FREEDOM ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC. 30,000,000 Units1 Common Stock Warrants UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
30,000,000 Units1
Common Stock
Warrants
Common Stock
Warrants
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
As Representative of the several Underwriters
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As Representative of the several Underwriters
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Freedom Acquisition Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representative”) are acting as sole
representative, an aggregate of 30,000,000 units of the Company (said units to be issued and sold
by the Company being hereinafter called the “Underwritten Securities”). The Company also
proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 units to
cover over-allotments (the “Option Securities”). The Underwritten Securities and the
Option Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities” or the
“Units.”
Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the
“Common Stock”), and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock (the
“Warrant(s)”). The shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units will not
be separately transferable until five (5) business days following the earlier of the expiration of
the Underwriters’ over-allotment option (as described below) or the exercise in full of such
option, subject to (a) the preparation of an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting
receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the offering of the Units by the Company and the filing
of such audited balance sheet with the Commission (as herein defined) on a Form 8-K by the Company
which includes such balance sheet and (b) the Company issuing a press release announcing when such
separate trading will begin. Each Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one
share of Common Stock for $7.50 during the period commencing on the later of (i) the consummation
by the Company of a “Business Combination” (as defined below) or (ii) one year from the Effective
Date (as defined below) of the Registration Statement (as defined below) and terminating on [•],
2011 or earlier upon redemption. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” shall
mean any acquisition, through a merger, stock exchange,
1 | Plus an option to purchase from the Company, up to 4,500,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments. |
asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination, consummated by the Company,
of an operating business or several businesses.
The Company has entered into an investment management trust agreement dated as of [•], 2006
(the “Trust Agreement”) with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust (“CST”) as trustee,
in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which
certain proceeds of the offering will be deposited and held in a trust account for the benefit of
the Company and holders of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, if and when
issued.
The Company has entered into a warrant agreement dated as of July 20, 2006, as amended on
November 9, 2006 and [•], 2006 with respect to the Warrants with CST, as warrant agent (as
amended, the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant to which CST will act as warrant agent in
connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the
Warrants.
The Company has entered into a founders’ unit subscription agreement dated as of July 20,
2006, as amended on [•], 2006 (as amended, the “Founders’ Unit Subscription
Agreement”) with Berggruen Holdings North America Ltd. (“Berggruen Holdings”), Xxxxxx
Equities II, LLC (“Xxxxxx Equities”) and the three initial independent directors (each of
the three initial independent directors, an “Initial Independent Director,” and
collectively, the “Initial Independent Directors”) of the Company (Berggruen Holdings,
Xxxxxx Equities and the Initial Independent Directors, each, a “Founder,” and collectively
the “Founders”) pursuant to which each of Berggruen Holdings and Xxxxxx Equities has agreed
to purchase 3,702,000 Units and each of the Initial Independent Directors has agreed to purchase
32,000 Units (collectively, the “Founders’ Units”) at a price of $0.00333 per Founders’
Unit. The Company has also entered into a sponsors’ warrant and co-investment unit subscription
agreement on July 20, 2006, as amended on [·], 2006 (as amended, the “Sponsors’ Warrant
and Co-Investment Unit Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which each of Berggruen Holdings
and Xxxxxx Equities (each, a “Sponsor,” and collectively, the “Sponsors”) has
agreed to purchase 2,250,000 Warrants (collectively, the “Sponsors’ Warrants”) at a price
of $1.00 per Sponsors’ Warrant in a private placement immediately prior to the offering of the
Underwritten Securities and 2,500,000 Units (collectively, the “Co-Investment Units”) at
$10.00 per Co-Investment Unit in a private placement immediately prior to the consummation of a
Business Combination by the Company. The Sponsors’ Warrants shall have an exercise price equal to
the exercise price of the Warrants included in the Units sold to the public and shall possess terms
identical to the Warrants included in the Units in all other respects except with respect to
transferability, redemption and in certain other respects. The redemption terms of the Sponsors’
Warrants shall be as set forth in the certificates representing such securities and as set forth in
the Warrant Agreement. The Co-Investment Units shall possess terms identical to the Units in all
other respects except with respect to transferability and certain other respects.
The Company has entered into a registration rights agreement with each of the Founders, dated
as of the date hereof, in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
(the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has granted certain
registration rights in respect of the Common Stock and the Warrants held by each of the Founders.
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The Company will enter into a letter agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with
Berggruen Holdings, Inc., dated as of the Closing Date, pursuant to which the Company will pay a
monthly fee of $10,000 for office space and administrative services, including secretarial support,
for a period of up to twenty-four (24) months, terminating upon the earlier of (i) the consummation
of a Business Combination and (ii) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company.
The Company has caused to be duly executed and delivered insider letters by each of the
Sponsors and the initial directors and executive officers of the Company (each of the initial
directors and executive officers of the Company, an “Insider,” and collectively, the
“Insiders”), filed as Exhibits 10.10 through 10.16 and Exhibits 10.20 through 10.26, to the
Registration Statement (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the
“Insider Letters”), pursuant to which each such entity or individual agreed to certain
matters, including but not limited to, matters relating to the voting of shares of Common Stock by
them and other matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section
of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Pursuant to the Insider Letter with Berggruen
Holdings (the “Berggruen Holdings Letter”), the Company has been granted a right of first
review on any business combination opportunities presented to Berggruen Holdings or one of its
senior investment professionals with an enterprise value of $500.0 million or more, unless such
business combination opportunities is competitive with one of the portfolio companies of Berggruen
Holdings, from the Effective Date until the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination
by the Company or the dissolution of the Company. Pursuant to the Insider Letter with Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx (the “Franklin Letter”), because Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx is an executive officer of
Jarden Corporation (“Jarden”), Xx. Xxxxxxxx has agreed not to consider, on behalf of the
Company, transactions that fit within Jarden’s publicly announced acquisition criteria unless
Jarden has determined not to pursue the transaction.
To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the
term Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.
The use of the neuter in this Underwriting Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine
wherever appropriate. Certain terms used in this Underwriting Agreement are defined in Section 20
hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement
(file number 333-136248) on Form S-1, including a related preliminary prospectus, for
registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration
Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become
effective. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus in accordance with
Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus shall contain, in all material respects, all
information required by the Act and, except to the extent the Representative shall agree in
writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you
or agreed upon prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution
Time, shall contain only such specific additional
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information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary
Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or
made therein.
(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is
first filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined
herein) and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the
Closing Date (a “settlement date”), the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will,
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules
thereunder; on the Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date
and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no
representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described
as such in Section 8 hereof.
(c) At the Execution Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus included in the
Registration Statement did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in
or omitted from such Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through
the Representative specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described
as such in Section 8 hereof.
(d) The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number [•]) providing
for the registration under the Exchange Act of the Securities. The registration of the
Securities under the Exchange Act was declared effective by the Commission on [•], 2006.
The Units, the Warrants, and the Common Stock have been duly listed, and admitted and
authorized for trading, subject only to official notice of issuance, on the American Stock
Exchange, and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts which is likely to adversely
affect such approval.
(e) Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory
authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or
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suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any part thereof,
or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings
with respect to such an order.
(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with
full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(g) All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
(h) The Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
(i) Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement.
(i) The Common Stock included in the Units has been duly authorized
and, when executed by the Company and countersigned, and issued and
delivered against payment therefor by the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(ii) The Warrants included in the Units, when executed, authenticated,
issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement
against payment therefor by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement,
will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, and will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable
principles of general applicability.
(iii) The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
included in the Units have been duly authorized and, when executed by the
Company and countersigned and issued and delivered against payment therefore
pursuant to the Warrants and the Warrant Agreement, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of such Common Stock are not and
will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders;
such Common Stock is not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other
similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action
required to be taken for
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the authorization, issuance and sale of such Common Stock (other than
such execution, countersignature and delivery at the time of issuance) has
been duly and validly taken.
(j) The certificates for the Securities are in valid and sufficient form; except as set
forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the holders of outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for
the Securities; and, except as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue,
or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of capital
stock of or ownership interests in the Company are outstanding.
(k) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be
described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto,
which is not described or filed as required; and the statements in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Principal Stockholders,” “Certain
Transactions,” “Description of Securities” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters,
agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of
such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.
(l) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(m) The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in
effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(n) The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to
time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(o) The Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to
time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(p) The Founders’ Unit Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting
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creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of
general applicability.
(q) The Sponsors’ Warrant and Co-Investment Unit Subscription Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of
general applicability.
(r) Assuming that each of the Insider Letters has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Sponsors and the Insiders, each Insider Letter is a valid and
binding agreement of each of the Sponsors, enforceable against each of the Sponsors in
accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in
effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(s) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(t) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or
governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated
herein or in the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founders’ Unit Subscription
Agreement, the Sponsors’ Warrant and Co-Investment Unit Subscription Agreement, the Services
Agreement or the Insider Letters, except such as have been obtained under the Act, such as
may be required under federal and foreign securities laws, and such as may be required under
the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction or under the rules and regulations of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) in connection with the purchase
and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and
in the Prospectus.
(u) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of
the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or of the Trust
Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founders’ Unit Subscription Agreement, the Sponsors’
Warrant and Co-Investment Unit Subscription Agreement, the Services Agreement or the Insider
Letters will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to (i) the charter
or by-laws of the Company, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed
of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant
or instrument to which the Company is a party or bound or to which its property is subject,
or (iii) any (x) statute, law, rule, or regulation, or (y) judgment, order or decree,
applicable to the Company of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental
body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above for any such conflict, breach
or violations that could not,
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individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or
properties of the Company or the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
(v) Other than as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, no
holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities
under the Registration Statement.
(w) 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 within the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement.
(x) 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 Underwritten Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
(y) The financial statements and schedules, if any, of the Company included in the
Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and
for the periods indicated, comply as to form, in all material respects, with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved
(except as otherwise noted therein). The Company is not party to any off-balance sheet
transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or other
relationships 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. There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial
statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X which have not been included as so required.
The statistical, industry related and market related data included in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from
sources which the Company reasonably in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and
such data agree with sources from which they are derived.
(z) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency,
authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, or its property is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) would reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of
the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or
properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
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(aa) The Company has no leases for real property.
(bb) The Company is not in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or
bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument
to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any (x)
statute, law, rule, regulation, or (y) judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company.
(cc) Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx & Company, P.C. (“Xxxxxxxxx Kass”) are independent public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published rules and regulations thereunder and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity, the “PCAOB”).
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in
the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit
services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
(dd) There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or
the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the
Company of the Securities.
(ee) The Company has not been required to date to file any foreign, federal, state or
local tax returns and no tax or other assessment, fine or penalty has been or is due and
payable by the Company.
(ff) As of the Effective Date, the Company will be insured by insurers of recognized
financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and customary in the business in which it is engaged (as such business is described in the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus); all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety
bonds insuring the Company or its businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors will
be in full force and effect as of the Effective Date; the Company will be in compliance with
the terms of any such policies and instruments in all material respects as of the Effective
Date; and there are no claims by the Company under any such policy or instrument as to which
any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights
clause; the Company has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and
the Company does not have any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its
existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage
from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not
have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects,
earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in
the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
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(gg) The Company possesses all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations
issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to
conduct its business (as such business is described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus), and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which,
individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in
the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
(hh) The Company has established “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under
Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and has a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions will be executed in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions will be
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (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 the existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(ii) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
would constitute 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 Securities.
(jj) As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company and any of the Company’s
directors or officers, in their capacities as such, shall take all actions necessary to
comply with any provision of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations
promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”), including Section
402 related to loans, Section 404 related to internal controls and Sections 302 and 906
related to certifications.
(kk) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the
Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when
applicable), and immediately following the Effective Date the Company will be in compliance
with, (a) Part 8 of the American Stock Exchange’s “AMEX Company Guide,” as amended and (b)
all other provisions of the American Stock Exchange corporate governance requirements set
forth in the AMEX Company Guide, as amended.
(ll) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any Founder, director,
officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is aware of or has taken any action,
directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such Persons of the FCPA,
including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of
interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment,
10
promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift,
promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign
official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official
thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the
Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses
in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures
designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued
compliance therewith.
“FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
(mm) The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in
compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the
Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering
statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or
similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any
governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit
or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(nn) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Founder, director,
officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S.
sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury
Department (“OFAC”); and the Company (either directly or through the Trust) will not
directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise
make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or
entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any
U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(oo) Except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, prior to the
date hereof, none of the Company, or to the knowledge of the Company, its officers and
directors nor the Founders or any affiliates thereof had, and as of the Closing Date, the
Company and such officers and directors and the Founders and their affiliates will not have
had: (a) any specific Business Combination under consideration or contemplation or (b) any
substantive interactions or discussions with any target business regarding a possible
Business Combination.
(pp) To the Company’s knowledge, no officer, director, or beneficial owner of 5% or
greater of any class of the Company’s securities is a member, a person associated, or
affiliated with a member of the NASD.
(qq) Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no
claims, payments, arrangements, contracts, agreements or understandings relating to the
payment of a brokerage commission or finder’s, consulting, origination or similar fee by the
Company or any Founders with respect to the sale of the Securities
11
hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or any
Founders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the NASD.
(rr) The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or
otherwise) to: (i) 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, other than payments to
the Underwriters.
(ss) No officer, director, or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities
(whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the
source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is
a member, a person associated, or affiliated with a member of the NASD.
(tt) No Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any member of the
NASD (other than securities purchased on the open market).
(uu) No Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any member of the NASD.
(vv) No proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Securities (excluding underwriting
compensation as disclosed in the Prospectus) will be paid to any NASD member, or any persons
associated or affiliated with a member of the NASD.
(ww) The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any
options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a potential underwriter in the offering or
a related person (as defined by NASD rules) of such an underwriter within the 180-day period
prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.
(xx) No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the
180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any
relationship or affiliation or association with any member of the NASD.
(yy) To the knowledge of the Company, no NASD member intending to participate in the
offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of
interest” exists when a member of the NASD and/or its associated persons, parent or
affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding
subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity.
“Members participating in the Offering” include managing agents, syndicate group members and
all dealers which are members of the NASD.
(zz) Neither the Company nor any officer, director or Founder has violated: (a) the
Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, (b) the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, as amended, or
(c) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate
12
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.
(aaa) The Company has caused to be duly executed and delivered Insider Letters,
pursuant to which each of the Sponsors and the Insiders agrees to certain matters, including
but not limited to, certain matters relating to the voting of shares of Common Stock by it
and certain other matters described as being agreed to by it under the “Proposed Business”
Section of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(bbb) The Company warrants that the Trust Agreement shall not be amended, modified or
otherwise changed without the prior wledge of the Representative.
(ccc) To the knowledge of the Company, no Founder of the Company is subject to any
non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer
which could materially affect his ability to be and act in the capacity of a Founder,
employee, officer and/or director of the Company.
(ddd) The Company does not own an interest in any ust or other entity.
(eee) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company
or any affiliate of the Company, on the of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand,
which is required by the Act he Prospectus which is not described as required. There are no outstanding
loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of
business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the
officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or
maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit,
in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.
(fff) The Company has not offered, or cause or entity with the intention of unlawfully
influencing: (a) a customer or supplier of the Company or any affiliate of the Company to
alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such
affiliate or (b) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about
the Company or any such affiliate.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon
the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each
13
Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company, at a purchase price of $9.60 per Unit, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth
opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters
to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 4,500,000 Option Securities at the same
purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities.
Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten
Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any
time on or before the 30th day after the Effective Date upon written notice by the
Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the
several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of
Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the
total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters
as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such
adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional
shares.
(c) In addition to the discount from the public offering price of $0.40 per Unit
represented by the purchase price set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, the Company
hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters a deferred discount of $0.30 per Unit (including
both Underwritten Securities and Option Securities) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred
Discount”). The Deferred Discount will be payable from amounts on deposit in the trust
account established by the Company for the benefit of the public stockholders as described
in the Registration Statement (the “Trust Account”) if and when the Company
consummates a Business Combination. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Business
Combination is consummated within the time period provided in the Trust Agreement and the
funds held under the Trust Agreement are distributed to the Company’s public stockholders,
(i) the Underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount and (ii) the
trustee under the Trust Agreement is authorized to distribute the Deferred Discount to the
public stockholders of the Company on a pro rata basis.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and
the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised
on or before the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York
City time, on [•], 2006, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after
the foregoing date as the Representative shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by
agreement between the Representative and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date
and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing
Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representative for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the
Representative of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer
payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company.
14
(a) Payment for the Underwritten Securities shall be made as follows: $288,000,000.00
(or $9.60 per Underwritten Security) of the proceeds received by the Company for the
Underwritten Securities shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms of the
Trust Agreement and the remaining proceeds shall be paid to the order of the Company upon
delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative) representing the Underwritten Securities (or through the facilities of the
Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) for the account of the Underwriters). The
Underwritten Securities shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized
denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days
prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and
package the Underwritten Securities for delivery, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the
Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Underwritten
Securities except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Underwritten
Securities.
(b) Payment for the Option Securities shall be made as follows: $9.60 per Option
Security shall be deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Agreement and the remaining proceeds shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery
to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative) representing the Option Securities (or through the facilities of DTC) for
the account of the Underwriters. The certificates representing the Option Securities to be
delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative
requests not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date 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 (1) Business Day
prior to such Closing Date. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option
Securities shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representative shall
otherwise instruct.
If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day
prior to the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the
Company) to the Representative, at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, xx the date specified
by the Representative (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for
the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters
through the Representative of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by
wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. If settlement for
the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representative
on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to
purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions,
certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters
delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose
to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
15
(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not
file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review
prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you
reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any
supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representative with the Commission
pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed. The
Company will promptly advise the Representative (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement
thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii)
when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the
Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by
the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the
institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the
use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of
objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from
such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the
Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its commercially reasonable
efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as
practicable.
(b) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any
event occurs as a result of which the most recent Preliminary Prospectus would include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time
not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representative so that any use of
such Preliminary Prospectus may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or
supplement such Preliminary Prospectus to correct such statement or omission; and (iii)
supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be
delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied
pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then
supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend
the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules
thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the
16
Representative of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to
the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which
will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any
supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.
(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security
holders and to the Representative an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representative signed copies of the Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the
Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus
by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where
such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representative may reasonably
request.
(f) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for
sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and will
maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the
Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the
offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(g) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets
Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any
transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash
settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in
privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including
the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission
in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a
call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other
Units, shares of Common Stock, Warrants or any other securities convertible into, or
exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention
to effect any such transaction, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending
180 days after the date of this Agreement (the “Restricted Period”);
provided, however that if (1) during the last 17 days of the Restricted
Period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating
to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period the Company
announces that it will release earnings results during the 16 day period beginning on the
last day of the Restricted Period, then the foregoing restrictions shall continue to apply
until the expiration of the 18 day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release
or the occurrence of the material news or material event; and provided
further, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, the
Company
17
may issue and sell the Sponsors’ Warrants and Co-Investment Units as described in the
Registration Statement and may issue and sell the Option Securities on exercise of the
option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof.
(h) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
would constitute 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 Securities.
(i) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters:
(i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii)
the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and
charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as
may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale
of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of
certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with
the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and
delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents
printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v)
the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act ; (vi) any registration or
qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of
the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings
required to be made with the NASD (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings); (viii) the fees and
expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local
and special counsel) for the Company; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i)
the cost of a chartered aircraft incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with
presentations to prospective purchases of the Units (the “Roadshow”) will be paid
50% by the Company and 50% by the Underwriters; (ii) each party will pay for their own hotel
expenses incurred in connection with the Roadshow, and (iii) all other incidental costs and
expenses in connection with the Roadshow will be paid by the Underwriters.
(j) For a period of at least five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such
earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will use its
best efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants under the
provisions of the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Units under the
Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.
(k) For a period of at least five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such
earlier time that the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company, at its expense,
shall cause its regularly engaged registered independent certified public accountants to
18
review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three
fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of
the Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report and the mailing, if any, of quarterly financial
information to stockholders.
(l) The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity which is
affiliated with any officer or director of the Company.
(m) Until the consummation of a Business Combination, in no event will the fees payable
under the Services Agreement be more than $10,000 per month.
(n) Except as set forth in Section (m), the Company shall not pay any Founder 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 Founders shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for
their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with seeking and consummating a Business
Combination.
(o) For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time
upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will furnish to the
Representative and their 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 or will inform the
Representative, upon its request therefor, of the Internet address where the Representative
may locate and review: (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 Form 8-K or other filing with the Commission received or prepared by the Company;
(iv) five (5) copies of each Registration Statement; and (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.
(p) For a period of at least five (5) years following the Effective Date or until such
earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain a
transfer and warrant agent (the “Transfer Agent”).
(q) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering received by it in a
manner consistent with the applications described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the
Prospectus.
(r) In the event any person or entity (regardless of any NASD affiliation or
association) is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to
provide any other merger and acquisition services, the Company will provide the following to
the NASD and the Representative prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i)
complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii)
justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger
19
and acquisition services should not be considered an “underwriter and related person”
with respect to the Company’s initial public offering, as such term is defined in Rule 2710
of the NASD’s 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.
(s) For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time
upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
or other registered independent public accountants.
(t) The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its registered independent public
accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (the
“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.
Additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any
portion of the over-allotment option, the Company shall immediately file a Current Report on
Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Option
Securities and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.
(u) 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 Securities.
(v) The Company shall cause the proceeds of the offering to be held in the Trust
Account to be invested only in “government securities,” as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act with specific maturity dates as set forth in the Trust Agreement and
disclosed in the Prospectus, or in one or more money market funds meeting the conditions
specified in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act. 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 be engaged in a
business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.
(w) Within five (5) Business Days following the consummation by the Company of a
Business Combination, the Company shall cause an announcement (“Business Combination
Announcement”) to be placed, at its cost, in The Wall Street Journal announcing the
consummation of the Business Combination and indicating that the Representative and
Ladenburg Xxxxxxxx & Co., Inc. were the underwriters in the Offering. The Company shall
supply the Representative with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide
the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon. The Company
will not place the Business Combination Announcement without the final approval of the
Representative, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
20
(x) The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized
but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of any of the Securities
outstanding from time to time.
(y) Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company 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 Account or
which vote as a class with the Common Stock on a Business Combination.
(z) Prior to the consummation of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Trust
Account, the Company shall cause its audit committee to review and approve all expense
reimbursements made to its officers, directors or senior advisors and any expense
reimbursements payable to members of the Company’s audit committee will be reviewed and
approved by the Company’s board of directors, with any interested directors abstaining from
such review and approval.
(aa) The Company agrees that it will not commence its due diligence investigation of
any operating business with which the Company seeks to effect a Business Combination (a
“Target Business”) or obtain the services of any vendor, unless and until such
Target Business or vendor 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 has read the
Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in
an amount of $289,050,000 (without giving effect to any exercise of the over-allotment
option) for the benefit of the public stockholders and that the Company may disburse monies
from the Trust Account only: (i) in the event the Company consummates a Business
Combination, (x) to any public stockholders who exercise their conversion rights, (y) to the
Underwriters in the amount of the Deferred Discount and (z) to the Company in the amount
remaining in the Trust Account following such payments to the public stockholders and the
Underwriters or (ii) to the public stockholders upon the liquidation of the Company; and (b)
(i) such Target Business for purposes of evaluating and/or consummating a Business
Combination with the Company, or (ii) such vendor in providing services to the Company, as
the case may be, agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any
kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account (“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 Account for any
reason.
(bb) The Company agrees: (i) that, prior to the consummation of any 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 public stockholders of Common Stock an aggregate sum equal to the
21
Company’s “Liquidation Value.” With respect to the Business Combination Vote,
the Company shall cause all of the Founders to vote the shares of Common Stock owned by them
immediately prior to this offering in the same manner as a majority of the public
stockholders of the Common Stock. Additionally, all Founders have agreed to vote all Common
Stock acquired by them in or after the offering in favor of the Business Combination. At
the time the Company seeks approval of any potential Business Combination, the Company will
offer each of the public stockholders of the Company’s Common Stock the right to redeem such
Common Stock at a per share price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the amount in
the Trust Account (inclusive of any interest income, net of income taxes payable on such
interest and net of interest income up to $4,500,000.00 previously released to the Company
to fund its working capital requirements) on the record date for determination of
stockholders entitled to vote upon the proposal to approve such Business Combination (the
“Record Date”) divided by the total number of shares of Common Stock held by the
public stockholders. The Company’s “Liquidation Value” shall mean the Company’s
book value, as determined by the Company and audited by Xxxxxxxxx Kass. In no event,
however, will the Company’s Liquidation Value be less than the amount in the Trust Account,
inclusive of any interest income (net of income taxes) thereon and net of interest income up
to $4,500,000.00 previously released to the Company to fund its working capital
requirements. If holders of less than 20% of the Common Stock purchased in this offering
exercise their conversion rights, the Company may, but will not be required to, proceed with
such Business Combination. If the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem shares,
based upon the Redemption Price, from those holders of Common Stock purchased in this
offering who affirmatively requested such conversion and who voted against the Business
Combination. Only public stockholders of Common Stock 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. If holders of 20% or more of
the Common Stock sold in this offering vote against approval of any potential Business
Combination, the Company will not proceed with such Business Combination and will not redeem
such shares.
(cc) 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 “xxxxx stock” as defined in Rule
3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.
(dd) The Company has not prepared or used a Free Writing Prospectus.
(ee) The Company agrees that the initial target business that it acquires must have a
fair market value equal to at least 80% of the amount in the Trust Account at the time of
such acquisition. The fair market value of such business must be determined by the Board of
Directors 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
Directors of the Company is not able to independently determine that the target business has
a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance of the Trust Account (excluding deferred
underwriting discounts and commissions) at the time of
22
such acquisition, 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. The Company is not required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking
firm as to the fair market value of the target business if the Company’s Board of Directors
independently determines that the target business does have sufficient fair market value.
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be,
shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to
Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder
and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice that would prevent its use shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the
Company’s knowledge, threatened.
(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Xxxxxxxxx Traurig, LLP, counsel for the
Company, to have furnished to the Representative their opinion, dated the Closing Date and
addressed to the Representative, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(c) The Representative shall have received from Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP,
counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed
to the Representative, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (together with any
supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require,
and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate of the
Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the principal financial or accounting
officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus,
the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
23
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included
in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether or not
arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
thereto).
(e) The Company shall have requested and caused Xxxxxxxxx Kass to have furnished to the
Representative, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters, dated respectively
as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representative, confirming that they are registered independent accountants within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission
thereunder and that they have not, during the periods covered by the financial statements
included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit
services, as such term is used in Section 10(A)(g) of the Exchange Act, and stating in
effect that:
(i) in their opinion the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
(ii) on the basis of a limited review, which included a reading of the
latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company for the
[•]-month period ended [•], 2006, and as at [•], 2006; carrying out certain
specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of
significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a
reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and
various committees of the board of directors; and inquiries of certain
officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters of the Company as to transactions and events subsequent
to [•], 2006, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe
that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements included in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and with the related rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission with respect to registration statements on Form S-1; and
said unaudited financial statements are not in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a basis substantially
24
consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to [•], 2006, there were any changes,
at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of the letter, in the
long-term debt of the Company or capital stock of the Company or decreases in the
stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the [•],
2006 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for
the period from inception to such specified date there were any decreases in net
loss or loss before income taxes (benefit) or in total or per share amounts of net
loss of the Company, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in
such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the
Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
necessary by the Representative;
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a
result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting,
financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial
or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of
the Company) set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
including the information set forth under the captions “Dilution” and
“Capitalization” in the Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of
the Company, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any supplement thereto at
the date of the letter.
(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the
Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change
or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section
6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company, whether
or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any
supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii)
above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as
contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative
such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably
request.
25
(h) The Units, the Warrants and the Common Stock have been duly listed, and admitted
and authorized for trading, on the American Stock Exchange, and satisfactory evidence of
such actions shall have been provided to the Representative.
(i) On the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received from the Company
executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founders’ Unit
Subscription Agreement, the Sponsors’ Warrant and Co-Investment Unit Subscription Agreement,
the Services Agreement and the Insider Letters.
(j) At the Execution Time, the Company shall have requested and caused each of the
Founders to have executed and furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the
Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, to the effect that, except as described in
the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, contracts, agreements or
understandings relating to the payment of a brokerage commission or finder’s, consulting,
origination or similar fee by such Founders with respect to the sale of the Securities
hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of such Founders that may
affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the NASD.
(k) Each of the Founders shall have purchased the Founders’ Units and the Founders’
Warrants, and the proceeds of such purchases shall have been deposited in the Trust Account.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as
provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere
in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative
and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder
may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representative. Notice of
such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed
in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000, on the Closing Date.
7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided
for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set
forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10
hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Founders
to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed
purchase and sale of the Securities.
8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each
26
Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act
or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several,
to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement
for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company
by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for inclusion therein.
This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or
the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to each Underwriter, but
only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for
inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement
will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company
acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding
delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting”, (i) the list of
Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (ii) the
sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iii) the paragraph related to
stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on
behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of
the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying
party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to
the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the
forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not,
in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party
other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The
indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice
at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the
27
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any
separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to
represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the
reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel
chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available
to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a
reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying
party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the
indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified
parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement,
compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the
Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company
and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the
Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided,
however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any
agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for
any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities
purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally
shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative
benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall
be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be
equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the
cover page of
28
the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the
Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to
above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of 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. For
purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of
either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an
Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person
who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each
officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of
the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case
to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase
and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters
hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or
their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to
take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth
opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth
opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that
in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities
set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all,
but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting
Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to
any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set
forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five
Business Days, as the Representative shall determine in order that the required changes in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be
effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its
liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its
default hereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute
discretion of the Representative, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment
for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the Company’s Units, Common
Stock or Warrants shall have been suspended by the Commission, the Company shall not have obtained
approval for trading of the Common Stock, Warrants, or Units on the American Stock Exchange, or
trading in securities generally on the American Stock Exchange
29
shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such
Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State
authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities,
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the
effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the
Representative, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the
Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements,
representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of
the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or
any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8
hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7
and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on
receipt, and, if sent to the Representative, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax no.: (000) 000-0000) and confirmed to the
General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000,
Attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to
Freedom Acquisition Holdings, Inc., 1114 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, attention of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer (fax no.:
(000) 000-0000), and confirmed to Xxxx X. Annex, Esq., Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP, MetLife Building,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax no.: (000) 000-0000).
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and
controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder.
14. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale
of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on
the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the
Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the
Underwriters in connection with the
offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any
other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own
judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has
advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that
it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect,
or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or
the process leading thereto.
30
15. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
(whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to
the subject matter hereof.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the
State of New York.
17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
19. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.
20. Definitions. The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings indicated.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day
on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New
York City.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any
post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or
become effective.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by
the parties hereto.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a)
above and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date
that omits Rule 430A Information.
31
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall
mean the form of final prospectus relating to the Securities included in the Registration Statement
at the Effective Date.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a)
above, including exhibits and financial statements, as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not
effective at the Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become effective) and, in the event
any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective
prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Such term shall include any Rule 430A
Information deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.
“Rule 158,” “Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 430A” and “Rule
462” refer to such rules under the Act.
“Rule 430A Information” shall mean information with respect to the Securities and the offering
thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant
to Rule 430A.
“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments
thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration
statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.
32
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall
represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours, Freedom Acquisition Holdings, Inc. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
33
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
Title:
For itself and the other
several Underwriters named in
Schedule I to the foregoing
Agreement.
several Underwriters named in
Schedule I to the foregoing
Agreement.
34
SCHEDULE I
Number of Underwritten Securities | ||||
Underwriters | to be Purchased | |||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
[•] | |||
Ladenburg Xxxxxxxx & Co. Inc. |
[•] | |||
Total |
30,000,000 | |||