Director Letter Agreement Regarding IPO and Business Combination – Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

Summary

This agreement is between a director of Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. in connection with the company's initial public offering (IPO). The director agrees to certain obligations, including supporting the liquidation of the company if a business combination is not completed within a set timeframe, presenting business opportunities to the company first, and not receiving compensation or finder's fees before a business combination. The agreement also includes background representations and authorizes background checks. It is governed by New York law.

EX-10.8 17 c38137_ex10-8.txt Exhibit 10.8 June 30, 2005 Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. 645 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10022 Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. 590 Madison Avenue 34th Floor New York, New York 10022 Re: Initial Public Offering ----------------------- Gentlemen: The undersigned director of Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. ("Company"), in consideration of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. ("Ladenburg") entering into a letter of intent ("Letter of Intent") to underwrite an initial public offering of the securities of the Company ("IPO") and embarking on the IPO process, hereby agrees as follows (certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 10 hereof): 1. In the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the effective date ("Effective Date") of the registration statement relating to the IPO (or 24 months under the circumstances described in the prospectus relating to the IPO), the undersigned will (i) cause the Trust Fund (as defined in the Letter of Intent) to be liquidated and distributed to the holders of IPO Shares and (ii) take all reasonable actions within his power to cause the Company to liquidate as soon as reasonably practicable. 2. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the undersigned agrees to present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, the liquidation of the Company or until such time as the undersigned ceases to be a director of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations the undersigned might have. 3. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Company will not consummate any Business Combination which involves a company which is affiliated with any Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. June 30, 2005 Page 2 current Insider of the Company unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm reasonably acceptable to Ladenburg that the business combination is fair to the Company's stockholders from a financial perspective. 4. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is common control with the undersigned (each, an Affiliate) of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and will not accept any compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to or in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination; provided that the undersigned shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with seeking and consummating a Business Combination. 5. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any Affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive or accept a finder's fee or any other compensation in the event the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned or any Affiliate of the undersigned originates a Business Combination. 6. The undersigned agrees to be a Director of the Company until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. The undersigned's biographical information furnished to the Company and Ladenburg and attached hereto as Exhibit A is true and accurate in all respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned's background and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. The undersigned's Questionnaire furnished to the Company and Ladenburg and annexed as Exhibit B hereto is true and accurate in all respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that: (a) he is not subject to, or a respondent in, any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; (b) he has never been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any crime (i) involving any fraud or (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and he is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding; and (c) he has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. 7. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement Manhattan Maritime Enterprises, Inc. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. June 30, 2005 Page 3 by which he is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to serve as a Director of the Company. 8. The undersigned authorizes any employer, financial institution, or consumer credit reporting agency to release to Ladenburg and its legal representatives or agents (including any investigative search firm retained by Ladenburg) any information they may have about the undersigned's background and finances ("Information"). Neither Ladenburg nor its agents shall be violating the undersigned's right of privacy in any manner in requesting and obtaining the Information and the undersigned hereby releases them from liability for any damage whatsoever in that connection. 9. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The undersigned hereby (i) agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against him arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement (a "Proceeding") shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive, (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum and (iii) irrevocably agrees to appoint Zukerman Gore & Brandeis, LLP as agent for the service of process in the State of New York to receive, for the undersigned and on his behalf, service of process in any Proceeding. If for any reason such agent is unable to act as such, the undersigned will promptly notify the Company and Ladenburg and appoint a substitute agent acceptable to each of the Company and Ladenburg within 30 days and nothing in this letter will affect the right of either party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. 10. As used herein, (i) a "Business Combination" shall mean an acquisition by merger, capital stock exchange, asset or stock acquisition, reorganization or otherwise, of an operating business; (ii) "Insiders" shall mean all officers, directors and stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) "Insider Shares" shall mean all of the shares of Common Stock of the Company owned by an Insider prior to the IPO; and (iv) "IPO Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock issued in the Company's IPO. Paul S. Rapello ------------------- Print Name of Insider /s/ Paul S. Rapello ------------------- Signature