ESCROW AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.11
ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of
[ ], 2012 (“Agreement”), by and among Chart Acquisition Group, LLC (the “Representative”),
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (“Xxxxxx”), and Cowen Overseas Investment LP (“Cowen Overseas,” together with Xxxxxx and
the Representative, the “Warrant Purchasers”), Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation
(“Escrow Agent”) and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (“DB”) and Xxxxx and Company, LLC
(“Cowen”), with DB and Cowen acting as representatives of the several Underwriters (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Warrant Purchasers have agreed to establish an escrow account to deposit certain funds with the Escrow Agent for the benefit of the holders of warrants (the “Beneficiaries”) issued by Chart Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) in its initial public offering (the “IPO”) being underwritten by the underwriters in connection thereof , including DB and Cowen (the “Underwriters”) , in an amount of TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND and 00/100 ($2,250,000.00) U.S. Dollars (the “Escrow Asset”), which amount shall be distributed, from time to time in accordance with the procedures set forth below;
WHEREAS, the Warrant Purchasers have collectively committed to offer to purchase up to 3,750,000 of the Company’s issued and outstanding warrants offered in the IPO (the “Warrants”) at a purchase price of $0.60 per Warrant in a proposed tender offer as described in the Registration Statement. The Beneficiaries that have tendered Warrants purchased by the Warrant Purchasers in such tender offer are hereinafter referred to as the “Tendering Beneficiaries.”)
WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into in connection with the IPO, as described in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-177280 (“Registration Statement”), to govern the distribution of the Escrow Asset.
WHEREAS, the Warrant Purchasers desire that the Escrow Agent accept the Escrow Asset in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.
IT IS AGREED:
1. Appointment of Escrow Agent and Representative.
1.1 The Warrant Purchasers hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.
1.2 The Warrant Purchasers hereby appoint the Representative as their representative to act on behalf of the Warrant Purchasers as their duly authorized agent with respect to all matters governed by this Agreement and the Representative hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to the terms hereof.
2. Deposit of Escrow Asset. 24 hours prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Effective Date”), the Warrant Purchasers shall deliver to the Escrow Agent the Escrow Asset in the amounts set forth in Schedule 1 hereto, to be held and deposited by Escrow Agent in an interest bearing account at X.X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx Bank N.A., maintained by the Escrow Agent, which shall be disbursed only in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Escrow Asset will be invested only in United States treasuries with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds that invest solely in United States treasuries.
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3. Disbursement and Reduction of the Escrow Asset.
3.1 The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Asset during the period (the “Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and ending upon the earlier of (each a “Termination Event”) (i) the Company’s consummation of an initial business combination as described in the Registration Statement (“Business Combination”) or (ii) the Company’s failure to consummate a Business Combination within the required time period as described in the Registration Statement. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall promptly commence the distribution of the Escrow Asset (excluding any interest earned thereon) to the Beneficiaries upon receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a joint letter (the “Direction Letter”) in accordance with Sections 3.3 or 3.4, as applicable, hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent may distribute a certain portion of the Escrow Asset pursuant to Section 3.2 herein.
3.2 During the Escrow Period, upon written request from the Representative, which may be given from time to time pursuant to a letter (the “Interest Reduction Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Escrow Agent shall reduce the amount of the Escrow Asset and distribute to the Warrant Purchasers by wire transfer the income collected on the Escrow Asset
3.3 If the Termination Event is the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination, Escrow Agent shall distribute the Escrow Asset pro-rata to the Tendering Beneficiaries upon Escrow Agent’s receipt of a Direction Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit B, stating that that the Company has consummated its initial business combination, as set forth in the Registration Statement and a concurrent tender offer has also been consummated for up to 3,750,000 of the Company’s Warrants issued (but not private warrants), such that each Tendering Beneficiary will receive an amount equal to $0.60 per Warrant for each Warrant validly tendered and not properly withdrawn on a pro rata basis as applicable. The Escrow Agent will distribute all validly tendered and acquired Warrants to the Warrant Purchasers on a pro rata basis.
3.4 If the Termination Event is the Company’s failure to consummate a Business Combination, Escrow Agent shall distribute the Escrow Asset pro-rata to the Beneficiaries upon Escrow Agent’s receipt of a Direction Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C, stating that the Company did not consummate a proposed business combination within the time period set forth in the Registration Statement, and the Warrant Purchasers must distribute the Escrow Asset such that each Beneficiary receives a pro rated amount of the Escrow Asset per Warrant for each Warrant then held by such Beneficiary.
4. Concerning the Escrow Agent.
4.1 Good Faith Reliance. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Escrow Agent), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.
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4.2 Indemnification. The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Warrant Purchasers from and against any expenses, including counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Asset held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Asset or it may deposit the Escrow Asset with the clerk of any appropriate court or it may retain the Escrow Asset pending receipt of a final, non appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Asset are to be disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 4.2 shall survive in the event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 4.5 or 4.6 below.
4.3 Compensation. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Warrant Purchasers for all services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Warrant Purchasers for all expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.
4.4 Further Assurances. From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Warrant Purchasers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.
4.5 Resignation. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over to a successor escrow agent appointed jointly by DB and Cowen, the Escrow Asset held hereunder. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60 day period following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Asset with any court it reasonably deems appropriate.
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4.6 Discharge of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by the other parties hereto, jointly, provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as provided in Section 4.5.
4.7 Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own willful misconduct.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall for all purposes be deemed to be made under and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
5.2 Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the Warrant Purchasers hereby acknowledges that the Beneficiaries are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
5.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the party to the charged.
5.4 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.
5.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties hereto and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.
5.6 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and either be delivered personally or be mailed, certified or registered mail, or by private national courier service, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or, if mailed, two days after the date of mailing, as follows:
If to the Warrant Purchasers, to the Representative:
c/a The Chart Group, LLC
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Attn: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
and if to the Escrow Agent, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman
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And if to DB, to:
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
And if to Cowen, to:
Xxxxx and Company, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: [ ]
A copy of any notice sent hereunder shall be sent to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
and:
Ellenoff Xxxxxxxx & Schole LLP
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.
[Signature Page Follows]
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WITNESS the execution of this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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WARRANT PURCHASERS:
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CHART ACQUISITION GROUP, LLC
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(as a Warrant Purchaser and its capacity as Representative)
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By:
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Name:
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COWEN OVERSEAS INVESTMENTS LP
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| ESCROW AGENT: |
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
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DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
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XXXXX AND COMPANY, LLC
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SCHEDULE 1
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WARRANT PURCHASER
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PERCENTAGE
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AMOUNT
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EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx XxXxxxx
Re: Escrow Account No.
[ ] - Interest Reduction Letter
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Escrow Agreement by and among Chart
Acquisition Group, LLC (the “Representative”), Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, and Cowen Overseas Investment LP (“Cowen
Overseas,” and together with Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and the Representative, the “Warrant Purchasers”), Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York
corporation (“Escrow Agent”) and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Xxxxx and Company, LLC, dated as of ________, 2012
(the “Escrow Agreement”), the Representative hereby requests that you deliver to it $_______ of the interest income earned on the Escrow Asset as of the date hereof as
follows.
[LIST WARRANT PURCHASERS AND AMOUNTS]
In accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement, you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to the Warrant Purchasers’ operating accounts at:
[WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
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Chart Acquisition Group, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
Xxxxx and Company, LLC
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EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx Di Paolo
Re: Escrow Account No. [ ] - Direction Letter
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Escrow Agreement between Chart Acquisition
Group, LLC (the “Representative”), Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, and Cowen Overseas Investment LP (“Cowen Overseas,”
and together with Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and the Representative, the “Warrant Purchasers”), Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation
(“Escrow Agent”) and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Xxxxx and Company, LLC, dated as of ________, 2012
(the “Escrow Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has consummated a business combination with [ ]
(the “Target Businesses”) on [ ] (the “Consummation
Date”). Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Escrow Agreement.
Pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Escrow Agreement, you are hereby directed to distribute the Escrow Asset (less any interest earned thereon) pro-rata to the Tendering Beneficiaries because the Company has consummated its initial business combination, as set forth in the Registration Statement and a concurrent tender offer has also been consummated for up to 3,750,000 of the Company’s Warrants (but not private warrants) issued, such that each Tendering Beneficiary is entitled to receive an amount equal to $0.60 per Warrant for each Warrant validly tendered and not properly withdrawn (pro rated as applicable). The balance of the Escrow Asset, if any, should be returned to the Warrant Purchasers’ operating accounts at: [WIRE INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
Upon the distribution of all Escrow Asset pursuant to the terms hereof, the Escrow Agreement shall be terminated.
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Very truly yours,
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Chart Acquisition Group, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Deutsche
Bank Securities, Inc.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Xxxxx and Company, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxx Di Paolo
Re: Escrow Account No. [ ] - Direction Letter
Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Escrow Agreement between Chart Acquisition Group,
LLC (the “Representative”), Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, and Cowen Overseas Investment LP (“Cowen Overseas,” and
together with Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and the Representative, the “Warrant Purchasers”), Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation
(“Escrow Agent”) and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Xxxxx and Company, LLC, dated as of ________, 2012 (the
“Escrow Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Escrow Agreement. Pursuant to
Section 3.4 of the Escrow Agreement, this is to advise you that the Company did not consummate a proposed business combination within the time period set forth in the Registration Statement, and the Warrant Purchasers must distribute the Escrow Asset
such that each Beneficiary receives a pro rated amount of the Escrow Asset per Warrant for each Warrant then held by such Beneficiary.
In accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement, you are hereby
directed to distribute the Escrow Asset on [ ] to the warrantholders. [ ] has been selected as the “record” date for the purpose of determining the warantholders
entitled to receive their pro rata share of the Escrow Asset (less interest earned thereon). You agree to be the paying agent of record and in your separate capacity as paying agent to distribute said funds directly to the Company’s
warrantholders (other than with respect to the private warrants) in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement. Upon the distribution of all of the funds comprising the Escrow Asset, your obligations under the Escrow Agreement shall
be terminated.
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Very truly yours,
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Chart Acquisition Group, LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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cc: Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.
Xxxxx and Company, LLC
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