UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between HIGHBURY FINANCIAL INC. and THINKEQUITY PARTNERS LLC Dated: January , 2006 HIGHBURY FINANCIAL INC. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated: January   , 2006

 

 

 

 

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

January   , 2006

ThinkEquity Partners LLC

As Representative of the several Underwriters

31 West 52^nd Street, 17^th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Dear Sirs:

 

The undersigned, Highbury Financial Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with ThinkEquity Partners LLC (being referred to herein variously as “you,” “TEP” or the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule I hereto for which TEP is acting as Representative (the Representative and the other Underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:

 

1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1 Firm Securities.

 

1.1.1 Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 6,733,333 units (“Firm Units”) of the Company, at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $5.69 per Firm Unit. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule I attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $5.69 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units are to be offered initially to the public (“Offering”) at the offering price of $6.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and two warrants (“Warrant(s)”). The shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Firm Units will not be separately transferable until the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration of the Underwriter’s Over-allotment Option (as defined in Section 1.2.1 hereof) or (ii) 20 days after the exercise in full by the Underwriters of the Over-allotment Option, but in no event will separate trading occur before an audited balance sheet has been prepared reflecting receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) with a Current Report on Form 8-K. Each Warrant entitles its holder to exercise it to purchase one share of Common Stock for $5.00 during the period commencing on the later of the consummation by the Company of its “Business Combination” or one year from the effective date (“Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 3.1.1 hereof) and terminating on the four-year anniversary of the Effective Date. “Business Combination” shall mean the Company acquiring, or acquiring control of, through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase or other similar business combination, one or more financial services businesses (as described more fully in the Registration Statement).

 

1.1.2 Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 1:00 P.M., New York time, on the third business day following the date of this Agreement (or the fourth business day following the date of this Agreement, if this Agreement is executed after 4:30 p.m., New York time) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is called the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable as follows: $36,542,665 of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units shall be deposited in the trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the public stockholders and the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement (“Trust Fund”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (as defined in Section 3.22 hereof) and the remaining proceeds shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery, at least one full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units.

 

1.2 Over-Allotment Option.

 

1.2.1 Option Units. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Underwriters are hereby granted, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase up to an additional 1,010,000 units from the Company (“Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 1,010,000 units are hereinafter referred to as “Option Units.” The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option Units will be the same price per Option Unit as the price per Firm Unit set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof.

 

1.2.2 Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company by the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five full business days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

1.2.3 Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable to the Trust Fund at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company upon delivery to you of certificates representing such securities (or through the facilities of DTC). The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests not less than two full business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full business day prior to such Closing Date.

 

1.3 Private Placement to the Initial Stockholders. The Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the Offering (“Initial Stockholders”) purchased from the Company pursuant to the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement (as defned in Section 3.23 hereof) an aggregate of 166,667 units identical to the Units (“Placement Units”) at a purchase price of $6.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement that occurred immediately prior to the entering into of this agreement (“Private Placement”). The Placement Units, the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Placement Units (“Placement Warrants”) and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.”

 

1.4 Representative’s Purchase Option.

 

1.4.1 Purchase Option. The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Effective Date an option (“Representative’s Purchase Option”) for the purchase of up to an aggregate of 336,667 units (“Representative’s Units”) for an aggregate purchase price of $100. Each of the Representative’s Units is identical to the Firm Units except that the Warrants included in the Representative’s Units (“Representative’s Warrants”) have an exercise price of $6.25 (125% of the exercise price of the Warrants included in the Units sold to the public). The Representative’s Purchase Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on the later of (i) one year from the Effective Date and (ii) the consummation of a Business Combination, and expiring on the four-year anniversary of the Effective Date at an exercise price per Representative’s Unit of $7.50, which is equal to one hundred twenty five percent (125%) of the initial public offering price of a Unit. The Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Units, the Representative’s Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”

 

1.4.2 Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Purchase Option shall be made on the Closing Date. The Company shall deliver to the Underwriters, upon payment therefor, certificates for the Representative’s Purchase Option in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

2. Qualified Independent Underwriter.

 

2.1 The Representative hereby confirms its engagement of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. as, and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. hereby confirms its agreement with the Representative to render services as a, "qualified independent underwriter" within the meaning of Rule 2720(b)(15) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) with respect to the offering and sale of the Firm Units. EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., in its capacity as a qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the "QIU."

 

2.2 Representations and Warranties of QIU. The QIU hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters that with respect to the offering and sale of the Firm Units as described in the Prospectus:

 

2.2.1 Such QIU constitutes a "qualified independent underwriter" within the meaning of Rule 2720(b)(15);

2.2.2 Such QIU has participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and has exercised the usual standards of "due diligence" in respect thereto;

2.2.3 Such QIU has undertaken the legal responsibilities and liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) specifically including those inherent in Section 11 thereof;

2.2.4 Such QIU recommends, as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a maximum initial public offering price per Firm Unit of $6.00 for each Firm Unit; and

2.2.5 Subject to the provisions of Section 5 hereof, such QIU will furnish to the Underwriters at the Closing Date a letter, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect of clauses 2.2.1 through 2.2.4 above.

2.3 The Company, the Underwriters and the QIU severally agree to comply in all material respects with all of the requirements of Rule 2720 applicable to them in connection with the offering and sale of the Firm Units. The Company agrees to cooperate with the Underwriters and the QIU to enable the Underwriters to comply with Rule 2720 and the QIU to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:

 

3.1 Filing of Registration Statement.

 

3.1.1 Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-127272), including the preliminary prospectus dated as of January 20, 2006 (the “Sale Preliminary Prospectus”), and any other related preliminary prospectus (collectively, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), for the registration of the Public Securities under the Act, which registration statement and amendment or amendments, including the Sale Preliminary Prospectus, have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (“Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

3.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 000-51682) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants. The registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the Exchange Act is effective on the date hereof.

 

3.2 No Stop Orders, Etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

3.3 Disclosures in Registration Statement.

3.3.2 Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

3.3.3 Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the formation of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

3.3.4 Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal, State and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

3.4 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

3.4.1 No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company, (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) no member of the Company’s management has resigned from any position with the Company.

 

3.4.2 Recent Securities Transactions, Etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its equity securities.

 

3.5 Independent Accountants. Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP (“GGK”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are independent accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations. GGK has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

3.6 Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, fairly present the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The Registration Statement discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses.

 

3.7 Authorized Capital; Options; Etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus duly authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock as set forth in the, Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the, Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company or any security convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

3.8 Valid Issuance of Securities; Etc.

 

3.8.1 Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company (including, without limitation the Placement Securities) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized Common Stock conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares of Common Stock, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

3.8.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement. When issued, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Warrants and the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Warrants and the Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

3.8.3  Placement Warrants. The Placement Warrants constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Placement Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Placement Warrants and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Placement Warrants, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

3.8.4 No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement

 

3.9 Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

3.10 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 3.21 hereof), the Trust Agreement (as defined in Section 3.22 hereof), those certain letter agreements (each substantially in the forms filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement), pursuant to which each of the Initial Stockholders agrees to certain matters, including but not limited to, certain matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section of the Prospectus (“Insider Letters”), the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 3.23 hereof), the Stock Escrow Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement (“Stock Escrow Agreement”) the Representative’s Purchase Option (as defined in Section 1.4.1 hereof) and the Services Agreement (as defined in Section 3.28 hereof) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and constitute the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

3.11 No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Trust Agreement, the Insider Letters, the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement the Services Agreement and the Stock Escrow Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both (i) result in a breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party except pursuant to the Trust Agreement referred to in Section 3.22 hereof; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws of the Company; or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business.

 

3.12 No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or in violation of any material franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.

 

3.13 Corporate Power; Licenses; Ownership.

 

3.13.1 Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business and to consummate a Business Combination as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement and in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state and local regulation on this offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

3.13.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Trust Agreement, the Insider Letters, the Services Agreement, the Stock Escrow Agreement and the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

3.14 D&O Questionnaires. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the director and officer questionnaires and NASD supplemental questionnaires (“Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Initial Stockholders and provided to the Underwriters as an exhibit to his or her Insider Letters is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by each Initial Stockholder to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

3.15 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder, which has not been disclosed in the, Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus or the Questionnaires, except for actions, suits, proceedings, inquiries, arbitrations, investigations, litigation or government proceedings pending against any Initial Stockholder that would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on such Initial Stockholder, the Company or the Offering.

 

3.16 Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

3.17 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to NASD.

 

3.17.1 Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Initial Stockholder with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the NASD.

 

3.17.2  Payments Within Twelve Months. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) (i) to any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company, (ii) to any NASD member or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any NASD member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date.

 

3.17.3 Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities or the Placement Securities will be paid by the Company to any participating NASD member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized or contemplated herein and in the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement and except as may be paid in connection with a Business Combination as contemplated by the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

 

3.18 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Initial Stockholders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial statements contained in the Prospectus or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

3.19 Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor any officer, director or Initial Stockholder has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended; (ii) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended; or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law. 

 

3.20 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to your counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

3.21 Warrant Agreement. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants , the Representative’s Warrants and the Placement Warrants with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (“Warrant Agreement”).

 

3.22 Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Investment Management Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registration Statement (“Trust Agreement”).

 

3.23 Placement Unit Purchase Agreement. The Initial Stockholders have executed and delivered an agreement, annexed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement (“Placement Unit Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which such parties have, among other things, purchased an aggregate of 166,667 Placement Units in the Private Placement. Pursuant to the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement, (i) $1,000,002 of the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Fund in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement prior to the Closing Date, and (ii) the purchasers of the Placement Units have waived any and all rights and claims they may have to any proceeds, and any interest thereon, held in the Trust Fund in respect of the shares of Common Stock included in such Placement Units in the event that a Business Combination is not consummated and the Trust Fund is liquidated in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement.

 

3.24 Covenants Not to Compete. No Initial Stockholder, employee, officer or director of the Company is subject to any noncompetition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his ability to be an Initial Stockholder, employee, officer and/or director of the Company.

 

3.25 Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act).

 

3.26 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.

 

3.27 Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

 

3.28 Administrative Services. The Company has entered into the Office Service Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Berkshire Capital Securities LLC substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement pursuant to which the affiliate will make available to the Company general and administrative support for the Company’s use for $7,500 per month. 

 

4. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

4.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.

 

4.2 Federal Securities Laws.

 

4.2.1 Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.

 

4.2.2 Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.

 

4.2.3 Exchange Act Registration. Until the earlier of five years from the Effective Date or the date that the Company is liquidated, the Company (i) will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act and (ii) will not deregister the Units, Common Stock or Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of TEP; provided that the Company may terminate its Exchange Act registration, without the prior written consent of TEP, in the event all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company is acquired by a third party.

 

4.3 Blue Sky Filings. The Company will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate, provided that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction. Until the earliest of (i) the date on which all Underwriters shall have ceased to engage in market making activities in respect of the Public Securities, (ii) the date on which the Public Securities are listed or quoted, as the case may be, on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market (or any successor to such entities) and (iii) the date of the liquidation of the Company (the period from the Effective Date to such earliest date, the “Blue Sky Compliance Period”), in each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will, unless the Representative agrees that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or reports at such times as are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

4.4 Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as such Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to you two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.

 

4.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective until distribution of the Public Securities is complete and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose when the Company becomes aware of such, (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose when the Company becomes aware of such, (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission, and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in Section 4.3 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification during any such time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

 

4.6 Affiliated Transactions.

 

4.6.1 Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity which is affiliated with any Initial Stockholder unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the NASD that the Business Combination is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial perspective.

 

4.6.2 Compensation. Except for payments made to Berkshire Capital Securities LLC as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company shall not pay any Initial Stockholder or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided that the Initial Stockholders and their affiliates shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with seeking and consummating a Business Combination.

 

4.7 Secondary Market Trading. During the Blue Sky Compliance Period, the Company shall promptly take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Representative to maintain secondary market trading in such other states as may be reasonably requested by the Representative.

 

4.8 Financial Public Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to, but not affiliated with, the Representative for a term to be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.

 

4.9 Reports to the Representative.

 

4.9.1 Periodic Reports, Etc. For a period of five years from the Effective Date, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission, (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each Current Report on Form 8-K and Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, (iv) five copies of each registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act, (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request, provided that the Representative shall sign, if required by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement reasonably acceptable to the Representative in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information.

 

4.9.2 Transfer Agent. During the Blue Sky Compliance Period, the Company shall retain a transfer and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative (“Transfer Agent”). The Underwriters acknowledge that Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is an acceptable Transfer Agent.

 

4.9.3 Secondary Market Trading Survey. Until such time as the Public Securities are listed or quoted, as the case may be, on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, the Company shall engage Cooley Godward LLP, counsel to the Underwriters (“Cooley”) to deliver and update to the Underwriters on a timely basis, but in any event on the Effective Date and at the beginning of each fiscal quarter, a written report detailing those states in which the Public Securities may be traded in non-issuer transactions under the Blue Sky laws of the fifty States (“Secondary Market Trading Survey”).

 

4.10 Payment of Expenses.

 

4.10.1 General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) the preparation (exclusive of the fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters), printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary and Final Prospectuses and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters, (ii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units and the Representative’s Purchase Option, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws, including the costs of preparing, printing and mailing the “Preliminary Blue Sky Memorandum,” and all amendments and supplements thereto and quarterly opinions relating thereto, the preparation of the Secondary Market Trading Survey (as defined above), and the reasonable fees and disbursements of Cooley related thereto; provided that the Company shall not be required to reimburse the Representative or Cooley for any amounts under this clause (iii) in excess of $40,000, (iv) filing fees, costs and expenses (excluding fees and disbursements for the Representative’s counsel) incurred in registering the Offering with the NASD and the Commission, (v) fees and disbursements of the Transfer Agent, (vi) the Company’s expenses associated with “due diligence” and “road show” meetings arranged by the Representative, and (vii) all other costs and expenses customarily borne by an issuer incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 4.10.1. The Company also agrees that, if requested by the Representative, it will engage and pay for an investigative search firm of the Representative’s choice to conduct an investigation of the principals of the Company as shall be mutually selected by the Representative and the Company. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth in this Agreement to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others.

 

4.10.2 Nonaccountable Expenses. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses payable pursuant to Section 4.10.1, on the closing date of a Business Combination, it will pay to the Representative a nonaccountable expense allowance equal to $673,333.30, plus any accrued interest on such amount, net of taxes payable, which amount shall be reduced by the Underwriter's Conversion Payment (as defined below), by deduction from the Trust Fund (the "Underwriters Deferred Compensation"). In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination, the Underwriters will forfeit the Underwriters Deferred Compensation. The "Underwriter's Conversion Payment" shall mean the product of (A) the number of shares actually converted into cash by stockholders of the Company in connection with a Business Combination, multiplied by (B) the Per Share Conversion Amount (as defined below). The "Per Share Conversion Amount" shall mean $167,333.50 divided by the Maximum Eligible Conversion Shares (as defined below). The "Maximum Eligible Conversion Shares" shall mean (C) the product of (i) 6,733,333 plus the actual number of units sold pursuant to the Underwriters' exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option, multiplied by (ii) 20 percent; (D) rounded down to the nearest whole number (including, in the event that the product derived in (C) above is a whole number, the next lower whole number). For illustrative purposes, assuming no exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Maximum Eligible Conversion Shares would be 1,346,666, and the Per Share Conversion Amount would be $0 ###-###-####. Assuming full exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Maximum Eligible Conversion Shares would be 1,548,666, and the Per Share Conversion Amount would be $0.108050104.

 

4.11 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering and the Private Placement received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use Of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

4.12 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the sixteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.

 

4.13 Notice to NASD. In the event any person or entity (excluding attorneys, accountants, engineers, environmental or labor consultants, investigatory firms, technology consultants and specialists and similar service providers that are not affiliated or associated with the NASD and are not brokers or finders) is engaged, in writing, to assist the issuer in finding or evaluating the initial Business Combination, the Company will provide the following to the NASD and TEP prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) copies of agreements governing said services (which agreements may be appropriately redacted to account for privilege or confidentiality concerns); and (ii) a justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter or related person” with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, as such term is defined in Rule 2710(a)(6) of the NASD Conduct Rules. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the proxy statement which the Company will file for purposes of soliciting stockholder approval for the Business Combination.

 

4.14 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (without the consent of TEP) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 

4.15 Internal Controls. During the Blue Sky Compliance Period, the Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

4.16 Form 8-K. The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (“Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the initial public offering. As soon as the Audited Financial Statements become available, the Company shall immediately file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Financial Statements.

 

4.17 NASD. During the period of the distribution of the Public Securities, the Company shall advise the NASD if it is aware that any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of an NASD member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public Securities.

 

4.18 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

4.19 Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Fund to be invested only in money market funds meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or securities issued or guaranteed by the United States as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.

 

4.20 Colorado Trust Filing. In the event the Securities are registered in the State of Colorado, the Company will cause a Colorado Form ES to be filed with the Commissioner of the State of Colorado no less than 10 days prior to the distribution of the Trust Fund in connection with a Business Combination and will do all things necessary to comply with Section 11-51-302 and Rule 51-3.4 of the Colorado Securities Act.

 

4.21 Private Placement Proceeds. Immediately upon establishment of the Trust Fund and prior to the Closing, the Company shall deposit $1,000,002 of the proceeds from the Private Placement in the Trust Fund and shall provide TEP with evidence of the same. 

 

4.22 Independent Public Accountant. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to retain an independent public accountant of national standing selected by the Company’s Board of Directors until at least the third anniversary of the Closing Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated or is no longer required to file reports under the Exchange Act.

 

5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, the condition (in the case of the Underwriters) that the QIU shall have furnished to the Underwriters the letter referred to in Section 2.2.5 hereof and to the following conditions:

 

5.1 Regulatory Matters.

 

5.1.1 Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of Cooley.

 

5.1.2 NASD Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

5.1.3 No Blue Sky Stop Orders. No order suspending the sale of the Units in any jurisdiction designated by you pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof shall have been issued on either on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be contemplated.

 

5.2 Company Counsel Matters.

 

5.2.1 Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP (“Bingham”), counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory to Cooley and attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

5.2.2 Reliance. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Cooley) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to Cooley, familiar with the applicable laws, and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to Cooley if requested. The opinion of counsel for the Company and any opinion relied upon by such counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.

 

5.3 Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, you shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to you and to Cooley from GGK dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:

 

(i) Confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act;

 

(ii) Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published Regulations thereunder;

 

(iii) Stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of the Company (with an indication of the date of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements), a reading of the latest available minutes of the stockholders and Board and the various committees of the Board, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that (a) the unaudited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, (b) at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with amounts shown in the November 30, 2005 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (c) during the period from November 30, 2005 to a specified date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in revenues, net earnings or net earnings per share of Common Stock, in each case as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year and as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding quarter, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;

 

(iv) Setting forth, at a date not later than five days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company (including a break-down of commercial papers and notes payable to banks);

 

(v) Stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement;

 

(vi) Stating that they have not during the immediately preceding five year period brought to the attention of the Company’s management any reportable condition related to internal structure, design or operation as defined in the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 60 “Communication of Internal Control Structure Related Matters Noted in an Audit,” in the Company’s internal controls; and

 

(vii) Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as you may reasonably request.

 

5.4 Officers’ Certificates.

 

5.4.1 Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 5.5 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

5.4.2 Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying (i) that the By-laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect, (ii) that the resolutions relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified, (iii) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission, and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

5.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Initial Stockholder before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Sale Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

5.6 Delivery of Agreements.

 

5.6.1 Effective Date Deliveries. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Insider Letters, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Stock Escrow Agreement and the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

5.6.2 Closing Date Deliveries. On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative the Representative’s Purchase Option.

 

5.7 Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. All proceedings taken in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you and to Cooley and you shall have received from such counsel a favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, with respect to such of these proceedings as you may reasonably require. On or prior to the Effective Date, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished such documents, certificates and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in this Section 5.7, or in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or satisfaction of any of the representations, warranties or conditions herein contained.

 

5.8 Secondary Market Trading Survey. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the Secondary Market Trading Survey from Cooley.

 

6. Indemnification.

 

6.1 Indemnification of Underwriters.

 

6.1.1 General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters, and each dealer selected by you that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (“controlling person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included securities of the Company issued or issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Purchase Option; or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 6 collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, Nasdaq or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 4.4 hereof. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

 

6.1.2 Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a controlling person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 6.1.1, such Underwriter or Selected Dealer shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter or Selected Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the Company from any liability it may have under Sections 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof, except to the extent the Company has been materially prejudiced (through forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure and; provided further, that the failure to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party as determined under Sections 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof. Such Underwriter, Selected Dealer or controlling person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter, Selected Dealer or controlling person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to take charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter, Selected Dealer and/or controlling person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Underwriter, Selected Dealer or controlling person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

6.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 6.1.2.

 

6.3 Contribution.

 

6.3.1 Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 6 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 6 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 6, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section 6, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.

 

6.3.2 Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section 6 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6.3 are several and not joint.

 

7. Default by an Underwriter.

 

7.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units or the Option Units, if the over-allotment option is exercised, hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Units or Option Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units or Option Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.

 

7.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 7.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, you may in your discretion arrange for yourself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units or Option Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If within one business day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units or Option Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one business day within which to procure another party or parties reasonably satisfactory to you to purchase said Firm Units or Option Units on such terms. In the event that neither you nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units or Option Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 7, this Agreement will be terminated without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 4.12 and 6 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 6 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Units, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Units; and provided further that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

7.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five business days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 7 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

 

8. Additional Covenants.

 

8.1 Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that until the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or the distribution of the Trust Fund referred to in Section 8.7 hereof, it shall not issue any shares of Common Stock or any options or other securities convertible into Common Stock, or any shares of Preferred Stock which participate in any manner in the Trust Fund or which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.

 

8.2 Trust Fund Waiver Acknowledgment. The Company hereby agrees that it will not commence its due diligence investigation of any operating business which the Company seeks to acquire (each a “Target Business”) or obtain the services of any vendor or other third party unless and until such Target Business, vendor, or other third party acknowledges in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that (a) it understands that the Company has established the Trust Fund, initially in an amount of $36,542,665 (without giving effect to any exercise of the Over-allotment Option) for the benefit of the Public Stockholders and the Underwriters as described in Section 4.10.2 hereof, and that the Company may disburse monies from the Trust Fund only (i) to the Public Stockholders in the event they elect to convert their IPO Shares (described below in Section 8.7), (ii) to the Public Stockholders in the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination within 18 months from the consummation of this Offering (subject to extension for an additional 6-month period, as described in the Prospectus) or (iii) to the Company and the Underwriters as described in Section 4.10.2. hereof, after it consummates a Business Combination and (b) for and in consideration of the Company (1) agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it or (2) agreeing to engage the services of the vendor or other third party, as the case may be, such Target Business, vendor or other third party agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Fund (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Target Business, vendor or other third party refuses to acknowledge in writing that it does not have any rights, title, interest or claims of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Fund, the Company may nonetheless commence its due diligence investigations of such Target Business or obtain the services of any such vendor or third party if and only if the Company’s Board determines in good faith after due inquiry that the Company would be unable to obtain, on a reasonable basis, substantially similar services or opportunities from another entity willing to execute such a waiver.

 

8.3 Insider Letters and Stock Escrow Agreement. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters or the Stock Escrow Agreement and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of any provisions of, such Insider Letters or the Stock Escrow Agreement without the prior written consent of TEP.

 

8.4 Placement Unit Purchase Agreement. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause a breach of the Placement Unit Purchase Agreement executed by and among each Initial Stockholder, TEP and the Company and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of any provisions of, such Placement Unit Purchase Agreement without the prior written consent of TEP.

 

8.5 Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws. Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination or until the distribution of the Trust Fund referred to in Section 8.7 hereof, the Company will not amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation without the prior written consent of TEP.

 

8.6 Blue Sky Requirements. The Company shall provide counsel to the Representative with ten copies of all proxy information and all related material filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which its initial public offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.

 

8.7 Acquisition/Distribution Procedure. The Company agrees: (i) that, prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, it will submit such transaction to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination Vote”) even if the nature of the acquisition is such as would not ordinarily require stockholder approval under applicable state law; and (ii) that, in the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination within 18 months from the consummation of this Offering (subject to extension for an additional six-month period, as described in the Prospectus), the Company will be liquidated and will distribute to all holders of IPO Shares (as defined below) an aggregate sum equal to the Company’s “Liquidation Value.” The Company’s “Liquidation Value” shall mean the Company’s book value, as determined by the Company and approved by GGK. In no event, however, will the Company’s Liquidation Value be less than the Trust Fund, inclusive of any net interest income thereon. Only holders of IPO Shares shall be entitled to receive liquidating distributions and the Company shall pay no liquidating distributions with respect to any other shares of capital stock of the Company. With respect to the initial Business Combination Vote, the Company shall cause all of the Initial Stockholders to vote the shares of Common Stock owned by them, including any shares acquired by them before the Offering or any IPO Shares owned by them, in accordance with the vote of the holders of a majority of the IPO Shares. At the time the Company seeks approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer each holder of the Company’s Common Stock issued in this Offering (the “IPO Shares”) the right to convert their IPO Shares at a per share conversion price (the “Conversion Price”) equal to the amount in the Trust Fund (inclusive of any interest income thereon, net of taxes payable) calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of such proposed Business Combination divided by the total number of IPO Shares. If holders of less than 20% in interest of the Company’s IPO Shares vote against such approval of a Business Combination and elect to convert their IPO Shares, the Company may, but will not be required to, proceed with such Business Combination. If the Company elects to so proceed, it will convert shares, based upon the Conversion Price, from those holders of IPO Shares who affirmatively requested such conversion and who voted against the Business Combination. Only holders of IPO Shares and the Underwriters, as described in Section 4.10.2 hereof, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Fund and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other shares of capital stock of the Company. If holders of 20% or more in interest of the IPO Shares vote against approval of any potential Business Combination and elect to convert their IPO Shares, the Company will not proceed with such Business Combination and will not convert such shares.

 

8.8 Rule 419. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including but not limited to using its best efforts to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.

 

8.9 Presentation of Potential Target Businesses. The Company shall cause each of its officers and directors to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the officers and directors will present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to the Company under Delaware law, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, the liquidation of the Company or until such time as each such officer or director shall cease to be an officer or director of the Company, subject to any other contractual or fiduciary obligations such officers and directors might have.

 

8.10 Target Net Assets. The Company agrees that the initial Target Business(es) in a Business Combination must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the Company’s net assets at the time of such Business Combination. The fair market value of such business(es) must be determined by the Board of the Company based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings and cash flow and book value. If the Board of the Company is not able to independently determine that the Target Business(es) has a fair market value of at least 80% of the Company’s net assets at the time of such Business Combination, the Company will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm which is a member of the NASD with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.

 

9. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, `warranties and agreements at the Closing Dates and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 6 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any controlling person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities to the several Underwriters.

 

10. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

10.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

10.2 Termination. You shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Boston Stock Exchange or on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor trading market) shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities market, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units, (vii) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are breached, or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Securities.

 

10.3 Expenses. In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out of pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 4.10.1 hereof.

 

10.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 6 shall not be in any way affected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

11. Miscellaneous.

 

11.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or telecopied and confirmed or if mailed, two days after such mailing

 

If to the Representative:

 

ThinkEquity Partners LLC

As Representative of the several Underwriters

31 West 52^nd Street, 17^th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Attn: John Boyle, Managing Director

 

Copy to:

 

Cooley Godward LLP

One Maritime Plaza, 20^th Floor

San Francisco, California 94111-2580

Attn: Gian-Michele a Marca, Esq.

 

If to the Company:

Highbury Financial Inc.

999 Eighteenth Street, Suite 3000

Denver, CO 80202

Attn: Richard S. Foote, Chief Executive Officer

 

Copy to:

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

399 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attn: Ann Chamberlain, Esq.

 

11.2 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 Agreement.

 

11.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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

 

11.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 6 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives 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 Agreement or any provisions herein contained.

 

11.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, 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 such 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 this Section 11. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees 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.

 

11.7 No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges that neither the Representative, the Underwriters nor the controlling persons of any of them shall have any fiduciary or advisory duty to the Company or any of its controlling persons arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the offer and sale of the Units.

 

11.8 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement 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.

 

11.9 Waiver, Etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement 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, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

Very truly yours,

 

HIGHBURY FINANCIAL INC.

 

By:____________________________________________

Name: 

Title: 

 

 

Accepted on the date first

above written

 

THINKEQUITY PARTNERS LLC

 

By:___________________________________________

Name: 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriter	Number of Firm Units   to be Purchased
ThinkEquity Partners LLC
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.

 

 

 

INSIDER                   NASD MEMBER

 

R. Bruce Cameron    Berkshire Capital Securities LLC

Richard S. Foote      Berkshire Capital Securities LLC

R. Bradley Forth      Berkshire Capital Securities LLC

Russell L. Appel      The Praedium Group LLC

The Hillary Appel Trust     The Praedium Group LLC

The Catey Lauren Appel Trust     The Praedium Group LLC

Broad Hollow LLC               Berkshire Capital Securities LLC