EXHIBIT 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
between
INDIA GLOBALIZATION CAPITAL, INC.
and
FERRIS, BAKER WATTS
INCORPORATED
Dated: March ,
2006
INDIA GLOBALIZATION CAPITAL, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Baltimore, Maryland
March , 2006
Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc.
100 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Dear Sirs:
The
undersigned, India Globalization Capital, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (“ Company ”), hereby confirms its
agreement with Ferris, Baker Watts, Inc. (hereinafter referred to
as “ you ,” “ FBW ” or the
“ Representative ”) and with the other
underwriters named on Schedule I hereto for which FBW
is acting as Representative (the Representative and the other
Underwriters being collectively called the “
Underwriters ” or, individually, an “
Underwriter ”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of
Securities .
1.1
Firm Securities .
1.1.1
Purchase of Firm 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 9,830,000 units (“ Firm Units ”)
of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and
commissions) of $5.52 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 $5.52 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 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 (the
“ Effective Date ”) of the Registration
Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof) unless FBW
informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate
trading, but in no event will FBW 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. 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 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., Baltimore 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
Clearing House funds, payable as follows: $57,210,600 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’ Expense
Allowance . On the Closing Date, the Underwriters agree to
deposit into the Trust Fund three percent (3.0%) of the gross
proceeds of the Offering (attributable to the non-accountable
expense allowance) (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. In the event that the
Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee of the
Trust Fund, is directed to liquidate 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 1,474,500 units
from the Company (the “ Over-allotment Option
”). Such additional 1,474,500 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 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
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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
500,000 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
(“ Representatives Warrants ”) have an exercise
price of $6.25 (125% 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 $7.50, which is equal to
one hundred and twenty five percent (125%) 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 of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing
Date and as of each Option Closing Date, if any, 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. 333-124942), including any
related preliminary prospectus dated as of February 13, 2006
(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 on file with the Commission at
the time the registration statement becomes effective, as amended
through the Applicable Time, (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 through the Applicable Time), 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. “
Applicable Time ” means the time of sale with respect
to each applicable investor at or prior to the Closing
Date.
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2.1.2
Pursuant to the Exchange Act . The Company has filed with
the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number 000-51517) 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 respective times the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and any post-effective
amendments thereto become effective and at all times subsequent
thereto up to the Applicable Time, Closing Date and the Option
Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and any post-effective amendments thereto, do 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, do 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 the Preliminary
Prospectus was first filed with the Commission and as of the
Applicable Time (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.
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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, to the best of the Company’s
knowledge, any other party is in 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 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 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,
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
5
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 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
6
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.
2.9
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 Advisory Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25
hereof) 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
Advisory 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 2.23 hereof; (ii) result in any violation
of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws
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 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 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 Articles of Incorporation, as may
be amended from time to time, or Bylaws 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
7
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, the Advisory 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 Company’s knowledge, 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 2.22.1) is true and correct in all 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, to the
Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder which has not
been disclosed in the Registration Statement.
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 Stop
Orders . The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or
any part thereof.
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 Company’s knowledge, any Initial Stockholder that
may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “
NASD ”).
2.18.2
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
FBW.
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.
8
2.18.4
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.
2.19 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 and the Representative’s
Warrants with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement (the “ 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, 10.2, 10.3, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13
and 10.14, to the Registration Statement (the “ Insider
Letter ”), 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.
2.22.2
Escrow Agreement . The Company has caused the Initial
Stockholders to enter into an escrow agreement (the “
Escrow Agreement ”) with Continental Stock Transfer
& Trust Company (the “ Escrow Agent ”) in
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, whereby the
Common Stock owned by the Initial Stockholders will be held in
escrow by the Escrow Agent, until six 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 FBW.
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2.23 Investment
Management Trust Agreement . The Company has entered into the
Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering in
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.
2.24 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.
2.25 Financial
Advisory Agreement . The Company has entered into an Amended
and Restated Financial Advisory Agreement with the Representative
(the “ Advisory Agreement ”), in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representative, whereby FBW, and SG
Americas Securities, LLC, (“ SGAS ”) one of the
participating underwriters in the offering, will serve as our
financial advisors in connection with a Business Combination for a
period of two years from the effective date of this
offering.
2.26
Investments . No more than 45% 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 45% 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).
2.27
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.
2.29 Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised
of the persons set forth on Schedule 2.29. 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.
2.30
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.
2.30.1
Disclosure Controls. The Company has developed and currently
maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with
Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act, and such controls
and procedures are effective to ensure that all material
information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely
basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the
Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure
documents.
2.30.2
Compliance. The Company and each of its directors and its
senior financial officers has consulted with the Company’s
independent auditors and outside counsel with respect to, and is
familiar in all material respects with, the requirements of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company is in, or will be on the
Effective Date, compliance with the provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 applicable to it, and has implemented or
will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure
the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant
statutory and regulatory deadlines therefore) with all the
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
10
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 FBW.
3.2.4
Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and
agrees that it 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 of the 1933 Act, without the
prior consent of FBW. Any such free writing prospectus consented to
by FBW is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus ”. The Company represents that its
will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an
“issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule
433, and has complied and will comply with the applicable
requirements of Rule 433 of the 1933 Act, including timely
Commission filing where required, legending and record
keeping.
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.
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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 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 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
Transactions .
3.7.1
Business 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
Integrated Global Networks, LLC (the “ Provider
”), pursuant to which the Provider will make available to the
Company general and administrative services including office space,
utilities and secretarial support for an amount equal to $4,000.00
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 con
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