EXHIBIT
1.1
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
between
PHOENIX INDIA ACQUISITION
CORP.
and
RODMAN & RENSHAW,
LLC
Dated: ___________,
2006
PHOENIX INDIA ACQUISITION
CORP.
UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT
New York, New York
__________ 2006
The undersigned, Phoenix India Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Company
”), hereby confirms its agreement with Rodman & Renshaw,
LLC (hereinafter referred to as “ you
,”“ Rodman ” or the “
Representative ”) and with the other
underwriters named on Schedule I hereto for which Rodman
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 Securities
. 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 6,250,000 units (“ Firm
Units ”) of the Company at a purchase price (net of
discounts and commissions) of $7.44 per Firm Unit. The
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the
Company the number of Firm Securities 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 $7.44 per share. The Units are to be offered initially to the
public (the “ Offering ”) at the
offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as
defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof). Each Firm Unit consists of
one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per
share (the “ 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 20 days after the effective
date (the “ Effective Date ”) of the
Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof)
following the earlier to occur of the expiration of the
Over-allotment Option (defined below) or its exercise in full,
unless Rodman informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier
separate trading, but in no event will Rodman 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. The 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 of the Registration Statement and terminating on the five-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 a company which has its primary
operations located 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 the Effective Date of the Registration Statement (or the
fourth business day following the Effective Date, if the
Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) 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 is called the “ 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: $46,150,000 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 (the “
Trust Agreement ”) and the remaining
proceeds shall be paid 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 (the “
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.
1.1.3
Escrow of Underwriters’
Discount . On the Closing
Date, the Underwriters agree to deposit into the Trust Fund a
portion of the discount equal to $0.16 per Firm Unit in the
Offering (the “ Escrowed Fees ”) until
the earlier of the completion of a Business Combination or the
liquidation of the Trust Fund. Upon the consummation of a Business
Combination, the Underwriters shall promptly receive the Escrowed
Fees along with any interest accrued thereon (if any, net of taxes
payable). In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a
Business Combination and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, the trustee of the Trust Fund, commences liquidation of
the Trust Fund, the Underwriters hereby agree to the following: (i)
forfeit any rights or claims to the Escrowed Fees and any interest
accrued thereon; and (ii) that the Escrowed Fees shall be
distributed on a pro-rata basis among the holders of the Public
Securities (defined below) along with any interest accrued
thereon.
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 937,500 units
from the Company (the “ Over-allotment
Option ”). Such additional 937,500 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 from 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, 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. If such delivery and payment
for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the date
and time of the closing for such Option Units will be as set forth
in the notice (hereinafter the “ Option Closing
Date ”). 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 will be 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 to the Trust Fund at the offices
of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed
upon by the Representative and the Company upon delivery to you of
certificates representing such securities (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 their designees) on the Effective Date
an option (“ Representative’s Purchase
Option ”) for the purchase of an aggregate of
437,500 units (the “ Representative’s
Units ”) for an aggregate purchase price of $100.00.
Each of the Representative’s Units is identical to the Firm
Units except that the Warrants included in the Representative's
Units have an exercise price of $5.50 (110% of the exercise price
of the Warrants included in the Units sold to the public). The
Representative’s Purchase Option shall be exercisable, in
whole or in part, commencing on the later of the consummation of a
Business Combination or 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 $8.80,
which is equal to one hundred and ten percent (110%) 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 (the “
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 Delivery and Payment . Delivery and payment for the
Representative’s Purchase Option shall be made on the Closing
Date. The Company shall deliver to the Underwriters, upon payment
therefor, certificates for the Representative’s Purchase
Option in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as
the Underwriters 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. 333-128008), including any related
preliminary prospectus (the “ 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 (the “ 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 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
becomes 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 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, 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 in all material respects
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 any
other party is in default thereunder and no event has occurred
that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both,
would constitute a default thereunder. 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 within the three years prior to the date
hereof, 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 and
any foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently
contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
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
capital stock.
2.5 Independent Accountants . To the knowledge of the Company, Miller, Ellin
Consulting Group LLP (“ MECG ”), whose
report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration
Statement, are independent accountants as required by the Act and
the Regulations. MECG 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 and
the results of operations 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
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 Public
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 Public 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 Public Securities has been
duly and validly taken. The Public 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 (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.
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 2.20
hereof), the Trust Agreement, the Services Agreement (as defined in
Section 3.7.2 hereof) and the Escrow Agreement (as defined in
Section 2.21.2 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 (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.
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
Service 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 material breach of, or conflict with
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material
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 2.22 hereof; (ii)
result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Company; or (iii) violate any
existing applicable law, rule, regu-lation, 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 constituted as of the date hereof.
2.12 No Defaults; Violations . No 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 any 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
By-Laws, as either may be amended from time to time, or in
violation of any 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 or businesses.
2.13
Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.13.1 Conduct of Business . Except as described in the Prospectus, 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, local and foreign 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 and to carry out
the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents,
authorizations, approvals 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, the
Services 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 . All information contained in the
questionnaires (the “ Questionnaires
”) completed by each of the Company’s stockholders
immediately prior to the Offering (the “ Initial
Stockholders ”) and provided to the Underwriters as
an exhibit to his or her Insider Letter (as defined in Section
2.21.1) is true and correct in all material respects 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 Company’s
knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or 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 as of the date hereof, 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.
2.17
Transactions Affecting Disclosure to NASD .
2.17.1 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. (the
“ NASD ”).
2.17.2 Payments Within Twelve Months
. The Company has not made any
direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to:
(i) 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, within the twelve
months prior to the Effective Date, other than payments to
Rodman.
2.17.3 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.
2.17.4 Initial Stockholders’ NASD
Affiliation . Based on
questionnaires distributed to such persons, 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 Shares is or becomes an
affiliate or associated person of an NASD member participating in
the offering.
2.18 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.
2.19. 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.
2.20 Warrant Agreement . The Company has entered into a warrant
agreement with respect to the Warrants and the
Representative’s Warrants with American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (the “ Warrant
Agreement ”), providing for, among other things, the
payment of a warrant solicitation fee as contemplated by Section
3.9 hereof.
2.21
Agreements With Initial Stockholders .
2.21.1 Insider Letters . The Company has caused to be duly executed
legally binding and enforceable agreements annexed as
Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.9, to the Registration Statement
(the “ Insider Letters ”) 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,
pursuant to which each of the Initial Stockholders of the Company
agree 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.
2.21.2 Escrow Agreement . The Company has caused the Initial
Stockholders to enter into an escrow agreement (the “
Escrow Agreement ”) with American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (the “ Escrow
Agent ”) in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Underwriters, whereby the Common Stock owned by
the Initial Stockholders will be held in escrow by the Escrow
Agent, until 12 months after 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. The Escrow Agreement shall not be amended, modified or
otherwise changed without the prior written consent of
Rodman.
2.22 Investment Management Trust
Agreement . The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement
with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
2.23 Covenants Not to
Compete . No Initial Stockholder of the Company is subject to
any noncompetition 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.
2.24 Investments . No more than 40% of the “value”
(as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the “ Investment Company Act ”))
of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than
40% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from,
securities other than “Government securities” (as
defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company
Act).
2.25 Subsidiaries . The Company does not own an interest in any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
trust or other business entity.
2.26 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.
2.27 Board of Directors .
The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons
set forth on Schedule 2.28. The qualifications of the persons
serving as Board members and the overall composition of the Board
comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules
promulgated thereunder. At least one member of the Board qualifies
as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated
thereunder.
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
. For a period of five years from
the Effective Date, or until such earlier time upon which the
Company is required to be liquidated, 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. The Company will
not deregister the Units under the Exchange Act without the prior
written consent of Rodman.
3.3 Blue Sky Filing . The Company will endeavor in good faith, 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 all reasonable 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
commis-sion 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
make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such
order.
3.6 Review of Financial Statements
. For a period of five years from
the Effective Date, or until such earlier date 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.
3.7.1
Affiliate Combinations
. The Company will not consummate a
Business Combination with any entity which is affiliated with any
Initial Stockholder unless the Company obtains an opinion from an
independent investment banking firm that the Business Combination
is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial
perspective.
3.7.2
Administrative
Services . The Company
has entered into an agreement (the “ Services
Agreement ”) with Phoenix Capital Partners and RKP
Capital, Inc. (each, a “ Provider ”
and collectively, the “ Providers ”),
pursuant to which the Providers shall make available to the Company
general, technology, secretarial and administrative services
including office space, utilities and secretarial support for an
amount equal to $7,500.00 per month.
3.7.3
Affiliate Compensation
. The Company shall not pay any
Initial Stockholder or any of their affiliates any fees or
compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company
prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business
Combination; provided that the Initial Stockholders shall
be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with seeking and
consummating a Business Combination.
3.8 Secondary Market Trading and Standard &
Poor’s . The
Company will apply to be included in Standard and Poor’s
Daily News and Corporation Records Corporate Descriptions for a
period of five years from the consummation of a Business
Combination. Promptly after the consummation of the Offering, the
Company shall take such steps as may be necessary to obtain a
secondary market trading exemption for the Company’s
securities in the State of California. The Company shall also take
such other action as may be reasonably requested by the
Representative to obtain a secondary market trading exemption in
such other states as may be requested by the
Representative.
3.9 Warrant Solicitation Fees
. The Company hereby engages Rodman,
on a non-exclusive basis, as its agent for the solicitation of the
exercise of the Warrants. The Company will (i) assist Rodman
with respect to such solicitation, if requested by Rodman, and
(ii) at Rodman’s request, provide Rodman, and direct the
Company’s transfer and warrant agent to provide to Rodman, at
the Company’s cost, lists of the record and, to the extent
known, beneficial owners of, the Warrants. Commencing one year from
the Effective Date, the
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