WARRANT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.7
This WARRANT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of [August ], 2012 between FLATWORLD ACQUISITION CORP., a British Virgin Islands business company limited by shares (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, with offices at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (“Warrant Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Agreement and Plan of Reorganization”) as of July 26, 2012 by and among the Company, Orchid Island Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Orchid Island”), Bimini Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Bimini”), Bimini Advisors, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“Bimini Advisors”), FTWA Orchid Merger Sub LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), and FWAC Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands business company limited by shares (“FWAC Holdings”), and intend to effect the merger of Orchid Island with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain FWAC Holdings Share Repurchase Agreement dated as of July 26, 2012 (the “FWAC Holdings Share Repurchase Agreement”), upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company has agreed to repurchase all 573,875 ordinary shares of the Company, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), held by FWAC Holdings, for an aggregate of $1,154,281.00 in cash and 2,000,000 newly issued Warrants (“New Sponsor Warrants”), each of such New Sponsor Warrants evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share for $9.25, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, following the consummation of the repurchase of FWAC Holding’s Ordinary Shares pursuant to the FWAC Holdings Share Repurchase Agreement, the Company intends to effect a dividend of one new Warrant for each then outstanding Ordinary Share of the Company (the “New Public Warrants,” and collectively with the New Sponsor Warrants, the “Warrants”), each of such New Public Warrants evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share for $9.50, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and
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provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
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Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
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2.
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Warrants.
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2.1
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Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President and the Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
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2.2. Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3. Registration.
2.3.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.
2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant Register
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(“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Warrant Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4 New Sponsor Warrants. The New Sponsor Warrants will be issued in the same form as the New Public Warrants but they (i) may be exercised for unregistered shares if a registration statement relating to the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is not effective and current, subject to Section 3.3.2 (ii) herein and (ii) will be issued with a Warrant Price (as defined below) of $9.25.
3.
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Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
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3.1
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Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of (i) with respect to the New Public Warrants, $9.50 per whole share and (ii) with respect to the New Sponsor Warrants, $9.25 per whole share, in each case subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Warrant Agreement refers to the price per share at which Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days, provided that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants then outstanding.
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3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period commencing on the date of issuance (the “Effective Date”) and terminating at 5:00 P.M., New York City time on the earlier to occur of (i) three years from the Effective Date; or (ii) the Redemption Date as provided in Section 6.2 of this Agreement (as applicable, the “Expiration Date”). Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6 hereunder), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Expiration Date. The Company, in its sole discretion, may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, however, the Company will provide notice to registered holders of the Warrants of such extension of not less than twenty (20) days prior to the Expiration Date and, further provided that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all of the Warrants then outstanding.
3.3. Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Warrant Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the registered holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant
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Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full (in lawful money of the United States, good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent) the Warrant Price for each full share of Ordinary Shares as to which the Warrant is exercised and for any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the Ordinary Shares and the issuance of such Ordinary Shares.
3.3.2. Issuance of Certificates. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Warrant a certificate or certificates for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new countersigned Warrant for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any securities pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the New Public Warrants is effective, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations under Section 7.4 or (ii) solely with respect to the New Sponsor Warrants, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, the exercise of the Warrants is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act and such securities are qualified for sale or exempt from qualification under applicable securities laws of the states or other jurisdictions in which the registered holders reside. In the event that a registration statement with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying a New Public Warrant is not effective under the Act, the holder of such New Public Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. Notwithstanding any other terms herein, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Warrant exercise. Warrants may not be exercised by, or securities issued to, any registered holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful.
3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3.3.4. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which the Warrant was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the share transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books are open.
3.3.5. Maximum Percentage. The Warrants shall not be exercisable to the extent that, as a result of the exercise of the Warrants, any Person would Beneficially
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Own or Constructively Own Ordinary Shares in excess of the Maximum Percentage. For this purpose, “Maximum Percentage” shall mean nine and eight-tenths percent (9.8%) in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, excluding any outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes; “Person” shall mean shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a “group” as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); “Beneficially Own” shall mean ownership of capital stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of capital stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) and Section 856(h)(3)(A) of the Code; and “Constructively Own” shall mean ownership of capital stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of capital stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm in writing to such holder the number of Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares was reported. For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Business Day” means any day on which federally chartered retail banks are typically open for business in New York, New York.
3.3.6 Restrictions on Exercise of Warrants. In no event will the Company be required to settle the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis.
3.3.7 Option to Pay Cash in Lieu of Issuing Ordinary Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, upon the valid exercise of a Warrant pursuant to this Section 3.3, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, in lieu of issuing some or all of the Ordinary Shares that are issuable to the holder as a result of the exercise of the Warrant, to pay cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such Ordinary Shares. If the Company exercises this right, it shall cause the cash payment in respect of such Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant to be paid to the holder within three Business Days following the Warrant Share Delivery Date. The “Fair Market Value” for purposes of this Section 3.3.7 shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported by Bloomberg for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the third Business Day prior to but not including the date on which the properly completed and executed Exercise Notice is delivered to the Warrant Agent by the holder exercising the Warrant.
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4.
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Adjustments.
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4.1.1 Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares, or by a split-up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding Ordinary Shares. A rights offering to all holders of the Ordinary Shares entitling holders to purchase Ordinary Shares at a price less than the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a share dividend of a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the product of (i) the number of Ordinary Shares actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities actually sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares) multiplied by (ii) the quotient of (x) the Fair Market Value less the price per share of the Ordinary Shares paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for the Ordinary Shares, in determining the price payable for the Ordinary Shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported by Bloomberg for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the Ordinary Shares trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Ordinary Shares.
4.3 Adjustments in Warrant Price and Redemption Threshold. Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 and 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter. Whenever the Warrant Price is adjusted, the Redemption Threshold (defined in subsection 6.1) shall be adjusted to equal (i) with respect to the New Public Warrants, 110.5% of the Warrant Price and (ii) with respect to the New Sponsor Warrants, 113.5% of the Warrant Price.
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4.4. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any
reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Ordinary Shares of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of the Ordinary Shares were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Ordinary Shares in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Ordinary Shares under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Ordinary Shares held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by subsections 4.1.1 or 4.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsections 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.
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4.5. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, then, in any such event, the Company shall give written notice to each Warrant holder, at the last address set forth for such holder in the warrant register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.6. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round up to the nearest whole number, the number of the Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder.
4.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
5.
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Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
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5.1
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Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
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5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the registered holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
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5.3. Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a warrant certificate for a fraction of a warrant.
5.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
6.
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Redemption.
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6.1
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Redemption. Not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon the notice to the registered holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.2 below, at the price of $.01 per Warrant (“Redemption Price”), provided that the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares as reported on Bloomberg has been at least $10.50 per share (the “Redemption Threshold,” subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period ending on the third Business Day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given, provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants for the continuous period beginning on the date on which notice is given and ending on the Redemption Date.
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6.2. Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date to the registered holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder received such notice.
6.3. Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.
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7.
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Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
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7.1
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No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.
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7.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4. Registration of the Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days after issuance of the Warrants, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Commission a registration statement, for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and it shall use its best efforts to take such action as is necessary to qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company, the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
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Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
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8.1
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Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.
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8.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.
8.2.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in
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place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
8.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1. Remuneration. In connection with its services as Warrant Agent, the Company agrees to pay to the Warrant Agent the fee set forth on Schedule A to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent.
8.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
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8.4. Liability of Warrant Agent.
8.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.
8.4.3. Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.
8.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of Ordinary Shares through the exercise of Warrants.
9.
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Miscellaneous Provisions.
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9.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to
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or on the Company shall addressed as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Compliance Department
in all cases, with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
FlatWorld Acquisition Corp.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
and
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. XxXxx
All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be: (i) in writing and delivered personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the Business Day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) Business Day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
9.3. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenience forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt
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requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.
9.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Warrants, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Warrants.
9.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.
9.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders. Except as provided or permitted herein, all other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period and any amendment to the terms of only the New Sponsor Warrants, shall require the written consent of the registered holders of 65% of the then outstanding New Public Warrants. Further, no New Sponsor Warrants shall be voted in favor of such amendment unless the registered holders of 65% of the New Public Warrants vote in favor of such amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the registered holders. The Warrant Agent may require an opinion of the Company’s counsel as to the validity of a proposed amendment as a condition of its execution of such amendment.
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9.9 Severability. This Warrant Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Warrant Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Warrant Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
9.10 Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the joint product of the Warrant Agent and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
FLATWORLD ACQUISITION CORP.
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
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Exhibit A
SPECIMEN WARRANT CERTIFICATE
NUMBER
WARRANTS
W-___________
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(THIS WARRANT WILL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M.
NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON [THREE YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE])
FLATWORLD ACQUISITION CORP.
CUSIP [ ]
WARRANT
THIS WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for value received
or registered agents, is the registered holder of a Warrant or Warrants expiring on [three years after the Effective Date] (the “Warrant”) to purchase one fully paid and non-assessable ordinary share, no par value per share (the “Shares”), of FLATWORLD ACQUISITION CORP., a British Virgin Islands business company limited by shares (the “Company”), for each Warrant evidenced by this certificate (the “Warrant Certificate”).
Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Share, at a price of $[9.25 for New Sponsor Warrants][9.50 for New Public Warrants] per Share (the “Warrant Price”), subject to adjustment. Each Warrant is exercisable upon issuance and will expire unless exercised before 5 p.m. New York City time on the date that is [three years after the Effective Date], or earlier upon redemption (the “Expiration Date”). The Company shall only be obligated to issue ordinary shares upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (such payment to be made in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement (defined below)). Except as set forth in the Warrant Agreement, in no event shall the registered holder(s) of this Warrant be entitled to receive a net-cash settlement, Shares or other consideration in lieu of physical settlement in Shares of the Company. The term Warrant Price as used in this Warrant Certificate refers to the price per Share at which Shares may be purchased at the time the Warrant is exercised.
No fraction of a Share will be issued upon any exercise of a Warrant. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a Share, the Company will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of Shares to be issued to the warrant holder.
Upon any exercise of the Warrant for less than the total number of full Shares provided for herein, there shall be issued to the registered holder(s) hereof or its assignee(s) a new Warrant Certificate covering the number of Shares for which the Warrant has not been exercised.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent by the registered holder(s) hereof in person or by attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Warrant Certificate at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent, a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any applicable tax or other governmental charge.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered holder(s) as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone) for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder(s), and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
This Warrant does not entitle the registered holder(s) to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.
The Company reserves the right to redeem the Warrant at any time prior to its exercise, with a notice of redemption in writing to the holder(s) of record of the Warrant, giving 30 days’ notice of such redemption at any time after the Warrant becomes exercisable if the volume weighted average price of the Shares as reported on Bloomberg has been at least $[10.50] per share on each of 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of such redemption is given and there is an effective registration statement covering the Shares underlying the Warrants for the continuous period beginning on the date on which notice is given and ending on the date of redemption. The redemption price of the Warrants is to be $.01 per Warrant. Any Warrant either not exercised or tendered back to the Company by the end of the date specified in the notice of redemption shall be canceled on the books of the Company and have no further value except for the $.01 redemption price.
Exhibit A
The terms of the Warrants are subject to and qualified in their entirety by that certain Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, dated [August ], 2012, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, and are available to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost. Further, the Warrant Agreement provides that, upon the occurrence of certain events, the Warrant Price and the number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder, set forth on the face hereof, may be adjusted, subject to certain conditions.
COUNTERSIGNED:
CONTINTENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
WARRANT AGENT
BY:
AUTHORIZED OFFICER
DATED:
(Signature)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
(Seal)
(Signature)
SECRETARY
Exhibit A
[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder(s) in Order to Exercise Warrants
The undersigned Registered Holder(s) irrevocably elect(s) to exercise _________ Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and to purchase the Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants, and requests that Certificates for such shares shall be issued in the name(s) of
___________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME(S) AND ADDRESS)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))
and be delivered to _____________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS)
and, if such number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Warrant Certificate for the balance of such Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the Registered Holder(s) at the address(es) stated below:
Dated:
_________________________________
(SIGNATURE(S))
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
(ADDRESS(ES))
_________________________________
(TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))
Exhibit A
ASSIGNMENT
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order to Assign Warrants
For Value Received,_____________________hereby sell(s), assign(s), and transfer(s) unto
_____________________________________________________
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES))
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))
and be delivered to
_____________________________________________________
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(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES))
of the Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitute and
appoint________________________________Attorney to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
_____________________________
(SIGNATURE(S))
Notice: The signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name(s) as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15).
THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE NAME(S) WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER, AND MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY OR A MEMBER FIRM OF THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE OR CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE.