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Merger Sub will merge with and into LiveDeal so that
LiveDeal will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer. Capitalized terms
used
herein, which are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Merger Agreement.
B. Pursuant
to Article 7 of the Merger Agreement, YP is to be indemnified in certain
respects.
C. The
parties desire to establish an escrow fund as collateral security for the
indemnification obligations under Article 7 of the Merger Agreement. The
Representative has been designated pursuant to the Merger Agreement to represent
all of the former shareholders of LiveDeal (the “Shareholders”)
and
act on their behalf for purposes of this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt
of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally
bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.
Concurrently
with the execution hereof, the Escrow Agent, in its capacity as the Escrow
Agent
pursuant to the Merger Agreement, has withheld 20% of the total number of
Merger
Shares and shares issuable pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Merger Agreement
(the
“Escrow
Fund”).
(a) The
Escrow Agent hereby agrees to act as escrow agent and to hold, safeguard
and
disburse the Escrow Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. It
shall
treat the Escrow Fund as a trust fund in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and not as the property of YP. Its duties hereunder shall cease
upon
its distribution of the entire Escrow Fund in accordance with this
Agreement.
(b) During
the period the Escrow Fund is held by the Escrow Agent (the “Escrow
Period”),
all
cash dividends or property (other than stock) distributed with respect to
the
Merger Shares included in the Escrow Fund (the “Escrow
Shares”)
shall
be promptly paid to the Shareholders, but all stock distributed with respect
to
the Escrow Shares, whether by way of stock dividends, stock splits or otherwise,
shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms
hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow
Shares”
shall
be deemed to include the stock distributed thereon, if any. For the avoidance
of
doubt, all taxes relating to any distribution or dividend with respect to
the
Escrow Shares shall be the responsibility of the Shareholders.
(c) The
Representative shall have the right, in his sole discretion, on behalf of
the
Shareholders, to direct the Escrow Agent in writing as to the exercise of
any
voting rights pertaining to the Escrow Shares, and the Escrow Agent shall
comply
with any such written instructions. In the absence of such instructions,
the
Escrow Agent shall not vote any of the Escrow Shares.
(d) During
the Escrow Period, no sale, transfer or other disposition may be made of
any or
all of the Escrow Shares except (i) by gift to a member of a Shareholder’s
immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Shareholder
or a
member of a Shareholder’s immediate family; (ii) by virtue of the laws of
descent and distribution upon death of any Shareholder; or (iii) pursuant
to a
qualified domestic relations order; provided, however, that such permissive
transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written
agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. During
the
Escrow Period, the Shareholders shall not pledge or grant a security interest
in
the Escrow Shares or grant a security interest in their rights under this
Agreement.
(e) YP
hereby
agrees to pay Escrow Agent for its services hereunder in accordance with
Escrow
Agent’s fee schedule as attached as Schedule I hereto as in effect from time to
time and to pay all expenses incurred by Escrow Agent in connection with
the
performance of its rights hereunder and otherwise in connection with the
preparation, operation, administration and enforcement of this Escrow Agreement,
including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, brokerage costs and related
expenses, incurred by Escrow Agent.
2. YP
may
make a claim for indemnification pursuant to Article 7 of the Merger Agreement
(“Indemnity
Claim”)
against the Escrow Fund by giving notice (a “Notice”)
to the
Representative (with a copy to the Escrow Agent) specifying (i) the covenant,
representation, warranty, agreement, undertaking or obligation contained
in the
Merger Agreement, which it asserts has been breached or otherwise entitles
YP to
indemnification; (ii) in reasonable detail, the nature and dollar amount
of any
indemnity claim YP may have by reason thereof under the Merger Agreement;
and
(iii) whether the Indemnity Claim results from a third-party claim against
YP.
YP also shall deliver to the Escrow Agent (with a copy to the Representative),
concurrently with its delivery to the Escrow Agent of the Notice, a
certification as to the date on which the Notice was delivered to the
Representative.
(a) If
the
Representative shall give a notice to YP (with a copy to the Escrow Agent)
(a
“Counter
Notice”),
within 30 days following the date of receipt (as specified in YP’s
certification) by the Representative of a copy of the Notice, disputing whether
the Indemnity Claim is indemnifiable under Article 7 of the Merger Agreement,
the parties shall attempt to resolve such dispute in accordance with the
dispute
resolution provisions under Section 9.3 of the Merger Agreement. If no Counter
Notice with respect to an Indemnity Claim is received by the Escrow Agent
from
the Representative within such 30-day period, the Indemnity Claim shall be
deemed to be an Established Claim (as defined in Section 2(b) below).
(b) As
used
in this Agreement, “Established
Claim”
means
any (i) Indemnity Claim deemed established pursuant to the penultimate or
the
last sentence of Section 2(a) above, (ii) Indemnity Claim resolved in favor
of
YP by settlement of the parties pursuant to Section 9.3(a) or 9.3(b) of the
Merger Agreement, in either case resulting in a dollar award to YP, (iii)
Indemnity Claim established by the decision of an arbitrator pursuant to
Section
9.3(c) of the Merger Agreement, resulting in a dollar award to YP, (iv) an
Indemnity Claim which has been sustained by a final determination (after
exhaustion of any appeals) of a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant
to
Section 9.3(d) of the Merger Agreement, resulting in a dollar award to YP;
or
(v) a third-party claim which has been settled or sustained by a final
determination (after exhaustion of any appeals) of a court of competent
jurisdiction pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Merger Agreement, resulting in
a
dollar award to YP.
(c) Promptly
after an Indemnity Claim becomes an Established Claim, YP shall deliver a
notice
to the Escrow Agent directing the Escrow Agent to pay to YP, and the Escrow
Agent shall pay to YP, an amount equal to the aggregate dollar amount of
the
Established Claim (or, if at such time there remains in the Escrow Fund less
than the full amount so payable, the full amount remaining in the Escrow
Fund).
(d) Payment
of an Established Claim shall be made solely in Escrow Shares, pro rata from
the
account maintained on behalf of each Shareholder. In such event, the Escrow
Agent shall promptly cause the appropriate number of such shares that have
an
aggregated value equal to the aggregated dollar amount of the Established
Claim,
rounded to the nearest whole number of such shares, to be transferred from
the
Escrow Fund to YP, or its order, to the extent of the number of Escrow Shares
remaining in the Escrow Fund. For purposes of the foregoing, the value of
the
shares shall be based upon the Closing Price (as that term is defined in
the
Merger Agreement). The parties hereto (other than the Escrow Agent) agree
that
the foregoing right to make payments of Established Claims in Escrow Shares
may
be made notwithstanding any other agreements restricting or limiting the
ability
of any Shareholder to sell any Escrow Shares or otherwise.
3. On
the
first Business Day after the first anniversary of the Closing Date, upon
written
instruction from YP, the Escrow Agent shall distribute and pay to each
Shareholder who has an interest in the Escrow Fund the Escrow Shares then
in
such Shareholder’s account in the Escrow Fund, unless at such time there are any
Indemnity Claims with respect to which Notices have been received but which
have
not been resolved pursuant to Section 2 hereof or in respect of which the
Escrow
Agent has not been notified of, and received a copy of, a final determination
(after exhaustion of any appeals) by a court of competent jurisdiction, as
the
case may be (in either case, “Pending
Claims”),
and
which, if resolved or finally determined in favor of YP, would result in
a
payment to YP, in which case the Escrow Agent shall retain, and the total
amount
of such distributions to such Shareholder shall be reduced by, the “Pending
Claims Reserve” (as hereafter defined). Thereafter, if any Pending Claim becomes
an Established Claim, the Escrow Agent shall promptly pay to YP an amount
in
respect thereof determined in accordance with paragraph 2(d) above, and to
each
Shareholder the amount by which the remaining portion of his account in the
Escrow Fund exceeds the then Pending Claims Reserve (determined as set forth
below). If any Pending Claim is resolved against YP, the Escrow Agent shall
promptly pay to each Shareholder the amount by which the remaining portion
of
his account in the Escrow Fund exceeds the then Pending Claims Reserve. Upon
resolution of all Pending Claims, the Escrow Agent shall pay to such Shareholder
the remaining portion of his account in the Escrow Fund. As used herein,
the
“Pending
Claims Reserve”
at
any
time shall mean an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate dollar amounts
claimed to be due with respect to all Pending Claims (as shown in the Notices
of
such Claims).
4. The
Escrow Agent shall cooperate in all respects with YP and the Representative
in
the calculation of any amounts determined to be payable to YP in accordance
with
this Agreement.
5.
(a) The
Escrow Agent undertakes to perform only such duties as are expressly set
forth
herein. It is understood that the Escrow Agent is not a trustee or fiduciary
and
is acting hereunder merely in a ministerial capacity.
(b) The
Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in
good
faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and may rely conclusively
and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate,
opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Escrow Agent),
statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to
its due
execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also
as to
the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is
believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented
by the
proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice
or
demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement
unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the
proper
party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected,
unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.
(c) The
Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility upon receipt of any notice requiring any
payment to YP pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or, if such notice
is
disputed by YP or the Representative, the settlement with respect to any
such
dispute, whether by virtue of joint resolution, mediation, arbitration or
determination of a court of competent jurisdiction, is to pay to YP the amount
specified in such notice, and the Escrow Agent shall have no duty to determine
the validity, authenticity or enforceability of any specification or
certification made in such notice.
(d) The
Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith
and
believed by it to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred
upon it
by this Agreement, and may consult with counsel of its own choice and shall
have
full and complete authorization and protection for any action taken or suffered
by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such
counsel.
(e) The
Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as
escrow
agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and
such
resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation
shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over
the
Escrow Fund to a successor escrow agent appointed jointly by YP and the
Representative. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60-day
period
following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may
deposit
the Escrow Fund with any court it reasonably deems appropriate.
(f)
In
the
event of a dispute between the parties as to the proper disposition of the
Escrow Fund, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled (but not required) to deliver
the Escrow Fund into the United States District Court for the District of
Arizona and, upon giving notice to YP and the Representative of such action,
shall thereupon be relieved of all further responsibility and
liability.
(g) The
Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by YP from and against
any
expenses, including counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the
Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving
any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates
to
this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow
Fund
held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the
receipt
by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement
of any
action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties
hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow
Agent,
in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader
in
an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow
Fund or
it may deposit the Escrow Fund with the clerk of any appropriate court or
it may
retain the Escrow Fund pending receipt of a final, non-appealable order of
a
court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom
and
under what circumstances the Escrow Fund are to be disbursed and
delivered.
(h) The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from YP for all
services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled
to
reimbursement from YP for all expenses paid or incurred by it in the
administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all
counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other
governmental charges. Escrow Agent may consult with its counsel or other
counsel
satisfactory to it concerning any question relating to its duties or
responsibilities hereunder or otherwise in connection herewith and shall
not be
liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith upon
the
advice of such counsel.
(i)
From
time
to time on and after the date hereof, YP and the Representative shall deliver
or
cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments
and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall
reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes
of
this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that
it is
protected in acting hereunder.
(j)
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from
liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own willful
misconduct.
(k) Escrow
Agent shall not have any duties, responsibilities or obligations except
those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be interpreted
into
this Escrow Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Escrow Agent: (i) shall not be subject to implied covenants, including but
not limited to the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and (ii) shall
not
have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers.
6. This
Agreement expressly sets forth all the duties of the Escrow Agent with respect
to any and all matters pertinent hereto. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound
by
the provisions of any agreement among the parties hereto except this Agreement
and shall have no duty to inquire into the terms and conditions of any agreement
made or entered into in connection with this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the Merger Agreement.
7. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives. This
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all disputes between
the
parties under or relating to this Agreement or the facts and circumstances
leading to its execution, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, without reference to conflict
of
laws principles that would require the application of any other law. This
Agreement cannot be amended, modified or terminated except by a writing signed
by YP, the Representative and the Escrow Agent.
8. YP
and
the Representative each hereby consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of
Arizona
and federal courts sitting in Maricopa County with respect to any claim or
controversy arising out of this Agreement, subject in all respects to the
dispute resolution provisions set forth in Section 2. Service of process
in any
action or proceeding brought against YP or the Representative in respect
of any
such claim or controversy may be made upon it by registered mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, at the address specified in Section 9.2
of
the Merger Agreement.
9. All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing
and
shall be deemed given if given by hand or delivered by nationally recognized
overnight carrier, or if given by telecopier and confirmed by mail (registered
or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested), to the respective
parties as follows:
(a) If
to YP
or the Representative, at the respective addresses as specified in Section
9.2
of the Merger Agreement.
(b) If
to the
Escrow Agent, to it at:
Thomas
Title & Escrow, LLC
14500
North Northsight Boulevard, Suite 133
Scottsdale,
Arizona 85260
Attn:
Escrow Department
Facsimile
No.: (480) 222.1117
Telephone
No.: (480) 222.1116
or
to
such other person or address as any of the parties hereto shall specify by
notice in writing to all the other parties hereto.
10. (a) If
this
Agreement requires a party to deliver any notice or other document, and such
party refuses to do so, the matter shall be resolved in the same manner as
provided in Section 9.3 of the Merger Agreement.
(b) All
notices delivered to the Escrow Agent shall refer to the provision of this
Agreement under which such notice is being delivered and, if applicable,
shall
clearly specify the aggregate dollar amount due and payable to YP.
(c) This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed to be an original instrument and all of which together shall constitute
a
single agreement.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
ESCROW
AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE
PAGE
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, YP, Escrow Agent and Representative have caused this Agreement
to be executed on the date first written above.
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YP:
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YP,
a Nevada corporation
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/s/
Daniel L. Coury, Sr. |
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By:
Daniel L. Coury, Sr.
Its:
Chief Executive Officer
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ESCROW
AGENT:
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Thomas
Title & Escrow
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/s/
Diane F. Carpenter |
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By:
Diane F. Carpenter
Its:
Vice President
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REPRESENTATIVE:
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/s/
Rajesh
Navar |
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Rajesh
Navar
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Schedule
I
Escrow
Agent Fees
Extra
fees apply for custom reports according to Escrow Agent’s fee schedule.