Exhibit 10.9
[Form of Right of First Review Agreement for Steel Partners, L.L.C. and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxxx]
, 2007
SP Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Re: Initial Public Offering of SP Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting
Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") entered into by and between SP
Acquisition Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and UBS
Securities LLC and Ladenburg Xxxxxxxx & Co., Inc. as underwriters (the
"Underwriters"), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the "IPO")
of the Company's units (the "Units"), each composed of one share of the
Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and one
warrant, which is exercisable for one share of Common Stock (the "Warrants").
Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 5 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the
Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. The undersigned agrees that from the effective date of the Registration
Statement until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Initial Business
Combination or (ii) [ ], 2009 [24 months from the effective date of the
Registration Statement], the Company shall have the right of first review (the
"Right of First Review") with respect to business combination opportunities of
Steel Partners Group relating to companies that are not publicly traded on a
stock exchange or over-the-counter market with an enterprise value of between
$250 million and $1.2 billion. Steel Partners Group shall first offer any such
business combination opportunity to the Company and Xx. Xxxxxxxxxxxx and Steel
Partners, L.L.C. shall not, and shall cause each other business entity within
Steel Partners Group not to, pursue such business opportunity unless and until
the board of directors of the Company has determined for any reason that the
Company shall not pursue such opportunity. Decisions by the Company to release
Steel Partners Group to pursue any specific business opportunity shall be made
solely by a majority of the Company's disinterested directors. This Right of
First Review shall not include, and neither the undersigned nor any other
business entity within Steel Partners Group shall be required to first offer to
the Company:
o companies targeted for acquisition by any business in which Steel
Partners II, L.P. directly or indirectly has an investment
(including Steel Partners Japan Strategic Fund (Offshore), L.P.); or
o businesses headquartered in or organized under the laws of China.
2. (a) Neither the undersigned nor any affiliate of the undersigned will
be entitled to receive, and no such person will accept, any finder's fee,
reimbursement or cash payment from the Company for services rendered to the
Company prior to or in connection with the consummation of an Initial Business
Combination, other than (subject to the following sentence) (i) repayment of
that certain Promissory Note in the amount of $250,000 made to the Company by
Steel Partners, Ltd., to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
(ii) a payment of an aggregate of $10,000 per month to Steel Partners, Ltd., for
office space, secretarial and administrative services; and (iii) reimbursement
for any out-of-pocket expenses or advances related to: (i) the IPO, (ii)
identifying, investigating and consummating an Initial Business Combination or
(iii) other expenses or advances that the Company is permitted incur. The
undersigned acknowledges that the Company's Audit Committee (or the Company's
Board of Directors in the case of a director who is a member of the Company's
Audit Committee) will review and approve all payments made to the undersigned,
the Company's officers and directors and the Company's or their affiliates,
other than the $10,000 per month payment described in the immediately preceding
sentence.
(b) Neither the undersigned nor any affiliate of the undersigned
will accept a finder's fee, consulting fee or any other compensation or fees
from any person or other entity in connection with an Initial Business
Combination, other than compensation or fees that may be received for any
services provided following such Initial Business Combination.
3. The undersigned agrees that it will not, and will cause each other
business entity that is part of Steel Partners Group not to, become affiliated
with any other blank check company until the earlier of (i) the Initial Business
Combination and (ii) the Company's liquidation.
The undersigned hereby agrees and acknowledges that (i) each of the
Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a
breach by the undersigned of any of his or her obligations under this paragraph
3, (ii) monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach,
and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in
addition to any other remedy such party may have, in the event of such breach.
4. The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any
agreement by which it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement.
5. As used herein, (i) "Steel Partners Group" shall mean the undersigned
and certain affiliated entities listed on Schedule A hereto; (ii) "Initial
Business Combination" shall mean the acquisition through a merger, capital stock
exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar
business combination, of one or more businesses or assets in connection with
which the Company will require that a majority of the shares of Common Stock
voted by the Public Stockholders are voted in favor of such acquisition and
stockholders owning less than 30% of the IPO Shares exercise their conversion
rights; (iii) "IPO Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Units issued in the IPO; and (iv) "Public Stockholders" shall mean purchasers of
Common Stock in the IPO or in the secondary market, including any of the
Company's officers or directors or their affiliates, including the undersigned,
to the extent that they purchase or acquire Common Stock in the IPO or the
secondary market.
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The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Company and the
Underwriters will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set
forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be
deemed to render the Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with
respect to, the Company, its stockholders, or any creditor or vendor of the
Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.
This letter agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and its
successors and assigns. This letter agreement shall terminate on the earlier of
(i) the consummation of an Initial Business Combination and (ii) [ ], 2009
[24 months from the effective date of the Registration Statement]; provided that
such termination shall not relieve the undersigned from liability for any breach
of this agreement prior to its termination.
This letter agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
formed and to be performed entirely within the State of New York, without regard
to the conflicts of law provisions thereof to the extent such principles or
rules would require or permit the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction.
No term or provision of this letter agreement may be amended, changed,
waived, altered or modified except by written instrument executed and delivered
by the party against whom such amendment, change, waiver, alteration or
modification is to be enforced.
[Signature Page Follows]
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STEEL PARTNERS, L.L.C.
By: ________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Member
________________________________
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXXX
Accepted and agreed:
SP ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, INC.
By: ________________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice Chairman and Secretary
Schedule A
Steel Partners, Ltd.
Steel Partners II, L.P.
Steel Partners Offshore Fund Ltd.
Steel Partners, L.L.C.
Steel Partners (UK) Ltd.
and all other entities that may be deemed to be wholly-controlled by Xx.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx.
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