Document:

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the _____ day of _______________, 201_, by and between Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and _________________________ (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as a director or officer of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of his or her service; and

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to continue to serve as such director or officer, the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.           Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)        “Applicable Legal Rate” means a fixed rate of interest equal to the applicable federal rate for mid-term debt instruments as of the day that it is determined that Indemnitee must repay any advanced expenses.

 

(b)       “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not individuals (A) who were directors as of the Effective Date or (B) whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved.

  

 

  

(c)        “Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company.  As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (i) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (ii) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

(d)        “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)        “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

(f)        “Expenses” means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding.  Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium for, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

(g)        “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

  

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(h)        “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee.  If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding.

 

Section 2.           Services by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee will serve as a director or officer of the Company.  However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any other entity) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 3.           General.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5, the Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) as otherwise permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5, the rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).

 

Section 4.           Standard for Indemnification.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5, if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established by clear and convincing evidence that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 5.           Certain Limits on Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:

 

(a)        indemnification for any loss or liability unless all of the following conditions are met:  (i) Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company; (ii) Indemnitee was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company; (iii) such loss or liability was not the result of negligence or misconduct, or, if Indemnitee is an independent director, gross negligence or willful misconduct; and (iv) such indemnification is recoverable only out of the Company’s net assets and not from the Company’s stockholders;

  

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(b)        indemnification for any loss or liability arising from an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws unless one or more of the following conditions are met:  (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to Indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to Indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against Indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws;

 

(c)        indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable to the Company;

 

(d)        indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status; or

 

(e)        indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee, unless:  (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide otherwise.

 

Section 6.           Court-Ordered Indemnification.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5(a) and (b), a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances:

 

(a)        if such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or

 

(b)        if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper.  However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Expenses.

  

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Section 7.           Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.  For purposes of this Section 7, and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 8.           Advance of Expenses for an Indemnitee.  If, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with (a) such Proceeding which is initiated by a third party who is not a stockholder of the Company, or (b) such Proceeding which is initiated by a stockholder of the Company acting in his or her capacity as such and for which a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement, and which relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company, within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to reimburse the portion of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee, together with the Applicable Legal Rate of interest thereon, relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which it shall ultimately be established, by clear and convincing evidence, that the standard of conduct has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 7 of this Agreement.  To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.  The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post security therefor.

  

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Section 9.           Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other Participant.  Subject to the limitations in Section 5, to the extent that Indemnitee is or may be, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting any such advance or indemnification from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee.

 

Section 10.         Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.

 

(a)        To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.  Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion.  The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)        Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company.  If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b).  Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

  

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(c)        The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed.

 

Section 11.         Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)        In making any determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

(b)        The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

 

(c)        The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.         Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)        If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any other section of this Agreement or the charter or Bylaws of the Company is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 7 of this Agreement.  Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

  

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(b)        In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be.  If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)        If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification.

 

(d)        In the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in such judicial adjudication or arbitration.  If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.

 

(e)        Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of entitlement to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 13.         Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.

 

(a)        Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding.  The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced.

  

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(b)        Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee.  This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this Agreement.

 

(c)        Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company.  In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.

  

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Section 14.         Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation.

 

(a)        The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the charter or Bylaws of the Company, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise.  Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)        In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

Section 15.         Insurance.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status.  Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in the previous sentence.  The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies.  If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.

 

Section 16.         Coordination of Payments.  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 17.         Reports to Stockholders.  To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.

  

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Section 18.         Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect.

 

(a)        This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and (ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement).

 

(b)        The indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

 

(c)        The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

(d)        The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm.  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled.  Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith.  The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

  

-11-

  

Section 19.         Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:  (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 20.         Identical Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 21.         Headings.  The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

Section 22.         Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 23.         Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a)        If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(b)        If to the Company, to:

 

Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.

805 Third Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn:  Bruce D. Batkin

or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

  

-12-

  

Section 24.         Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

  

-13-

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

	  	TERRA SECURED INCOME TRUST, INC.
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	
By: 

	  
	  	  	  	
Name:

	  	  	  	
Title:

	  	  	  	  
	  	INDEMNITEE
	  	  	  	  
	 	 	 	 
	  	  	
Name:

	  	  	
Address:

  

-14-

  

EXHIBIT A

 

AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED

 

To:  The Board of Directors of _________________________

Re:  Affirmation and Undertaking

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated the _____ day of _______________, 2010, by and between _________________________, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “Proceeding”).

 

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.

 

I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity.  I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as a director or officer of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.

 

In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’ fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses, together with the Applicable Legal Rate of interest thereon, relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this _____ day of _______________, 20____.

	  	  
	  	
Name:Unassociated Document

EXHIBIT 10.3

 

FORM OF ESCROW AGREEMENT

THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this ___ day of _______________, 2011 by and among Terra Securities, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Dealer Manager”), Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (the “Escrow Agent”).

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-11 (File No.____________________), containing a preliminary prospectus for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.  The registration statement and any amendments thereto are herein referred to as the “Registration Statement.”  Any prospectus relating to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto are herein referred to as the “Prospectus.”

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to offer and sell, on a best efforts basis through the Dealer Manager and a group of selected dealers (each a “Selected Dealer,” and collectively the “Selected Dealers”) and directly to a group of selected investment advisors (each a “Selected Investment Advisor”, collectively the “Select Investment Advisors”) up to $500,000,000 (excluding the shares of its common stock that have initially been designated to be offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan) of its shares of common stock (the “Shares”), to investors pursuant to the Company’s Prospectus (the “Offering”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed that the subscription price paid by subscribers for shares will be promptly refunded to such subscribers, together with any interest or other income earned thereon, if at least $3,000,000 of gross offering proceeds from at least 100 persons who are not affiliated with each other, the Company, or Terra Capital Advisors II, LLC (the “Minimum Offering”) has not been raised within one year from the date the Registration Statement becomes effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Closing Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Dealer Manager and the Company, in compliance with the terms of the Offering and Rule 15c2-4 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), desire to establish an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”), as further described herein in which funds received from subscribers will, except as otherwise specified herein, be deposited into an interest-bearing account entitled “Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc. Subscription Account” and the Company desires that UMB Bank, N.A. act as escrow agent to the Escrow Account and Escrow Agent is willing to act in such capacity.

 

WHEREAS, in order to subscribe for Shares during the Escrow Period (as defined below), a subscriber must deliver an executed subscription agreement along with the full amount of its subscription: (i) by check made payable to the order of UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent for Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc., in U.S. dollars or (ii) by wire transfer of immediately available funds or Automated ClearingHouse (ACH) in U.S. dollars, made payable as provided in Exhibit B.

  

 

  

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties covenant and agree as follows:

 

1. Establishment of Escrow Account; Escrow Period. On or prior to the commencement of the    Offering, the Company shall establish the Escrow Account with the Escrow Agent, which shall be entitled “UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent for Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.”  This Agreement shall be effective on the date on which the Registration Statement becomes effective.  Except as otherwise set forth herein for the Pennsylvania Subscribers, the escrow period shall commence upon the effectiveness of this Agreement and shall continue until the earlier of (i) the date upon which the Escrow Agent receives confirmation from the Company and the Dealer Manager that the Company has raised the Minimum Offering, (ii) the Closing Date, or (iii) the termination of the Offering by the Company prior to the receipt of the Minimum Offering (the “Escrow Period”).

 

2. Operation of the Escrow.

(a) Deposits in the Escrow Account. During the Escrow Period, persons subscribing to purchase Shares will be instructed by the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Selected Dealers to make checks for subscriptions payable to the order of “UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent for Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.”  When a Selected Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures are conducted at the site at which the subscription agreement and check were initially received by the Selected Dealer from the subscriber, the Selected Dealer shall transmit the subscription agreement and check to the Escrow Agent by the end of the next business day following receipt of the check and subscription agreement.  When, pursuant to the Selected Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, the Selected Dealer’s final internal supervisory procedures are conducted at a different location (the “Final Review Office”), the Selected Dealer shall transmit the check and subscription agreement to the Final Review Office by the end of the next business day following the Selected Dealer’s receipt of the subscription agreement and check.  The Final Review Office will, by the end of the next business day following its receipt of the subscription agreement and check, forward both the subscription agreement and check to the Escrow Agent.  If any subscription agreement solicited by the Selected Dealer is rejected by the Dealer Manager or the Company, then the subscription agreement and check will be returned to the rejected subscriber within ten business days from the date of rejection.  The Escrow Agent shall have no liability or responsibility regarding a Selected Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures.  Completed subscription agreements and checks in payment for the purchase price shall be remitted to the Escrow Agent’s address in Exhibit B designated for the receipt of such agreements and funds, and wires or Automated ClearingHouse (ACH) payments shall be transmitted directly to the Escrow Account. Subscription agreements received by the Escrow Agent shall be scanned and emailed by the Escrow Agent to ACS Securities Services, Inc.  the "Transfer Agent") within 24 hours of receipt by the Escrow Agent.  The Escrow Agent shall also deliver the original subscription agreements to the Transfer Agent.  Deposits shall be held in the Escrow Account until such funds are disbursed in accordance with this Agreement. Prior to disbursement of the funds deposited in the Escrow Account (the "Escrowed Funds"), such funds shall not be subject to claims by creditors of the Company or any of its affiliates. If any of the instruments of payment are returned to the Escrow Agent for nonpayment prior to receipt of the Break Escrow Affidavit (as described below), the Escrow Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing via mail, email or facsimile of such nonpayment, and the Escrow Agent is authorized to debit the Escrow Account in the amount of such returned payment and the Escrow Agent shall delete the appropriate account from the records maintained by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent will maintain a written account of each sale, which account shall set forth, among other things, the following information: (i) the subscriber’s name and address, (ii) the subscriber’s social security number or tax identification number, (iii) the number of Shares purchased by such subscriber, (iv) the amount paid by such subscriber for such Shares and (v) the state of residence. During the Escrow Period, neither the Company nor the Dealer Manager will be entitled to any principal funds received into the Escrow Account.

  

- 2 -

  

 

(b) Distribution of the Funds in the Escrow Account to Subscribers. If at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, the Minimum Offering has been raised, then upon the happening of such event, the funds in the Escrow Account shall remain in the Escrow Account until the Escrow Agent receives a Break Escrow Affidavit (as defined below) provided by the Company and the Dealer Manager instructing the Escrow Agent to deliver such funds as the Company shall direct (the “Initial Closing”). An affidavit or certification from an officer of the Company and an officer of the Dealer Manager to the Escrow Agent stating that at least the Minimum Offering has been timely raised, shall constitute sufficient evidence for the purpose of this Agreement that such event has occurred (the “Break Escrow Affidavit”). The Affidavit shall indicate (i) the date on which the Minimum Offering was raised and (ii) the actual total number of Shares sold as of such date.

 

(c) If the Escrow Agent has not received a Break Escrow Affidavit on or prior to the Closing Date, the Escrow Agent shall promptly return the funds in the Escrow Account, together with any accrued and unpaid interest or income earned thereon, to each respective subscriber, and the Escrow Agent shall promptly create and dispatch checks and wires drawn on the Escrow Account to return the full amount of the funds deposited in the Escrow Account, together with their pro-rata share of any accrued and unpaid interest or income earned thereon, to the respective subscribers, and the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Dealer Manager of its distribution of the funds.  The subscription payments returned to each subscriber shall be free and clear of any and all claims of the Company or any of its creditors.

 

(d) At the Initial Closing, upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of the Break Escrow Affidavit and instructions signed by the Dealer Manager and the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof, the Escrow Agent shall release to the Company the Escrowed Funds in accordance with such instructions.  The Company shall give the Escrow Agent one business day oral notification of the contents of such instructions.  Accrued and unpaid interest and any income earned on such Escrowed Funds shall be paid pursuant to Section 3 below.

  

- 3 -

  

 

3.  Distribution of Escrow Interest. As soon as practicable, but no more than 30 days after the release of the funds to the Company pursuant to the conditions in Section 2 hereof, the Escrow Agent shall calculate and distribute to each susbscriber whose subscription funds were held in the Escrow Account its pro-rata share of accrued and unpaid interest and any income earned on such Escrowed Funds based on the length of time its subscription funds have been held in the Escrow Account.

 

4. Funds in the Escrow Account. Upon receipt of funds from subscribers, the Escrow Agent shall hold such funds in escrow pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  All funds in the Escrow Account shall at all times be placed in “Short-term Investments” (as defined below) and the Escrow Agent agrees to reinvest all earnings and interest derived therefrom in any of the Short-term Investments specified below.

"Short-term Investments" include short-term obligations of, or short-term obligations guaranteed by, the United States government or bank money-market funds comprised of these obligations or certificates of deposit of national or state banks that have deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, including certificates of deposit of any bank acting as a depository or custodian for any such funds, including, without limitation, such certificates or instruments of the Escrow Agent, all of which instruments must be capable of being readily sold or otherwise disposed of for cash on or before the earlier of (i) the date that the Minimum Amount is achieved, or (ii) the Closing Date, without any dissipation of the offering proceeds invested.

The following securities are not permissible investments:

(a)      corporate equity or debt securities;

(b)      repurchase agreements;

(c)      bankers' acceptances;

(d)      commercial paper;

(e)      municipal securities; and

(f)      money market funds other than bank money market accounts.

 

The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to sell or redeem any such investment as necessary to make any distributions required under this Agreement and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss resulting from any such sale or redemption.

 

Income, if any, resulting from the investment of the funds in the Escrow Account shall be distributed according to this Agreement.

 

The Escrow Agent shall provide to the Company monthly statements (or more frequently as reasonably requested by the Company) on the account balance in the Escrow Account and the activity in such accounts since the last report.

 

5.  Tax Reporting. The Escrow Agent shall provide subscribers with applicable Form 1099 for amounts paid pursuant to Section 3 above in a timely manner.

  

- 4 -

  

 

6. Duties of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent is not a party to, or bound by, any other agreement among the other parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and the Escrow Agent’s duties shall be determined solely by reference to this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty to enforce any obligation of any person, other than as provided herein. The Escrow Agent shall be under no liability to anyone by reason of any failure on the part of any party hereto or any maker, endorser or other signatory of any document or any other person to perform such person’s obligations under any such document.

 

7. Liability of the Escrow Agent; Indemnification. The Escrow Agent acts hereunder as a depository only. The Escrow Agent is not responsible or liable in any manner for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or validity of this Agreement or with respect to the form of execution of the same. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, 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 reasonably believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person(s). The Escrow Agent shall not be held liable for any error in judgment made in good faith by an officer or employee of the Escrow Agent unless it shall be proved that the Escrow Agent was grossly negligent or reckless in ascertaining the pertinent facts or acted intentionally in bad faith. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice of demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, 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 give its prior written consent thereto.

 

The Escrow Agent may consult legal counsel and shall exercise reasonable care in the selection of such counsel, in the event of any dispute or question as to the construction of any provisions hereof or its duties hereunder, and it shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with the reasonable opinion or instructions of such counsel.

 

The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible, may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Company, for the sufficiency or accuracy of the form of, or the execution, validity, value or genuineness of any document or property received, held or delivered by it hereunder, or of the signature or endorsement thereon, or for any description therein; nor shall the Escrow Agent be responsible or liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the persons executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver any document, property or this Agreement.

 

In the event that the Escrow Agent shall become involved in any arbitration or litigation relating to the funds in the Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent is authorized to comply with any decision reached through such arbitration or litigation.

  

- 5 -

  

 

The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection herewith without gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct on the part of the Escrow Agent, including without limitation, reasonable and documented legal or other fees arising out of or in connection with its entering into this Agreement and carrying out its duties hereunder, including without limitation the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises or any action for interpleader. The Escrow Agent will not be under any obligation to institute or defend any action, suit, or legal proceeding in connection herewith, unless first indemnified and held harmless to its satisfaction in accordance with the foregoing, except that the Escrow Agent shall not be indemnified against any loss, liability or expense arising out of its own gross negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct. Such indemnity shall survive the termination or discharge of this Agreement or resignation of the Escrow Agent.

 

8. The Escrow Agent’s Fee. Escrow Agent shall be entitled to fees and expenses for its regular services as Escrow Agent as set forth in Exhibit A. Additionally, Escrow Agent is entitled to reasonable fees for extraordinary services and reimbursement of any reasonable out of pocket and extraordinary costs and expenses related to its obligations as Escrow Agent under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees. All of the Escrow Agent’s compensation, costs and expenses shall be paid by the Company.

 

9. Security Interests. No party to this Agreement shall grant a security interest in any monies or other property deposited with the Escrow Agent under this Agreement, or otherwise create a lien, encumbrance or other claim against such monies or borrow against the same.

 

10. Dispute. In the event of any disagreement between the undersigned or the person or persons named in the instructions contained in this Agreement, or any other person, resulting in adverse claims and demands being made in connection with or for any papers, money or property involved herein, or affected hereby, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse to comply with any demand or claim, as long as such disagreement shall continue, and in so refusing to make any delivery or other disposition of any money, papers or property involved or affected hereby, the Escrow Agent shall not be or become liable to the undersigned or to any person named in such instructions for its refusal to comply with such conflicting or adverse demands, and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse and refrain to act until: (a) the rights of the adverse claimants shall have been fully and finally adjudicated in a Court assuming and having jurisdiction of the parties and money, papers and property involved herein or affected hereby, or (b) all differences shall have been adjusted by agreement and the Escrow Agent shall have been notified thereof in writing, signed by all the interested parties.

 

11. Resignation of Escrow Agent. Escrow Agent may resign or be removed, at any time, for any reason, by written notice of its resignation or removal to the proper parties at their respective addresses as set forth herein, at least 60 days before the date specified for such resignation or removal to take effect.  Upon the effective date of such resignation or removal:

 

(a) all cash and other payments and all other property then held by the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be delivered by it to such successor escrow agent as may be designated in writing by the Company, whereupon the Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder shall cease and terminate;

 

(b) if no such successor escrow agent has been designated by such date, all obligations of the Escrow Agent hereunder shall, nevertheless, cease and terminate, and the Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility thereafter shall be to keep all property then held by it and to deliver the same to a person designated in writing by the Company or in accordance with the directions of a final order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

  

- 6 -

  

 

(c) further, if no such successor escrow agent has been designated by such date, the Escrow Agent may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor agent; further the Escrow Agent may pay to such court-appointed successor agent all monies and property deposited with Escrow Agent under this Agreement.

 

12. Notices. All notices, demands and requests required or permitted to be given under the provisions hereof must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given, upon receipt, if (i) personally delivered, (ii) sent by telecopy and confirmed by phone or (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, or by overnight courier with signature required, delivered to the addresses set forth below, or to such other address as a party shall have designated by notice in writing to the other parties in the manner provided by this paragraph:

	
(1) If to Company:

	  	
Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.

	  	  	
805 Third Avenue, 8th Floor

	  	  	
New York, New York 10022

	  	  	
Phone: 212-753-5100

	  	  	
Fax:  212-753-5102

	  	  	  
	
(2) If to the Escrow Agent:

	  	
UMB Bank, N.A.

	  	  	
1010 Grand Blvd., 4th Floor

	  	  	
Mail Stop: 1020409

	  	  	
Kansas City, Missouri 64106

	  	  	
Attention: Lara Stevens,

	  	  	
Corporate Trust

	  	  	
Telephone: (816) 860-3017

	  	  	
Facsimile: (816) 860-3029

	  	  	  
	
(3) If to Dealer Manager:

	  	
Terra Securities, LLC

	  	  	
805 Third Avenue, 8th Floor

	  	  	
New York, New York 10022

	  	
  

	
Facsimile: (212) 753-5102

 

13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

14. Binding Effect; Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the permitted successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

15. Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated at any time by a writing executed by the Dealer Manager, the Company and the Escrow Agent.

 

16. Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Escrow Agent without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Copies, telecopies, facsimiles, electronic files and other reproductions of original executed documents shall be deemed to be authentic and valid counterparts of such original documents for all purposes, including the filing of any claim, action or suit in the appropriate court of law.

  

- 7 -

  

 

18. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, and shall not affect in any way, the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

19. Severability. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings of the parties in connection herewith. No failure or delay of the Escrow Agent in exercising any right, power or remedy may be, or may be deemed to be, a waiver thereof; nor may any single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or remedy. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement, shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.

 

20. Earnings Allocation; Tax Matters; Patriot Act Compliance; OFAC Search Duties. The Company or its agent shall be responsible for all tax reporting under this Agreement. The Company shall provide to Escrow Agent upon the execution of this Agreement any documentation requested and any information reasonably requested by the Escrow Agent to comply with the USA Patriot Act of 2001, as amended from time to time. The Escrow Agent, or its agent, shall complete an OFAC search, in compliance with its policy and procedures, of each subscription check in an amount equal to or greater than $250,000 and shall inform the Company if such subscription check fails the OFAC search.

 

21. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall not be construed against the party preparing it, and shall be construed without regard to the identity of the person who drafted it or the party who caused it to be drafted and shall be construed as if all parties had jointly prepared this Agreement and it shall be deemed their joint work product, and each and every provision of this Agreement shall be construed as though all of the parties hereto participated equally in the drafting hereof; and any uncertainty or ambiguity shall not be interpreted against any one party. As a result of the foregoing, any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party shall not be applicable.

 

22. Termination of the Escrow Agreement. This Agreement, except for Sections 7 and 11 hereof, which shall continue in effect, shall terminate upon written notice from the Company to the Escrow Agent.   Unless otherwise provided, final termination of this Agreement shall occur on the date that all funds held in the Escrow Account are distributed either (a) to the Company or to subscribers and the Company has informed the Escrow Agent in writing to close the Escrow Account or (b) to a successor escrow agent upon written instructions from the Company.

23.  Relationship of Parties.  The Escrow Agent is not affiliated with either the Dealer Manager or the Company, and this Agreement does not create any partnership or joint venture among them.  This Agreement may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the Escrow Agent consents to being named in any such Registration Statement (including exhibits and amendments thereto) in connection with the Offering.

  

- 8 -

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written hereinabove:

 

	  	
DEALER MANAGER:

	  	  
	  	
Terra Securities, LLC

	  	  
	  	
By:

	  
	  	
Name:

	  	
Title:

	  	
COMPANY:

	  	  
	  	
Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.

	  	  
	  	
By:

	  
	  	
Name:

	  	
Title:

	  	
ESCROW AGENT:

	 	 
	  	
UMB BANK, N.A.

	  	  
	  	
By:

	  
	  	
Name:

	  	
Title:

  

- 9 -

  

EXHIBIT A

 

ESCROW FEES AND EXPENSES

 

	
Acceptance Fee

	 	 	 
	
Review escrow agreement and establish account

	 	$	3,000	 
	  	 	 	 	 
	
Annual Fee

	 	 	 	 
	
Maintain account

	 	$	3,000	 
	  	 	 	 	 
	
Transaction Fees

	 	 	 	 
	
(a) per outgoing wire transfer

	 	$	35.00	 
	
(b) per Form 1099 (Int., B or Misc.)

	 	$	5.00	 
	
(b) overnight Fed Ex

	 	$	16.50	 
	
(d) per investment purchase, sale or settlement

	 	$	35.00	*

 

	
*

	
Excludes money market mutual fund transactions

 

Fees specified are for the regular, routine services contemplated by the Escrow Agreement, and any additional or extraordinary services, including, but not limited to disbursements involving a dispute or arbitration, or administration while a dispute, controversy or adverse claim is in existence, will be charged based upon time required at the then standard hourly rate. In addition to the specified fees, all expenses related to the administration of the Escrow Agreement (other than normal overhead expenses of the regular staff) such as, but not limited to, travel, postage, shipping, courier, telephone, facsimile, supplies, legal fees, accounting fees, etc., will be reimbursable. Acceptance and first year annual fees will be payable at the initiation of the escrow and annual fees will be payable in advance thereafter. Other fees and expenses will be billed as incurred.

  

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EXHIBIT B

 

Payment Instructions

Escrow Agent Wiring Instructions:

UMB Bank, N.A.

ABA Routing Number: 101000695

Account Number: 9800006823

FFC: ___________

Attn: Lara Stevens

Checks Payable Information:

UMB Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent for Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.

Attention: Lara Stevens, Corporate Trust

1010 Grand Boulevard, 4th Floor

M/S 1020409

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Company Wire Instructions:

Terra Secured Income Trust, Inc.

c/o ___________________

805 Third Avenue, 8th Floor

New York, New York 10022

ABA Routing Number: __________________

Account Number: ___________________

  

- 11 -

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