UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
17,500,000 Units
G&P ACQUISITION CORP.
March 10, 2021
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
G&P acquisition cORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell an aggregate of 17,500,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company to the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule I to this agreement (this “Agreement”). The Company has also agreed to grant to the Underwriters an option (the “Option”) to purchase up to an additional 2,625,000 units (the “Option Units”) on the terms set forth in Section 1(b) hereof. The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units.”
Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant, where each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “Warrant(s)”). The shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Units will not trade separately until the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus (as defined below) (unless the Underwriters inform the Company of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to (a) the Company’s preparation of an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering (as defined below), (b) the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on a Current Report on Form 8-K or similar form by the Company and (c) the Company having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin). Each whole Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, during the period commencing on the later of (x) 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (as defined below) and (y) twelve months from the Closing Date (as defined below), and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such initial Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or the liquidation of the Company in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period indicated in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Liquidation”); provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), a Warrant may not be exercised for a fractional share and only whole Warrants are exercisable. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” (as described more fully in the Prospectus) shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
The Company has entered into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, effective as of March 10, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), as trustee, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (as defined below), pursuant to which the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) and the Offering will be deposited and held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Company, the Underwriters and the holders of the Firm Units and the Option Units, if and when issued in each case as described more fully in the Prospectus.
The Company has entered into a Warrant Agreement, effective as of March 10, 2021 (the “Warrant Agreement”), with Continental, as warrant agent, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement, with respect to the Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (the “Working Capital Warrants”), pursuant to which Continental will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants.
The Company has entered into a Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2020 (the “Founder’s Purchase Agreement”), with G&P Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof, the “Founder Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On March 10, 2021, the Sponsor forfeited 718,750 Founder Shares back to the Company for no consideration, resulting in an aggregate of 5,031,250 Founder Shares outstanding. The Founder Shares are substantially similar to the shares of Common Stock included in the Units, except as described in the Prospectus.
The Company has entered into a Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, effective as of March 10, 2021 (the “Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement”), with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 7,250,000 warrants (or 8,037,500 warrants if the option to purchase the Option Units is exercised in full), at a price of $1.00 per warrant, each entitling the holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Common Stock for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (the “Private Placement Warrants”). The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Warrants included in the Units, except as described in the Prospectus.
The Company has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2021 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), with the Sponsor and certain other security holders party thereto, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement , pursuant to which the Company has granted certain registration rights in respect of the Private Placement Warrants, the Founder Shares, the shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants, the Working Capital Warrants and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Working Capital Warrants as described in the Prospectus.
The Company has caused to be duly executed and delivered a letter agreement, dated March 10, 2021 (the “Insider Letter”), by and among the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement.
The Company has entered into an Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2021 (the “Administrative Services Agreement”), with the Sponsor, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement, pursuant to which the Company will pay to the Sponsor an aggregate monthly fee of $20,000 for office space and administrative and support services from the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement until the earlier of the consummation of an Initial Business Combination and the Company’s liquidation.
The Company confirms as follows its agreement with the Underwriters:
1. Agreement to Sell and Purchase.
(a) Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters and each of the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per Unit of $9.80 (the “Purchase Price”), the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I, plus such additional number of Firm Units which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 8 hereof.
(b) Purchase of Option Units. Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company grants the Option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, all or less than all of the Option Units at the Purchase Price less an amount per Unit equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Units but not payable on the Option Units. The Option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Units by the Underwriters. The Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 45th day after the date of this Agreement, upon written notice (the “Option Units Notice”) by the Underwriters to the Company no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon), New York City time, at least two and no more than five business days (or such shorter period as the Company may agree to in its sole and absolute discretion) before the date specified for closing in the Option Units Notice (the “Option Closing Date”) setting forth the aggregate number of Option Units to be purchased and the time and date for such purchase. On any Option Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell to the Underwriters the number of Option Units set forth in the Option Units Notice and each Underwriter shall purchase from the Company such percentage of the Option Units as is equal to the percentage of Firm Units that such Underwriter is purchasing, as adjusted by the Underwriters in such manner as they deem advisable to avoid fractional shares.
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(c) Deferred Discount. In addition to the discount from the public offering price represented by the Purchase Price set forth in Section 1(a) hereof, and subject to Section 4(hh) hereof, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters a deferred discount of $0.35 per Unit (including both Firm Units and Option Units) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred Discount”). Subject to Section 4(hh), the Deferred Discount shall be allocated to each Underwriter in proportion to the number of Units such Underwriter purchases pursuant to this Agreement (including both Firm Units and Option Units) as compared to the total number of Units purchased by the Underwriters collectively. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Business Combination is consummated within the time period provided in the Trust Agreement and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the funds held under the Trust Agreement are distributed to the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units sold pursuant to this Agreement (the “Public Stockholders,” which term shall include any officers or directors of the Company solely to the extent they hold any Public Stock (as defined below)), (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 on a pro rata basis.
2. Delivery and Payment.
(a) Closing. Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to the Underwriters through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters against payment of the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company. Such payment shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the second business day (the third business day, should the offering be priced after 4:00 p.m., New York City time) after the date on which the first bona fide offering of the Firm Units to the public is made by the Underwriters or at such time on such other date, not later than ten business days after such date, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”).
(b) Option Closing. To the extent the Option is exercised, delivery of the Option Units against payment by the Underwriters (in the manner and at the location specified above) shall take place at the time and date (which may be the Closing Date, but not earlier than the Closing Date) specified in the Option Units Notice.
(c) Electronic Transfer. Electronic transfer of Units shall be made at the time of purchase in such names and in such denominations as the Underwriters shall specify.
(d) Stamp Tax. The Company shall pay, bear and hold the Underwriters harmless against any stamp duty, stamp duty reserve tax, and any other issue, transfer, registration, documentary, value added tax or sales tax or duty in any jurisdiction (“Stamp Tax”) which is payable in connection with: (i) the execution, delivery, consummation or enforcement of this Agreement; (ii) the grant, exercise or lapsing of the Option; (iii) the creation, allotment, or issue of any Units; (iv) the initial entry of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants into the facilities of DTC; (v) the acquisition of the Units by, or crediting or delivery of the Units to or for the account of, the Underwriters (or any purchasers or subscribers procured by the Underwriters); or (vi) the sale and/or delivery of any Units by any Underwriter to any initial purchaser in the manner contemplated in this Agreement.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and covenants with, each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. A registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-253089) relating to the Units, including a preliminary prospectus and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been required to the date of this Agreement, has been prepared by the Company under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively referred to as the “Rules and Regulations”), and has been filed with the Commission. Copies of such registration statement and of each amendment thereto, if any, including the related preliminary prospectuses, heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission have been delivered to the Underwriters. The term “Registration Statement” means the registration statement as amended at the time it becomes or became effective, including financial statements and all exhibits and any information deemed to be included therein by Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C of the Rules and Regulations, as applicable. If the Company files a registration statement to register a portion of the Units and relies on Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations for such registration statement to become effective upon filing with the Commission (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference to the “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include the Rule 462 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time. The term “preliminary prospectus” as used herein means a preliminary prospectus as contemplated by Rule 430, Rule 430A or Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations included at any time as part of, or deemed to be part of or included in, the registration statement. The term “Prospectus” means the final prospectus in connection with this offering as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or, if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the effective date. The term “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act. The term “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.
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(b) Effectiveness of Registration. The Registration Statement, any Rule 462 Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (if any) have been declared effective by the Commission under the Act or have become effective pursuant to Rule 462 of the Rules and Regulations. The Company has responded to all requests, if any, of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462 Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are threatened by the Commission.
(c) Accuracy of Registration Statement. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462 Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (if any), at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made. Each preliminary prospectus (including the preliminary prospectus or prospectuses filed as part of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto) complied when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering is identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”), except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. The foregoing representations and warranties in this Section 3(c) do not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. For all purposes of this Agreement, the amounts of the selling concession set forth in the Prospectus constitute the only information (the “Underwriters’ Information”) relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(d) Registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (file number 001-40164) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants, which registration is effective on the date hereof. The Units, the Common Stok and the Warrants have been duly authorized for listing or quotation, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts that is likely to adversely affect such authorization.
(e) Company Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement relating to the Units and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this Section 3(e), the Company was and is an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).
(f) Disclosure at the Time of Sale. As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), neither (i) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus related to this offering all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, nor (iii) any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the General Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the Underwriters’ Information.
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As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 10, 2021 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Underwriters.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations, relating to the Units that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “a written communication that is a road show” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Units or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g); provided, however, that a Written Testing-the-Waters Communication shall be deemed not to be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule II hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
(g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Underwriters’ Information. If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement relating to the Units or included or would include an untrue statement of material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Underwriters and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement, or omission.
(h) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the latest of the Closing Date, any Option Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Units, any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Units other than any Testing-the-Waters Communication made in compliance with Section 3(lll) hereof, the Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus, the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses reviewed and consented to by the Underwriters and included in Schedule II hereto, and the Prospectus.
(i) Due Incorporation.
(i) The Company is, and at the Closing Date will be, a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company has, and at the Closing Date will have, full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly licensed or qualified to do business in and in good standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary.
(ii) The Company has no subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).
(iii) The Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other entity.
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(j) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization.” All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any preemptive, first refusal, or similar right. The description of the Common Stock included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is now, and at the Closing Date will be, complete and accurate in all material respects. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not have outstanding, and at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date will not have outstanding, any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any such warrants, convertible securities or obligations. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no stockholder agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s share capital to which the Company is a party or to or between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.
(k) Issue of the Units. The Units have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein 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, and will conform to the description of the Units contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and the Underwriters will acquire good and marketable title to the Units, free and clear of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever.
(l) Issue of the Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock included in the Units have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment for the Units by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders, and such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar contractual rights granted by the Company.
(m) Issue of the Warrants. The Warrants included in the Units, when issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Units by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, 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.
(n) Exercise of the Warrants. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants, as applicable, and the Warrant Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders, such shares of Common Stock are 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 the authorization, issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock (other than such execution (if applicable), countersignature (if applicable) and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.
(o) Conversion of Founder Shares. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Founder Shares and, when issued and delivered upon conversion of the Founder Shares, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders, such shares of Common Stock are 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 the authorization, issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock (other than such execution (if applicable), countersignature (if applicable) and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.
(p) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) and schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the financial condition of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the respective periods covered thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied in the United States on a consistent basis throughout the entire period involved. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements included therein and the books and records of the Company. No other financial statements, schedules or reconciliations of “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) of the Company are required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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(q) Independent Accountants. Xxxxxx LLP (the “Accountants”), who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are (i) independent accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”), (ii) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X under the Act, and (iii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.
(r) No Material Adverse Changes. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been a material adverse change, or any development that would be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, assets, management, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or capitalization of the Company arising for any reason whatsoever (a “Material Adverse Change”), (ii) the Company has not incurred, nor will it incur, any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor has it entered into, nor will it enter into, any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business, other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein, (iii) the Company has not and will not have paid or declared any dividends or other distributions of any kind on any class of its capital stock and (iv) the Company has not altered its method of accounting.
(s) Investment Company. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Private Placement Warrants and the use of the proceeds therefrom as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(t) Litigation. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its officers in their capacity as such, before or by any foreign, federal or state court, commission, regulatory body, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and NYSE, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, wherein an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding could reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, management, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or capitalization of the Company or (ii) prevent or materially interfere with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder (any such effect, prevention or interference, a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company has not received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, franchise or permit. There are no pending investigations known to the Company involving the Company by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or its business or operations.
(u) Compliance with Laws and Regulations and Performance of Obligations and Contracts. The Company has, and at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date will have, (i) complied in all material respects with all laws, regulations and orders applicable to it or its business and (ii) performed all obligations required to be performed by it, and is not, and at the Closing Date will not be, in default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument (individually, a “Contract” and, collectively, “Contracts”) to which it is a party or by which its property is bound. To the knowledge of the Company, no other party under any Contract to which it is a party is in default in any respect thereunder or has given written or oral notice to the Company or any of its officers or directors of such other party’s intention to terminate, cancel or refuse to renew any Contract. The Company is not now, and at the Closing Date will not be, in violation of any provision of its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company. The disclosures included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations on the business of the Company as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted are correct in all material respects.
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(v) No Consent of Governmental Body Needed. No consent, approval, authorization, license, registration, qualification or order of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, agency or body is required in connection with the authorization, issuance, transfer, sale or delivery of the Units by the Company, in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with the taking by the Company of any action contemplated hereby or thereof, except as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws and rules of FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Units to be sold by the Company.
(w) Agreement Duly Authorized. The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Validity of Private Placement Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants, when issued and delivered upon consummation of the Offering 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 principals of general applicability.
(y) Trust Agreement Duly Authorized. 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.
(z) Warrant Agreement Duly Authorized. 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.
(aa) Founder’s Purchase Agreement Duly Authorized. The Founder’s Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor 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.
(bb) Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement Duly Authorized. The Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor 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.
(cc) Registration Rights Agreement Duly Authorized. The Registration Rights 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.
(dd) Insider Letter Duly Authorized. The Insider Letter executed by the Company, the Sponsor and each executive officer and director of the Company has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer and director, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer and director, respectively, enforceable against the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such executive officer and director, respectively, 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.
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(ee) Administrative Services Agreement Duly Authorized. The Administrative Services Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor 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.
(ff) No Conflicts. The issue and sale of the Units, the compliance by the Company with this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founder’s Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter and the Administrative Services Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founder’s Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Insider Letter and the Administrative Services Agreement do not and will not (i) violate the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by laws of the Company or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any other party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties is bound or affected, or violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, law, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company.
(gg) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company does not own any real property and the Company has good and marketable title to all properties and assets described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by it, in each case, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Company. The Company has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as leased by it, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such properties by the Company.
(hh) Documents Described in Registration Statement. There is no document or Contract of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described or filed as required. All such documents and Contracts described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement were duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company are enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms thereof.
(ii) No Untrue Statement; Statistical and Market Data. No statement, representation, warranty or covenant made by the Company in this Agreement or made in any certificate or document required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Underwriters was or will be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or incorrect. All statistical or market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources to the extent required.
(jj) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action intended to cause or result in, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation, under the Act or otherwise, of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
(kk) No Registration Rights. No holder of securities of the Company has rights to register any securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the offering of the Units, except for rights that have been duly waived by such holder, have expired or have been fulfilled by registration prior to the date of this Agreement.
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(ll) Labor Matters. The Company is not involved in any labor dispute except, where the dispute would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened.
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(mm) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company, the Sponsor, nor any director or officer of the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment of corporate funds or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including, without limitation, of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Xxxxxxx Xxx 0000, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company has instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(nn) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and the Sponsor and its affiliates are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-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 Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(oo) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company, the Sponsor, nor any director or officer of the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimean region, Sudan and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Units hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. The Company has not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(pp) Taxes. The Company has filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes required to be filed or paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 3(p) hereof in respect of all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined. The Company is not aware of any material claims against it by any taxing authority in relation to the filing of tax returns or the payment of required taxes.
(qq) No Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Units to any person 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.
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(rr) Rule 419. Upon delivery and payment for the Units on the Closing Date the Company will not be subject to Rule 419 and none of the Company’s outstanding securities will be deemed to be a “xxxxx stock” as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act.
(ss) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company on the other hand, that is required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and that is not so described. Since inception, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended or maintained credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company in violation of applicable laws, including Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(tt) Controls and Procedures.
(i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. To the extent required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, the Company will establish and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that (A) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (B) provide for the periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of such disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Commission; and (C) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(ii) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Internal Accounting Controls. To the extent required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain (i) effective “internal control over financial reporting” as defined in, and in compliance with, Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(iii) Off-Balance Sheet Transactions. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no off-balance sheet transactions (including, without limitation, transactions related to, and the existence of, “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810), arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or any 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.
(uu) Audit Committee. The Company’s Board of Directors has validly appointed an audit committee whose composition satisfies the requirements of Section 10A of, and Rule 10A-3 under, the Exchange Act (taking into account any applicable phase-in requirements) and the Board of Directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of Section 10A of, and Rule 10A-3 under, the Exchange Act. Neither the Board of Directors nor the audit committee has been informed, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any director of the Company aware, of (i) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting which is reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weakness in the Company’s internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.
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(vv) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx. The Company is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Units will be, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(ww) Accurate Disclosure. The statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Securities,” “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Underwriting,” and the statements in the Registration Statement under Items 14 and 15 thereof, insofar as such statements contain descriptions of the terms of statutes, rules, regulations or legal or governmental proceedings, or contracts or other documents, are fair and accurate in all material respects.
(xx) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
(yy) Compliance with Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, 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 of the Registration Statement, the Company will be in compliance with, the requirements of Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (taking into account any applicable phase-in requirements). Further, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, 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 of the Registration Statement, the Company will be in compliance with, the phase-in requirements and all other provisions of NYSE corporate governance requirements set forth in the NYSE Listed Company Manual.
(zz) No Debt Relationship with the Underwriters. The Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any of the Underwriters and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Units hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any of the Underwriters (for the avoidance of doubt, other than solely as a result of this Agreement).
(aaa) Accuracy of the Questionnaires. All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by the Sponsor and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees and provided to the Underwriters, is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees to become inaccurate and incorrect.
(bbb) Business Combination Target. Prior to the date hereof, the Company has not selected any Business Combination target and the Company has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target.
(ccc) No Broker’s Fees. The Company is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Units.
(ddd) No Payments to any Members. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or in any other form of payment that would be deemed to be “underwriting compensation” as defined in Rule 5110 of FINRA’s Manual): (i) to any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any person that, to the Company’s knowledge, has been accepted by FINRA as a member of FINRA (a “Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that, to the Company’s knowledge, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Member, within the FINRA Review Period, as defined in Rule 5110(j)(20) of the FINRA Manual, other than payments to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.
(eee) No Advisory/Consulting Services from any Member. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, during the period beginning 180 days prior to the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement and ending on the effective date of the Registration Statement, no Member and/or any person associated or affiliated with a Member has provided any investment banking, financial advisory and/or consulting services to the Company.
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(fff) No Association or Affiliation with any Member. Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Underwriters, to the Company’s knowledge, no officer, director or beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s equity securities or securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity securities (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a Member or a person associated or affiliated with a Member.
(ggg) No Securities from any Member. Except as disclosed in the FINRA Questionnaires provided to the Underwriters, to the Company’s knowledge, no Company Affiliate is an owner of shares or other securities of any Member (other than securities purchased on the open market).
(hhh) No Payments to any Member. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units (excluding underwriting compensation as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus) will be paid by the Company to any Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Member.
(iii) No Issue of Securities. The Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a “participating member,” as defined in Rule 5110(j)(15) of the FINRA Manual, in the Offering within the 180-day period prior to the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement.
(jjj) No Association with any Member. No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement has, to the Company’s knowledge, any relationship or affiliation or association with any Member.
(kkk) No Conflict of Interest. To the Company’s knowledge, no Member intending to participate in the Offering has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” means, if at the time of the Member’s participation in the Offering, any of the following applies: (A) the securities are to be issued by the Member; (B) the Company controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Member or the Member’s associated persons; (C) at least 5% of the net offering proceeds, not including underwriting compensation, are intended to be: (i) used to reduce or retire the balance of a loan or credit facility extended by the Member, its affiliates and its associated persons, in the aggregate; or (ii) otherwise directed to the Member, its affiliates and associated persons, in the aggregate; or (D) as a result of the Offering and any transactions contemplated at the time of the Offering: (i) the Member will be an affiliate of the Company; (ii) the Member will become publicly owned; or (iii) the Company will become a Member or form a broker-dealer subsidiary.
(lll) Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company (i) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Underwriters with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Underwriters to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Underwriters has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule III hereto. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication listed on Schedule III hereto did not, as of the Applicable Time, and at all times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Units will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
(mmm) Confidential Submission of Registration Statement. The Company has filed publicly on XXXXX at least 15 calendar days prior to any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act), any confidentially submitted registration statement and registration statement amendments relating to the offer and sale of the Units.
(nnn) No Rating. The Company does not have debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).
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(ooo) Cybersecurity. (i)(x) There has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of it), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company has not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company is presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification; (iii) the Company has implemented and maintained commercially reasonable safeguards to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data; and (iv) the Company has implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.
4. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Amendments and Supplements to Registration Statement. The Company shall not, either prior to any effective date or thereafter during such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations or any similar rule) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”) in connection with sales of the Units by an Underwriter or dealer, amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, unless a copy of such amendment or supplement thereof shall first have been submitted to the Underwriters within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing or, if no filing is required, the use thereof and the Underwriters shall not have objected thereto in good faith.
(b) Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing or under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing or under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or to file a new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Rules, including in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) promptly notify the Underwriters of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section (a) and (f) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters (and, if applicable, to dealers), amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or any new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the applicable Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing or under which they were made, as the case may be, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the applicable Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as amended or supplemented, will comply with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Rules or any other applicable law.
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(c) Notifications to the Underwriters. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective, and shall notify the Underwriters promptly, and shall confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the commencement by the Commission or by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of any of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose, including, without limitation, the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event during the Prospectus Delivery Period that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication misleading (including by omission) or untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication and (vi) of any distribution of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication by or on behalf of the Company (other than through any Underwriter). If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company shall use best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to Rules 424(b), 430A, 430B, 430C and 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations and notify the Underwriters promptly of all such filings.
(d) Executed Registration Statement. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, two signed copies of the Registration Statement and of any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto, and shall furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, a copy of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits.
(e) Undertakings. The Company shall comply with all the provisions of any undertakings contained and required to be contained in the Registration Statement.
(f) Prospectus. The Company shall prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriters and shall file such Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations with a filing date not later than the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Promptly after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and thereafter from time to time, the Company shall deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by the Underwriters and by all dealers to whom the Units may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of the Units and for any period of time thereafter during the Prospectus Delivery Period. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or counsel to the Underwriters should be set forth in the Prospectus in order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading (including by omission), or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company shall forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and shall deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies thereof as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(g) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Underwriters, will not make, any offer relating to the Units that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations, required to be filed with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations; provided that the prior written consent of the Underwriters hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriters is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. If, at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement relating to the Units or would include an untrue statement of material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement, or omission. The Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.
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(h) Compliance with Blue Sky Laws. Prior to any public offering of the Units by the Underwriters, the Company shall cooperate with the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification (or the obtaining of exemptions from the application thereof) of the Units for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request, including, without limitation, the provinces and territories of Canada and other jurisdictions outside the United States; provided, however, 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 which would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(i) Delivery of Annual Reports. During a period of five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, or until such earlier time as a Liquidation occurs or the Company is acquired or completes a going private transaction in a transaction where the Units and the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Units are no longer outstanding (as applicable, the “Termination Date”), the Company agrees to furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company for such quarter in reasonable detail. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, electronically transmitted copies filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX shall satisfy the Company’s obligations hereunder.
(j) Delivery of Reports and Financial Statements. Until the Termination Date, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company may from time to time distribute generally to the holders of any class of its capital stock, and will furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each annual or other report it shall be required to file with the Commission; provided, however, that electronically transmitted copies filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX shall satisfy the Company’s obligation to furnish copies hereunder.
(k) Availability of Earnings Statements. The Company shall make generally available to holders of its securities as soon as may be practicable but in no event later than the last day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the calendar quarter in which the most recent effective date occurs in accordance with Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations, an earnings statement (which need not be audited but shall be in reasonable detail) for a period of 12 months ended commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and satisfying the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Units and the shares of Common Stock and Warrants included in the Units on NYSE.
(m) Audited Balance Sheet. On the date hereof, to retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering on the Closing Date. As soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four business days after the Closing Date, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Audited Balance Sheet. Additionally, upon the Company’s receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any portion of the Option provided for in Section 1(b) hereof, the Company shall promptly, but not later than four business days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Option Units and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom, unless the receipt of such proceeds is reflected in the Audited Balance Sheet included in the Current Report on Form 8-K referenced in the immediately prior sentence.
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(n) Payment of Expenses. Whether or not any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid, or reimburse if paid by the Underwriters, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Units, the Common Stock, the Warrants and any Stamp Tax or other taxes payable in connection therewith, (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Act of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each preliminary prospectus, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus, each Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, if any, and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, and the distribution thereof, (iii) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants, (iv) the costs of producing and delivering this Agreement and any other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units, (v) the costs of furnishing (including costs of shipping, mailing and courier) such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Units by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Units may be sold, (vi) the costs, fees and expenses of listing the Units, the shares of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units on NYSE, (vii)(1) the filing fees incident to the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Units and (2) the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Units not to exceed $35,000, (viii) the fees and expenses incident to the registration or qualification of the Units for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 4(h) hereof and the securities laws of Canada, including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection therewith, and, if requested by the Underwriters, the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final Blue Sky memoranda and (if required) a “Canadian wrapper,” (ix) the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company, (x) the costs and charges of DTC and the transfer agent for the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants (xi) the fees and expenses of the Accountants, (xii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, all costs and expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the officers, employees, agents and other representatives of the Company and consultants engaged in connection with investor presentations, and the cost of any aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, and (xiii) all fees, costs and expenses for consultants used by the Company in connection with the offering. All payments to be made by the Company hereunder shall be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges whatsoever unless the Company is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or charges. In that event, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received by the Underwriters after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts that would have been received if no withholding or deduction had been made.
(o) Reimbursement of Expenses upon Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Company pursuant to any of the provisions hereof or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations or to fulfill any conditions hereunder or if the Underwriters shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7 hereof or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to the second sentence of Section 8 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters) reasonably incurred by them in connection herewith; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse the expenses of any defaulting Underwriter under Section 8 hereof.
(p) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action intended to cause or result in, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation, under the Act or otherwise, of the price of any of its securities to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Units.
(q) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the offering and sale of the Units to be sold by the Company in the manner set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds” and shall file such reports with the Commission with respect to the sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under the Act.
(r) Filing of Reports. Subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company shall file with the Commission such information in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K as may be required by Rule 463 under the Act.
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(s) Lock-Up Agreements of Company, Management, Affiliates and Equityholders. The Company shall not, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of the Underwriters (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion), (x)(1) offer, sell, pledge, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition), directly or indirectly, or file, confidentially submit or cause to become effective with the Commission a registration statement under the Act to register, any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Units, Common Stock or Warrants, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock or any securities that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Common Stock or any such substantially similar securities or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to enter into any transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above (other than the Units to be sold hereunder or pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company may (1) issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants, (2) issue and sell the Option Units on exercise of the option provided for in Section 1(b) hereof, (3) register with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the resale of the securities covered thereby and (4) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination (including shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares) or (y) release the Sponsor or any officer, director or director nominee from the 180 day lockup contained in the Insider Letter or amend such lock-up provision. The Company has caused each of its officers, directors, director nominees and beneficial owners of its capital stock (including stockholders, option holders and other equityholders) to enter into agreements with the Underwriters in the form set forth in Exhibit A.
(t) [RESERVED]
(u) Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company shall promptly notify the Underwriters if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the offering or sale of the Units is not required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations or any similar rule) and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period.
(v) Initial Business Combination. The Company will not consummate an initial Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s officers or directors unless it or a committee of independent and disinterested members of the Company’s Board of Directors obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA, or from an independent accounting firm, that such initial Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. The Company shall not pay the Sponsor or their affiliates or any of the Company’s officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of an initial Business Combination except as disclosed or contemplated in the Registration Statement.
(w) Initial Business Combination Notification. For a period of 60 days following the effective date of the Registration Statement, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA 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, or has provided or will provide any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services to the Company, the Company agrees that it shall promptly provide to the Underwriters and their counsel a notification prior to entering into the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Business Combination: (i) the identity of the person or entity providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services and copies of all agreements governing such services prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company may file in connection with the Business Combination for purposes of offering redemption of shares held by its stockholders or for soliciting stockholder approval, as applicable. To the extent that the Company discloses arrangements with respect to the Underwriters, the Company will provide the Underwriters with an opportunity to review and comment on any such tender offer materials or proxy statement.
(x) FINRA Advise. Until the earlier of (i) the date all Option Units purchasable pursuant to this Agreement have been delivered to the Underwriters and (ii) the date the Option expires, the Company shall advise FINRA, the Underwriters and their counsel if it becomes aware that any 10% or greater stockholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a Member participating in the distribution of the Units.
(y) Proceeds in the Trust Account. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants held in the Trust Account to be invested only in United States government securities with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in the Prospectus. The Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment Company Act. Furthermore, once the Company consummates an initial Business Combination, it will not be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
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(z) Funds in the Trust Account. During the period prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination or Liquidation, the Company may instruct the trustee under the Trust Agreement to release interest from the Trust Account, the amounts necessary to pay tax obligations. Otherwise, all funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account (net of taxes payable thereon)) will remain in the Trust Account until the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation; provided, however, that in the event of the Liquidation, up to $100,000 of interest income may be released to the Company to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution.
(aa) Securities To Be Issued upon Exercise of Warrants and Conversion of Founder Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of any of the Warrants and the Private Placement Warrants outstanding from time to time and the conversion of the Founder Shares.
(bb) Not Issue of Common Stock. Prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, the Company shall not issue additional shares of Common Stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the Trust Account or (ii) vote on any initial Business Combination.
(cc) Audit Committee Review. Prior to the consummation of an initial Business Combination or the Liquidation, the Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Sponsor, to the Company’s officers or directors or to the Company’s or any of such other persons’ respective affiliates.
(dd) Securities not to be deemed Xxxxx Stock. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 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 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.
(ee) Maintenance of Controls and Procedures. To the extent required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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(ff) Consummation of Business Combination. The Company may consummate the initial Business Combination and conduct redemptions of shares of Common Stock for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a stockholder vote pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission. Such tender offer documents will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the shares of Common Stock held by such stockholder for an amount (the “Redemption Price”) of cash equal to (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (x) the proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (y) interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by (B) the total number of then outstanding shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering (the “Public Stock”). If, however, a stockholder vote is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement in connection with the initial Business Combination or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination Vote”). With respect to the initial Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote all of their Founder Shares and any other shares of Common Stock purchased during or after the Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding shares of Public Stock the right to have its shares redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission at a per share redemption price equal to the Redemption Price. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voted by the stockholders at a duly held stockholders meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding Common Stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting. If, after seeking and receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem Public Stock, at the Redemption Price, from those Public Stockholders who affirmatively requested such redemption. Only Public Stockholders holding shares of Public Stock who properly exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of the Company, shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection therewith. In the event that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by twenty months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-four months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within twenty months from the closing of the Offering) or as otherwise set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Public Stock, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable, and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Stock, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Only Public Stockholders holding shares of Public Stock shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other shares of the Company. The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed that they will not propose any amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Stock if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within twenty months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-four months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within twenty months from the closing of the Offering) or as otherwise set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, unless the Company offers to redeem the Public Stock in connection with such amendment, as described in the Prospectus.
(gg) Business Combination Announcement. In the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (a “Business Combination Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing with the Commission announcing the consummation of an initial Business Combination that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Underwriters with a draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Underwriters with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with the Underwriters’ standard policies regarding confidential information.
(hh) Deferred Discount. Upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Company will direct the Trustee to pay the Underwriters the Deferred Discount out of the proceeds of the Offering held in the Trust Account. The Underwriters shall have no claim to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Discount. If the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within twenty months from the closing of the Offering (or twenty-four months from the closing of the Offering if the Company has executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination within twenty months from the closing of the Offering) (or later if the stockholders approve an amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation extending such deadline), the Deferred Discount will not be paid to the Underwriters and will, instead, be included in the distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account made to the Public Stockholders upon Liquidation. In connection with any such Liquidation, the Underwriters forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a portion of the amount designated per Unit as Deferred Discount not to exceed 25% of the total Deferred Discount, may be re-allocated or paid to the Underwriters and/or to third parties not participating in the Offering who are members of FINRA that assist the Company in connection with its initial Business Combination. The election to re-allocate or make such payments, and the amount of any allocations, will be solely at the discretion of the Company’s management team, and such persons will be selected by the Company’s management team in their sole and absolute discretion.
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(ii) Transfer Agent; Warrant Agent and Trustee. For a period commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement and ending on the Termination Date, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and warrant agent; and for a period commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement and ending on the completion of an initial Business Combination, the Company shall retain a trustee.
(jj) Founder Shares. Upon the earlier to occur of the expiration and termination of the Option, the Company shall cancel or otherwise effect the forfeiture of Founder Shares from the Sponsor in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Founder Shares determined by multiplying (a) 656,250 by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,625,000 minus the number of Option Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their option to purchase additional units, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,625,000. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional units in full, the Company shall not cancel or otherwise affect the forfeiture of the Founder Shares pursuant to this subsection.
(kk) Offer and Sale of the Units in Other Jurisdictions. Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Units, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.
5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Firm Units on the Closing Date or any Option Units on the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company, the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Post Effective Amendments and Prospectus Filings. Notification that the Registration Statement has become effective shall be received by the Underwriters not later than 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement or at such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Underwriters and all filings made pursuant to Rules 424, 430A, 430B or 430C of the Rules and Regulations, as applicable, shall have been made or will be made prior to the Closing Date in accordance with all such applicable rules.
(b) No Stop Orders, Requests for Information and No Amendments. (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or are, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission, (ii) no order suspending the qualification or registration of the Units under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened or contemplated by the authorities of any such jurisdiction, (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities and (iv) after the date hereof no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Underwriters and the Underwriters did not object thereto in good faith, and the Underwriters shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (who may, as to proceedings threatened, rely upon the best of their information and belief), to the effect of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
(c) No Material Adverse Changes. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (i) there shall not have been a Material Adverse Change, (ii) the Company shall not have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, (iii) the Company shall not have entered into any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein, (iv) the Company shall not have issued any securities (other than the Units and the Private Placement Warrants) or declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution in respect of its capital stock of any class or debt (long-term or short-term), and (v) no material amount of the assets of the Company shall have been pledged, mortgaged or otherwise encumbered.
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(d) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there shall have been no actions, suits or proceedings instituted, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of their respective officers in their capacity as such, before or by any federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign.
(e) All Representations True and Correct and All Conditions Fulfilled. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct at the Closing Date as if made at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and all covenants and agreements contained herein to be performed by the Company and all conditions contained herein to be fulfilled or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or complied with.
(f) Opinions of Counsel to the Company. The Underwriters shall have received the opinions and letters, each dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to counsel for the Underwriters, from Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Company.
(g) Opinion of Counsel to the Underwriters. The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, from White & Case LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, which opinion shall be satisfactory in all respects to the Underwriters.
(h) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date of the Prospectus, the Underwriters shall have received from the Accountants a letter dated the date of its delivery, addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. At the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the Underwriters shall have received from the Accountants a letter dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to the preceding sentence and have conducted additional procedures with respect to certain financial figures included in the Prospectus, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
(i) Officers’ Certificates. At the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there shall be furnished to the Underwriters an accurate certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that:
(i) each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(ii) there has not been a Material Adverse Change;
(iii) each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are, at the time such certificate is delivered, true and correct; and
(iv) each of the covenants required herein to be performed by the Company on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the delivery of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully complied with.
(j) Lock-Up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received the executed “lock-up” agreements referred to in Section 4(s) hereof from the Sponsor and the Company’s officers, directors, director nominees and beneficial owners (including stockholders, option holders and other equityholders) owning in the aggregate substantially all of the Company’s fully diluted capital stock.
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(k) Executed Copies of Agreements. On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall have delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Founder’s Purchase Agreement, the Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, the Insider Letter, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement.
(l) Compliance with Blue Sky Laws. The Units shall be qualified for sale in such states and jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request, including, without limitation, qualification for exemption from registration or prospectus delivery requirements in the provinces and territories of Canada and other jurisdictions outside the United States, and each such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date.
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(m) Stock Exchange Listing. The Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants shall have been duly authorized for listing or quotation on NYSE, subject only to notice of issuance.
(n) Good Standing. At the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of organization and its good standing as a foreign entity in such other jurisdictions where the Company is required to be qualified to do business, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(o) Company Certificates. The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the Underwriters may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date of any statement in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as to the accuracy at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations hereunder of the Underwriters.
(p) No Objection. FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Units.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Underwriters by notifying the Company of such termination in writing at or prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, the directors, officers, employees, counsel and agents of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), 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, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rules 430A, 430B or 430C, as applicable or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Units, including any road show or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of 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 shall not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Units in the public offering to any person by an Underwriter and is based on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only insofar as losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter might otherwise have.
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(c) Indemnification Procedures. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 6 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 6, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded that a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges shall be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 6 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(d) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or the Underwriters, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Underwriters, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include, for purpose of this Section 6(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by it, and no person found 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. The Underwriters’ obligation to contribute as provided in this Section 6(d) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 6(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, and each affiliate, director, officer, employee, counsel or agent of any Underwriter will have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 6(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 6(d). No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).
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(e) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, (ii) acceptance of any of the Units and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
7. Termination. The obligations of the several Underwriters under this Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date (or, with respect to the Option Units, on or prior to any Option Closing Date), by notice to the Company from the Underwriters, without liability on the part of any Underwriter to the Company, if, prior to delivery and payment for the Firm Units (or the Option Units, as the case may be), in the sole judgment of the Underwriters, any of the following shall occur:
(a) trading or quotation in any of the equity securities of the Company shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by an exchange or otherwise;
(b) trading in securities generally on the NYSE, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange, or additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by such exchange or by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental authority;
(c) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York or Delaware authorities;
(d) the United States shall have become engaged in new hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such), or any other calamity or crisis shall have occurred, the effect of any of which is such as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus;
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(e) the Company shall have sustained a loss material or substantial to the Company by reason of flood, fire, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage, or other calamity or malicious act, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, the effect of any of which is such as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Units on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus; or
(f) there shall have been a Material Adverse Change.
8. Substitution of Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any of the Firm Units which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate number of Firm Units which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Units, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, to purchase the Firm Units which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase, in the proportions which the number of Firm Units which they have respectively agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof bears to the aggregate number of Firm Units which all such non-defaulting Underwriters have so agreed to purchase, or in such other proportions as the Underwriters may specify; provided that in no event shall the maximum number of Firm Units which any Underwriter has become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 8 by more than one-ninth of the number of Firm Units agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter without the prior written consent of such Underwriter. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any Firm Units and the aggregate number of Firm Units which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Firm Units and arrangements satisfactory to the Company and the Underwriters for the purchase of such Firm Units are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, or the Company (except as provided in Section 4(o) hereof) for the purchase or sale of any Units under this Agreement. In any such case either the Underwriters, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other, shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken pursuant to this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied (a) if to the Company, at the office of the Company, G&P Acquisition Corp., Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000; or (b) if to the Underwriters, (i) BMO Capital Markets Corp., 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Legal Department (Fax: (000) 000-0000), Attention: Syndicate Department, with a copy to the Underwriters’ counsel at White & Case LLP, 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under Section 6 hereof may be made by telecopy or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing.
(b) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel and agents referred to in Section 6 hereof, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser of Units from the Underwriters in his, her or its capacity as such a purchaser.
(c) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein or in certificates or other instruments delivered pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any of their controlling persons and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Units hereunder.
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(d) Disclaimer of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Units and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transaction, each of the Underwriters is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its securityholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) none of the Underwriters has assumed nor will it assume any advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Underwriter or its affiliates has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Underwriters have no obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Units contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) each of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
(e) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits for purposes of any action arising from this Agreement brought by the other party hereto to the jurisdiction of the courts of New York State located in the Borough of Manhattan and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
(g) Survival of Provisions Upon Invalidity of Any Single Provision. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(h) Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Underwriters each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(i) Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or any provision hereof waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the Underwriters and the Company.
10. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(c) As used in this Section 10:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
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“Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Signature page follows]
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| G&P Acquisition Corp. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned:
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule I
| Underwriter | Number of Firm Units |
||
| BMO Capital Markets Corp. | 17,500,000 | ||
| Total | 17,500,000 |
S-I-1
Schedule II
ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES:
None
S-I-2
Schedule III
WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS:
Investor Presentation dated February 2021.
S-I-3
