Exhibit 1.1
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
between
RHAPSODY ACQUISITION
CORP.
and
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL,
INC.
Dated:
, 2006
RHAPSODY ACQUISITION CORP.
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
New York, New York
, 2006
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
275 Madison Avenue, Suite
1203
New York, New York 10016
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, Rhapsody
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Company”),
hereby confirms its agreement with EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (being
referred to herein variously as “you,”
“EBC” or the “Representative”) and with the
other underwriters named on Schedule I hereto for which EBC is
acting as Representative (the Representative and the other
Underwriters being collectively called the
“Underwriters” or, individually, an
“Underwriter”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of
Securities .
1.1 Firm Securities
.
1.1.1 Purchase of Firm Units
. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not
jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 4,500,000
units (“Firm Units”) of the Company at a purchase price
(net of discounts and commissions) of $7.56 per Firm Unit
(including discounts and commissions of $0.08 that will be paid to
the Underwriters only upon consummation of a Business Combination
(as defined below) by the Company). The Underwriters, severally and
not jointly, agree that they will not seek payment of the discounts
and commissions of $0.08 referred to in the preceding sentence
unless and until a Business Combination has been consummated by the
Company, and the Company agrees that it shall pay such discounts
and commissions only upon consummation of such Business
Combination. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to
purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth
opposite their respective names on Schedule I attached hereto and
made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and
commissions) of $7.56 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units are to be
offered initially to the public (“Offering”) at the
offering price of $8.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of
one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per
share (“Common Stock”), and one warrant
(“Warrant(s)”). The shares of Common Stock and the
Warrants included in the Firm Units will not be separately
transferable until 90 days after the effective date
(“Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as
defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof) unless EBC informs the
Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in
no event will EBC allow separate trading until the preparation of
an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting receipt by the
Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the filing of a Form
8-K by the Company which includes such balance sheet. Each Warrant
entitles its holder to exercise it to purchase one share of Common
Stock for $6.00 during the period commencing on the later of the
consummation by the Company of its “Business
Combination” or one year from the Effective Date and
terminating on the four-year anniversary of the Effective Date.
“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, capital
stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business
combination consummated by the Company with an operating business
(as described more fully in the Registration Statement).
1.1.2 Payment and Delivery .
Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00
A.M., New York time, on the third business day following
commencement of trading of the Firm Units or at such earlier time
as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at
the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall
be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and
date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units are called
“Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be
made on the Closing Date at the Representative’s election by
wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank
cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable
as follows: $32,900,000 of the proceeds received by the Company for
the Firm Units shall be deposited in the trust fund established by
the Company for the benefit of the public stockholders as described
in the Registration Statement (“Trust Fund”) pursuant
to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement
(“Trust Agreement”) and the remaining proceeds shall be
paid (subject to Section 3.13 hereof) to the order of the
Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Units (or
through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm
Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such
authorized denominations as the Representative may request in
writing at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date.
The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package
the Firm Units for delivery, at least one full business day prior
to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or
deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the
Representative for all the Firm Units.
1.2 Over-Allotment Option
.
1.2.1 Option Units . For the
purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the
distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Underwriters are
hereby granted, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase up
to an additional 675,000 units from the Company
(“Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 675,000
units are hereinafter referred to as “Option Units.”
The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the shares
of Common Stock and the Warrants included in the Units and the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public
Securities.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option
Units will be the same price per Option Unit as the price per Firm
Unit set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof.
1.2.2 Exercise of Option .
The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1
hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any
time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45
days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under
any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise
of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted
hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company
by the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by
overnight mail or facsimile transmission setting forth the number
of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery
of and payment for the Option Units (the “Option Closing
Date”), which will not be later than five full business days
after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed
upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the
Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by
the Company and the Representative. Upon exercise of the
Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey
to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase,
the number of Option Units specified in such notice.
1.2.3 Payment and Delivery .
Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing
Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in
Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s
check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, payable as follows:
approximately $7.59740 per Option Unit shall be deposited in the
Trust Fund (including discounts and commissions of $0.08 that will
be paid to the Underwriters only upon consummation of a Business
Combination by the Company) pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the
remaining proceeds shall be paid (subject to Section 3.13
hereof) to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of
certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters) representing the Option Units (or through the
facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters.
The
certificates representing the Option Units to be
delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such
names as the Representative requests not less than two full
business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, and will be made available to the
Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the
aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or
correspondent not less than one full business day prior to such
Closing Date.
1.3 Representative’s
Purchase Option .
1.3.1 Purchase Option . The
Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative
(and/or its designees) on the Effective Date an option
(“Representative’s Purchase Option”) for the
purchase of an aggregate of
units (“Representative’s Units”) for an aggregate
purchase price of $100. Each of the Representative’s Units is
identical to the Firm Units. The Representative’s Purchase
Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on the
later of the consummation of a Business Combination and one year
from the Effective Date and expiring on the five-year anniversary
of the Effective Date at an initial exercise price per
Representative’s Unit of $
(
% of the initial public offering price of a Unit). The
Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s
Units, the Warrants included in the Representative’s Units
(“Representative’s Warrants”) and the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s
Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the
“Representative’s Securities.” The Public
Securities and the Representative’s Securities are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the
“Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees
that there are significant restrictions against transferring the
Representative’s Purchase Option during the first year after
the Effective Date, as set forth in Section 3 of the
Representative’s Purchase Option.
1.3.2 Payment and Delivery .
Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Purchase Option
shall be made on the Closing Date. The Company shall deliver to the
Representative, upon payment therefor, certificates for the
Representative’s Purchase Option in the name or names and in
such authorized denominations as the Representative may
request.
2. Representations and Warranties
of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the
Underwriters as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration
Statement .
2.1.1 Pursuant to the Act .
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“Commission”) a registration statement and an
amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-
), including any related preliminary prospectus (“Preliminary
Prospectus”), for the registration of the Public Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”),
which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been
prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the
Act, and the rules and regulations (“Regulations”) of
the Commission under the Act. Except as the context may otherwise
require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the
Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective
(including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules,
exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or
incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part
thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A
of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration
Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the
Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if
applicable, the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the
“Prospectus.” The Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange
Act . The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A
(File Number 000-
) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), of the Units, the
Common Stock and the Warrants. The registration of the Units,
Common Stock and Warrants under the Exchange Act has been declared
effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
2.2 No Stop Orders, Etc.
Neither the Commission nor, to the best of the Company’s
knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order or
threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of
any Preliminary Prospectus or has instituted or, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings
with respect to such an order.
2.3 Disclosures in Registration
Statement .
2.3.1 10b-5 Representation .
At the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all
times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
does and will contain all material statements that are required to
be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations,
and will in all material respects conform to the requirements of
the Act and the Regulations; neither the Registration Statement nor
the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto, on such
dates, does or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. When any
Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether
filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of
the Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a)
of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto was first filed with the Commission, such Preliminary
Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto
complied or will comply in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not
and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does
not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company
with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly
for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
2.3.2 Disclosure of
Agreements . The agreements and documents described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform to the
descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements
or other documents required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as
exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so
described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however
characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by
which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and
(i) that is referred to in the Prospectus, or (ii) is
material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly
executed by the Company, is in full force and effect and is
enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s
knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms,
except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of
any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under
the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy
of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable
relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been
assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best
of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or
default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s
knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or
the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default
thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge,
performance by the Company of the material provisions of such
agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any
existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or
businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to
environmental laws and regulations.
2.3.3 Prior Securities
Transactions . No securities of the Company have been sold by
the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any
person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the Company since the Company’s formation,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4 Regulations . The
disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of
Federal, State and local regulation on the Company’s business
as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and
do not omit to state a material fact.
2.4 Changes After Dates in
Registration Statement .
2.4.1 No Material Adverse
Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as
otherwise specifically stated therein, (i) there has been no
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or business prospects of the Company, (ii) there have been no
material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as
contemplated pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) no member
of the Company’s management has resigned from any position
with the Company.
2.4.2 Recent Securities
Transactions, Etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or
contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (i) issued
any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any
dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its
equity securities.
2.5 Independent Accountants .
BDO Seidman, LLP (“BDO”), whose report is filed with
the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, are
independent accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations.
BDO has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements
included in the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit
services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the
Exchange Act.
2.6 Financial Statements .
The financial statements, including the notes thereto and
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus fairly present the financial position, the results of
operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for
the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have
been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved;
and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement
present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The
summary financial data included in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus present fairly the information shown thereon and
have been compiled on a basis consistent with the audited financial
statements presented therein. No other financial statements or
schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement discloses all
material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations
(including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the
Company 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.
2.7 Authorized Capital; Options;
Etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in the
Prospectus duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization
as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the
adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set
forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there
will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or
otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock of the Company or any security convertible into shares of
Common Stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to
issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants,
rights or convertible securities.
2.8 Valid Issuance of Securities;
Etc.
2.8.1 Outstanding Securities
. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission
with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by
reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were
issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any
security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by
the Company. The authorized Common Stock conforms to all statements
relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Common Stock
were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the
applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on
the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares
of Common Stock, exempt from such registration
requirements.
2.8.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to
this Agreement . The Securities have been duly authorized and,
when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject
to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the
Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights
of any holders of any security of the Company or similar
contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action
required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of
the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Securities
conform in all material respects to all statements with respect
thereto contained in the Registration Statement. When issued, the
Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s
Warrants and the Warrants will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof
and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, the number
and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in
accordance with the terms thereof and such Representative’s
Purchase Option, the Representative’s Warrants and the
Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as
enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may
be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and
(iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive
and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable
defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.8.3 Insider Warrants . Eric
S. Rosenfeld, Leonard B. Schlemm, Jon Bauer, Colin D. Watson and
Gotham Capital V (the “Insider Purchasers”), four of
the Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the Offering
(all of which stockholders are referred to as the “Initial
Stockholders”) and an affiliate of one of the Initial
Stockholders, have committed to purchase an aggregate of 1,136,364
Warrants (“Insider Warrants” and together with the
shares of Common Stock underlying the Insider Warrants,
collectively referred to as the “Insider Securities”)
at $1.10 per Warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of
$1,250,000.40) from the Company upon consummation of the Offering.
The Insider Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued
and paid for in accordance with the subscription agreements
(“Subscription Agreements”) and the Insider Warrants,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders
thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by
reason of being such holders; the Insider Securities are not and
will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any
security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by
the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the
authorization, issuance and sale of the Insider Securities has been
duly and validly taken.
2.9 Registration Rights of Third
Parties . Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no holders of
any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or
convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the
right to require the Company to register any such securities of the
Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a
registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.10 Validity and Binding Effect
of Agreements . This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as
defined in Section 2.21 hereof), the Trust Agreement, the
Services Agreement (as defined in Section 3.7.2 hereof), the
Subscription Agreements and the Escrow Agreement (as defined in
Section 2.22.2 hereof) have been duly and validly authorized
by the Company and constitute, and the Representative’s
Purchase Option, has been duly and validly authorized by the
Company and, when executed and delivered, will constitute,
the
valid and binding agreements of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective
terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of
any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under
the federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the
remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of
equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to
the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor
may be brought.
2.11 No Conflicts, Etc. The
execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this
Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Representative’s
Purchase Option, the Trust Agreement, the Services Agreement, the
Subscription Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, the consummation
by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated
and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof
do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the
lapse of time or both (i) result in a breach of, or conflict
with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party except pursuant to the
Trust Agreement referred to in Section 2.24 hereof;
(ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company; or
(iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation,
judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
its properties or business.
2.12 No Defaults; Violations
. No material default exists in the due performance and observance
of any term, covenant or condition of any material license,
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit
agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an
obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the
Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or
provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or in
violation of any material franchise, license, permit, applicable
law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental
agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its properties, businesses or assets.
2.13 Corporate Power; Licenses;
Consents.
2.13.1 Conduct of Business .
The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and
has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory
officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct
its business purpose as described in the Prospectus. The
disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of
federal, state and local regulation on this offering and the
Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are
correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
2.13.2 Transactions Contemplated
Herein . The Company has all corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Services
Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Trust
Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and to carry out the provisions
and conditions hereof and thereof, and all consents,
authorizations, approvals, licenses, certifications, permits and
orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No
consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court,
government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance,
sale and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the
transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the
Trust Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and as contemplated by the
Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state
securities laws.
2.14 D&O Questionnaires .
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, all information
contained in the questionnaires (“Questionnaires”)
completed by each of the Initial Stockholders and provided to
the
Underwriters as an exhibit to his, her or its
Insider Letter (as defined in Section 2.22.1) is true and
correct and the Company has not become aware of any information
which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires
completed by each Initial Stockholder to become inaccurate and
incorrect.
2.15 Litigation; Governmental
Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry,
arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding
pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder, which has not
been disclosed in the Registration Statement or the
Questionnaires.
2.16 Good Standing . The
Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its state of
incorporation, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its
ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires
such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not
have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of the Company.
2.17 Stop Orders . The
Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the
use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof
and has not threatened to issue any such order.
2.18 Transactions Affecting
Disclosure to NASD .
2.18.1 Finder’s Fees .
Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no claims,
payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to
the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by
the Company or any Initial Stockholder with respect to the sale of
the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or
understandings of the Company or, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder that may affect
the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(“NASD”).
2.18.2 Payments Within Twelve
Months . Other than payments to EBC, the Company has not within
the twelve months prior to the Effective Date made any direct or
indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) (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 NASD member or (iii) to any
person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or
association with any NASD member.
2.18.3 Use of Proceeds . None
of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to
any participating NASD member or its affiliates, except as
specifically authorized herein and except as may be paid in
connection with a Business Combination as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
2.18.4 Insiders’ NASD
Affiliation . Based on questionnaires distributed to such
persons, except as set forth on Schedule 2.18.4, no officer,
director or any beneficial owner of the Company’s
unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or
association with any NASD member. The Company will advise the
Representative and its counsel if it learns that any officer,
director or owner of at least 5% of the Company’s outstanding
Common Stock is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of an
NASD member participating in the offering.
2.19 Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act . Neither the Company nor any of the Initial Stockholders
or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly
or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar
benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the
ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or
agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any
governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic
or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office
(domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for
office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be
in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or
assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction)
that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or
penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental
litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might
have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial
statements contained in the Prospectus or (iii) if not
continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets,
business, operations or prospects of the Company. The
Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are
sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.20. Officers’
Certificate . Any certificate signed by any duly authorized
officer of the Company and delivered to you or to your counsel
shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the
Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.21 Warrant Agreement . The
Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the
Warrants, the Insider Warrants and the Representative’s
Warrants with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit 4.5 to the
Registration Statement (“Warrant
Agreement”).
2.22 Agreements With Initial
Stockholders .
2.22.1 Insider Letters . The
Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and
enforceable agreements (except (i) as such enforceability may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as
enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or noncompete
provision may be limited under the federal and state securities
laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and
injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to
the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefor may be brought) annexed as
Exhibits 10.1 through 10.8 to the Registration Statement
(“Insider Letters”), pursuant to which each of the
Initial Stockholders of the Company agrees to certain matters,
including but not limited to, certain matters described as being
agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” section
of the Prospectus.
2.22.2 Escrow Agreement . The
Company has caused the Initial Stockholders to enter into an escrow
agreement (“Escrow Agreement”) with Continental Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (“Escrow Agent”)
substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit 10.10 to the
Registration Statement, whereby the Common Stock owned by the
Initial Stockholders will be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent,
until the first anniversary of the consummation of a Business
Combination. During such escrow period, the Initial Stockholders
shall be prohibited from selling or otherwise transferring such
shares (except to spouses and children of Initial Stockholders and
trusts established for their benefit and as otherwise set forth in
the Escrow Agreement) but will retain the right to vote such
shares. To the Company’s knowledge, the Escrow Agreement is
enforceable against each of the Initial Stockholders and will not,
with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both,
result in a breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or
instrument to which any of the Initial Stockholders is a party. The
Escrow Agreement shall not be amended, modified or otherwise
changed without the prior written consent of EBC.
2.22.3 Subscription
Agreements . The Company has entered into the Subscription
Agreements substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit 10.14 to
the Registration Statement with the Insider Purchasers to purchase
the Insider Securities. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the
Insider Purchasers have placed the purchase price for the Insider
Securities in escrow prior to the date hereof. Simultaneously with
the consummation of the Offering, such purchase price shall be
deposited into the Trust Fund pursuant to the Trust
Agreement.
2.23 Intentionally Omitted
.
2.24 Investment Management Trust
Agreement . The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement
with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering substantially in
the form annexed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement. The
Trust Agreement will provide that if the Company has not
consummated a business combination by the first anniversary of the
Effective Date, there may be released to the Company up to $200,000
of interest earned on the funds held pursuant to the Trust
Agreement to fund expenses related to investigating and selecting a
target business, income and other taxes and the Company’s
other working capital requirements.
2.25 Covenants Not to Compete
. No Initial Stockholder, employee, officer or director of the
Company is subject to any noncompetition agreement or
non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer
which could materially affect his ability to be an Initial
Stockholder, employee, officer and/or director of the
Company.
2.26 Investment Company Act;
Investments . The Company has been advised concerning the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder and
has in the past conducted, and intends in the future to conduct,
its affairs in such a manner as to ensure that it will not become
an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company”
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and such rules and
regulations. The Company is not, nor will the Company become upon
the sale of the Units and the application of the proceeds therefore
as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”, an “investment company” or a person
controlled by an “investment company” within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act. No more than 45% of the
“value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the
Investment Company Act) of the Company’s total assets
(exclusive of cash items and “Government Securities”
(as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act)
consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income
after taxes is derived from, securities other than the Government
Securities.
2.27 Subsidiaries . The
Company does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business
entity.
2.28 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 Prospectus that have not been
described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances
(except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary
course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to
or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors or Initial
Stockholders of the Company or any of the members of the families
of any of them, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus.
2.29 No Distribution of Offering
Material. The Company has not distributed and will not
distribute prior to the Closing Date any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Units other than any
Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement and other materials, if any, permitted by the
Act.
2.30 Title to Assets. Except
as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the
Company has good and marketable title to all properties and assets
described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as owned by
it, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrances, claim or equitable interest, other than such as would
not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the
Company.
2.31 Taxes. The Company has
timely filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and
franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes shown thereon as due,
and there is no tax deficiency that has been or, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, might be asserted against the Company
that might have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, earnings, operations, business or business prospects of
the Company, and all material tax liabilities are adequately
provided for on the books of the Company.
3. Covenants of the Company . The Company
covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration
Statement . The Company will deliver to the Representative,
prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective
Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the
Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws
.
3.2.1 Compliance . During the
time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act,
the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the
Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from
time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the
continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in
accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any
time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is
required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have
occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the
Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if
it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with
the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and
prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1
hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with
Section 10 of the Act.
3.2.2 Filing of Final
Prospectus . The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission
pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the
Regulations.
3.2.3 Exchange Act
Registration . The Company will use its best efforts to
maintain the registration of the Units, Common Stock and Warrants
under the provisions of the Exchange Act for a period of five years
from the Effective Date, or until the Company is required to be
liquidated, if earlier or, in the case of the Warrants, until the
Warrants expire and are no longer exercisable. The Company will not
deregister the Units under the Exchange Act without the prior
written consent of EBC.
3.2.4 Ineligible Issuer . At
the time of filing the Registration Statement and at the date
hereof, the Company was and is an “ineligible issuer,”
as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has
not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public
Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise
constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in
Rule 405.
3.3 Blue Sky Filings . The
Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the
Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective, to qualify the Public Securities for offering
and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representative may reasonably designate, provided that no such
qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a
result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general
process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in
such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification
shall be effected, the Company will, unless the Representative
agrees that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable,
use its best efforts to file and make such statements or reports at
such times as are or may be required by the laws of such
jurisdiction.
3.4 Delivery to Underwriters of
Prospectuses . The Company will deliver to each of the several
Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period
when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or
the Exchange Act, such number of copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus as such Underwriters may reasonably
request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or
any
amendment or supplement thereto becomes
effective, deliver to you two original executed Registration
Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments
thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated
therein by reference and all original executed consents of
certified experts.
3.5 Effectiveness and Events
Requiring Notice to the Representative . The Company will use
its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain
effective and will notify the Representative immediately and
confirm the notice in writing (i) of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, (ii) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation,
or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose,
(iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of
any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the
Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of
the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that
purpose, (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission
for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, (v) of the receipt of any comments or
request for any additional information from the Commission, and
(vi) of the happening of any event during the period described
in Section 3.4 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company,
makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requi