UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
between
EAST INDIA COMPANY
ACQUISITION CORP.
and
EARLYBIRDCAPITAL,
INC.
Dated: ___________,
2006
EAST INDIA COMPANY ACQUISITION
CORP.
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
New York, New York
________, 2006
275 Madison
Avenue, Suite 1203
The undersigned, East India Company 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 .
1.1.1 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 6,000,000 units (“Firm Units”) of the
Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of
$5.67 per Firm Unit (including discounts and commissions of $0.06
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 $0.06 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 $5.67 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units
are to be offered initially to the public (“Offering”)
at the offering price of $6.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit
consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, par
value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and two
warrants (“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
$5.00 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 that has operations in
India (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: $34,250,100 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 900,000 units
from the Company (“Over-allotment Option”). Such
additional 900,000 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 $5.73 per Option Unit shall be deposited
in the Trust Fund (including discounts and commissions of $0.06
that will be paid to the Underwriters only upon consummation of a
Business Combination by the Company) pursuant to the Trust
Agreement 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 . Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP
(“GGK”), whose report is filed with the Commission as
part of the Registration Statement, are independent accountants as
required by the Act and the Regulations. GGK 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 Securities
. 25 th Street LLC (the “Insider Purchaser”)
has committed to purchase an aggregate of 120,100 Units
(“Insider Units”) at $6.00 per Unit and 685,000
Warrants (“Insider Warrants” and together with the
Insider Units, the shares of Common Stock and Warrants underlying
the Insider Units, and the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Warrants underlying the Insider Units and Insider Warrants,
collectively referred to as the “Insider Securities”)
at $0.70 per Warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of
$1,200,100) 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”) entered into by the Insider
Purchaser to purchase such Insider Securities, 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
Company’s stockholders immediately prior to the Offering (all
of which stockholders are referred to as 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 Warrants underlying the
Insider Units, 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 10.6 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 10.8 to the Registration Statement, whereby the
Common Stock owned by the Initial Stockholders will be held in
escrow by the Escrow Agent, until the third anniversary of the
Effective Date. 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
Agreement substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit 10.12 to the
Registration Statement with the Insider Purchaser to purchase the
Insider Securities. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, the
Insider Purchaser has 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 10.7 to the
Registration Statement.
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 requires
the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the
Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop
order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will
use commercially reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting
of such order.
3.6 Review of Financial Statements
. Until the earlier of five years
from the Effective Date, or until such earlier time upon which the
Company is required to be liquidated, the Company, at its expense,
shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public
accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial
statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the
announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the
Company’s Form 10-Q quarterly report and the mailing of
quarterly financial information to stockholders.
3.7 Affiliated Transactions .
3.7.1 Business Combinations . The Company will not consummate a Business
Combina
|