UNIT PURCHASE OPTION

EX-4.4 4 w19542a4exv4w4.htm EX-4.4 exv4w4

Exhibit 4.4

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE OPTION EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE OPTION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) FERRIS, BAKER WATTS, INCORPORATED (“FBW”) OR AN UNDERWRITER OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF FBW OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER.

THIS PURCHASE OPTION IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO THE LATER OF THE CONSUMMATION BY ENERGY SERVICES ACQUISITION CORP. (“COMPANY”) OF A MERGER, CAPITAL STOCK EXCHANGE, ASSET ACQUISITION OR OTHER SIMILAR BUSINESS COMBINATION (“BUSINESS COMBINATION”) (AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN THE COMPANY’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT (DEFINED HEREIN)) OR , 2007. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY LOCAL TIME, , 2011.

FOR THE PURCHASE OF

450,000 UNITS

ENERGY SERVICES ACQUISITION CORP.

1. Purchase Option.

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of $100.00 duly paid by or on behalf of Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated (“Holder”), as registered owner of this Purchase Option, to Acquisition Corp. (“Company”), Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time upon the later of the consummation of a Business Combination or , 2007 (“Commencement Date”), and at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, , 2011 (“Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to Four Hundred Fifty Thousand (450,000) units (“Units”) of the Company, each Unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and two warrants (“Warrant(s)”) expiring four years from the effective date (“Effective Date”) of the registration statement (“Registration Statement”) pursuant to which Units are offered for sale to the public (“Offering”). Each Warrant is the same as the warrants included in the Units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement (“Public Warrants”). If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Option may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate the Purchase Option. This Purchase Option is initially exercisable at $7.50 per Unit so purchased; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Option, including the exercise price per Unit and the number of Units (and shares of Common Stock and Warrants) to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.

2. Exercise.

2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Option, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price for the Units being purchased payable in cash or by certified check or official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, on the Expiration Date this Purchase Option shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire. In no event shall the Company be obligated to settle the Purchase

Option, in whole or in part, for cash. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver registered Units or shares of Common Stock with regard to the exercise of the Purchase Option in the absence of a current registration statement relating to the Units or the Warrants issuable thereunder. Notwithstanding any language to the contrary herein, the Purchase Option, as well as any and all Units, and the Warrants issuable thereunder, can expire unexercised or unredeemed.

2.2 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Option shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”):

“The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) or applicable state law. The securities may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state law.”

2.3 Cashless Exercise.

2.3.1 Determination of Amount. In lieu of the payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Units for which this Purchase Option is exercisable and in lieu of being entitled to receive Units in the manner required by Section 2.1, the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to convert any exercisable but unexercised portion of this Purchase Option into Units (“Conversion Right”) as follows: upon exercise of the Conversion Right, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (without payment by the Holder of any of the Exercise Price in cash) that number of Units equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the “Value” (as defined below) of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted by (y) the “Current Market Price” (as defined below). The “Value” of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted shall equal the remainder derived from subtracting (a) (i) the Exercise Price of a Unit multiplied by (ii) the number of Units underlying the portion of this Purchase Option being converted from (b) the Current Market Price of a Unit multiplied by the number of Units underlying the portion of the Purchase Option being converted.

The “Current Market Price” of a Unit at any date shall mean: (i) if the Units are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor such as the Bulletin Board Exchange), the average closing price of a Unit for the thirty (30) trading days immediately preceding the date of determination of the Current Market Price in the principal trading market for the Units as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or the NASD, as the case may be; (ii) if the Units are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor such as the Bulletin Board Exchange), but is traded in the residual over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for a Unit on the last trading day preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Units cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such price as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine, in good faith.

2.3.2 Mechanics of Cashless Exercise. The Cashless Exercise Right may be exercised by the Holder on any business day on or after the Commencement Date and not later than the Expiration Date by delivering the Purchase Option with the duly executed exercise form attached hereto with the cashless exercise section completed to the Company, exercising the Cashless Exercise Right and specifying the total number of Units the Holder will purchase pursuant to such Cashless Exercise Right.

3. Transfer.

3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Option, by its acceptance hereof, agrees that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Option for a period of one year following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) FBW or an underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of FBW or of any such underwriter or selected dealer. On and after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Option and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five business days transfer

this Purchase Option on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option or Purchase Options of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Units purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Option shall not be transferred unless and until (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C. shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of an exemption), or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

4. New Purchase Options to be Issued.

4.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Option may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Option for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Option of like tenor to this Purchase Option in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Units purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Option has not been exercised or assigned.

4.2 Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Option and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Option executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

5. Intentionally Omitted.

6. Adjustments.

6.1 Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities. The Exercise Price and the number of Units underlying the Purchase Option shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:

6.1.1 Stock Dividends — Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.4 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares. In such case, the number of shares of Common Stock, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. For example, if the Company declares a two-for-one stock dividend and at the time of such dividend this Purchase Option is for the purchase of one Unit at $7.50 per whole Unit (each Warrant underlying the Units is exercisable for $6.25 per share), upon effectiveness of the dividend, this Purchase Option will be adjusted to allow for the purchase of one Unit at $7.50 per Unit, each Unit entitling the holder to receive two shares of Common Stock and four Warrants (each Warrant exercisable for $3.125 per share).

6.1.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares. In such case, the number of shares of Common Stock, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

6.1.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock, or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Option shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Option) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Option and the underlying Warrants immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

6.1.4 Changes in Form of Purchase Option. This form of Purchase Option need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section, and Purchase Options issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Units as are stated in the Purchase Options initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Options reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof.

6.2 [Intentionally Omitted]

6.3 Substitute Purchase Option. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Common Stock), the corporation formed by such consolidation or merger shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Option providing that the holder of each Purchase Option then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Option) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Option, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or merger, by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company for which such Purchase Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided in Section 6. The above provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or mergers.

6.4 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of shares of Common Stock or Warrants upon the exercise of the Purchase Option, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up to the nearest whole number of Warrants, shares of Common Stock or other securities, properties or rights.

7. Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Options or the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option, such number of shares of Common Stock or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Options and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, all shares of Common Stock and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the Warrants underlying the Purchase Options and payment of the respective Warrant exercise price therefor, all shares of Common Stock and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. As long as the Purchase Options shall be

outstanding, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause all (i) Units and shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Options, (ii) Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Options and (iii) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all securities exchanges (or, if applicable on the Nasdaq National Market, SmallCap Market, OTC Bulletin Board or any successor trading market) on which the Units, the Common Stock or the Public Warrants issued to the public in connection herewith may then be listed and/or quoted.

8. Certain Notice Requirements.

8.1 Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent as a stockholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Options and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other stockholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the stockholders.

8.2 Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, or (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or merger) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.

8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price and Notice of Lack of Current Registration Statement. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, the Company shall promptly send notice to the registered holder of its Warrants upon its determination that it is unable to maintain a current registration statement relating to the Units or the Warrants issuable thereunder.

8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Option shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Option, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to the following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:

Energy Services Acquisition Corp.
2450 First Avenue
Huntington, West Virginia 25703
Attn: Marshall T. Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer

9. Miscellaneous.

9.1 Amendments. The Company and FBW may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Option without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and FBW may deem

necessary or desirable and that the Company and FBW deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.

9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Option.

9.3 Entire Agreement. This Purchase Option (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Option) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

9.4 Binding Effect. This Purchase Option shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Option or any provisions herein contained.

9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Purchase Option shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to conflict of laws. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Option shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of Maryland or of the United States of America for the District of Maryland, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

9.6 Waiver, Etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Option or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Option. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non- fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or non-compliance.

9.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Purchase Option may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto.

9.8 Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Option by Holder, if the Company and FBW enter into an agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Options will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Option to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ___day of , 2006.


		ENERGY SERVICES ACQUISITION CORP.

		By:

		Name: Jack M. Reynolds
		Title: President


		Form to be used to exercise Purchase Option:

		Energy Services Acquisition Corp.




		Date: , 200___

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise all or a portion of the within Purchase Option and to purchase Units of Energy Services Acquisition Corp. and hereby makes payment of $ (at the rate of $ per Unit) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Common Stock and Warrants as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase Units purchasable under the within Purchase Option by surrender of the unexercised portion of the attached Purchase Option (with a “Value” based of $ based on a “Market Price” of $ ). Please issue the securities comprising the Units as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.



		NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).


		INSTRUCTIONS		FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

		Name
				(Print in Block Letters)
		Address

Form to be used to assign Purchase Option:

ASSIGNMENT

(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Option):

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase Units of Energy Services Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) evidenced by the within Purchase Option and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

Dated: , 200



		Signature

		NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

Signature(s) Guaranteed: