SHARE ESCROW AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
SHARE ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of March 4, 2020 (“Agreement”), by and among East Stone Acquisition Corporation, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”), the individuals and entities listed on the signature pages hereto (each, an “Initial Shareholder” and, collectively, the “Initial Shareholders”) and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (“Escrow Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2020 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), with I-Bankers Securities, Inc. (“I-Bankers”) acting as representative of the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 12,000,000 units (“Units”) of the Company, plus an additional 1,800,000 Units if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full; and
WHEREAS, Each Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value (the “Shares,” and each, a “Share”), one redeemable warrant, each redeemable warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a Share, as more fully described in the Company’s final prospectus, dated February 19, 2020 (“Prospectus”), comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-235949 and 333-236527) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (collectively, the “Registration Statement”), declared effective on February 19, 2020 (“Effective Date”); and
WHEREAS, Double Ventures Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Sponsor”), individuals Hua Mao and Xxxxx Xxxx (Xxx Xxx and Xxxxx Xxxx, together, the “Anchor Investors”) and I-Bankers have committed to purchase an aggregate of 350,000 Units (the “Private Placement Units”), of which 167,000 were purchased by the Sponsor, 108,000 were purchased by the Anchor Investors, and 75,000 were purchased by I-Bankers at $10.00 per unit ($3,500,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the closing of the offering, with each Unit consisting of one Share, one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a Share and one warrant exercisable to purchase one-half (1/2) of a Share at a price of $11.50 per share;
WHEREAS, the Initial Shareholders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit their founder shares (as defined in the Prospectus) and the Private Placement Units, as set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A attached hereto (the founder shares and the Private Placement Units owned by the Initial Shareholders are collectively referred to as the “Escrow Shares”), in escrow as hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Initial Shareholders desire that the Escrow Agent accept the Escrow Shares, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.
IT IS AGREED:
1. Appointment of Escrow Agent. The Company and the Initial Shareholders hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.
2. Deposit of Escrow Shares. On or prior to the date hereof, each of the Initial Shareholders delivered to the Escrow Agent certificates representing such Initial Shareholder’s respective Escrow Shares, together with applicable share powers (if requested by the Escrow Agent), to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each of the Initial Shareholders acknowledges that the certificate representing such Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares is legended to reflect the deposit of such Escrow Shares under this Agreement.
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3. Disbursement of the Escrow Shares. The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares during the applicable period (each, the “Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and until the earlier of: (A) as to the founder shares, (i) for 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending on the earlier of (x) six months after the date of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination (as described in the Registration Statement, hereinafter a “Business Combination”) and (y) the date on which the closing price of the Shares equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) for the remaining 50% of the Escrow Shares, ending six months after the date of the consummation of an initial Business Combination or earlier, in either case, if, subsequent to the Business Combination, a subsequent liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction is consummated, which results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their Shares for cash, securities or other property; and (B) as to the Private Placement Units, until 30 days following the completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company shall promptly provide notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the applicable Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares (and any applicable share power) to such Initial Shareholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated at any time during the applicable Escrow Period, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Escrow Shares; provided further, however, that if, subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders of such entity having the right to exchange their Shares for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a notice executed by the Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Initial Shareholders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.
4. Rights of Initial Shareholders in Escrow Shares.
4.1 Voting Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letter described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Initial Shareholders shall retain all of their rights as shareholders of the Company during the applicable Escrow Period, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.
4.2 Dividends and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares. During the applicable Escrow Period, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Initial Shareholders, but all share capitalizations or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon, if any.
4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. During the applicable Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) transfers to the Company’s officers, directors or to members of the Sponsor or their respective affiliates; (ii) if the Initial Shareholder is an entity, as a distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the Initial Shareholder upon the liquidation and dissolution of the Initial Shareholder, (iii) to any persons (including their affiliates and shareholders) participating in the private placement of the Private Placement Units, (iv) by bona fide gift to a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Initial Shareholder or a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, (v) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Initial Shareholder, (vi) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, or (vii) by private sales made at or prior to the Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Escrow Shares were originally purchased, in each case, except or with the Company’s prior consent, on the condition that such transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter (as defined below) signed by the Initial Shareholder transferring the Escrow Shares.
4.4 Insider Letter. The Initial Shareholders have executed a letter agreement with I-Bankers and the Company, dated February 19, 2020 (“Insider Letter”), and a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2020, respecting the rights and obligations of the Initial Shareholders in certain events, including but not limited to the liquidation of the Company.
5. Concerning the Escrow Agent.
5.1 Good Faith Reliance. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Escrow Agent), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.
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5.2 Indemnification. The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Shares or it may deposit the Escrow Shares with the clerk of any appropriate court or it may retain the Escrow Shares pending receipt of a final, non-appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Shares are to be disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive in the event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 5.5 or 5.6 below.
5.3 Compensation. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Company for all services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.
5.4 Further Assurances. From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Initial Shareholders shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.
5.5 Resignation. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over to a successor escrow agent appointed by the Company and approved by I-Bankers, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, the Escrow Shares held hereunder. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60 day period following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Shares with any court it reasonably deems appropriate in the State of New York.
5.6 Discharge of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by the other parties hereto, jointly, provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as provided in Section 5.5.
5.7 Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence, fraud or its own willful misconduct.
5.8 Waiver. The Escrow Agent hereby waives any right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Escrow Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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6. Miscellaneous.
6.1 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators.
6.2 Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the Initial Shareholders hereby acknowledges that I-Bankers is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and this Agreement may not be modified or changed without the prior written consent of I-Bankers.
6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Insider Letter, contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
6.4 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.
6.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties hereto and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.
6.6 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and either be delivered personally or be mailed, certified or registered mail, or by private national courier service, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or, if mailed, two business days after the date of mailing, as follows:
If to the Company, to:
East Stone Acquisition Corporation
00 Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu, Chief Executive Officer
If to a Shareholder, to his/its address set forth in Exhibit A.
and if to the Escrow Agent, to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
0 Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00xx xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Corporate Actions
A copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) sent hereunder shall be sent to:
I-Bankers Group LLC
000 0xx Xxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx XxXxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
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and:
Ellenoff Xxxxxxxx & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.
6.7 Liquidation of the Company. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation and dissolution of the Company in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Prospectus.
6.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
[Signature Page Follows]
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WITNESS the execution of this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| COMPANY: | |||
| East Stone Acquisition Corporation | |||
| By: | /s/ Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu | ||
|
Name: Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu Title: Chief Executive Officer | |||
| INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS: | |||
| Double Ventures Holdings Limited | |||
| By: | /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao | ||
|
Name: Chunyi (Charlie) Hao Title: Director | |||
| Navy Sail International Limited | |||
| By: | /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao | ||
|
Name: Chunyi (Charlie) Hao Title: Director | |||
| /s/ Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu | |||
| Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu | |||
| /s/ Chunyi (Charlie) Hao | |||
| Chunyi (Charlie) Hao | |||
| /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
| Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
| ESCROW AGENT: | |||
| Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
|
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Title: Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Share Escrow Agreement]
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EXHIBIT A
| Name and Address of Initial Shareholder1 | Number of Founder Shares | Number of Private Placement Units | ||
| Double Ventures Holdings Limited | 1,500,000 | 167,000 | ||
| Navy Sail International Limited | 750,000 | - | ||
| Xiaoma (Xxxxxxx) Lu | 120,000 | - | ||
| Chunyi (Charlie) Hao | 1,026,000 | - | ||
| Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | 18,000 | - | ||
| Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | 18,000 | - | ||
| Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | 18,000 | - |
| 1. | The business address of each shareholder is c/o East Stone Acquisition Corporation, 00 Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. |
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